Category Archives: Film

Nixon Flight Sets Record

Posted on January 4, 2010 by lmharnisch

Aided by a strong tailwind, the American Airlines 707 carrying Vice President Nixon makes the trip from Los Angeles to Washington-Baltimore Friendship Airport in 3 hours, 39 minutes, a new record for a commercial aircraft.     Jan. 4, 1960: … Continue reading →

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A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

Posted on January 3, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Jan. 3, 1941: Hedda Hopper quotes predictions for the year from her “old friend Dareos.” Sample: “America will make terrific strides in all kinds of war machinery, especially radio-controlled airplanes and the death ray. And around the middle of … Continue reading →

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A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

Posted on January 2, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Jan. 2, 1940: Hedda Hopper on what makes Clark Gable an enduring movie star.

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A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

Posted on January 1, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Hedy Lamarr, glamour girl of 1938. Hedda Hopper says: "Jack Barrymore gave us the surprise of the year. His performance in 'Hold That Co-Ed' was so brutally and effectively true that it definitely killed the run of all those … Continue reading →

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Movie Star Mystery Photo

Posted on January 1, 2010 by lmharnisch

   Los Angeles Times file photo Update: This May 18, 1929, photo turned out to be more complicated than I realized. These are the Gale sisters, two sets of identical twins. The sisters changed their last name from Gilmartin and … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | 40 Comments

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

Posted on December 31, 2009 by lmharnisch

     Dec. 31, 1942: "Woman substituted for man power on the "Coney Island" set the other day when one of the boys in a dance sequence was ordered to his draft board instead of his studio. Starlet Vanita Wade … Continue reading →

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Monkey Business on ‘Inherit the Wind’ Set

Posted on December 31, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Sheriff John covers preparations for the Rose Parade!   Dr. Charles F. Sebastian dies, Sept. 4, 1971. You may recall him from the Harry Raymond bombing. The Central Receiving Hospital was replaced by the Rampart Division station, shown by … Continue reading →

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

Posted on December 30, 2009 by lmharnisch

Pappy Coates Cases Learning With Kids Feeling good all over, today.  In this age of neurotic juveniles and delinquent parents, I, at least, have met my responsibility as a father. Maybe you don’t know “Where Are Your Children, Tonight,” but … Continue reading →

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A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

Posted on December 30, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Dec. 30, 1941: “Jackie Cooper is studying the finer points of drumming with Buddy Rich of Tommy Dorsey's band these days and doing so well that he sits in with the band at the Mocambo now and then just … Continue reading →

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On the Brink of the 1960s

Posted on December 30, 2009 by lmharnisch

Hedda Hopper tapes a “Ben-Hur” segment with Stephen Boyd, Francis X. Bushman and Ramon Novarro, but not Charlton Heston. Los Angeles officials struggle once more to deal with congested streets. I have said this before, but it bears repeating: Traffic … Continue reading →

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A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

Posted on December 29, 2009 by lmharnisch

Behind the news of Hollywood divorces (which, statistics prove, are no more numerous than those of any other town in America) behind the lurid news that our people sometimes make while blowing off steam, is the story of a job … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood | 1 Comment

Matt Weinstock, Dec. 28, 1959

Posted on December 28, 2009 by lmharnisch

The Pigeon Problem           A woman on the telephone a few days ago asked excitedly, “What should I do about these crazy pigeons?  They’ve moved into our neighborhood (3rd and La Cienega) and they’re all over the place.  One of … Continue reading →

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A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

Posted on December 28, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Dec. 28, 1939: Hedda Hopper calls “Of Mice and Men” one of the best pictures of the year.

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A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

Posted on December 27, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Dec. 27, 1938: “On the ‘Wizard of Oz’ set they've added 50 schoolchildren to the 150 midgets, being sure the kids were the same size. Makes it mighty difficult for Miss MacDonald and her staff of schoolteachers, because the … Continue reading →

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Predictions for the 1960s

Posted on December 27, 2009 by lmharnisch

Dec. 27, 1959: The Times leads with the Nixon-Rockefeller story.    Sen. Barry Goldwater (R-Ariz.) expresses strong support for Nixon.   Times Political Editor Kyle Palmer, as to be expected, is all for Nixon.   Nixon calls for job training … Continue reading →

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A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

Posted on December 26, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Dec. 26, 1963: “I was horrified by ‘The Victors,’ from which I expected so much. It's the last picture in the world you'd want to see this season. I'm amazed at Carl Foreman, who wrote 'River Kwai' and 'Guns … Continue reading →

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Movie Star Mystery Photo

Posted on December 26, 2009 by lmharnisch

   Los Angeles Times file photo   Just a reminder on how this works: I post the mystery photo on Monday and reveal the answer on Friday … or on Saturday if I have a hard time picking only five … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | 35 Comments

Predictions for 1975

Posted on December 26, 2009 by lmharnisch

“All That Is Behind You, Darling.” Dec. 26, 1959: Somehow, the forecasters failed to predict the energy crisis, leisure suits and disco.  Cardinal McIntyre celebrates Mass at St. Vibiana’s.   “The Bells of Bethlehem” by Aimee Semple McPherson (d. 1944) … Continue reading →

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A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

Posted on December 25, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Dec. 25, 1962: "To Harold Lloyd, Christmas has always been a great feast at home. The mammoth tree stands in a high, vaulted room, the center of the family gathering. But Lloyd has been away a great deal this … Continue reading →

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Matt Weinstock, Dec. 24, 1959

Posted on December 24, 2009 by lmharnisch

  A Christmas Story     Forty-one years ago a young attorney named Patrick J. Cooney came to Calexio from Chicago.  One of his first clients was Jimmy Wong, who had 5,000 acres in cotton on the Mexican side of the … Continue reading →

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