Category Archives: City Hall

Los Angeles Debates a Sewer System to the Ocean

Posted on July 28, 2009 by lmharnisch

July 28, 1889: Civic leaders argue over what to do with Los Angeles' sewage. Many oppose letting it flow into Santa Monica Bay at Ballona because it would pollute the beaches and because building a system would be expensive. Some … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Environment, Politics | 1 Comment

A Brutal Sport Hounded to Extinction

Posted on July 19, 2009 by lmharnisch

Coursing as depicted in The Times on Dec. 12, 1897. "The rabbit dodged this way and that, squatted suddenly to the ground while the hound rushed past. Once, the dog's teeth sank in the hindquarters of the rabbit, jerked the … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, #games, 1897, 1898, Animals, City Hall, LAPD, Long Beach, Parks and Recreation, Politics | Comments Off

Police Commission Ignores Mayor, Fires Police Chief

Posted on July 18, 2009 by lmharnisch

July 18, 1889: Don't be put off because this is an extremely gray page. It's loaded with wild stories. The Police Commission decides in executive session to replace the police chief against the mayor's wishes. The chief refuses to surrender … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, LAPD, Politics | Comments Off

Woman Turns Informant in Jewel Robbery

Posted on July 13, 2009 by lmharnisch

July 13, 1889: A smash and grab robbery at 1st and Spring … an old man robbed by a prostitute … a forgetful woman … and The Times finds fault with the new City Hall on Broadway, shown below left. … Continue reading →

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

Mayor Rebukes Police Chief for Insubordination

Posted on July 12, 2009 by lmharnisch

July 12, 1899: The mayor apologetically rebukes the police chief for talking back to a police commissioner.

Posted in City Hall, LAPD, Politics | Comments Off

Artist’s Notebook: City Hall

Posted on July 6, 2009 by lmharnisch

Los Angeles City Hall, July 3, 2009 Since I began posting Nuestro Pueblo last year, I've wanted to feature contemporary artwork of historic Los Angeles in the spirit of what Joe Seewerker and Charles Owens did in 1938-39. Not long … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, City Hall, Downtown, Marion Eisenmann | Comments Off

Nixon Dedicates Sports Arena

Posted on July 5, 2009 by lmharnisch

July 5, 1959: Vice President Richard Nixon waves during the dedication of the Sports Arena. It has been a long time since anyone referred to the Los Angeles Sports Arena as a "marvel of modern design." But that was the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1960 Democratic Convention, City Hall, Current Affairs, Downtown, Politics, Richard Nixon, Sports | Comments Off

Griffith Park Hermit Is War Veteran; Dodger Case May Go to Supreme Court

Posted on July 1, 2009 by lmharnisch

July 1, 1959: Coming soon, "Porgy and Bess" and "Anatomy of a Murder" David Williams became the first African American federal judge west of the Mississippi. At left, African American Judge David Williams is overruled in dismissing cases against blacks. … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, City Hall, Dodgers, Downtown | 1 Comment

Grand Jury Vice Probe! Gilmore Field Expanded

Posted on June 25, 2009 by lmharnisch

"Put That Pistol Down, Young Lady." Keith's 1949 post on Gilmore Field has dropped us in the middle of an extremely complicated grand jury investigation of the Los Angeles Police Department. To summarize: Officers James Parslow, Thomas C. Lindholm … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, City Hall, Comics, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD, Sports, Stage, Suicide | 1 Comment

City May Cut Police Overtime

Posted on June 25, 2009 by lmharnisch

June 25, 1899: A City Council committee weighs the complicated issue of police salaries. Some officers complain that their duties require more than an eight-hour workday. Another issue is whether travel time to get to their beats should be included … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, LAPD | Comments Off

Paul V. Coates — Confidential File, June 19, 1959

Posted on June 19, 2009 by lmharnisch

Confidential File A Quiet Man Made Noisy Headlines Herbert Greenwood, the quiet man, made loud headlines yesterday. He announced his resignation from the Los Angeles Police Commission, and in the same breath, accused this city's police department and its chief, … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Columnists, LAPD, Paul Coates | Comments Off

Council Debates Cow Ordinance

Posted on June 18, 2009 by lmharnisch

June 18, 1889: The City Council debates measures on keeping cows and chickens in downtown Los Angeles.

Posted in City Hall, Downtown, Food and Drink | Comments Off

Minstrels and the Salvation Army — Charles Ives Would Love It

Posted on June 7, 2009 by lmharnisch

June 7, 1889 Pairing a minstrel show and a Salvation Army band sounds like something Charles Ives might have liked. June 7, 1899: A jail inmate says a trusty beat him with a heavy set of keys.

Posted in #courts, City Hall, Downtown, LAPD, Music, Religion, Stage | Comments Off

Boxing Promoter Beaten; Dodgers Sign Chavez Ravine Deal

Posted on June 4, 2009 by lmharnisch

"R-R-R-ING!" Life on Mars! Boxing promoter Jackie Leonard had testified before the State Athletic Commission about mob influence in prizefighting. View this page American jazz? Nyet! Charles Hillinger interviews Nicaragua's Luis Somoza. Carole Baker … Jeffrey Hunter … Richard Nixon … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, City Hall, Comics, Dodgers, Downtown, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Science, Sports | Comments Off

‘Three Little Pigs’ Has Racial Meaning, Official Says!

Posted on June 2, 2009 by lmharnisch

"Did You Hear What I Said, June?" Southern California's aerospace industry! When I saw this headline, I thought it was a joke. It's not. Iraq drops a polite note to the American Embassy saying no thanks to U.S. aid because … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, art and artists, City Hall, Comics, Countdown to Watts, Environment, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, Nightclubs, Politics, Sports | 2 Comments

Monorail Planned for Downtown Los Angeles!

Posted on May 27, 2009 by lmharnisch

"She Was Gone … Real Gone!" Voters reject higher taxes. View this page Beatnik robbers tell victim to "play it cool." Woof, Daddy-o. Above, another mass-transit plan that never got off the drawing board. All right, you kids, no more … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, City Hall, Comics, Dodgers, Downtown, Film, Freeways, Front Pages, health, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD, Politics, Religion, Robberies, Rock 'n' Roll, Sports, Transportation | 1 Comment

Found on EBay — Angel City in Turmoil

Posted on May 25, 2009 by lmharnisch

A copy of Guy Finney's "Angel City in Turmoil" has been listed on EBay. (Note, the artwork at left is from my copy of the book, not the one listed for sale). "Angel City" is one of those self-published "tell-all" … Continue reading →

Posted in books, City Hall, LAPD | Comments Off

Chavez Ravine Circus

Posted on May 15, 2009 by lmharnisch

The coverage of the Chavez Ravine evictions introduced Times readers to a new villain: television. "The television pictures — wonderful action pictures — were the answer to a demagogue's prayer," The Times wrote in a May 15 editorial. "With such … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, City Hall, Dodgers, Politics | Comments Off

Protesters Leave Chavez Ravine, May 15, 1959

Posted on May 15, 2009 by lmharnisch

Gloves, a big hat and lots of dots. It's the look for 1959. Councilman Edward R. Roybal wins an agreement from the Arechiga family to leave Chavez Ravine during 90 minutes of negotiations conducted in the back seat of his … Continue reading →

Posted in #Jazz, City Hall, Fashion, Film, Hollywood, Politics | Comments Off

Paul V. Coates — Confidential File, May 14, 1959

Posted on May 14, 2009 by lmharnisch

Confidential File This Drama Involves Good and Bad Blood He's not the type of traveling man they tell those jokes about. In fact, he's the other cliche — a perfect husband: Faithful, loving, devoted to his kids and — … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Columnists, Dodgers, health, Paul Coates, Politics | Comments Off