Category Archives: Comics

August 10, 1958: A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Comics

Posted on August 10, 2025 by lmharnisch

August 10, 1958: Ernie Bushmiller’s “Nancy,” in which Nancy and Sluggo unravel a mystery.

Posted in art and artists, Comics | Comments Off

Matt Weinstock, Aug. 9, 1960

Posted on August 9, 2025 by lmharnisch

August 9, 1960: Matt Weinstock writes about a story that was told at the farewell party for Paul Weeks (d. 2007), who was leaving to become the Mirror’s Washington correspondent. Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Comics, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off

L.A. Welcomes Harbor Freeway Extension With Four-Block Traffic Jam

Posted on August 8, 2025 by lmharnisch

August 8, 1953: If you build it, they will drive. New extension of Harbor Freeway results in four-block traffic jam. And a Marine deserter is killed by a liquor store owner during an attempted robbery. Continue reading →

Posted in 1953, African Americans, Comics, Film, Freeways, Hollywood, LAPD, Transportation | Tagged 1953, African Americans, comics, film, hollywood, lapd | Comments Off

1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip by Louella Parsons, Aug. 8, 1944.

Posted on August 8, 2025 by lmharnisch

August 8, 1944: Clark Gable has never looked more handsome than he does with a little gray in his hair. Clark says he’s interested in doing the biopic “Lucky Baldwin,” Louella Parsons says. Horoscope: : Cheerful outlook for ambitious, venturesome Leo. Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, World War II | Tagged 1944, comics, film, hollywood, Louella, World War II | Comments Off

1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip by Louella Parsons, Aug. 7, 1944

Posted on August 7, 2025 by lmharnisch

August 7, 1944: Gail Patrick says the honeymoon is over now that she has to go back to work on “Brewster’s Millions,” Louella Parsons says. Horoscope for Leo: Some a.m. benefic influences, that’s about all today. Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, World War II | Tagged 1944, comics, film, hollywood, Louella Parsons, World War II | 2 Comments

1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip by Louella Parsons, Aug. 5, 1944

Posted on August 5, 2025 by lmharnisch

August 5, 1944: Veronica Lake might not get cast in ‘Duel in the Sun’ as she’s starring in Miss Susie Slagle’s at RKO, Louella Parsons says. If your birthday is today: Things may appear a little difficult. Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood | Tagged 1944, comics, film, hollywood, horoscope, Louella Parsons | Comments Off

1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip by Louella Parsons, Aug. 1, 1944

Posted on August 1, 2025 by lmharnisch

August 1, 1944: Clark Gable is up for the biopic ‘The Life of Lucky Baldwin,’ says Louella Parsons. Horoscope for Leo: Similar indications for you as for Cancer now. Extra care advised in plans, arrangements for important projects. You can enjoy a useful day. Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood | Tagged 1944, comics, film, hollywood, Louella Parsons, Louis B. Mayer | Comments Off

1944 in Print — Walter Winchell and Louella Parsons, July 31, 1944

Posted on July 31, 2025 by lmharnisch

July 31, 1944: Walter Winchell has the latest on Otto Preminger’s hit film ‘Laura,’ while Louella Parsons dishes on Mary Pickford. If today is your birthday, If you keep emotions sensibly controlled you need not fear difficult spots today may produce. Chin up, be enthusiastic. You’ll shine as you usually do. Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Comics, Film, Hollywood | Tagged 1944, film, hollywood, Laura, Louella Parsons, Walter Winchell | Comments Off

Matt Weinstock, July 26, 1960

Posted on July 26, 2025 by lmharnisch

July 26, 1960: Matt Weinstock asks whether standing ovations are necessary. Abby publishes a letter from a widow who had written in asking whether she should remarry. She did! Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off

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 art and artists, comics, hollywood, Mary Mallory | Comments Off

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 #Jean Arthur, #Jim Tully, #Kathryn Grayson, #Mary Astor, #Peggy Drake, #Victor Mature | 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 #Gene Autry, #Marlene Dietrich, #Pearl Harbor | Comments Off

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 #courts, #death penalty, #DTLA, #Gas Chamber, 1963, Arcadia, film, hollywood, homicide | Comments Off

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 | Comments Off

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 →

Posted in 1947, City Hall, Comics, LAPD | Tagged 1947, City Hall, comics, lapd | Comments Off

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 10 eggs, 1947, 4 cups flour, crime and courts, food and drink, Frightening Food From the 1940s, fruitcake, obscenity | Comments Off

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 →

Posted in 1947, Comics, Crime and Courts, LAPD | Tagged 1947, child abuse, crime and courts, lapd | Comments Off

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 →

Posted in 1947, Comics, Middle East | Tagged 1947, comics, Middle East | Comments Off

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 →

Posted in 1947, Aviation, Comics, Crime and Courts | Tagged 1947, airlines, aviation, comics, crime and cops, drug smuggling | Comments Off

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 1947, Chicago, comics, crime and courts, higher education, UCLA | 1 Comment