Category Archives: City Hall

Paul Coates, April 11, 1961

Posted on April 11, 2011 by lmharnisch

April 11, 1961: Mayoral candidate Sam Yorty sues Mayor Norris Poulson for slander! Life is good (if you’re a newspaper)! Al Capp interviews a stewardess for American Airlines – none of this flight attendant stuff in … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1961, Adolf Eichmann, City Hall, Columnists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Front Pages, Paul Coates, Politics | Comments Off

Buses Replace Red Cars to Long Beach, April 8, 1961

Posted on April 8, 2011 by lmharnisch

April 8. 1961: Red Cars are being replaced by buses on service between Los Angeles and Long Beach, San Pedro and Compton. Transportation conspiracy buffs please note: The Metropolitan Transit Authority is making the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1961, art and artists, City Hall, Columnists, Comics, Matt Weinstock, Paul Coates, Politics | Comments Off

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, March 30, 1941

Posted on March 30, 2011 by lmharnisch

March 30, 1941: In a classic example of one its attempts to meddle in local politics, The Times publishes a Page 1 editorial about the mayor’s race, sharply criticizing the incumbent, Fletcher Bowron, and advocating … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, art and artists, City Hall, Columnists, Comics, Lee Shippey, Politics, Tom Treanor | Comments Off

Paul Coates, March 24, 1961

Posted on March 24, 2011 by lmharnisch

March 24, 1961: Paul Coates dips into the mailbox for items on the mayor’s race and women’s measurements.

Posted in 1961, City Hall, Columnists, Front Pages, Paul Coates, Politics | Comments Off

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, March 23, 1941

Posted on March 23, 2011 by lmharnisch

March 23, 1941: The Times’ editorial page opposes raising taxes to fund the library. It’s the war, you know, and if we go around handing out money to the library, next in line will be the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, art and artists, City Hall, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Lee Shippey, Politics, Tom Treanor | Comments Off

Town Called Hollywood, Feb. 23, 1941

Posted on February 23, 2011 by lmharnisch

Feb. 23, 1941: An old hand at writing columns but feeling his way in his new assignment, The Home Front, Tom Treanor writes: "Of all the times in the history of the world to be writing … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, City Hall, Film, Food and Drink, Hollywood, Politics | 2 Comments

Matt Weinstock, Feb. 22, 1961

Posted on February 22, 2011 by lmharnisch

Feb. 22, 1961: The Arriba Poulson group has been formed in East Los Angeles to support the mayor in his upcoming campaign, Matt Weinstock says. DEAR ABBY: My Mommy and Daddy got a divorce and I live … Continue reading →

Posted in 1961, art and artists, City Hall, Columnists, Comics, Matt Weinstock, Politics | Comments Off

Black Politics in L.A., 1913

Posted on January 16, 2011 by lmharnisch

Feb. 22, 1913: Councilman Robert M. Lusk died in office and the African Americans of Los Angeles called on the council to appoint one of several black contenders to complete his term. Charles C. Flint, a … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Countdown to Watts, Politics | Comments Off

Black Politics in L.A.

Posted on January 14, 2011 by lmharnisch

Charles H. Matthews, African American member of the Police Commission, at a 1946 meeting. I was intrigued by the remark on L.A. Observed, quoting the Root, “According to historian Raphael J. Sonenshein, ‘No African-American, Latino or Jewish person … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Crime and Courts, Education, LAPD | Comments Off

USC Fraternity Pledges Stealing Hotel Spittoons!

Posted on January 13, 2011 by lmharnisch

Jan. 13, 1911: The population of Los Angeles is 319,198, The Times says. In our bustling city, USC fraternity pledges are caught stealing spittoons from hotels … a post office official is accused of taking items … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, art and artists, City Hall, Comics, Crime and Courts, Education, Fashion | Comments Off

Yorty Runs for Mayor!

Posted on January 10, 2011 by lmharnisch

Jan. 10, 1961: Incumbent Norris Poulson and challenger Sam Yorty are about to get into a nasty campaign for mayor. Should I mention the $2-million slander suit? The Times editorial headlined “Either Poulson or Calamity?” (So much for the … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Politics, Richard Nixon | 3 Comments

Found on EBay – Norman Chandler

Posted on September 29, 2010 by lmharnisch

This portrait of Times Publisher Norman Chandler is part of an album of photographs that has been listed on EBay. Other subjects include Francis Cardinal McIntyre, Will Rogers and Mayor Norris Poulson. Bidding starts at $9.99.

Posted in City Hall, Photography, Religion | Comments Off

Paul Coates, Aug. 24, 1960

Posted on August 24, 2010 by lmharnisch

Aug. 24, 1960: The Mirror reports a shouting match between Mayor Norris Poulson and Police Chief William H. Parker over a proposed police cadet program. It sounds like a great item, but alas, so many stories and only one Larry … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Columnists, From the Vaults, LAPD, Paul Coates | 1 Comment

Earl Rogers and L.A.’s Picketing Ban

Posted on July 19, 2010 by lmharnisch

Los Angeles Times file photo Attorney Earl Rogers, who drafted L.A.’s ban on picketing and defended Clarence Darrow on charges of attempting to bribe jurors in the trial of the McNamara brothers in The Times bombing. July 16-19, 1910: … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1910 L.A. Times bombing, City Hall, LAPD | 1 Comment

Pages of History

Posted on June 24, 2010 by lmharnisch

Photograph by Larry Harnisch / Los Angeles Times I went to the city archives on Monday to see what I could find about the Oct. 1, 1910, bombing of The Times. There wasn’t too much (the Police Commission minutes … Continue reading →

Posted in 1885, 1910 L.A. Times bombing, City Hall, Fire Department | 1 Comment

A Blow to Strikers

Posted on June 18, 2010 by lmharnisch

June 18, 1910: The stage is set for the famous anti-picketing ordinance approved by the City Council in July 1910. For further reading, I would recommend Grace Heilman Stimson’s “Rise of the Labor Movement in Los Angeles,” published in … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, City Hall, LAPD | 1 Comment

Architect Submits Plan for New City Hall

Posted on June 11, 2010 by lmharnisch

June 11, 1910: If this building looks unfamiliar it’s because it never left the drawing board. This is a proposal by Lyman Farwell for a new City Hall to be built on the Temple Block at Spring and Main … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, art and artists, City Hall | Comments Off

LAPD Captain Accused of Corruption

Posted on June 10, 2010 by lmharnisch

June 10, 1910: An AMA convention in St. Louis finds out what a Nautsch dancer is. On the jump, the complicated case of Police Capt. Charles E. Dixon and Hampshire Hotel operator William D. Gage. Dixon, the head of … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, #gays and lesbians, City Hall, health, LAPD | Comments Off

LAPD Reports Fewer Arrests, More Crimes

Posted on May 21, 2010 by lmharnisch

May 21, 1910: The Times reports some alarming statistics for the Police Department. Arrests have fallen off sharply and criminal complaints have increased. Various officials offer different explanations: officers don’t bother with trivial offenses, they are frustrated with permissive … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, City Hall, LAPD | Comments Off

Voices: Daryl Gates, 1926 – 2010

Posted on April 16, 2010 by lmharnisch

March 29, 1978: Daryl F. Gates becomes police chief. ( George Holliday / Courtesy of KTLA via Associated Press ) Four Los Angeles Police Department officers charged in the videotaped beating of Rodney G. King on March 3, 1991, were … Continue reading →