Category Archives: Downtown

Mayor Garcetti Fires Up the Lindbergh Beacon

Posted on December 24, 2014 by lmharnisch

And yes, here is the Lindberg beacon atop City Hall, illuminating the skies over Los Angeles for Christmas Eve 2014.

Posted in 2014, City Hall, Downtown | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Septerhed on Display at Starbucks

Posted on December 12, 2014 by lmharnisch

Nov. 25, 2014. Septerhed’s latest drawing at Starbucks. Since I encountered them more than a year ago, I have been a fan of Septerhed’s drawings, a recurring feature at the Starbucks at Spring and 6th streets in downtown Los Angeles.  … Continue reading →

Posted in 2014, Art & Artists, Downtown | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

L.A. Becomes New York: ‘Three on a Match’ (1932)

Posted on November 14, 2014 by lmharnisch

After I posted a photo of Ann Dvorak’s Duesenberg in the 1932 film “Three on a Match,” John Bengtson noted that the school scenes were filmed at Los Angeles High School on Fort Moore Hill. “Three on a Match” is, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1932, Architecture, Downtown, Education, Film, Hollywood, Location Sleuth, New York | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

On Location in Downtown Los Angeles — 1930

Posted on November 7, 2014 by lmharnisch

“For the Defense” is one of the old Paramount films now controlled by Universal. As part of its pre-code marathon, TCM recently aired “For the Defense,” a 1930 Paramount film starring William Powell and Kay Francis.

Posted in Architecture, Downtown, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Black Dahlia: The Cecil Hotel and Halloween — Another Good Story Ruined

Posted on October 31, 2014 by lmharnisch

LAist is the latest to jump on the “who cares if it’s true, it’s Halloween!” bandwagon. Not with the “Black Dahlia Murder House” legend, but by reviving the old chestnut about Elizabeth Short and the Cecil Hotel. Note the “allegedly,” … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Another Good Story Ruined, Black Dahlia, Downtown | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Sept. 4, 1781: Los Angeles Is Founded

Posted on September 4, 2014 by lmharnisch

  Sept. 4, 1926:The Times publishes a map showing the streets of the day, noting the changes made since Ord’s survey. Sept. 4, 1981: Mayor Tom Bradley and actress Bernadette Peters cut the cake for Los Angeles’ 200th birthday Jan. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1781, 1926, 1981, City Hall, Downtown | Tagged , | Comments Off on Sept. 4, 1781: Los Angeles Is Founded

Downtown Los Angeles Invaded by Hipsters With Dogs

Posted on August 5, 2014 by lmharnisch

The renaissance of downtown Los Angeles has brought us fancy bars, expensive lofts, pricey restaurants and sidewalks full of hipsters with dogs. Don’t get me wrong, I like dogs, I have owned dogs. But they don’t belong in eating establishments. … Continue reading →

Posted in 2014, Animals, Downtown, Food and Drink | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Weird Al Gets ‘Tacky’ in Downtown Los Angeles

Posted on July 14, 2014 by lmharnisch

Weird Al has a new video, “Tacky,” a satire on Pharrell’s “Happy.” The sign for the Los Angeles Theatre is clearly visible in the shots, pegging this as Broadway in downtown Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Theatre and the Palace … Continue reading →

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War Veteran Died After Police Beating, Lawsuit Says, July 11, 1944

Posted on July 11, 2014 by lmharnisch

July 11, 1944 The parents of Marine veteran J.P. Thomas Jr. sue Mayor Fletcher Bowron, Police Chief Clemence C.B. Horrall and other city officials, charging that their son died after being beaten in jail by police. The Times reported that … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Main Street, Music, World War II | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Sixth Street Chocolate Shop Offers Sweet Treats

Posted on July 7, 2014 by lmharnisch

A still from “The Hope Chest,” courtesy of Mary Mallory. Serving both sweet and medicinal purposes, chocolate has been served up as a special treat since at least 1900 BC and continues as a favored gift and treat today. As … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Downtown, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

What Really Happens in the Bradbury Building — Steampunk Alert!

Posted on July 1, 2014 by lmharnisch

Here’s what they actually do in the Bradbury Building. This ad popped up after a thrilling round of Words With Friends. Could it be the Bradbury Building? Indeed it is.

Posted in Architecture, Downtown, Television | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Google Is In Your Neighborhood

Posted on June 25, 2014 by lmharnisch

The Google car (not self-driving) was at 2nd Street and Broadway the other day.

Posted in Downtown, Photography | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Google Is In Your Neighborhood

Neon Mystery Photo (Updated)

Posted on May 27, 2014 by lmharnisch

Craby Joe’s may be gone, but it lives on in what rock video? (And no, this isn’t “Barfly.”) Answer: The video is … “Sharp Dressed Man” by ZZ Top (1983). Craby Joe’s appears at about the 2:15 mark.

Posted in Books and Authors, Downtown, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Union Station Opens in Los Angeles, May 1939

Posted on May 1, 2014 by lmharnisch

June 29, 1938: Nuestro Pueblo, by artist Charles Owens and writer Joe Seewerker,  depicts the construction of Union Station. Here are some posts that I wrote years ago, including several when Union Station turned 70. — Grand Design for Los … Continue reading →

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Imagining the Future

Posted on April 26, 2014 by lmharnisch

Note: This is a post I wrote in 2006. The subject came up today when I was having lunch with Ed Fuentes, so I thought I would repost it. Notice that in this plan, Union Station was to have been … Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, City Hall, Downtown, LAPD, Pasadena, Streetcars | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Imagining the Future

Filming in Downtown Los Angeles

Posted on April 24, 2014 by lmharnisch

The film crews were back on New York Street, my nickname for South Spring around Fourth and Fifth in downtown Los Angeles. This time it’s standing in for San Vicente.

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L.A. Becomes N.Y. — Again

Posted on March 26, 2014 by lmharnisch

I wandered down to “New York Street” (Spring Street between 4th and 6th in downtown Los Angeles) last night and saw this Hollywood version of an NYPD patrol car. L.A. Becomes N.Y. Million Dollar Theatre | Street Scene |  CSI: … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Film, Hollywood, Spring Street | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

LAPD Mourns First Latina Officer Josephine Serrano Collier

Posted on March 20, 2014 by lmharnisch

Josephine Serrano Collier, courtesy LAPD. The LAPD is honoring the memory of Officer Josephine Serrano Collier, who died last month at the age of 91 in Tucson. The LAPD says she was its first Latina officer. Here she is in … Continue reading →

Posted in 1949, Crime and Courts, Downtown, LAPD, Obituaries | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on LAPD Mourns First Latina Officer Josephine Serrano Collier

LAPD Officer Accused of Hitting Handcuffed Prisoner, March 5, 1914

Posted on March 17, 2014 by lmharnisch

March 5, 1914: Spring training! I jumped back to 1914 to see if I could find out anything about the Police Commissions order against non-Asian women in Oriental cafes. No luck, alas, but I did find a couple of goodies. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1914, Downtown, Homicide, LAPD, Main Street, Sports | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on LAPD Officer Accused of Hitting Handcuffed Prisoner, March 5, 1914

Los Angeles, Hollywood’s Back Lot

Posted on February 13, 2014 by lmharnisch

I went to dinner last night at Grand Central Market and got these shots of a group filming a video. And since we’re all good Angelenos, we went “oh yeah, a film crew, a guy with a Stedicam”  and went … Continue reading →

Posted in Broadway, Downtown, Film, Food and Drink, Hollywood, Photography | Tagged , , | 2 Comments