Category Archives: Comics

Confessions of a Horse Thief

Posted on November 7, 2009 by lmharnisch

  "Buster Brown" visits Athens.   Nov. 7, 1909: A 25-year-old man describes his downfall, including stealing horses and betting money on baseball games. "Tell the young men that sin always brings suffering," Robert Perry says.

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Matt Weinstock, Nov. 6, 1959

Posted on November 6, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Racing the Stork     A woman in the throes of becoming a mother was being driven to General Hospital by a  neighbor one night recently and as they reached the Civic Center it became apparent they weren't going to … Continue reading →

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The Problem of Vice

Posted on November 6, 2009 by lmharnisch

Clare Briggs on golf.   Nov. 6, 1919: A judge blames gambling and other forms of vice at a Spring Street hotel on the lack of a segregated vice district. "It is one of the penalties we have to pay … Continue reading →

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November 5, 1959: Matt Weinstock

Posted on November 5, 2009 by lmharnisch

The Tax Bite Tuesday was the day of the big blow.  No, it wasn’t windy.  It was the day the tax bills hit the fan. The resultant moans have ranged from low and plaintive, tapering off into controlled disgust, to … Continue reading →

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Matt Weinstock, Nov. 4, 1959

Posted on November 4, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Confused Stranger     Let us stipulate that people are rushing into the L.A. area at the rate of 640 — or is it 704? — a day and it is inevitable that there are strangers in our midst.  Now … Continue reading →

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Matt Weinstock, Nov. 3, 1959

Posted on November 3, 2009 by lmharnisch

      Lockheed has plans for a monorail system for Southern California. Haven in Cyprus     How does it go, one may wonder, with those resolute citizens who muster the courage to drop everything and leave the rat race for … Continue reading →

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A New Comic in The Times

Posted on November 3, 2009 by lmharnisch

Beginning in October 1919, The Times added “Gasoline Alley” to its daily comics, which included “The Gumps,” “Mutt and Jeff” and “When a Feller Needs a Friend” – or whatever Clare Briggs titled his strip that day.  Nov. 3, 1919: … Continue reading →

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Matt Weinstock, Nov. 2, 1959

Posted on November 2, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Power of a Pet     An old man whose increasing bitterness in his last years antagonized his family and friends died recently.  Despite their feeling toward him and toward each other because of him, they all came to the … Continue reading →

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Matt Weinstock, Oct. 31, 1959

Posted on October 31, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Still another panel you'll never see in the legacy version of "Peanuts." Eccentric? Us?     Deserved or not, people in Los Angeles have acquired a reputation for eccentricity.  Today there's evidence that we normal, ordinary folk may be the … Continue reading →

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Halloween Pranks

Posted on October 31, 2009 by lmharnisch

 A cheese elephant from “The Terrors of the Tiny Tads” by Gustave Verbeck/Verbeek. A five-passenger Cadillac is stolen – police say it’s a prank. Oct. 31, 1909: Three motorcyclists are charged with going almost 30 mph, in violation of the … Continue reading →

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October 29, 1959: Matt Weinstock

Posted on October 29, 2009 by lmharnisch

No Boredom Today The girls in classified are a little dewy-eyed today over a Public Announcement ad.  It states simply, “Happy birthday, pretty Beverly.”  But there’s more to it than that. Beverly, whoever she is, frequently remarks that nothing exciting … Continue reading →

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The ‘Unwritten Law’ on Homicide

Posted on October 26, 2009 by lmharnisch

Halloween with R.F. Outcault’s Buster Brown. Oct. 26, 1919: The “unwritten law,” that a husband was justified in killing any man who romanced his wife, appears frequently in The Times and was cited as a defense for decades – often … Continue reading →

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Hula Dance Craze Sweeps New York

Posted on October 23, 2009 by lmharnisch

Clare Briggs, “When a Feller Needs a Friend.” Oct. 23, 1919: Harry Carr, one of The Times' best-known writers, files a series of vignettes from New York. He says that prohibition is lightly enforced and that it’s still easy to … Continue reading →

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October 22, 1959: Matt Weinstock

Posted on October 22, 2009 by lmharnisch

Brace Yourself   As you have read, Gov. Brown announced the other day that he was through with proclamation business.  Too much time and energy were expended, he said, in calling attention to such inspirational events as Don’t Race Your Motor … Continue reading →

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Jealousy Leads to Murder and Suicide

Posted on October 22, 2009 by lmharnisch

“Somebody Is Always Taking the Joy Out of Life” by Clare Briggs. Oct. 22, 1919: Mrs. Zola Schmidt was  killed as she slept … while holding a letter from another man. 916 W. 9th, the scene of the crime. “I … Continue reading →

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October 15, 1959: Matt Weinstock

Posted on October 15, 2009 by lmharnisch

The Chessman Case How, under the law, can a man be left dangling between life an death for 11 years?  That’s what people are asking in the strange case of Caryl Chessman, due to be gassed in San Quentin Oct. … Continue reading →

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October 14, 1959: Matt Weinstock

Posted on October 14, 2009 by lmharnisch

Red Wine Man This is wine week and while I am not knocking the old fashioned (with plain water, without the fruit salad) or minimizing the fiery Martini (I’m crazy about big green olives, with pimiento) or even bourbon and … Continue reading →

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October 13, 1959: Matt Weinstock

Posted on October 13, 2009 by lmharnisch

Linus seems to have rather adult emotions about his teacher in this panel — not appearing in the legacy version of “Peanuts.” No Shoes but New Wheels The report that a mother was keeping her children out of school because … Continue reading →

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President Visits L.A.!

Posted on October 11, 2009 by lmharnisch

Over the years, Edmund Waller “Ted” Gale drew many variations on “Miss Los Angeles” before adopting the best known version, a Latina. Above, here she is in 1909, welcoming President Taft. At right, Miss Los Angeles, Feb. 26, 1920 l … Continue reading →

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Driver Trapped in Crushed Car

Posted on October 10, 2009 by lmharnisch

Oct. 10, 1959: The obituary of Carl Frank Ludwig Ed (pronounced "Eed"), creator of “Harold Teen,” makes the front page. Firefighters use hydraulic jacks to free Thomas Kerry Richmond, 16, who crashed into an abutment beneath the Southern Pacific overpass … Continue reading →

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