Category Archives: #courts

Alcala Appeals Conviction for Murder of Girl

Posted on February 14, 2011 by lmharnisch

Feb. 14, 1981: Rodney James Alcala appeals his death sentence in the killing of Robin Samsoe, 12, of Huntington Beach. Alcala, a former typist in The Times composing room, was convicted of kidnapping Robin after approaching her and a friend … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1981, Crime and Courts, Homicide | 1 Comment

Communists Use Porn to Attack U.S. Morals, Sociologist Says

Posted on February 13, 2011 by lmharnisch

Feb. 13, 1961: Who is this sociologist who warns that pornography “is part of a Communist-inspired effort to break down American character?” Alas, The Times doesn’t identify him — or her. And details are sketchy … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1961, art and artists, Comics, Crime and Courts | 1 Comment

Editor Falls to His Death From Hollywood Landmark

Posted on February 12, 2011 by lmharnisch

6331 Hollywood Blvd., now the Scientology HQ, via Google maps’ street view. Nothing about Norman Siegel’s death made any sense. The former publicist, now working as the West Coast editor of … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1961, Crime and Courts, Hollywood, Suicide | 1 Comment

Pages of History — Morrow Mayo’s ‘Los Angeles’

Posted on February 9, 2011 by lmharnisch

For many people, this will be an exercise in tedium. But I’m hopeful that the research fanatics among the Daily Mirror readers will find it engaging. I’m going to spend some time on Morrow Mayo’s “Los Angeles” to … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1927, Another Good Story Ruined, books, Crime and Courts, LAPD, Marion Parker | 3 Comments

Paul Coates, Feb. 6, 1961

Posted on February 6, 2011 by lmharnisch

Feb. 6, 1961: A religious group moves into a vacant storefront next to a country-Western bar and Paul Coates has the rest of the story… Richard Daniel Johnson, owner of the Eaton Canyon Riding Club, is … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1961, Columnists, Crime and Courts, Food and Drink, Front Pages, Homicide | Comments Off

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Feb. 1, 1941

Posted on February 1, 2011 by lmharnisch

Feb. 1. 1941: Tom Treanor writes about the collision of his impressions of English resolve against the Nazis with that of reporters who had been based in London. Treanor says Edward Beattie of United Press … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1941, art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Tom Treanor | Comments Off

Jan. 26, 1961, Paul Coates

Posted on January 26, 2011 by lmharnisch

Jan. 26, 1961: Paul Coates has the latest example of the recurring stories the Mirror published about petty intimidation by LAPD officers, under Chief William H. Parker, particularly traffic officers. ALSO Justice Strained

Posted in #courts, Columnists, Crime and Courts, Downtown, Front Pages, Matt Weinstock, Paul Coates | Comments Off

Wife Seeks Divorce After Learning Mother-in-Law is Black

Posted on January 25, 2011 by lmharnisch

Jan. 25, 1911: Divorce proceedings reveal the peculiar tale of Elda P. Kenny/Kenney and her husband, Robert. The Kenneys married in Cleveland in 1902 and moved to Los Angeles shortly thereafter, The Times says. In … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Countdown to Watts, Crime and Courts | 7 Comments

Another Good Story Ruined – The Black Dahlia

Posted on January 19, 2011 by lmharnisch

I was talking about the Black Dahlia case the other day to someone who pulled up this picture on a cellphone. Looks great, doesn’t it? But it’s a fake. Here, I’ll show you. ALSO Another Good Story Ruined … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Another Good Story Ruined, books, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Photography | 3 Comments

Death Reveals ‘Burglar’ Is Suspicious Husband in Disguise

Posted on January 18, 2011 by lmharnisch

Jan. 18, 1911: Jealousy takes a tragic turn in Long Beach as a suspicious husband tries to catch his wife cheating on him with a house guest and is shot to death when the … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Countdown to Watts, Crime and Courts, Homicide, Long Beach | Comments Off

In Remembrance, Elizabeth Short

Posted on January 15, 2011 by lmharnisch

The Daily Mirror is dark today.

Posted in #courts, Crime and Courts, Homicide, LAPD | Comments Off

USC Fraternity Pledges Stealing Hotel Spittoons!

Posted on January 13, 2011 by lmharnisch

Jan. 13, 1911: The population of Los Angeles is 319,198, The Times says. In our bustling city, USC fraternity pledges are caught stealing spittoons from hotels … a post office official is accused of taking items … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, art and artists, City Hall, Comics, Crime and Courts, Education, Fashion | Comments Off

Philip K. Scheuer, Town Called Hollywood, Jan. 12, 1941

Posted on January 12, 2011 by lmharnisch

Jan. 12, 1941: Fantasound — by its own name or any other name — is here to stay, and Walt Disney is going right ahead with plans for it. I had a long talk with him … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, LAPD | 1 Comment

L.A. Serial Killer Suspect Kills Himself in Jail

Posted on January 12, 2011 by lmharnisch

Jan. 12, 1981: Vernon Butts, a suspect with William Bonin in the Freeway Killer case, hangs himself with a towel in his cell at the Los Angeles County Jail. He was 23. People are struggling to … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, art and artists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Food and Drink, Homicide | Comments Off

Jimmie Fidler in Europe, Jan. 8, 1941

Posted on January 8, 2011 by lmharnisch

Jan. 8, 1941: Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier, the “perfect lovers,” had an out-loud row just before sailing for Europe — and almost went in opposite directions, Jimmie Fidler says. Keeping reading for more on the … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Columnists, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, LAPD | Comments Off

Hollywood at War

Posted on January 8, 2011 by lmharnisch

Studio executive Walter Wanger (d. 1968) describes how World War II is affecting the motion picture industry in this Nov. 15, 1942, article. He notes that movie audiences are increasing, and suggests that because of gas … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood | 1 Comment

The Black Dahlia — Another Good Story Ruined

Posted on January 5, 2011 by lmharnisch

he anniversary of Elizabeth Short’s killing is Jan. 15, so I thought I would try to anticipate the annual rehash of fiction and mistakes with a post commenting on potential sources on the 1947 case. People often ask me which … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1947, Another Good Story Ruined, books, Crime and Courts, Homicide, LAPD | 6 Comments

Paul Coates, Jan. 3, 1961

Posted on January 3, 2011 by lmharnisch

Jan. 3, 1961: The Los Angeles-Long Beach metropolitan area surpasses Chicago as the second-largest urban area, although Chicago is still ranked the second city, census figures show. … and Paul Coates writes about his “jail mail,” including … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1961, Columnists, Crime and Courts, From the Vaults, Paul Coates | Comments Off

On the Frontiers of Fashion

Posted on January 3, 2011 by lmharnisch

Jan. 3, 1936: Los Angeles County Superior Court judges begin wearing robes at the suggestion of California Supreme Court Chief Justice William H. Waste. Not all judges like wearing robes and some continue to appear on … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1936, Crime and Courts, Fashion | 1 Comment

Paul Coates, Dec. 30, 1960

Posted on December 30, 2010 by lmharnisch

Dec. 30, 1960: Academy Award winners Gale Sondergaard, Albert Maltz and Nedrick Young are among 12 Hollywood figures suing the studios over being blacklisted. The suit was brought by A.L. Wirin under the Sherman Antitrust Act. And Paul … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Crime and Courts, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Paul Coates | Comments Off