Category Archives: Comics

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Nell Brinkley, Queen of Early American Comics

Posted on August 7, 2023 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2013. When Americans think of classic illustrators from the early 20th century, names such as Charles Dana Gibson, Harrison Fisher, Haskell Coffin, James Montgomery Flagg, and John Held Jr. spring to mind. Forgotten … Continue reading →

Posted in Art & Artists, Comics, Fashions, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Pearl Harbor Survivor Kills Himself

Posted on December 7, 2020 by lmharnisch

Can’t draw? You too can be a famous cartoonist. Note: This is an encore post from 2012. Jan. 10, 1942:  Pearl Harbor survivor William Parks kills himself in San Francisco after going AWOL. “His note to his wife indicated that … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Immigration, Religion, Tom Treanor | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Navy Releases Accounts of Pearl Harbor

Posted on December 7, 2020 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2011. Dec. 22, 1941: The Navy releases three personal accounts of the Pearl Harbor attack. Many acts of heroism are described, and these few lines shed more light on the presence of African … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, African Americans, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Jimmie Fidler, Tom Treanor, World War II | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Rose Parade Encounter Leads to Killing of Arcadia Woman

Posted on January 1, 2020 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2013 Aug. 9, 1963: “In Saigon, 400 miles to the south, police geared for trouble as a young, unidentified monk announced plans to burn himself to death in the continuing Buddhist struggle for … Continue reading →

Posted in 1963, Art & Artists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Downtown, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, Religion, Vietnam | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

War Cancels Rose Parade, Dec. 14, 1941

Posted on January 1, 2020 by lmharnisch

Note: This is a post from 2011. Dec. 14, 1941: The Rose Parade is canceled and the Rose Bowl – between Duke and Oregon State – is moved to Durham, N.C. The streets of Pasadena were oddly quiet on New … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Jimmie Fidler, Tom Treanor, World War II | Leave a comment

Dec. 19, 1947: Going Down – City Hall Bans Clever Nicknames for Its Floors

Posted on December 19, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project. City Hall’s elevator operators have been having a little too much fun on the job. Instead of calling out the numbers of the floors, they have … Continue reading →

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Dec. 17, 1947: Frightening Food From the 1940s — ‘Unusual’ Fruitcake

Posted on December 17, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project..   Bonus factoid: The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upholds a $2,500 fine against Hollywood book dealer Marcell Rodd for selling the obscene book “Call House … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Books and Authors, Comics, Crime and Courts, Food and Drink, Frightening Food From the 1940s | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dec. 16, 1947: Back Broken and Skull Fractured, Girl, 2 Dies of Abuse; Mother Gets 10 Years in Prison

Posted on December 16, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project. Somewhere, there’s 57-year-old man; maybe his name is Steven, or maybe his foster parents changed it. He doesn’t know much about himself except that his birthday … Continue reading →

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December 1947: ‘Taxi Army’ Saves Tel Aviv

Posted on December 10, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project. Quote of the day: “Dream Dress to dance into 1948—Young sorceress of the wand-waist, bouffant skirt school, whirls through the holidays in the luminous splendor of … Continue reading →

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Nov. 24, 1947: Airline Passenger Dies En Route to L.A.; Shabby Drug Runner Carried a Fortune in Heroin

Posted on November 24, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project. He was a shabby little man of 44 when he died with $111 in his pockets and a suitcase full of mystery and drugs. Although some … Continue reading →

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Nov. 23, 1947: ‘Lonesome’ Woman Sought Threesomes and Husband, Ex-Wife Says

Posted on November 23, 2018 by lmharnisch

Kitty Higgins in all its uproarious humor. Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project. This was rather a racy edition of The Times, especially for a Sunday paper. Next to the Kertz’s saga, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Chicago, Comics, Crime and Courts, Food and Drink | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

November 1947: A Mysterious Shooting at the Biltmore

Posted on November 9, 2018 by lmharnisch

    Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project.. Every now and then, research presents you with a story that doesn’t make any sense. Further readings, rather than clarifying anything, only make the … Continue reading →

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Nov. 7, 1947: Santa Makes Second Appearance in Downtown L.A.

Posted on November 7, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project.. You might want to clip and save this for the next time someone complains that the Christmas season comes earlier every year. Santa was a well-traveled … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Comics, Downtown | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Nov. 6, 1947: LAPD Officer Kills Black Suspect in Market Burglary

Posted on November 6, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project.. The Times did absolutely no follow-up to this incident as to whether Everline was tried in the burglary, nor was there any apparent investigation of the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, African Americans, Comics, LAPD | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Nov. 4, 1947: East L.A. Junior College Observes ‘Women’s Week’; Jokes Ensue

Posted on November 4, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project. Nov. 4, 1947: Although it isn’t mentioned, this sounds like a riff on “Sadie Hawkins Day,” founded by “Li’l Abner” cartoonist Al Capp, who has been … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Comics, Education | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Frightening Toys From the 1940s: Glow-in-the-Dark Tom Mix Cowboy Spurs

Posted on November 2, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project. All right, kids, let’s do some math. 1947 take away 1940 leaves 7. That’s how many years Tom Mix has been dead. Now some science… Does … Continue reading →

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On the Comics Page

Posted on October 27, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. Oct. 27, 1907 Los Angeles Along with “Little Nemo,” “Buster Brown” was a popular feature of the Sunday comics. Like other cartoons of the era, such as “The Katzenjammer Kids” and “Foxy … Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, Books and Authors, Comics | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

October 1947: Toyoda of Japan Sells First Postwar Sedan for $5,000

Posted on October 25, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project. 1957—Toyota Motors announces plans to enter the U.S. market with a four-seat “midget car” ($1,000-$1,200) and a six-seat Toyopet Crown De Luxe ($2,200). The Land Cruiser … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Comics, Transportation | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Oct. 20, 1907: Winsor McCay, ‘Little Nemo’ and The Imp

Posted on October 20, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. Oct. 20, 1907 Los Angeles Winsor McCay and his cartoons never completely go out of fashion and are periodically rediscovered—as in the current Taschen anthology. He was a fabulous artist and his … Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, Books and Authors, Comics | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Oct. 19, 1947: Times Political Editor Kyle Palmer Waves the Banner for Earl Warren

Posted on October 19, 2018 by lmharnisch

  Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project. RIVERSIDE, Oct. 18.—Gov. Earl Warren was formally and officially called on here today by the executive committee of the California Republican State Central Committee to … Continue reading →

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