Category Archives: Downtown

Nuestro Pueblo, February 1, 1939

Posted on February 5, 2009 by lmharnisch

This is the bluff overlooking the Cornfield and a good route into downtown if the Pasadena Freeway is jammed. I’ve been neglectful in posting Nuestro Pueblo — so many stories, only one Larry Harnisch. Here’s an interesting entry on a … Continue reading →

Posted in Countdown to Watts, Downtown, LAPD | Comments Off on Nuestro Pueblo, February 1, 1939

Airliner Plunges Into N.Y. River; Dodgers Sign Contracts, February 4, 1959

Posted on February 4, 2009 by lmharnisch

The Times put out an extra, but the runover page wasn’t microfilmed. All we have is the cover.  Notice that Gov. Pat Brown is opposed to a state lottery. "Evil Woman" Ingrid Bergman pretends she doesn’t know she’s attractive in … Continue reading →

Posted in @news, Dodgers, Downtown, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Sports, Transportation | 1 Comment

Matt Weinstock — February 3, 1959

Posted on February 3, 2009 by lmharnisch

Pool Comeback Those who don’t get around to the right places are probably unaware of a significant social phenomenon. Pool halls, where many leading citizens of today learned about life, are back. Well, halfway. Actually they never really disappeared. They … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Downtown, Food and Drink, Matt Weinstock, Transportation | 2 Comments

Company Town

Posted on January 31, 2009 by lmharnisch

You may recall my recent post about lunch with Harry Medved and the continuing quest to determine the name and date of the first film shot entirely in Los Angeles. Val Almendarez, collections archivist at the Academy of Motion Picture … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Film, Hollywood | Comments Off on Company Town

Jewish Home for the Aged — Ida Mayer Cummings

Posted on January 29, 2009 by lmharnisch

Photograph by Ken Dare / Los Angeles Times Ida Mayer Cummings, Dec. 15, 1957. Alicia Mayer Beverley writes from Australia: I ran across your blog entry on the 1957 Women of the Year. My great-grandmother Ida Mayer Cummings is one … Continue reading →

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Company Town

Posted on January 27, 2009 by lmharnisch

The first movie shot entirely in Los Angeles was "In the Power of the Sultan," filmed May 8-9, 1909, according to this 1949 Times feature on actor Hobart Bosworth. Or was it? I recently had lunch with Harry Medved (co-author … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Film, Hollywood | 2 Comments

Found on EBay — 1907 Shriners Convention

Posted on January 26, 2009 by lmharnisch

The 1907 Shriners Convention was a big event in Los Angeles that produced all sorts of memorabilia: glassware, pins, ribbons, postcards, etc. A program, above, has been listed on EBay. Bidding starts at $6.50. (At left, even local businesses got … Continue reading →

Posted in #games, Downtown | Comments Off on Found on EBay — 1907 Shriners Convention

Voices — Jevne’s Groceries

Posted on January 26, 2009 by lmharnisch

Ray M. Whitt Jr. writes from Spain: My grandfather, Benjamin Adelbert Gray, worked for Jevne’s Grocery Store at 40 Spring Street. He and his family, including my mother, Maurine Gray Whitt, now 100 years old, lived at that time on … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Food and Drink | Comments Off on Voices — Jevne’s Groceries

Found on EBay — 1959 Thomas Guide.

Posted on January 24, 2009 by lmharnisch

Another vintage Thomas Guide has been listed on EBay. This one is from 1959. Bidding starts at $9.95.

Posted in books, Downtown, Freeways | Comments Off on Found on EBay — 1959 Thomas Guide.

The Ghosts of Wrigley Field, January 24, 1969

Posted on January 24, 2009 by lmharnisch

Photograph by Hal Moulin / Los Angeles Times Wrigley Field, Oct. 3, 1944, as the San Francisco Seals defeat the L.A. Angels. "Roadside Baseball" looksat Wrigley Field John Hall wrote a couple of columns bidding farewell to Los Angeles’ Wrigley … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Columnists, Dodgers, Downtown, Sports | 3 Comments

Former child star dies in fight over $50, voices of Chavez Ravine, January 22, 1959

Posted on January 22, 2009 by lmharnisch

I finally found a Times story in which the paper talked about people living in the Chavez Ravine area. Cordell Hicks’ short story told of some local kids who tried to find a place in their neighborhood to play baseball. … Continue reading →

Posted in Dodgers, Downtown, Religion, Sports | Comments Off on Former child star dies in fight over $50, voices of Chavez Ravine, January 22, 1959

Historic Images of Los Angeles on Flickr

Posted on January 19, 2009 by lmharnisch

This is my new favorite thing: The Library of Congress’ Flickr account with thousands of photos such as the panorama of flying officers at Love Field, Texas, Aug. 20, 1918. And this is the first all-woman jury in Los Angeles, … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Downtown, Transportation | Comments Off on Historic Images of Los Angeles on Flickr

Jerry Lewis Plays First Base for Dodgers, January 18, 1959

Posted on January 18, 2009 by lmharnisch

I’m sure there’s a joke here someplace. The Times’ political power broker Kyle Palmer writes a glowing piece about biographies of Eisenhower and Nixon.    On the comics page, Stephen F. Austin straightens out some pesky Indians and Delilah gets … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Current Affairs, Dodgers, Downtown, Sports | Comments Off on Jerry Lewis Plays First Base for Dodgers, January 18, 1959

Found on EBay — Robinson’s

Posted on January 15, 2009 by lmharnisch

A clever little item from J.W. Robinson’s: A combination shoehorn and buttonhook. Listed on EBay with bids starting at $9.99.

Posted in Downtown, Fashion | Comments Off on Found on EBay — Robinson’s

Dodger Stadium — and a Zoo, January 15, 1959

Posted on January 15, 2009 by lmharnisch

A mail bomb loaded with dynamite sits in the post office for three weeks because the victim didn’t leave a forwarding address! Fresh off an apparent victory in getting a downtown stadium for the Dodgers, some City Council members moved … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Dodgers, Downtown, Sports | 1 Comment

Found on EBay — Overell’s, 1908

Posted on January 14, 2009 by lmharnisch

Here’s a pin from Overell’s, listed on EBay. Bids start at $14.99.

Posted in Downtown | Comments Off on Found on EBay — Overell’s, 1908

California Supreme Court OKs Dodger Deal, January 14, 1959

Posted on January 14, 2009 by lmharnisch

A federal grand jury in Los Angeles will investigate organized crime. The state Supreme Court ruled unanimously in favor of the Dodgers and City Hall, moving plans for a baseball stadium in Chavez Ravine one huge step closer to reality. … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Dodgers, Downtown, Front Pages, Politics, Sports | 2 Comments

Thousands in Los Angeles pray for peace, January 14, 1939

Posted on January 14, 2009 by lmharnisch

About 4,000 worshipers attend a Perpetual Novena for Our Sorrowful Mother at St. Vibiana’s Cathedral. People knelt in the aisles, in the doorways and outside praying for peace and for relief of the poor, The Times says. County Supervisor Roger … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, @news, Columnists, Current Affairs, Downtown, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Religion, Sports, Suicide | Comments Off on Thousands in Los Angeles pray for peace, January 14, 1939

Demonstators protest arrival of Soviet leader; Dodger turns to acting, January 11, 1959

Posted on January 11, 2009 by lmharnisch

Soviet Deputy Prime Minister Mikoyan provokes demonstrations in San Francisco en route to his visit to Los Angeles. Recall that Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev will come to Los Angeles later in the year. And a federal court strikes down a … Continue reading →

Posted in #Jazz, broadcasting, Dodgers, Downtown, Front Pages, Hollywood, Music, Television | 1 Comment

Dodgers move outfield fence, January 10, 1959

Posted on January 10, 2009 by lmharnisch

The Dodgers announced they were moving the Coliseum fences in and The Times saw it as a victory for Duke Snider. The dimensions were reduced in center (425 feet to 410) and right-center fields (440 to 385). The short porch … Continue reading →

Posted in Dodgers, Downtown, Front Pages, Sports | 1 Comment