Category Archives: Downtown

Redwood revisited

Posted on September 28, 2007 by lmharnisch

Attention art sleuths: A close examination of the Redwood ad reveals this startling detail!   Yes, that’s right! According to this 1960 ad, the "famed ‘Poker Dog’ original oil paintings" were on display at the Redwood. And the paintings were … Continue reading →

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Hollywood confidential

Posted on September 28, 2007 by lmharnisch

Sept. 28, 1957Los AngelesThis isn’t looking good.

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September 27, 1957: Matt Weinstock

Posted on September 27, 2007 by lmharnisch

September 27, 1957 I never thought the time would come when I would write an ode to a single-chamber incinerator but here I am, doing it. Well, not exactly an ode but maybe a panegyric or at least a paean. … Continue reading →

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Mickey Cohen arrested

Posted on September 26, 2007 by lmharnisch

Sept. 26, 1957Los Angeles Alas, the old Redwood at 234 W. 1st St. was demolished before my arrival at The Times, although it lives on in newsroom lore. One incident I’d never heard about was the arrest of Mickey Cohen … Continue reading →

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September 24, 1957: Matt Weinstock

Posted on September 25, 2007 by lmharnisch

Sept. 24, 1957 As dedicated ocean fishermen know, this is one of the greatest seasons in years for pulling in the elusive beauties of the deep. For many years they’ve had to be satisfied with getting “skunked” completely or with … Continue reading →

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Snooze alarm

Posted on September 19, 2007 by lmharnisch

  Sept. 16-19, 1957 Los Angeles "State Senate committee hearing" is one of the most boring phrases in the English language and the thick dust of half a century only adds layers of tedium. But let’s stand in the back … Continue reading →

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South-Central Vice

Posted on September 9, 2007 by lmharnisch

  Sept. 8-12, 1957 Los Angeles Let's suppose you are the mayor of the nation's third-largest city. Let's further suppose that your wife has received several letters complaining about rampant crime in a heavily minority neighborhood. You might turn the … Continue reading →

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Matt Weinstock

Posted on September 7, 2007 by lmharnisch

Sept. 7, 1957 The week’s cordon bleu for eccentric behavior goes to a sharply dressed young man who came into a hill Street bat cave around midnight and ordered a beer. Before sipping any, he unlatched a luggage case, extracted … Continue reading →

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Matt Weinstock

Posted on September 6, 2007 by lmharnisch

Sept. 6, 1957 Last week while driving between Cortez and Durango, Colo., Paul Weeks turned on the radio to relieve the monotony. After a while it came through his consciousness that the station, KWIK in Farmington, N.M., was playing the … Continue reading →

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The vexations of research

Posted on August 19, 2007 by lmharnisch

  Aug. 18, 1957 Los Angeles Nearly a century ago, Los Angeles had the wisdom and foresight to appoint the first policewoman in the United States–or was she? Alice Stebbins Wells is usually given that distinction today, but the record … Continue reading →

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‘I Hate Cops!’

Posted on August 2, 2007 by lmharnisch

Aug. 2, 1957Los Angeles It was St. Patrick’s Day, 1957, and a few customers got rowdy in a bar at Pico Boulevard and Figueroa Street. Police Officer Leo Wise separated a couple of men who were fighting and ordered them … Continue reading →

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Random queries

Posted on July 30, 2007 by lmharnisch

The hits for the Daily Mirror blog show that someone is researching the Feb. 13, 1969, robbery of the Bank of America at 3320 S. Hill. Here’s your answer: The Times wrote very little about the case, although police killed … Continue reading →

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Matt Weinstock

Posted on July 24, 2007 by lmharnisch

July 22, 1957 This is to report that a distressing situation has arisen in MacWestlake Park. Certain pigeons–just a few of the hundreds in the park, mind you–have adopted a decidedly unmilitary attitude toward the recently dedicated statue of the … Continue reading →

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Matt Weinstock

Posted on July 15, 2007 by lmharnisch

July 15, 1957 Farther and farther go the freeways, preceded by roaring monsters which sweep aside or reduce to rubble everything in their paths, then claw and shape the earth. But all is not lost. Every Tuesday, Lenard Kester takes … Continue reading →

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In the News

Posted on July 15, 2007 by lmharnisch

  July 15, 1957 The painting on the cover of Time speaks to us a bit differently now than it did to the readers of 1957. There is little room for subtlety in an illustration intended to compete on newsstands … Continue reading →

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Matt Weinstock

Posted on July 11, 2007 by lmharnisch

July 11, 1957 There was a traffic tie-up at the Harbor turnoff the other day as Inspectors Ed Walker and Bob Houghton were traveling inbound on the Hollywood Freeway. They threaded their way through it and came upon a woman … Continue reading →

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Literary diversions

Posted on July 7, 2007 by lmharnisch

Detective Sgt. Joe Wambaugh gets in trouble for writing a book. Nov. 18, 1970. Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

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Driving survey–Route 5

Posted on July 5, 2007 by lmharnisch

I wouldn’t ask anyone to do something I wouldn’t try myself, so here’s Route 5 of the Auto Club’s commuting survey from 1957. It’s not an entirely fair test since I made the trip on a Saturday morning, but it … Continue reading →

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The Daily Mirror commuting challenge

Posted on July 3, 2007 by lmharnisch

  July 3, 1957 Los Angeles We complain about traffic all the time. But how much worse is driving in L.A. than it was in 1957? We can find out. Best of all, you can help! You might be surprised … Continue reading →

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Smog alert

Posted on June 26, 2007 by lmharnisch

June 27, 1957 Los Angeles Everybody knows that Los Angeles suffered terrible smog in the 1950s, but without statistics, all we have are stories and photos of toxic clouds obscuring the landscape. In fact, for the unfortunate people living in … Continue reading →

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