Category Archives: Film

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Nell Brinkley, Queen of Early American Comics

When Americans think of classic illustrators from the early 20th century, names such as Charles Dana Gibson, Harrison Fisher, Haskell Coffin, James Montgomery Flagg, and John Held Jr. spring to mind. Forgotten by almost everyone, but in every way these … Continue reading →

Posted in Art & Artists, Comics, Fashions, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Roger Ebert, Jerry Lewis and Me

My Rolodex card for Roger Ebert, c. 1982. In the outpouring of appreciations and reminiscences after the death of film critic Roger Ebert, my little tale is really not much. I am adding it because I believe that even a … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Obituaries | Tagged , , , , | 14 Comments

Talking With Eve Golden About John Gilbert

Eve Golden has given a couple of interviews about her new book on John Gilbert: The first is with Michael G. Ankerich and the second is with Mel Neuhaus. Congrats, Eve!

Posted in Books and Authors, Eve Golden, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Human Fly Flees Hall of Justice

April 4, 1943: Col. Darryl F. Zanuck comes under criticism for trying to return to civilian life. (Zanuck said there wasn’t much chance that he would make more movies of combat.) Sen. Harry Truman (D-Mo.) of the Senate War Program … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, Broadway, Comics, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Immigration, World War II | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated ++++)

And for Monday, a mystery woman.

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , | 55 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Hollywoodland Opens

By the early 1920s, real estate development was booming all around Los Angeles. For decades, the city had boldly advertised itself as a mecca in which average citizens could earn their share of the American dream under glorious sunshine and … Continue reading →

Posted in 1923, Architecture, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Hollywoodland Opens

When L.A. Becomes New York

Being in L.A. is like living on a huge movie set. The white trucks are everywhere. Because I work downtown, I’m accustomed to seeing it standing in for – yes – New York. All the time. Here are some recent … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Film, Hollywood, New York, Spring Street | Tagged , , , , , | 13 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated +++)

And here is Monday’s mystery fellow.

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , | 71 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: The Flapper Speaks to American Women

The Flapper – via Wikipedia. Life changed quickly in the United States post-World War I. Nowhere was this more evident than in the role and actions of young women emancipating themselves from the corseted way of life to more boldly … Continue reading →

Posted in 1922, Fashions, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

AFSCME Seeks to Organize LAPD

March 20, 1943: The AFSCME sets up a local for LAPD officers, an action opposed by Police Chief Clemence “C.B.” Horrall and Deputy Chief Joe Reed.  The Los Angeles Police Protective League, established in the 1920s, began bargaining on behalf … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, Film, Hollywood, Labor, LAPD | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on AFSCME Seeks to Organize LAPD

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated +++)

And here is Monday’s mystery guest.

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , | 48 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Earl Carroll’s Swanky Sunset Boulevard Theater

Photo: Earl Carroll at the groundbreaking for his nightclub, with Jack Benny, Eddie Cantor and W.C. Fields. Courtesy of James Curtis. In the late 1930s, Earl Carroll reigned as Broadway’s exotic showman, producing splashy musical revues featuring statuesque, sultry showgirls. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1938, Architecture, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Nightclubs | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Earl Carroll’s Nightclub

Movie stars’ signatures in concrete on the exterior of Earl Carroll’s nightclub. I am occasionally asked what became of the concrete tablets with movie stars’ names that were installed on the old Earl Carroll nightclub. Some of The Times stories … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Found on EBay, History, Hollywood, Nightclubs | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated +++)

Here’s our mystery fellow for Monday.

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

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Donald Biddle Keyes, Cameraman

Most motion picture still photographers picked up cameras at young ages, intrigued at how they could paint with light. Many yearned to do more than just snap shots in a portrait studio or for a newspaper. They hankered for excitement, … Continue reading →

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

L.A. Conservancy Announces Last Remaining Seats for 2013

The L.A. Conservancy has posted its lineup for the Last Remaining Seats – which is one of my favorite downtown L.A. events – and I have to say I’m underwhelmed. June 1: “To Catch a Thief” at the Orpheum. June … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Film, Hollywood, Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

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

And here’s a mystery chap in a newsboy cap! How to Wear a Hat – Newsboy Cap Edition How to Wear a Hat — ‘Grapes of Wrath’ Edition Movieland Mystery Photo – Newsboy Cap Edition I Movieland Mystery Photo – … Continue reading →

Posted in Fashions, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , | 28 Comments

Musicland Mystery Photo (Updated ++++)

Look what I found! Remember it from here?

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Music, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , | 28 Comments

Black Dahlia: The Non-Smoking Gun – George Hodel Files Part 16

Hodel again started talking about photographs with the tw(o) people!!! Pictures seemed to be of Japanese girls!!!!! Another day at the purported Murder HQ of Dr. George “Evil Genius” Hodel, March 5, 1950. And in case you are wondering, the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, 1950, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, Film, Hollywood, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

No Carole Lombard Death Scene Photos Here!

One of the oddest experiences in running the L.A. Daily Mirror is to see how many people stumble in while searching for “snuff” pictures of Carole Lombard, who died in a 1942 plane crash. Not a day goes by that … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Obituaries, Photography | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments