Category Archives: classical music

Riot in Times Square Over Wagner Opera!

Posted on October 21, 2009 by lmharnisch

Oct. 21, 1919: Servicemen and civilians riot in Times Square over a production of Richard Wagner's "Die Meistersinger" staged at the Lexington Theater despite Mayor John Francis Hylan’s ban on German opera!

Posted in #opera, classical music, Music, Stage | 1 Comment

L.A. in the grips of Gustavo-mania

Posted on October 11, 2009 by lmharnisch

Gustavo Dudamel throws himself into his conducting during his inaugural performance at Walt Disney Concert Hall as new music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times / October 8, 2009) Through the generosity and … Continue reading →

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The Strange, Terrible Saga of Mario Lanza

Posted on October 8, 2009 by lmharnisch

Oct. 8, 1959: Columnist Dick Williams on Mario Lanza. Oct. 8, 1959: “The Best of Everything” starts tomorrow at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre.

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Sox Favored Over Dodgers in Game 6 of Series

Posted on October 8, 2009 by lmharnisch

Oct. 8, 1959: The Dodgers lead the page in the final edition, with the death of Mario Lanza and President Eisenhower taking action in a weeklong strike at ports on the East Coast and Gulf of Mexico.

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Mario Lanzo Dies!

Posted on October 7, 2009 by lmharnisch

Oct. 7, 1959: Singer Mario Lanza dies of a heart attack. He was 38. Iraqi leader Abdel Karim Kassem survives an attempted assassination.

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Voices — Alicia de Larrocha, 1923 – 2009

Posted on September 25, 2009 by lmharnisch

April 22, 1980: The late Daniel Cariaga profiles pianist Alicia de Larrocha. The New York Times has reported that Larrocha died in Barcelona at the age of 86. The Times plans an obituary in upcoming editions.

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September 25, 1959: Matt Weinstock

Posted on September 25, 2009 by lmharnisch

Matt Weinstock on the success of pianist Van Cliburn — and his contemporaries Eugene Istomin, Gary Graffman, Leon Fleisher, Leonard Pennario and Daniel Pollack. I didn’t know John Browning went to John Marshall High.

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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

Russian Leader to Visit L.A.! A.L. Wins All-Star Game

Posted on August 4, 2009 by lmharnisch

Bruce Russell's editorial cartoon is appalling today, but this style is typical of the 1950s, when artists frequently relied on a small repertory company of characters that included the Peace Dove, the Russian Bear, Mr. A-Bomb, Uncle Sam, the … Continue reading →

Posted in @news, art and artists, classical music, Comics, Current Affairs, Dodgers, Front Pages, Hollywood, Music, Politics, Religion, Richard Nixon, Sports, Stage | Comments Off

Found on EBay — Enrico Caruso

Posted on July 11, 2009 by lmharnisch

Caruso in "I Pagliacci." What appears to be a collection of ephemera given by Enrico Caruso to Rosa Ponselle has been listed on EBay. There is no strong tie to Los Angeles, although both of them performed here. For example, … Continue reading →

Posted in #opera, classical music, Music, Stage | 1 Comment

Woman, 28, Has 13 Children!

Posted on June 3, 2009 by lmharnisch

"This Is Like a Spy Movie!" At the women's jail, "Conditions are terrible … Sixteen patients are being assigned to rooms designed to contain eight." (As Nathan noted, that's General Hospital, not the jail–thanks Nathan!). Sax Rohmer, creator of the … Continue reading →

Posted in books, classical music, Comics, Dodgers, Film, health, Hollywood, Music, Obituaries | 2 Comments

CBS Cancels Hit Comedy Show Over Censorship; Sweet Lou Returns, April 5, 1969

Posted on April 5, 2009 by lmharnisch

A Requiem by Benny Carter is performed at a memorial for the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Restaurants lost thousands of dollars to hippies who ate meals but left without paying. The ACLU says Palm Spring police violated the Constitution … Continue reading →

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Voices — Maurice Jarre, 1924-2009

Posted on March 30, 2009 by lmharnisch

Q & A MAURICE JARRE Ode to David Lean August 8, 1993 By SUSAN KING, TIMES STAFF WRITER Oscar-winning composer Maurice Jarre leads the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in a special salute to his frequent collaborator, the late director David Lean, … Continue reading →

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Found on EBay — 1905 Performance of ‘Parsifal’

Posted on March 28, 2009 by lmharnisch

Listed on EBay: An usher’s ribbon from the 1905 performances of "Parsifal" in Los Angeles. Bidding starts at $9.99. The 1905 performance of "Parsifal" was such a significant event that The Times published the names of what appears to be … Continue reading →

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New Pope Crowned; Fleeing Jews Trapped in Snow, March 13, 1939

Posted on March 13, 2009 by lmharnisch

Ads for Gilmore gas take a more informal tone than most others. Czech mob attacks Nazis. The world’s Roman Catholics welcome a new pope, Pius XII, the first time a papal coronation was broadcast on radio. The guests included Joseph … Continue reading →

Posted in classical music, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Religion, Sports | 1 Comment

Baghdad Welcomes Leader; Senate OKs Hawaiian Statehood, March 12, 1959

Posted on March 12, 2009 by lmharnisch

Iraqi Premier Abdel Karim Kassem waves to a crowd in Baghdad after putting down a rebellion. He was overthrown and executed in February 1963 after surviving an assassination attempt by a team that included Saddam Hussein. "Throwback" Thursby threw me … Continue reading →

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In the Theaters — March 8, 1925

Posted on March 8, 2009 by lmharnisch

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Rediscovering George Garner, March 5, 1939

Posted on March 5, 2009 by lmharnisch

From The Times, Feb. 12, 1933. Seven lines of type in the March 5, 1939, issue of The Times unspooled into quite a story. If the beginning of the tale is a bit unclear, the end is even more enigmatic. … Continue reading →

Posted in classical music, Music, Stage | 2 Comments

Woman Loses Children Over Nude Photos; Angels Earn Most of Cubs’ Income, January 29, 1949

Posted on January 29, 2009 by lmharnisch

A panel from "Terry and the Pirates," by George Wunder. At left, The Times’ comics page from 1949. Moon Mullins … Li’l Abner … Brenda Starr … Dick Tracy … Orphan Annie … but also Ella Cinders … Napoleon … … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, #Jazz, @news, art and artists, classical music, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Sports | 3 Comments

Matt Weinstock — January 12, 1959

Posted on January 12, 2009 by lmharnisch

Taxing Times A young lady singer is very angry at the Internal Revenue Service. Her federal income tax last year came to around $380. She had paid all but about $70. Christmas week the revenuers attached the amount from her … Continue reading →

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