Category Archives: Film

Through Witzel’s Lens: Jackie Saunders

Posted on October 15, 2013 by lmharnisch

A Witzel studio photo of what appears to be silent film actress Jackie Saunders has been listed on EBay. Witzel was one of the leading portrait studios in Los Angeles and took many publicity photos in the early days of … Continue reading →

Posted in 1923, Film, Found on EBay, Hollywood, Photography, Witzel | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Through Witzel’s Lens: Jackie Saunders

Movieland Mystery Photo — Newsboy Cap Edition XIII (Updated + + +)

Posted on October 14, 2013 by lmharnisch

I know, I know. I just did newsboy caps. But I couldn’t resist. Look: It’s an actual newsboy wearing a newsboy cap. I’ll bet you can guess the studio just from this crowd scene. How to Wear a Hat — … Continue reading →

Posted in Fashion, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , | 41 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights — Film Truth Tells It Like It Is

Posted on October 14, 2013 by lmharnisch

Note: Due to a technical problem, this post was published without the final paragraphs. These have been added. The movie-going public has always craved learning fascinating tidbits about their favorite movies and motion picture stars. Any fact, however obscure or … Continue reading →

Posted in 1920, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Coming Attractions – Honoring CBS Studio Center Oct. 19

Posted on October 12, 2013 by lmharnisch

Mary Mallory and Marc Wanamaker will be speaking at this event on Oct. 19 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Studio City Library, 12511 Moorpark St., Studio City.

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December 1, 1908: ‘The Clansman’ Comes to Los Angeles –

Posted on October 11, 2013 by lmharnisch

A 1908 program from the Mason Opera House has been listed on EBay with an ad for an upcoming production of “The Clansman,” a play adapted from  Thomas  Dixon’s novels “The Leopard’s Spots” and “The Clansman” and turned into D.W. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1908, African Americans, Books and Authors, Broadway, Downtown, Film, Found on EBay, Stage | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The ‘Masked Marvel Murder’ – Part 3

Posted on October 9, 2013 by lmharnisch

In case you just tuned in, we’re looking at the unsolved September 1943 killing of movie actor David G.G. Bacon, who appeared in the Republic serial “The Masked Marvel.” In Part 1, witnesses described Bacon driving erratically on Washington Boulevard, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Captured Through Witzel’s Lens

Posted on October 8, 2013 by lmharnisch

A couple of Witzel photos have turned up on EBay. As you may recall from Mary Mallory’s recent post, Witzel was one of the leading portrait studios in early 20th century Los Angeles and took many movie publicity photos. At … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Found on EBay, Hollywood, Photography, Witzel | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Captured Through Witzel’s Lens

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + +)

Posted on October 7, 2013 by lmharnisch

And for Monday, a couple of mystery guests!

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 37 Comments

October 4, 1943: American Troops Enter Bomb-Shattered Naples

Posted on October 4, 2013 by lmharnisch

October 4, 1943: Tom Treanor, who will be killed in a Jeep accident in France, writes about the liberation of Naples. “The Germans left Naples in a truly deplorable condition. In a huge hospital for incurables I myself saw 70 … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Downtown, Film, Hollywood, Main Street, Tom Treanor, World War II | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The ‘Masked Marvel Murder’ – Part 2

Posted on October 3, 2013 by lmharnisch

In case you just tuned in, we’re looking at the strange, unsolved killing of movie actor David G.G. Bacon in September 1943.  Because he appeared in Republic’s “Masked Marvel” serial, shown above, I’m calling it the “Masked Marvel Murder.” In … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

The ‘Masked Marvel Murder’ – Part 1

Posted on October 2, 2013 by lmharnisch

David Bacon in “The Masked Marvel.” David G.G. Bacon died on the afternoon of Sept. 12, 1943, at the age of 29 with many secrets: A secret diary kept in code, coded annotations in his address book and most of … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, LAPD | 9 Comments

Remembering A.C. Lyles

Posted on September 30, 2013 by lmharnisch

News sources are reporting the death of longtime Paramount producer A.C. Lyles, who died Friday at the age of 95. I interviewed him back in 1997 about old Los Angeles and recently digitized the tape, so I’ll be posting excerpts … Continue reading →

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Movieland Mystery Photo – Newsboy Cap Edition XII (Updated + + +)

Posted on September 30, 2013 by lmharnisch

This week’s movie was going to be a Western especially for Don Danard, but the DVD got vapor lock. Perhaps it will return another week if it learns to behave itself. In the meantime we have a movie with, yes, … Continue reading →

Posted in Fashion, Film, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , | 26 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights — ‘Spirit of ’76’ as Propaganda

Posted on September 30, 2013 by lmharnisch

A still from the lost film “Spirit of ‘76” from Moving Picture World.   The United States’ Espionage Act was ratified in 1917 to punish those abetting the enemy, promoting military insubordination, or interfering with recruitment. Over the years, it … Continue reading →

Posted in 1917, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, World War I | Tagged , , , , , , | 12 Comments

L.A. Becomes New York – Again

Posted on September 28, 2013 by lmharnisch

How much from downtown L.A. to JFK? Yes, they were filming around “New York Street” on Thursday and providing color with fake New York taxis.

Posted in Downtown, Film, New York, Spring Street | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on L.A. Becomes New York – Again

Married Couple Held in Blackmail of Single Woman for $27,000

Posted on September 27, 2013 by lmharnisch

Sept. 27, 1963: I always thought blackmail was something that only occurred in old Perry Mason episodes, but here’s an actual case and it’s quite strange. It involves a married man blackmailing a single woman. No really! According to a … Continue reading →

Posted in 1963, Animals, Art & Artists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Married Couple Held in Blackmail of Single Woman for $27,000

D.W. Griffith Before Hollywood

Posted on September 26, 2013 by lmharnisch

Note: Gary Martin, one of the Daily Mirror regulars, attended a special showing at the Neversink Valley Museum of History and Innovation of early D.W. Griffith films in 1909-10 shot at Cuddeback, N.Y., and files a guest post for all … Continue reading →

Posted in 1909, 1910, Film | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Conservatives Sexually Frustrated, UCLA Daily Bruin Says

Posted on September 26, 2013 by lmharnisch

Sept. 26, 1943: The Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen ends its strike against the Pacific Electric, with workers returning to their jobs at 2 a.m. Their first task is to untangle a “freight jam which had threatened to undermine the entire … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, Art & Artists, Comics, Education, Film, Hollywood, Labor, Obituaries, Richard Nixon, Streetcars, World War II | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Hollis Mulwray House – Update

Posted on September 25, 2013 by lmharnisch

Here’s an update on renovations at the Hollis Mulwray house from “Chinatown.” The last time I posted a photo it looked like this.

Posted in 1974, Architecture, Film, Hollywood, Preservation | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on September 23, 2013 by lmharnisch

And for Monday, we have a mystery gent.

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , | 51 Comments