Category Archives: Film

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on October 20, 2011 by lmharnisch

[Update: This is Charlie Chaplin, Edna Purviance and Rob Wagner (d. 1942) in Hawaii in 1918, courtesy of …. Rob Wagner, who provided us with this photograph of his great-grandfather, who was Chaplin’s publicist. He was later the publisher of … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Obituaries, Photography | Tagged , , , | 13 Comments

Former Mystery Guest Barbara Kent Dies at 103

Posted on October 20, 2011 by lmharnisch

Former mystery guest Barbara Kent has died at the age of 103. Los Angeles Times | New York Times

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Obituaries | Tagged , | 2 Comments

‘Zoot Suit’ and History – Part 14

Posted on October 20, 2011 by lmharnisch

Image: Cover letter on the June 22, 1943, report on the Zoot Suit Riots. Credit: National Archives at Riverside. To recap briefly, I have been digging into the historical basis of the movie “Zoot Suit,” which I saw this summer … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, African Americans, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Latinos, Theaters, World War II, Zoot Suit | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

‘Zoot Suit’ and History – Part 13

Posted on October 19, 2011 by lmharnisch

May 4, 1995: Portions of the June 10, 1943, report on the Zoot Suit Riots have been redacted and placed in a parallel file. This is due to privacy concerns because the individuals may still be alive, an archivist explained. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, African Americans, Fashion, Film, LAPD, Latinos, Stage, World War II, Zoot Suit | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Steve Hodel and James Ellroy

Posted on October 19, 2011 by lmharnisch

Images: James Ellroy’s inscribed copies of “Black Dahlia Avenger” are sold on EBay. Classy, no? Several people have written to me about James Ellroy’s onetime support of Steve Hodel and the whole “Black Dahlia Avenger” nonsense. Here’s the story: I … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, LAPD | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Franchot Tone Marries Jean Wallace, 1941

Posted on October 19, 2011 by lmharnisch

Oct. 19, 1941: Franchot Tone marries Jean Wallace in Yuma, Ariz. Wallace and Tone divorced in 1948 and in 1951 Tone was badly injured in a fight with Tom Neal at the home of Tone’s ex-fiancee, actress Barbara Payton. Tom … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, Art & Artists, Books and Authors, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Jimmie Fidler, Tom Treanor | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Franchot Tone Marries Jean Wallace, 1941

Parole Rejected for ‘Onion Field’ Killer

Posted on October 18, 2011 by lmharnisch

The Board of Parole Hearings has recommended against releasing Gregory Powell, who was convicted in the 1963 “Onion Field” killing of Officer Ian Campbell. Powell, who has prostate cancer, was seeking a compassionate release, reserved for inmates with serious illnesses. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1963, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Shakespeare, ‘Anonymous’ and Nonsense

Posted on October 18, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: Trailer for “Anonymous.” In a New York Times op-ed piece, Columbia English professor James Shapiro challenges the premise of Roland Emmerich’s upcoming film “Anonymous,” which presents Edward de Vere as the true author of (wait for it) all of … Continue reading →

Posted in Chicago, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, Libraries, Museums, World War II | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

‘Zoot Suit’ and History – Part 12

Posted on October 18, 2011 by lmharnisch

To recap briefly, I have been digging into the historical basis of the movie “Zoot Suit,” which I saw this summer in the Last Remaining Seats series.  The Times ignored the 1943 Zoot Suit Riots for several days, in what … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Latinos, World War II, Zoot Suit | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on ‘Zoot Suit’ and History – Part 12

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on October 17, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: 1940 La Salle hearse for sale on EBay. Bidding starts at $8,500. Queen of the Dead—dateline October 17, 2011  •  Another cast member from I, Claudius (known to my friends as I, Clavdivs, or I, Clamdip) is gone: George … Continue reading →

Posted in Eve Golden, Film, Found on EBay, Hollywood, Obituaries, Queen of the Dead, Stage, Television | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated +++]

Posted on October 16, 2011 by lmharnisch

[Update: This is Cullen Landis (d. 1975), who starred in the real-life mystery “Where’s Cullen?” The Times, alas, did not write an obituary on him, but here’s one from AP.] Here’s another mystery photo from Steven Bibb!

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , | 13 Comments

Nazimova and the Garden of Allah

Posted on October 15, 2011 by lmharnisch

Feb. 10, 1927: The Garden of “Alla” (later changed to Allah) at Sunset Boulevard and Havenhurst Drive. Sunset Boulevard and Havenhurst Drive via Google’s Street View. This postcard showing the home of actress Alla Nazimova has been listed on EBay. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1926, Architecture, Film, Found on EBay, Hollywood | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Advice for Aspiring Screenwriters

Posted on October 14, 2011 by lmharnisch

“How to Write Photo-Plays” by Clarence J. Caine has been listed on EBay and describes the art of writing silent films as it was in 1915. (Hint: Do not make your scenarios too realistic. ) The book also includes a … Continue reading →

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

Found on EBay – Clover Club

Posted on October 13, 2011 by lmharnisch

Mary Mallory points out that this matchbook from the Clover Club has been listed on EBay. If you hunt around, you can also find collectors who have chips from the casino. Bidding on this matchbook starts at $4.99.

Posted in Film, Found on EBay, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , | Comments Off on Found on EBay – Clover Club

Buddy Rogers Denies Rift With Mary Pickford

Posted on October 12, 2011 by lmharnisch

Oct. 12, 1941: Tom Treanor writes about the era when mourners could board a special funeral car that also carried the casket to the cemetery. C.V. Means, general traffic agent of the Los Angeles Railway, says that anyone can still … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Nightclubs, Stage, Streetcars, Tom Treanor | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

‘Zoot Suit’ and History – Part 11

Posted on October 11, 2011 by lmharnisch

Image: Harry Arnheim of the Hollywood Tropics, 1525 N. Vine St., protests being placed off-limits by the Navy. Credit: National Archives at Riverside. To recap briefly, I have been digging into the historical basis of the movie “Zoot Suit,” which … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Crime and Courts, Fashion, Film, Food and Drink, History, Hollywood, Stage, World War II, Zoot Suit | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Coming Attractions: ‘Spencer Tracy: A Biography’

Posted on October 11, 2011 by lmharnisch

The Daily Mirror HQ just acquired “Spencer Tracy: A Biography,” by James Curtis, who recently shared his Dick Lane interview in L.A. Voices. The book isn’t officially out yet, but James did a prerelease book signing last week in conjunction … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Coming Attractions, Film, Hollywood, James Curtis, L.A. Voices | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Found on EBay – Selig-Polyscope Projector

Posted on October 10, 2011 by lmharnisch

This early Selig-Polyscope 35-millimeter movie projector has been listed on EBay. Imagine cranking an early – flammable nitrate – film through this apparatus. It’s no wonder that early projection booths were encased in steel in the event of a fire. … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Found on EBay, Hollywood | Tagged | 3 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated ++++]

Posted on October 10, 2011 by lmharnisch

[Update: This is Martha Sleeper (d. 1983)] Here’s another mystery photo, courtesy of Steven Bibb!

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , | 21 Comments

A Vanished Neighborhood Endures in Memory

Posted on October 10, 2011 by lmharnisch

Nate Schweber of the New York Times writes about a reunion of people who lived in a New York neighborhood that was obliterated during urban renewal. The demolition of the neighborhood is also the subject of a documentary, “The Tragedy … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, History, New York, Preservation | Tagged , , | Comments Off on A Vanished Neighborhood Endures in Memory