Category Archives: Comics

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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Crowd Roars Welcome to Dodgers

Posted on October 10, 2009 by lmharnisch

Oct. 10, 1959: L.A. welcomes Dodgers. NBC game show producer Howard Felsher says 75% of "Tic Tac Dough" was rigged. Hey, it’s “The Crawling Eye” with Forrest Tucker! That would make a nice double-feature with “Fiend Without a Face.” And … Continue reading →

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October 8, 1959: Matt Weinstock

Posted on October 8, 2009 by lmharnisch

Hollywood Intellectual Eugene Vale, author of “The Thirteenth Apostle,” lives and works a few blocks from Sunset and Laurel Canyon Blvds., rendezvous of actors, entertainers, agents and horse players, and fountainhead of glib, superficial wisecracks about Hollywood. Yet out of … Continue reading →

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Dodgers, Braves Tie for Pennant

Posted on September 28, 2009 by lmharnisch

The Dodgers and Braves would meet in a best-of-three playoff series to determine the National League representative in the World Series. Both teams won their regular-season finales to stay tied for first. The Dodgers beat the Cubs, 7-1, and the Braves beat … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Comics, Dodgers, Film, Homicide | 1 Comment

White Sox vs. Reds in World Series

Posted on September 28, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 28, 1919: "Buster Brown" takes a look at what causes homelessness. LAPD Sgt. Frank Harlan talks about the motorcycle unit: "The worst offenders we have to contend with are boys under 20 and new drivers. Many of the latter … Continue reading →

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The Tax Man Comes for Mickey Cohen; Covering the Mets

Posted on September 25, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 25, 1969: A typical screamer headline we put on the late final edition, which was for street sales. The front page of the home delivery edition didn't look like this. The National Commission on the Causes and Prevention of … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, art and artists, Comics, Education, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Jack Smith, Mickey Cohen, Sports | 1 Comment

UCLA Fires Angela Davis; Meet Halo Harry

Posted on September 24, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 24, 1969: Johnny Hart on the new incivility. The late Ken Reich interviews Angela Davis. Reich writes: Angela Davis, 25, says her role in the "struggle for black liberation" had marked her as a special target for the University … Continue reading →

Posted in #gays and lesbians, art and artists, Comics, Education, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Politics, Sports | 1 Comment