Category Archives: City Hall

Dangers of Police, Firefighters Unions

Posted on September 11, 2009 by lmharnisch

"Wonder What Venus de Milo Thinks About" by Clare Briggs. The Times editorializes against unions for police officers and firefighters, asking: "Shall we expect union firemen to put out union-set fires?" "Only a few days ago The Times called … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Comics, LAPD | Comments Off

Ike Rides Wave of Popularity; Dodgers Call Up Reinforcements

Posted on September 2, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 2, 1959: A story about President Eisenhower's European trip marking the 20th anniversary of Hitler's invasion of Poland notes that he remains popular. But look at what's happening in the country as Ike prepares to leave office: The prime … Continue reading →

Posted in #Jazz, art and artists, City Hall, Comics, Dodgers, Downtown, Film, Food and Drink, Hollywood, LAPD, Music, Nightclubs, Politics, RFK, Venice Division | 2 Comments

Sleepwalker Falls From Streetcar

Posted on September 1, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 1, 1909: Edmund Walller "Ted" Gale draws former Mayor Harper on the witness stand. Francisco Tralenna breaks his arm while sleepwalking — on a streetcar. A runaway horse at 1st and Los Angeles streets leaves two men injured, including … Continue reading →

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

The Los Angeles Tribune Does Not Tell the Truth

Posted on August 30, 2009 by lmharnisch

Aug. 30, 1889: Mrs. E.C. Freeman is moving her bakery to 339 S. Spring St. Harrison Gray Otis responds to an article in a rival paper: "The Los Angeles Tribune, as usual, does not tell the truth." The Tribune … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Environment, Politics | 1 Comment

Judge Bars Bus Strike; Giants Beat Dodgers

Posted on August 29, 2009 by lmharnisch

Aug. 29, 1959: A judge's temporary restraining order prevents a bus and streetcar strike. Someone has a Cold War souvenir in the shed. Let's fire it up and see what happens. The threat of communist aggression casts a shadow over … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, #Jazz, art and artists, City Hall, Comics, Dodgers, Film, Food and Drink, Front Pages, Hollywood, LAPD, Nightclubs, Politics, Religion, Transportation, Venice Division | Comments Off

Saving the Watts Towers

Posted on August 26, 2009 by lmharnisch

Photograph by the Los Angeles Times Simon Rodia (or Rodilla as The Times referred to him in early stories) with his creation in 1952. By Devon McReynolds On a recent smoldering Tuesday afternoon, I visited the Watts Towers for the … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, City Hall | 2 Comments

Chief Abolishes Vice Squad

Posted on August 17, 2009 by lmharnisch

Aug. 17, 1939: USC football player Al Kreuger keeps in shape over the summer by milking cows. Above, in a radical move, Police Chief Arthur C. Hohmann abolishes the LAPD's vice squad and transfers all the officers to other divisions. … Continue reading →

Posted in #opera, Animals, City Hall, classical music, Comics, Downtown, LAPD, Sports | 1 Comment

Voters Approve Bonds to Buy Water Company

Posted on August 17, 2009 by lmharnisch

Aug. 17, 1899: Above, an ad opposes issuing $2 million in bonds to buy the water company. Notice that Hoover Street, indicated by a dotted line, was the western boundary of Los Angeles. Aug. 24, 1889: Voters overwhelmingly approve bonds … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, City Hall, Downtown, Environment, Politics | Comments Off

Delays on Chavez Ravine

Posted on August 11, 2009 by lmharnisch

Aug. 11, 1959: "Horrors of the Black Museum" in Hypno-Vista! 3 1/2 stars on Netflix. Six stars on imdb. Movement toward a new ballpark for the Dodgers kept slowing down. City Atty. Roger Arnebergh wanted the City Council to wait … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Dodgers, Downtown, Front Pages, travel | 2 Comments

Dragnet — The Stamp

Posted on August 10, 2009 by lmharnisch

The U.S. Postal Service has released a "Dragnet" stamp featuring series star, writer and producer Jack Webb, who began the program on radio in 1949 and brought it to television in 1951. The stamp is part of a commemorative series … Continue reading →

Posted in broadcasting, City Hall, Downtown, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Television | 3 Comments

August 9, 1979: Walter O’Malley Dies

Posted on August 9, 2009 by lmharnisch

Photograph courtesy of the Dodgers. Vin Scully and Walter O’Malley before the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles. Is it a stretch to suggest that Walter O’Malley was the man chiefly responsible for pro sports in Southern California? Consider that the Lakers … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Dodgers, Downtown, Obituaries | 1 Comment

Lightning Sets Wildfires; Dodgers Seek Coliseum Deal

Posted on August 1, 2009 by lmharnisch

Aug. 1, 1959: The Times begins experimenting with a two-column news summary. The Dodgers' new ballpark in Chavez Ravine was nowhere in sight so the team started talking about returning to the Coliseum for the 1960 season. The Times' Frank … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Dodgers, Downtown, Politics, Richard Nixon | Comments Off

County Asks U.S. to Help Fight Border Drug Traffic; Hearing on Chavez Ravine

Posted on July 28, 2009 by lmharnisch

July 28, 1959: Vice President Richard Nixon's "kitchen debate" with Nikita Khrushchev bolsters his political stature, but Republican leaders are being careful not to overemphasize his new prestige. And questions arise about the fire at the home of boxing promoter … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, City Hall, Dodgers, Downtown, Film, Hollywood, Richard Nixon | 1 Comment

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