Category Archives: Film

Stunt man dies in John Wayne film, December 6, 1958

Posted on December 6, 2008 by lmharnisch

  File this under quaint notions of the 1950s: Highway officials taking control of speeding cars and forcing them to slow down. U.S. moon launch fails. http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/k6UQe8Upiz1lVusxuj&related=1&canvas=mediumTHE HORSE SOLDIERS TRAILER At left, stuntman Fred Kennedy is killed when he takes … Continue reading →

Posted in classical music, Film, Freeways, Front Pages, Hollywood, Music, Obituaries, Sports, Stage, Transportation | 1 Comment

Voices — Forrest J. Ackerman, 1916 – 2008

Posted on December 5, 2008 by lmharnisch

Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times THE TRUE BELIEVER: “I felt that the primary authors of science fiction were opening my eyes … to a better and more fascinating world,” says Forrest J Ackerman of the genre he has championed. … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Film, Hollywood, Science | 26 Comments

Baseball OKs trades between NL-AL, December 4, 1958

Posted on December 4, 2008 by lmharnisch

You really don’t have to wonder what "She Gods of Shark Reef" is about, do you? Here’s another one of those surprises found in the old files. Baseball approved interleague trading for a short period each winter beginning the following … Continue reading →

Posted in Dodgers, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Sports | Comments Off on Baseball OKs trades between NL-AL, December 4, 1958

Remakes of science fiction classics

Posted on December 4, 2008 by lmharnisch

Check out what my blog colleague Geoff Boucher has to say on Hero Complex: Hollywood, Back to the Future: Top filmmakers have already dipped into the sci-fi vault for 21st century remakes of “The War of the Worlds,” “The Planet … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Film, Hollywood, UFOs | Comments Off on Remakes of science fiction classics

36 homes burn in Malibu fire, December 3, 1958

Posted on December 3, 2008 by lmharnisch

  I have seen some ugly Page 1 layouts but this headline takes the prize.   Corral Canyon fire, 1958   Corral Canyon fire, 2007. One fire began near Bob Hope Ranch, the other near 20th Century Fox movie ranch … Continue reading →

Posted in @news, Architecture, broadcasting, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Real Estate, Sports, Television | 2 Comments

Speeding train crushes school bus; UCLA gets new football coach, December 2, 1938

Posted on December 2, 2008 by lmharnisch

A truck carrying Christmas trees crashes into a streetcar … and a man is charged with buying a cougar cub at a pet store and killing it for the $75 bounty. Robert L. Cannon and Albert Kessel, sentenced to die … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, @news, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Homicide, Sports, Transportation | 1 Comment

Rams win over Cards, December 1, 1958

Posted on December 1, 2008 by lmharnisch

The Rams survived the cold of Chicago to edge the Cardinals, 20-14. The statistic that stood out in Cal Whorton’s story was the attendance–only 13,041 watched the game at what Whorton called Comisky Ball Park. Whorton said temperature at game … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Sports | 2 Comments

December 1, 1938: California prepares to execute two killers at San Quentin

Posted on December 1, 2008 by lmharnisch

The secret of Babe Ruth’s happy marriage: White Owl cigars. December 1, 1938: California prepares to use the gas chamber for executions rather than hanging.

Posted in #courts, 1938, @news, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD, Politics, Religion, Sports | 1 Comment

Coming attractions — Three Stooges

Posted on November 28, 2008 by lmharnisch

The Alex Film Society will host its annual Three Stooges event at the Alex Theatre in Glendale on Nov. 29, 2008, shows at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets $15/$12.50/$8.

Posted in Film, Hollywood | Comments Off on Coming attractions — Three Stooges

Barbara Graham case revisited, November 28, 1958

Posted on November 28, 2008 by lmharnisch

Los Angeles Times file photo. Murder victim Mabel Monahan. “As you went in the front door, what was the first thing that attracted your attention?” “Mrs. Graham was striking Mrs. Monahan in the face with a gun. She was standing … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, @news, Film, Front Pages, Homicide, San Fernando Valley | 3 Comments

Movie star mystery photo

Posted on November 28, 2008 by lmharnisch

Los Angeles Times file photo Our mystery guest on the left (Arthur Shields–or is it?) has more than 80 credits on imdb and more than 20 credits on on ibdb. The mystery woman (Maureen Delany) has less than 25 credits … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Stage | 10 Comments

November 27, 1968: O.J. Simpson wins Heisman

Posted on November 27, 2008 by lmharnisch

O.J. Simpson won the Heisman Trophy as the best college football player of 1968 after a remarkable two-year USC career. Dwight Chapin’s story in The Times portrayed the lack of suspense–even Simpson said he was “pretty confident.” Who could blame … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, @news, broadcasting, Current Affairs, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD, Sports, Television | 1 Comment

Poison gas kills Disney’s mother, November 27, 1938

Posted on November 27, 2008 by lmharnisch

  Above, Walt Disney gave his parents a home at 4605 Placidia Ave., Toluca Lake, for their golden wedding anniversary. According to The Times, a faulty furnace connection let carbon monoxide into the house. Disney’s father, Elias, was found unconscious … Continue reading →

Posted in @news, Blues, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Music, Religion, Sports | 2 Comments

Southern California in flames, November 25, 1938

Posted on November 25, 2008 by lmharnisch

This photograph is 70 years old but it could have been taken last week.   The Times’ L.D. Hotchkiss takes on Pulitzer-winning columnist Westbrook Pegler. Fire damage –10,000 acres in Topanga and Rustic canyons –4,000 acres in San Bernardino County. … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Music, Sports, Stage | Comments Off on Southern California in flames, November 25, 1938

Comedian dies during Friars roast, November 24, 1958

Posted on November 24, 2008 by lmharnisch

Ozone in downtown Los Angeles reaches 0.49 parts per million, just short of a Stage 1 alert. Today, 0.50 would be a Stage 3 alert. Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller arrive in New York. Comedian Harry Einstein, 53, known as … Continue reading →

Posted in @news, broadcasting, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Nightclubs, Obituaries, Television | 4 Comments

Nazi SS troops kill wealthy Jews in orgy of murder, November 23, 1938

Posted on November 23, 2008 by lmharnisch

Death at Sachsenhausen. These old papers are full of ugly stereotypes, but this one makes a powerful contrast with the Holocaust coverage. The Times publishes a United Press story based a London News Chronicle account. The report says a group … Continue reading →

Posted in @news, City Hall, Countdown to Watts, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, LAPD | 2 Comments

Writer arrested for threatening wife with butcher knife, November 21 1958

Posted on November 21, 2008 by lmharnisch

          "Suddenly it seemed the whole panorama of his life was a race and he was running last…. There was something in him that had to come out. He had to find a way to get … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, books, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, LAPD | 1 Comment

Coming attractions — Maltese Falcon

Posted on November 20, 2008 by lmharnisch

"The Maltese Falcon" will be shown at the Warner Grand in San Pedro at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, 2008. Tickets are free for L.A. Conservancy members–while supplies last. If you’re a member of the Los Angeles Conservancy, RSVP to … Continue reading →

Posted in Coming Attractions, Film, Hollywood | 2 Comments

Found on EBay — Vintage film poster

Posted on November 20, 2008 by lmharnisch

At left, a poster from the 1912 Selig film "The Peculiar Nature of the White Man’s Burden" is on EBay. Bidding starts at $9.95 or buy it now for $150.

Posted in Film, Hollywood | Comments Off on Found on EBay — Vintage film poster

Rams tie San Francisco, November 18, 1968

Posted on November 18, 2008 by lmharnisch

The Rams escaped from San Francisco with a 20-20 tie and quarterback Roman Gabriel realized it could have been a lot worse. Gabriel waved off the Rams’ field goal unit for one more chance to score a touchdown that would … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Sports | 5 Comments