Category Archives: Downtown

Found on EBay: Pershing Square Cannon

Posted on March 4, 2010 by lmharnisch

  You may recall a post I did last year on Pershing Square’s missing cannon, which vanished after being moved to Travel Town in Griffith Park. Here’s a 1905 postcard showing the cannon, which has been listed on EBay. Bidding … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Parks and Recreation, Photography | 1 Comment

Everyone Can Find Prostitutes Except the LAPD

Posted on March 3, 2010 by lmharnisch

  March 3, 1910: Everybody in Los Angeles can find the city’s brothels – except the police, The Times says. Especially that place at 316 1/2 S. Spring St. There’s more on the jump, plus the crazy “Pawnshop Wife” … … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, LAPD | 1 Comment

Fiery Train Wreck Kills 17

Posted on March 2, 2010 by lmharnisch

The San Francisco Santa Fe Chief smashes into an oil tank truck and trailer 12 miles west of Bakersfield. March 2, 1960: Gov. Pat Brown gives up hope that the California Legislature will abolish the death penalty …  and Elvis … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Downtown, Music, Rock 'n' Roll, Sports, Stage | Comments Off on Fiery Train Wreck Kills 17

Times Advocates Importing Chinese Workers for Menial Jobs

Posted on March 2, 2010 by lmharnisch

  “It Happens in the Best-Regulated Families,” by Clare Briggs.   March 2, 1920: People – especially women – are drawn by a live model who stands perfectly still in a display window at Harris & Frank’s shop on Spring … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Comics, Downtown, Immigration | Comments Off on Times Advocates Importing Chinese Workers for Menial Jobs

Higgins Building to Add Two Floors

Posted on March 2, 2010 by lmharnisch

  March 1, 1910:  Thomas Higgins is adding two floors to his building at 2nd and Main streets. A century later, downtown hipsters will thank him! On the jump, police make a terrible blunder in putting officers in Chinatown back … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, City Hall, Downtown, LAPD | Comments Off on Higgins Building to Add Two Floors

Downtown Parking Ban to Ease Traffic

Posted on February 28, 2010 by lmharnisch

  To ease congested streets, Los Angeles will ban street parking from Figueroa to Los Angeles streets and 1st to 9th streets. Notice that Spring hasn’t been straightened out yet, another attempt to relieve traffic.    L.O. Keown  and his … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Education, Freeways, Transportation | 1 Comment

Officer’s Shot Saves Partner’s Life

Posted on February 26, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Feb. 26, 1960: Gov. Pat Brown will answer questions about granting a reprieve to Caryl Chessman … and on skid row, Officer V.P. Farmer shoots an ex-convict who is holding a gun to the head of Officer Ernest Searles … Continue reading →

Posted in broadcasting, Caryl Chessman, Downtown, LAPD, Television | Comments Off on Officer’s Shot Saves Partner’s Life

Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, Feb. 25, 1960

Posted on February 25, 2010 by lmharnisch

  On Man's Ingratitude to Man, With 20% Off     Sammy is 46 years old, a newsboy, a coffee-addicted graduate of Judge Clifton's drunk court, and — by his own admission — nobody's angel.     For 30 of his years … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Caryl Chessman, Columnists, Downtown, Front Pages, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, Feb. 25, 1960

Does L.A. Want the Lakers?

Posted on February 23, 2010 by lmharnisch

   Feb. 23, 1960: Minneapolis Lakers owner Bob Short was ahead of his time. Reading comments made by Short to a group of basketball writers, one could assume he owned a team in 2010 rather than 1960. After all, he … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Lakers, Sports | 2 Comments

Matt Weinstock, Feb. 22, 1960

Posted on February 22, 2010 by lmharnisch

The Chessman Furor     Sometimes it is difficult to understand what motivates people.  Example:  Last week's frenzy over Caryl Chessman.     The case has been blundering around for 12 years, picking up a great deal of legal momentum.  But except … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Comics, Downtown, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock, Feb. 22, 1960

Artist’s Notebook: Grand Central Market

Posted on February 20, 2010 by lmharnisch

“Grand Central Market” by Marion Eisenmann Marion Eisenmann and I made an art excursion to Grand Central Market on Broadway last year so she could try out a new Tradio pen on some sketch paper, but she wasn’t happy with … Continue reading →

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Found on EBay — Broadway and 6th

Posted on February 19, 2010 by lmharnisch

This postcard view looking north on Broadway from 6th Street, showing the Los Angeles Examiner Building and the Pantages Theater, has been listed on EBay. The vendor guesses that the photograph was taken in the 1930s, but I suspect it’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Downtown | Comments Off on Found on EBay — Broadway and 6th

NBA Courting Los Angeles

Posted on February 18, 2010 by lmharnisch

Feb. 18, 1960 Los Angeles was being courted. "We don't regard the games as test contests—Los Angeles fans already have shown they appreciate big league sports," Marty Blake told The Times leading up to the Lakers' games at the Sports … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Lakers, Sports | 1 Comment

Luring Gay Bachelors Into the Seas of Matrimony

Posted on February 17, 2010 by lmharnisch

  “Oh, Man!” by Clare Briggs.   Feb. 17, 1920: Here we have another story about the Bachelors Ball. The Times’ account gives the entire guest list and describes many of the elaborate costumes. One of the highlights of the … Continue reading →

Posted in #gays and lesbians, art and artists, Comics, Downtown | Comments Off on Luring Gay Bachelors Into the Seas of Matrimony

Lakers Seeking New Home

Posted on February 5, 2010 by lmharnisch

Feb. 5, 1960: The Lakers were inching closer to a new home in Los Angeles. The team's owner, Bob Short, was complaining about life in Minneapolis while the team was adjusting its schedule to play two games in February at … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Lakers, Sports | Comments Off on Lakers Seeking New Home

Downtown Hotel Planned

Posted on February 5, 2010 by lmharnisch

     Feb. 5, 1910: A hotel is planned for the northwest corner of 5th and Olive streets as a companion to Philharmonic Auditorium.

Posted in Architecture, Downtown | Comments Off on Downtown Hotel Planned

Found on EBay – Examiner Building

Posted on February 3, 2010 by lmharnisch

This rather nice postcard of the Examiner Building on South Broadway has been posted on EBay. The name of Julia Morgan is usually attached to the building, but this card also credits J. Martyn Haenke, a name I don't recognize. … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Downtown | Comments Off on Found on EBay – Examiner Building

Matt Weinstock, Jan. 28, 1960

Posted on January 28, 2010 by lmharnisch

Leap Year Pitch     For a while it appeared we might tiptoe into 1960 without arousing the usual corny, anachronistic nonsense about leap year and the girls chasing the boys, object matrimony.  No such luck.  The subject was merely dormant.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Downtown, Food and Drink, Homicide, Matt Weinstock, Nightclubs | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock, Jan. 28, 1960

Nixon Leads Kennedy in Poll

Posted on January 24, 2010 by lmharnisch

There’s no credit on this photo, but it wouldn’t surprise me if it were a Delmar Watson shot. The Alexandria Hotel’s Palm Room has been converted to a gym as boxers Jose Becerra and Battling Torres train for bouts at … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, JFK, Politics, Richard Nixon, Sports | Comments Off on Nixon Leads Kennedy in Poll

Nuestro Pueblo

Posted on January 20, 2010 by lmharnisch

    Sept. 19, 1938: Joe Seewerker and Charles Owens visit 211 W. 2nd St., close to home! Note: The original run of Nuestro Pueblo concluded in 1939. I’m picking up entries that I missed the first time around.

Posted in Architecture, art and artists, Downtown, Food and Drink, LAPD, Nuestro Pueblo | Comments Off on Nuestro Pueblo