Category Archives: Columnists

In which some in-jokes get outed

Posted on October 20, 2007 by lmharnisch

  Above, the birth of Phlange Welder, Nov. 26, 1961. Comes now the time to divulge two of the deeper secrets of L.A newspaper lore, which I had forgotten until dinner recently with Carolyn Strickler, former head of The Times … Continue reading →

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October 19, 1957: Matt Weinstock

Posted on October 19, 2007 by lmharnisch

October 19, 1957 Edwin Anthony Browne, playboy newspaperman of another day, is revisiting L.A. after 20 years and he is aghast. Perhaps aghast is too strong a word. Let’s say amused or mildly interested. Brownie, an innocent-looking cherub but a … Continue reading →

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October 19, 1957: Paul V. Coates–Confidential File

Posted on October 19, 2007 by lmharnisch

October 19, 1957 Most good writers are also good listeners. And Hollywood scenarist Jack Wagner isn’t an exception to the rule. In fact, Jack often goes it one better by listening in the right places at the right times. Forty-seven … Continue reading →

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October 18, 1957: Matt Weinstock

Posted on October 18, 2007 by lmharnisch

October 18, 1957 If pressed, most persons who preside at information and complaint desks will admit there are times when they don’t think the human race is going to make it. Sanity and/or serenity, they mean. Not long ago, a … Continue reading →

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October 17, 1957: Matt Weinstock

Posted on October 17, 2007 by lmharnisch

Oct. 17, 1957 It was recently stated here that the origin of Murphy’s Law, a derisive bit of whimsy among airplane people, was unknown. The “law” states, “If an aircraft part can be installed incorrectly, someone will figure out how … Continue reading →

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October 16, 1957: Matt Weinstock

Posted on October 16, 2007 by lmharnisch

October 16, 1957 On a recent clear evening about an hour after sunset, Chet Kennedy of Sun Valley looked up and apparently saw not only Saturn but some of its rings. The planet was a bead “blazing with bright glory … Continue reading →

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October 16, 1957: Paul V. Coates–Confidential File

Posted on October 16, 2007 by lmharnisch

October 16, 1957 At 3:24 a.m., the ambulance arrived. The victim was rushed to Hollywood Receiving Hospital for emergency treatment. His condition was critical. He was then taken to General Hospital. Nine hours later, he was pronounced dead. That was … Continue reading →

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October 14, 1957: Paul V. Coates–Confidential File

Posted on October 14, 2007 by lmharnisch

October 14, 1957 SUBJECT’S NAME–Rosalee Cartwright SUBJECT’S DESCRIPTION—Age, 14. Height, 5 feet, 4 inches. Weight, 118 pounds. Blond hair. Subject was last seen five weeks ago. Any person with information concerning whereabouts of subject is requested to contact subject’s parents, … Continue reading →

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October 14, 1957: Matt Weinstock

Posted on October 14, 2007 by lmharnisch

October 14, 1957 A few weeks ago, Jules Goldstone, producer of the TV show “The Court of Last Resort,” was driving along Sunset Boulevard near Hilgard when a car doing about 60 mph came around a curve from the opposite … Continue reading →

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October 12, 1957: Matt Weinstock

Posted on October 12, 2007 by lmharnisch

October 12, 1957 Burl Ives, who took off more than 40 pounds to play the part of the viciously righteous father in “Desire Under the Elms,’ was putting some of it back on the other day at Frascati’s and between … Continue reading →

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Matt Weinstock

Posted on October 10, 2007 by lmharnisch

Oct. 10, 1957 A woman named Mary was waiting for a bus at Melrose and Vermont when an elderly gentleman sitting alongside bent down and picked up a small diamond ring. He quickly thrust it into his pocket, then, as … Continue reading →

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Paul V. Coates–Confidential File

Posted on October 9, 2007 by lmharnisch

Oct. 9, 1957 People can be pretty wiseacre sometimes. Especially yesterday. All I was trying to do was conduct a "pulse of the public" poll on a very timely subject: Major League Baseball’s arrival in Los Angeles. Inasmuch as the … Continue reading →

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Matt Weinstock

Posted on October 2, 2007 by lmharnisch

Sept. 30, 1957 Ever since returning from my vacation I’ve been thinking about an eerie piece of information I picked up while driving along Highway 395 near Big Pine. Riding along was Sid Parratt of the Department of Water and … Continue reading →

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Paul V. Coates–Confidential File

Posted on September 30, 2007 by lmharnisch

Sept. 30, 1957 SUBJECT’S NAME–Judy Smith or Judy Burris SUBJECT’S DESCRIPTION–Age 30. Height, 5 feet, 5 inches. Weight, 125 pounds. Dark brown eyes. Light brown hair. Slight scar on left side of jaw. Any person with information as to subject’s … Continue reading →

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September 27, 1957: Paul V. Coates–Confidential File

Posted on September 27, 2007 by lmharnisch

September 27, 1957 August 12, 1957–A 19-year-old youth was stabbed and seriously wounded last night as he fought to save an 11-year-old girl from criminal attack in Hollenbeck Park. The youth, Edward Gandara, and Jesus Rodriguez, 16, routed the molester, … Continue reading →

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September 27, 1957: Matt Weinstock

Posted on September 27, 2007 by lmharnisch

September 27, 1957 I never thought the time would come when I would write an ode to a single-chamber incinerator but here I am, doing it. Well, not exactly an ode but maybe a panegyric or at least a paean. … Continue reading →

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Paul V. Coates–Confidential File

Posted on September 26, 2007 by lmharnisch

Sept. 26, 1957 I talked yesterday with two men. One was fresh out of San Quentin, pardoned after nine months for a crime he didn’t commit. The second was a witness to the crime. His positive identification of the suspect … Continue reading →

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Matt Weinstock

Posted on September 26, 2007 by lmharnisch

Sept. 26, 1957 You can’t fight City Hall, states an old dictum, but Kenneth Reiner, 41, doesn’t agree. Last April, work started on Reiner’s showplace home at 2138 Micheltorena St. Located atop a high hill in the Silver Lake district, … Continue reading →

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September 24, 1957: Matt Weinstock

Posted on September 25, 2007 by lmharnisch

Sept. 24, 1957 As dedicated ocean fishermen know, this is one of the greatest seasons in years for pulling in the elusive beauties of the deep. For many years they’ve had to be satisfied with getting “skunked” completely or with … Continue reading →

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Paul V. Coates–Confidential File

Posted on September 22, 2007 by lmharnisch

Sept. 20, 1957 Yesterday, a Confidential File staff member went on a shopping tour. His companion was a narcotic addict. Together, they visited a few of this town’s friendly druggists. And when they returned to my office, they brought with … Continue reading →

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