Category Archives: Downtown

Matt Weinstock, April 5, 1961

Posted on April 5, 2011 by lmharnisch

       April 5, 1961: Anyone who patrols the downtown beat becomes accustomed to odd sights. There are the resolute pigeon feeders and the sad characters who poke through refuse cans for hidden treasure. There are the men with … Continue reading →

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Chicken Boy

Posted on March 15, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photograph by Bruce Cox/Los Angeles Times Feb. 5, 1970: Behold the wonder of Chicken Boy on the roof of a restaurant on Broadway near 5th Street in downtown Los Angeles. In 1977, Art Seidenbaum looked at oversized signs as part … Continue reading →

Posted in 1970, 1977, Architecture, art and artists, Art Seidenbaum, Downtown, Food and Drink, Photography | 2 Comments

Found on EBay — Rube Wolf

Posted on March 12, 2011 by lmharnisch

This poster from the 1935 showing of “The President Vanishes” at the Paramount Theatre has been listed on EBay. Fans of vintage typography (you know who you are) this is for you! Bidding starts at $400, which is too rich … Continue reading →

Posted in 1935, Downtown, Film, Found on EBay, Hollywood, Music | Comments Off on Found on EBay — Rube Wolf

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, March 10, 1941

Posted on March 10, 2011 by lmharnisch

        March 10, 1941: Lee Shippey notes the passing of the Lyceum Theater, formerly the Los Angeles, built in 1888.  Tom Treanor has the story of four visiting opera singers who are so engaged in their discussion … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Downtown, Film, Hollywood, Lee Shippey, Stage, Tom Treanor | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, March 10, 1941

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on February 3, 2011 by lmharnisch

         Photo courtesy of Marc Wanamaker/Bison Archives   Harry Medved, a Daily Mirror reader, sends along this picture. And stay tuned for more information! [Update: As many people realized, this is the filming of the 1958 movie … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Downtown, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 18 Comments

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 on Jan. 26, 1961, Paul Coates

Movieland Mystery Photo — Updated

Posted on December 26, 2010 by lmharnisch

      Los Angeles Times file photo   I came across a big file on film crews and I thought they would make entertaining mystery photos. Rather than a mystery guest of the week, I’ll post one a day … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 13 Comments

Matt Weinstock, Dec. 16, 1960

Posted on December 16, 2010 by lmharnisch

       Dec. 16, 1960: Matt Weinstock has the story of a cat that was taken to West Hollywood because its Bunker Hill home was to be torn down, but made its way back because it was evidently homesick.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, art and artists, classical music, Columnists, Comics, Downtown, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock, Dec. 16, 1960

Matt Weinstock, Dec. 15, 1960

Posted on December 15, 2010 by lmharnisch

       The surprise plot turn: a brilliant scientist and his beautiful daughter! I wonder if MST3K ever did comic strips. Dec. 15, 1960: Matt Weinstock writes about a longtime resident of Los Angeles who is horrified to discover … Continue reading →

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Autry Gets Angels!

Posted on December 7, 2010 by lmharnisch

        Dec. 7, 1960: The Angels were official. Gene Autry's team would play in Wrigley Field instead of the Coliseum or Rose Bowl, apparently seeing the old minor league ballpark as a better financial deal even though … Continue reading →

Posted in Dodgers, Downtown, Sports | 3 Comments

What to See in L.A., 1924

Posted on December 1, 2010 by lmharnisch

      I don’t post much on the 1920s (so many stories, only one Larry Harnisch) but I stumbled across this feature page when looking for something else and found several interesting pieces. The first is a long interview … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, art and artists, Downtown, Film, Hollywood | Comments Off on What to See in L.A., 1924

Matt Weinstock, Nov. 21, 1960

Posted on November 21, 2010 by lmharnisch

       Nov. 21, 1960: Matt Weinstock notes that the fire hydrant outside the new state building at 2nd and Hill streets is in the gutter because the street was widened during construction and nobody can agree on who … Continue reading →

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November 19, 1960: Gene Autry a Contender in American League Expansion Team

Posted on November 19, 2010 by lmharnisch

Nov. 19, 1960: Hank Greenberg, former baseball star who was part owner of the Chicago White Sox, was out as the potential bidder for the American League baseball team hoping to start play in Los Angeles in 1961. So who … Continue reading →

Posted in Dodgers, Downtown, Sports | 1 Comment

Corners of Los Angeles – 5th and Hill

Posted on November 12, 2010 by lmharnisch

            I stumbled across one of these features recently and thought I’d post another. This one is from April 8, 1929. Ben S. Lemmon was a telegraph editor at The Times and wrote occasionally for … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Downtown | Comments Off on Corners of Los Angeles – 5th and Hill

Lakers Playing to Empty Seats

Posted on November 5, 2010 by lmharnisch

    Nov. 5, 1960: Don Page was worried about the Lakers. No one was watching. "Bigger crowds have watched knitting tournaments than have viewed the Lakers thus far," wrote Page, The Times' radio columnist. He blamed the lack of … Continue reading →

Posted in broadcasting, Downtown, Lakers, Television | Comments Off on Lakers Playing to Empty Seats

Found on EBay – Belasco Theater

Posted on November 2, 2010 by lmharnisch

    Here’s an interesting postcard of Main and 4th streets that was mailed in 1908. Notice that it shows the Belasco Theater, which eventually became the Follies Burlesque. The postcard is listed on EBay for $5. On the jump, … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Photography | Comments Off on Found on EBay – Belasco Theater

Stengel Top Choice to Coach New L.A. Team

Posted on November 1, 2010 by lmharnisch

      Nov. 1, 1960: The new American League team heading to Los Angeles seemed to be stockpiling star power. Hank Greenberg, a Hall of Fame slugger turned businessman, was putting together his bid for the franchise, which would … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Sports | 2 Comments

The Biltmore Doorman

Posted on November 1, 2010 by lmharnisch

    Nov. 1, 1960: I always have my eye out for stories about doormen at the Biltmore after researching the often-repeated myth about the “noble doorman” at the hotel, tipping his cap and opening the door for the Black … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Politics | Comments Off on The Biltmore Doorman

Victor the Flower Vendor

Posted on October 22, 2010 by lmharnisch

        Oct. 22, 1910: The LAPD cracks down on sidewalk peddlers and beggars outside the Merchants’ National Bank at 3rd and Spring streets. But what to do with Victor, the poor flower vendor?

Posted in #courts, Downtown, Fashion, LAPD | Comments Off on Victor the Flower Vendor

The Story of ‘Stiff-Neck Ben’

Posted on October 9, 2010 by lmharnisch

  I ran across a reference to “Stiff-Neck Ben” Boynton in the transcripts of the Clarence Darrow trial. In 1906, he was running the biggest poker game in town, according to The Times,  at 144 S. Main St. “In the … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Downtown | Comments Off on The Story of ‘Stiff-Neck Ben’