Category Archives: Downtown

‘Zoot Suit’ and History – Part 2

Posted on June 28, 2011 by lmharnisch

May 9, 1943: Al Capp satirizes zoot suits in a series about “Zoot-Suit Yokum.” In Part 1, we saw that in 1942, The Times originally portrayed zoot suits as a youthful fad, but that attitudes hardened toward them once the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Downtown, Fashion, Film, LAPD, Latinos, World War II, Zoot Suit | Tagged #la, #LAPD, #Latinos, #World War II | 3 Comments

Found on EBay – Biltmore Hotel

Posted on June 26, 2011 by lmharnisch

A set of door hardware from the Biltmore Hotel has been listed on EBay. Biltmore items turn up somewhat often on EBay, but they are usually postcards, menus, tableware, shoehorns, bottle openers, etc. I have never seen this type of … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Downtown, Found on EBay, Interior Design | Tagged #la, Architecture | Comments Off

Location Sleuth: ‘Safety Last’

Posted on June 25, 2011 by lmharnisch

The Los Angeles Conservancy has posted a guide to filming locations for Harold Lloyd’s 1923 film “Safety Last” in conjunction with a showing of the film on June 29 at the Orpheum as part of the Last Remaining Seats series. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1923, Architecture, Books and Authors, Downtown, Film, Hollywood, Location Sleuth, Photography | Comments Off

Coming Attractions: Broadway Theater Tour

Posted on June 23, 2011 by lmharnisch

The Palace Theater, 630 S. Broadway, via Google maps’ street view. Eric Richardson of Blogdowntown reports that the 1911 Palace Theatre, 630 S. Broadway, will be open for self-guided tours from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m on Saturday, June 25, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1911, Architecture, City Hall, Coming Attractions, Downtown, Film, Hollywood, Theaters | Tagged #film, #hollywood, #theaters, Architecture | 5 Comments

Los Angeles Tattoo Shops, 1943

Posted on June 17, 2011 by lmharnisch

This is one of my favorite discoveries from the city archives, a description of tattoo shops in Los Angeles by an anonymous citizen. Los Angeles City Council File 15670 September 2, 1943 Dear Sir, I recently made an investigation of … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, Art & Artists, City Hall, Crime and Courts, Downtown, Libraries, Photography, World War II | 5 Comments

Heresy on L.A. Streetcars!

Posted on June 15, 2011 by lmharnisch

My hair (or what’s left of it) stood on end when I read this portion of Tim Rutten’s column on Wednesday about Rick Caruso’s mayoral campaign: Mythology has it that the old Red Cars were killed by a conspiracy, but … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Columnists, Downtown, Politics, Transportation | 7 Comments

Found on EBay – 345 S. Broadway

Posted on June 13, 2011 by lmharnisch

This postcard showing the interior of the H.J. Whitley & Co. jewelry store, 345 S. Broadway, has been listed on EBay. The store opened on Dec. 9, 1903, (yes, just in time for Christmas) and was a branch of the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1903, Architecture, Downtown, Found on EBay, Interior Design, Music, Photography | 1 Comment

Random Shot – Downtown

Posted on June 8, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photograph by Larry Harnisch / Los Angeles Times Don’t go looking for this. It’s gone. I found it the other day while walking from The Times to the library, but when I went back Tuesday to show it to someone, … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Downtown, Photography | 1 Comment

Found on EBay – Symphony Theater

Posted on May 28, 2011 by lmharnisch

A photograph of what appears to be the opening of Harold Lloyd’s 1921 “Never Weaken” has been listed on EBay. The vendor erroneously says that the theater is the Mason Opera House, but The Times … Continue reading →

Posted in 1914, 1923, Architecture, Downtown, Film, Found on EBay | 4 Comments

Found on EBay – Angels Flight

Posted on May 9, 2011 by lmharnisch

Postcards of Angels Flight are fairly common, but I can’t say I have ever seen one taken from this perspective on 3rd Street. Bidding starts at $6.89.

Posted in Downtown, Photography, Transportation | Comments Off

Found on EBay — Mystery Postcard [Updated]

Posted on May 7, 2011 by lmharnisch

[Update: What’s wrong with this postcard? Notice City Hall way down the block? Please congratulate Cat Murray for recognizing this as Broadway, not Spring Street. ] This postcard of downtown Los Angeles has been listed on … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Mystery Photo, Photography, Transportation | 4 Comments

From the Stacks – ‘Portraits of Crime’ (1977)

Posted on April 29, 2011 by lmharnisch

Two years after writing about LAPD Det. Ector Garcia, I finally located a copy of his book, “Portraits of Crime,” which arrived in the mail from the U.K. while I was on vacation. No one will ever mistake … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1977, books, Crime and Courts, Downtown, From the Stacks, Hollywood, Hollywood Division, Homicide, LAPD, Pages of History, San Fernando Valley, Venice Division, West Hollywood, Zombie Reading List | 1 Comment

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 →

Posted in 1961, art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Downtown, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off

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

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

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

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