Category Archives: Downtown

The Black Dahlia and Downtown L.A. at Night, 1946

Posted on March 29, 2012 by lmharnisch

Photo: Man with a slate in footage shot for “Down to Earth.” My friends over at the 1947project have found some process footage that was filmed about April 1946 for the Columbia feature “Down to Earth.” It’s unfortunate that they … Continue reading →

Posted in Another Good Story Ruined, Architecture, Black Dahlia, Downtown, Film, Hollywood, Preservation, Theaters | Tagged , , | 11 Comments

Random Shot: N.Y. = L.A.

Posted on February 23, 2012 by lmharnisch

Look what I found last night outside the Last Book Store at 5th and Spring.

Posted in Books and Authors, Downtown, Film, Hollywood, Photography | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Random Shot: Goodbye Whitney Houston

Posted on February 18, 2012 by lmharnisch

The Los Angeles Theatre was lit up with a tribute to Whitney Houston when I went to dinner last night, so I took a picture. Twilight was beautiful in downtown Los Angeles, which was bathed in those minutes of “magic … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Photography, Theaters | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo – Architecture Edition

Posted on February 15, 2012 by lmharnisch

The more intriguing mystery of “The Public Enemy” is the department store used in the early part of the film. Recall that our young ruffians run through an unidentified department store, committing all sorts of mischief and aggravated mopery. One … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Downtown, Fashion, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , | 23 Comments

FBI Smashes Nazi Spy Ring in Beverly Hills: 3 Sent Coded Letters to Third Reich

Posted on January 29, 2012 by lmharnisch

Jan. 29, 1942: The FBI accuses Dr. Hans Helmut Gros, his wife, Frances, and Albrecht Rudolf Curt Reuter of belonging to a Nazi spy ring. According to allegations, Gros, of 328 N. Maple Drive, sent letters to purported relatives that … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Downtown, Film, Hollywood, Jimmie Fidler, LAPD, Streetcars, Theaters, Transportation, World War II | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Black Dahlia at 65

Posted on January 15, 2012 by lmharnisch

Photo: Lobby of the Biltmore Hotel, Jan. 9, 2012, 6:30 p.m. Credit: Larry Harnisch/L.A. Daily Mirror. I wandered over to the Biltmore on Monday night to keep my annual appointment. I’m not compulsive about being there, and I don’t bother … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Another Good Story Ruined, Architecture, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Donald Wolfe, Downtown, Film, History, Hollywood, LAPD | Tagged , | 24 Comments

The Bradbury Building and the Mystery of ‘China Girl’ [Updated +]

Posted on January 14, 2012 by lmharnisch

This is an establishing shot from the 1942 feature “China Girl,” which was obviously filmed in the Bradbury Building. Or was it? [Update: If this is a set, as it appears to be, where did Twentieth Century-Fox build it? People … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Another Good Story Ruined, Architecture, Downtown, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography, Uncategorized | Tagged | 26 Comments

The Black Dahlia: Biltmore Hotel

Posted on January 11, 2012 by lmharnisch

Photo 1: Biltmore Hotel, Jan. 9, 2012, 6:30 p.m. Credit: Larry Harnisch Photo 2: Biltmore Hotel, 1940s The top photo shows the old lobby of the Biltmore on Monday as it was on the anniversary of the night Elizabeth Short … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Architecture, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Donald Wolfe, Downtown, Film, Hollywood, Interior Design, LAPD | Tagged , | 19 Comments

Found on EBay – Hotel Alexandria

Posted on January 8, 2012 by lmharnisch

A pitcher from the Hotel Alexandria at Spring and 5th streets has been listed on EBay. In the early 20th century, the Alexandria was one of Los Angeles’ most distinguished hotels. It has withstood several cycles of poverty and restoration, … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Found on EBay, Interior Design | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Found on EBay – Hotel Alexandria

Happy New Year From the Daily Mirror

Posted on January 1, 2012 by lmharnisch

Photo: Looking south on Broadway at 3rd Street, via Google’s Street View. Jan. 1, 1942: Downtown Los Angeles is oddly quiet on New Year’s Eve after police and military authorities banned the regular street celebrations. Hotels and nightclubs were sold … Continue reading →

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L.A. Christmas Card, 1911

Posted on December 18, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: Olive and 5th via Google’s Street View. Notice the vacant lot where Philharmonic Auditorium used to be. Demolition is forever. This truly awesome 1911 Christmas card, showing Philharmonic Auditorium and part of what is now Pershing Square, has been listed … Continue reading →

Posted in 1911, Architecture, Downtown, Preservation, Theaters | Tagged , | 6 Comments

Location Sleuth – ‘Between Midnight and Dawn’

Posted on December 11, 2011 by lmharnisch

Hey, it’s the Florentine Gardens! Here it is via Google’s Street View. I was watching the 1950 Columbia film “Between Midnight and Dawn” and several locations caught my eye. The first one is an aerial view during the credits that … Continue reading →

Posted in 1950, Architecture, City Hall, Downtown, Film, Hollywood, Location Sleuth | Tagged , | 7 Comments

Found on EBay – Harrison Gray Otis

Posted on December 1, 2011 by lmharnisch

An interesting bit of Los Angeles Times memorabilia has turned up on EBay. This is a Sept. 4, 1911, letter from Harrison Gray Otis (notice that he didn’t use his military title) to Drayton Pitts, acknowledging the receipt of a … Continue reading →

Posted in 1910, 1911, 1912, Downtown, Found on EBay | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Found on EBay – Chocolate Shop

Posted on November 17, 2011 by lmharnisch

217 W. 6th St. via Google Street View. A wooden box from the Chocolate Shop has been listed on EBay. The shops were located at 211 W. 5th St., 217 W. 6th St., 731 S. Broadway and 20 E. Colorado … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Batchelder Tile, Downtown, Food and Drink, Found on EBay | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Crowds Line Broadway for Armistice Day Parade, Nov. 12, 1941

Posted on November 12, 2011 by lmharnisch

We just don’t get deep thoughts in comics anymore. Nov. 12, 1941: Crowds line Broadway in downtown Los Angeles for the annual Armistice Day parade, which marked the end of what used to be called the Great War or the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, A Kinder, Simpler Time, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Downtown, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Streetcars, Theaters, Tom Treanor, Transportation, World War II | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Roosevelt Declares Early Thanksgiving

Posted on November 9, 2011 by lmharnisch

Nov. 9, 1941: Amid the gathering clouds of World War II, President Roosevelt declares what will be the last peacetime Thanksgiving. Noting American aid to nations fighting the Axis, Roosevelt says: “Let us ask the divine blessing of our decision … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, Columnists, Crime and Courts, Downtown, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Religion, World War II | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Found on EBay – Clifton’s Pacific Seas

Posted on November 3, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: 618 S. Olive via Google’s Street View. This postcard of Clifton’s Pacific Seas (d. 1960), postmarked 1947, has been listed on EBay. The Pacific Seas was at 618 S. Olive and was torn down to make – a parking … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, 1960, Downtown, Found on EBay, Interior Design, Nightclubs, Preservation | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Found on EBay – Oviatt’s

Posted on October 31, 2011 by lmharnisch

This remarkably dazzling tie from Oviatt’s has been listed on EBay. Oviatt’s was one of the leading menswear stores in Los Angeles and is the subject of the 2008 documentary  “The Oviatt Building” by Marc Chevalier and Seth Shulman. Bidding starts … Continue reading →

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Coming Attractions: ‘Of Scrap and Steel’

Posted on October 20, 2011 by lmharnisch

June 18, 1949: “Of Scrap and Steel” is shown at the Union Rescue Mission. Aug. 2, 1952: “Of Scrap and Steel” is shown at San Gabriel Union Church. March 26, 1960: “Of Scrap and Steel” is shown at the Church … Continue reading →

Posted in 1949, Coming Attractions, Downtown, Film | Tagged , | Comments Off on Coming Attractions: ‘Of Scrap and Steel’

Times to Reopen Globe Lobby!

Posted on October 19, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: Hugo Ballin mural in Los Angeles Times Globe Lobby. Credit: Larry Harnisch/LADailyMirror.com The Times has announced that it will reopen the Globe Lobby on Oct. 24, weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Very cool news.

Posted in Architecture, Art & Artists, Downtown | Tagged , | 2 Comments