Category Archives: Film

January 24, 1959: Paul Coates — Confidential File

Posted on January 24, 2026 by lmharnisch

January 24, 1959: Paul Coates has the story about the fight over the body of Carl “Alfalfa” Switzer between his parents and his ex-wife. In the meantime, Switzer’s body remains in the morgue. Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, Paul Coates, Television | Leave a comment

1944 on the Radio — ‘Casablanca’ on ‘Lux Radio Theater,’ Jan. 24, 1944

Posted on January 24, 2026 by lmharnisch

January 24, 1944: On the radio, we have “Casablanca,” with Alan Ladd and Hedy Lamarr, “Information Please” and “Hop Harrigan.” Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Film, Hollywood, Radio | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

January 22, 1959: ‘Our Gang’ Star Carl ‘Alfalfa’ Switzer Dies in Fight Over $50

Posted on January 22, 2026 by lmharnisch

January 22, 1959: Carl “Alfalfa” Switzer dies in a fight over $50. Continue reading →

Posted in 1959, Baseball, Crime and Courts, Dodgers, Film, Hollywood, Keith Thursby, LAPD, Obituaries | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

January 20, 1947: Virginia Mayo Disappears!

Posted on January 20, 2026 by lmharnisch

January 20, 1947: With the city in the grips of the Black Dahlia murder, Los Angeles wonders: Where is Virginia Mayo? Or at least some publicist worries enough to feed the item to Louella Parsons at the Examiner. Continue reading →

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January 19, 1942: Lombard’s Body Recovered From Crash

Posted on January 19, 2026 by lmharnisch

January 19, 1942: The bodies of actress Carole Lombard and eight other people are recovered from the wreckage of a DC-3 that crashed in Nevada. Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Film, Hollywood, Obituaries | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on January 19, 2026 by lmharnisch

For Monday, we have a mysterious fellow. Mystery movie update: The consensus has been to keep doing what I’ve been doing, but perhaps include more recent films. And so I will. Thank you for playing! Continue reading →

Posted in 1973, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , | 16 Comments

January 16, 1947: Teachers Call ‘Song of the South’ Racist Propaganda

Posted on January 16, 2026 by lmharnisch

January 16, 1947: Local 27 of the American Federation of Teachers, meeting in Washington, called the Disney feature film “Song of the South” “insidious and subtle propaganda against the Negro.” Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, African Americans, Film, Food and Drink, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

January 12-13: Soviet leader visits Los Angeles

Posted on January 12, 2026 by lmharnisch

January 12-13: Soviet leader Anastas Mikoyan spends two days in Los Angeles, where he meets… Jerry Lewis! Continue reading →

Posted in @news, broadcasting, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, LAPD, Politics | Leave a comment

Voices — Christine Collins, January 12, 1933

Posted on January 12, 2026 by lmharnisch

January 12, 1933: A letter informing Sheriff Eugene Biscailuz that the prisoner is dead concludes documents telling the unfortunate saga of Walter and Christine Collins, the inspiration for the Clint Eastwood film ‘Changeling.’ Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1933, Changeling, Film, Hollywood, LAPD | Leave a comment

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on January 12, 2026 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie was the 1949 movie Tulsa, with Susan Hayward, Robert Preston, Pedro Armendariz, Lloyd Gough, Chill Wills, Edward Begley, Jimmy Conlin and Roland Jack.

Posted in 1949, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , | 32 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on January 5, 2026 by lmharnisch

For Monday’s mystery photo, we have a mysterious fellow. Continue reading →

Posted in 1933, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , | 20 Comments

January 4, 1928: Voices — Christine Collins

Posted on January 4, 2026 by lmharnisch

January 4, 1928: Christine Collins, whose life inspired the Clint Eastwood film ‘Changeling,’ writes to the warden urging parole for her husband, Walter. Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1928, Changeling, Film, Hollywood, LAPD | Comments Off on January 4, 1928: Voices — Christine Collins

Mary Astor’s Lost Film ‘New Year’s Eve’

Posted on December 31, 2025 by lmharnisch

Our annual look at Mary Astor’s lost 1929 film “New Year’s Eve.” It was a silent with music and sound effects and apparently disappeared after 1930. Continue reading →

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December 30, 1959: Paul V. Coates – Confidential File

Posted on December 30, 2025 by lmharnisch

December 30, 1959: Paul Coates takes his children to see “Solomon and Sheba,” and finds it a Hollywood treatment of the biblical story. Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Paul Coates | Comments Off on December 30, 1959: Paul V. Coates – Confidential File

December 30, 1941: L.A. Women Are Slackers in Fighting the Axis!

Posted on December 30, 2025 by lmharnisch

December 30, 1941: December 30, 1941: It seems that local women didn’t get the memo about the being the “Greatest Generation.” They’re a bunch of slackers in the war against the Axis and don’t want to work as air-raid wardens. Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Jimmie Fidler, Streetcars, Theaters, Tom Treanor, Transportation, World War II | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on December 30, 1941: L.A. Women Are Slackers in Fighting the Axis!

Mary Mallory: Hollywood Heights – Mack Sennett’s Rose Parade Gag

Posted on December 29, 2025 by lmharnisch

In honor of the Rose Parade, Mary Mallory writes about Mack Sennett’s entry in the 1913 edition for the film “Sleuths at the Floral Parade.” Continue reading →

Posted in 1913, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Photography | Comments Off on Mary Mallory: Hollywood Heights – Mack Sennett’s Rose Parade Gag

December 29, 1938: Bookie shot to death in Hollywood

Posted on December 29, 2025 by lmharnisch

By the end of 1938, Weldon sensed that he was a marked man and that death was not far off. He could have stayed out of Los Angeles and maybe he would have lived–at least for a while. But he … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, @news, City Hall, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD | Comments Off on December 29, 1938: Bookie shot to death in Hollywood

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on December 29, 2025 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie was the 1957 Warner Bros. film Top Secret Affair, with  Susan Hayward, Kirk Douglas, Paul Stewart, Jim Backus, John Cromwell, Roland Winters, A.E. Gould-Porter, Michael Fox, Frank Gerstle and Charles Lane.

Posted in 1957, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , | 31 Comments

December 28, 1958: Movie stars to watch in the new year, tribute to Archie Moore

Posted on December 28, 2025 by lmharnisch

December 28, 1958: Hedda Hopper’s predictions for the next crop of movie stars bypasses the cast of the 7th Voyage of Sinbad. Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Music | Comments Off on December 28, 1958: Movie stars to watch in the new year, tribute to Archie Moore

December 27, 1947: Youth Questioned in Georgette Bauerdorf Killing

Posted on December 27, 2025 by lmharnisch

December 27, 1947: Sheriff’s detectives question Robert White in the 1944 killing of Georgette Bauerdorf. Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Homicide | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on December 27, 1947: Youth Questioned in Georgette Bauerdorf Killing