Category Archives: Downtown

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 →

Posted in 1957, Downtown, Freeways, San Fernando Valley, Transportation | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

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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Boxer dies

Posted on June 26, 2007 by lmharnisch

June 26, 1957 Los Angeles I’m pleased to present the work of John Hall, a columnist for the Mirror, The Times and the Orange County Register. In this piece, he recalls the late boxer “Mexican” Joe Rivers and his fight … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Downtown, Sports | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Paul V. Coates–Confidential File

Posted on June 24, 2007 by lmharnisch

June 24, 1957 SUBJECT’S NAME: Delbert Wilson Miller. SUBJECT’S DESCRIPTION: Age, 60. Height, 5 feet, 10 inches. Weight, 155 pounds. Bald, rim of gray hair. Glass right eye. Tattoo: "IRMA-DELL" upper right arm. Tattoo of swastika on left forearm. Any … Continue reading →

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Now showing!

Posted on June 24, 2007 by lmharnisch

June 24, 1957Los Angeles Now playing at the Million Dollar: "Tropicana" and  "Serenata en Mexico."

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Matt Weinstock

Posted on June 22, 2007 by lmharnisch

June 22, 1957 By now, presumably, people who voted for the $40,000,000 bond issue to extend the city’s park and recreation system and expand the zoo know that $2,000,000 of the money will go for roads into Chavez Ravine, where … Continue reading →

Posted in Adoptions, Columnists, Dodgers, Downtown, Environment, Matt Weinstock | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Sketchbook

Posted on June 22, 2007 by lmharnisch

June 22, 2007 Los Angeles I got on the Red Line at the 7th and Figueroa station last night to find two teenage boys with skateboards at one end of the car. They called out an odd warning for all … Continue reading →

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William Parker, Part 5

Posted on June 21, 2007 by lmharnisch

  June 21, 1957Los Angeles William Parker, below left, and Jack Webb. Note that Parker says he would have never given permission for "Dragnet," which was initially approved in the Clemence "C.B." Horrall administration. On July 16, 1966, Parker suffered … Continue reading →

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Battling movie stars

Posted on June 20, 2007 by lmharnisch

  June 20, 1957 Los Angeles For battling Hollywood celebrities, it’s hard to surpass Shelley Winters and Anthony Franciosa. They were only married a few years, but they made up for it in brawls between themselves, other actors (like Ava … Continue reading →

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William Parker, Part 4

Posted on June 20, 2007 by lmharnisch

June 20, 1957Los Angeles Classic moments in Los Angeles history: The Sammy Rummel shooting, the "two Tonys murder" and "Bloody Christmas." Part 1 Part 2

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Newspaper wars

Posted on June 19, 2007 by lmharnisch

June 19, 1957 Los Angeles These numbers tell a story, but what is the story? According to the graphs, circulation for Hearst’s daily and Sunday Examiner began falling after World War II. The Times, according to these statistics, passed the … Continue reading →

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William Parker, Part 3

Posted on June 19, 2007 by lmharnisch

June 19, 1957 Los Angeles This will be fascinating reading to anyone interested in the LAPD in the 1930s and ’40s, but never forget that it is told from the viewpoint of one man: William H. Parker. I wish I … Continue reading →

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William Parker, Part 2

Posted on June 18, 2007 by lmharnisch

June 18, 1957 Los Angeles Part 2 of Paul Weeks’ series on William H. Parker. Page 1 Page 2 Daniel Webster’s speech is here (search for Captain Joseph White). The Bible passage is a little more problematic. It echoes Psalms … Continue reading →

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10 Fwy

Posted on June 17, 2007 by lmharnisch

And you know what? It wasn’t even on Page 1. June 17, 1957Los Angeles Part 1 Part 2

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William Parker, Part 1

Posted on June 17, 2007 by lmharnisch

  June 17, 1957 Los Angeles I’m extremely pleased to be able to present Paul Weeks’ series on Los Angeles Police Chief William H. Parker.  Weeks did a first-rate job with a subject who wasn’t especially cooperative. Although Parker realized … Continue reading →

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