Category Archives: Food and Drink

Thanksgiving, 1908

Posted on November 18, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, Thanksgiving, 1908 "Did the Pilgrim Fathers have salads at their Thanksgiving feasts? Nay, verily!" How Did Thanksgiving Get to Be Turkey Day? History: The All-American feast took its time becoming the holiday we all celebrate today. Thursday November 15, … Continue reading →

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Our rural past — farming in Torrance

Posted on November 15, 2008 by lmharnisch

By Russ Parsons You would hardly know it today, when South Bay towns like Torrance and Gardena seem composed of little but suburbs and strip malls, but it wasn’t so long ago that this broad, flat plain included some of … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, books, Food and Drink, Real Estate | 2 Comments

Voices — Jay Fiondella

Posted on November 12, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, Jay Fiondella sets off to look for World War II planes that crashed in Greenland. "My Holy Grail." "Adventure is out there."

Posted in broadcasting, Film, Food and Drink, Hollywood, Obituaries, Television | Comments Off on Voices — Jay Fiondella

Sid Hughes dies at 50; the Daily Mirror mourns

Posted on November 11, 2008 by lmharnisch

Los Angeles Times file photo Sid Hughes, Los Angeles newsman. Sid Hughes, who owned the badge that is the Daily Mirror’s icon, worked at nearly every newspaper in Los Angeles: The Times, the Record, the Express, the Herald, the Examiner … Continue reading →

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November 3, 1958: 44 shopping days until Christmas

Posted on November 3, 2008 by lmharnisch

Honestly! The Christmas ads start earlier every year. I remember when they used to wait until after Thanksgiving!

Posted in Fashion, Food and Drink, Religion | 1 Comment

Los Angeles history — Valley dining

Posted on September 27, 2008 by lmharnisch

I loved going to the Samoa House as a youngster growing up in the Valley inthe ’60s.  The rib dinners were great.  I loved the blue cheese saladdressing.  I recall there were several different rib dinners and the priceswere probably … Continue reading →

Posted in Food and Drink, San Fernando Valley | 1 Comment

Voices–Brian Stromsoe

Posted on August 27, 2008 by lmharnisch

Brian Stromsoe writes: I think the Mirror was 5 cents back then. I delivered the Huntington Park Signal, which produced $20 per month for my comic book purchases, and a stop off at Rancher Bill’s for a burger, fries, and … Continue reading →

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July 17, 1938

Posted on July 17, 2008 by lmharnisch

Jack Benny gives a party for his daughter Joan and invites some little friends: Jack Haley Jr., Gary and Dennis Crosby, Dion Fay (son of Barbara Stanwyck and Frank Fay), Melinda Markey (daughter of Joan Bennett and Gene Markey), Al … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Food and Drink, Front Pages, Hollywood | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

June 10, 1908

Posted on June 10, 2008 by lmharnisch

ow this is what I’d call an extremely gray page. Even electronic "zipotone" doesn’t help much. But what great stories…. First of all, Mrs. D.C. Caloo is freed after being held as a prisoner at 732 W. 9th St. by … Continue reading →

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May 23, 1908

Posted on May 23, 2008 by lmharnisch

Hollywood gets a new church, above.  (At left, Hollywood Presbyterian today.) The northwest corner of 8th Street and Broadway (at right) sells for $234,000 ($5,144, 969.35 USD 2007) … Below left, sake is banned because it’s impure … The auction … Continue reading →

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May 15, 1938

Posted on May 15, 2008 by lmharnisch

Butterfinger, the health food. Well, at least we know what became of the ad agency that called beer "liquid bread." Email me

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May 9, 1938

Posted on May 9, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, a bottle of Pepsi costs a nickel (71 cents USD 2007) and is worth a dime ($1.43 USD 2007) … Below,  unemployed actor and author Charles E. Royal finds another career telling tourists about City Hall in staggering detail. … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Food and Drink, Front Pages, LAPD, Suicide | Tagged , | 1 Comment

May 5, 1938

Posted on May 5, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, Thelma Todd’s famous (or notorious) Inn … Below, George Sakalis says he was offered $3,000 to keep his mouth shut in the trial of Police Capt. Earle Kynette in the Harry Raymond bombing … Jackie Coogan says he brought … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, City Hall, Food and Drink, Front Pages, Homicide, LAPD, Nightclubs | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on May 5, 1938

April 29, 1908

Posted on April 30, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, what could be healthier than beer except for cigarettes? OK, Helmar cigarettes at least didn’t claim to be good for you. I overlooked Emma Goldman’s appearance in Los Angeles, so the pages are a day late. Naturally, The Times … Continue reading →

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April 26, 1938

Posted on April 26, 2008 by lmharnisch

Below, the prosecution prepares to call bombing victim Harry Raymond in the trial of Police Capt. Earle Kynette … The proceedings are interrupted as bailiffs throw an old drunk man out of the courtroom after he yelled "Look out! Look … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, City Hall, Film, Food and Drink, Front Pages, Hollywood, Religion | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on April 26, 1938

Paul Coates

Posted on March 26, 2008 by lmharnisch

March 26, 1958 In an effort to hammer down the rising price of beef, housewives in several Southland communities are organizing boycotts on expensive cuts. Their methods of resistance to the boosts include: In Pasadena, a group of women is … Continue reading →

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The Queens Arms

Posted on March 24, 2008 by lmharnisch

As I was contemplating our Easter dinner last week, I thought of the Kings Arms and Queens Arms restaurants in L.A. They used to have the best orange sauce for ham. It was the best sauce I have ever tasted … Continue reading →

Posted in Food and Drink | 3 Comments

Main Street

Posted on March 18, 2008 by lmharnisch

Photograph by Bruce H. Cox / Los Angeles Times Goodfellows (or Good Fellows, the restaurant used both names) Grotto, 341 S. Main St., shortly before it closed. Notice the old-fashioned "Family Entrance." Until it closed on New Year’s Eve in … Continue reading →

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Found on EBay

Posted on February 23, 2008 by lmharnisch

Here’s a postcard of the Chalon Restaurant, 1455 W. Manchester, a business that appeared in a 1955 Times story about fines that were imposed for smog violations. The restaurant was cited for operating an incinerator after a permit had been … Continue reading →

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Preservation news

Posted on February 21, 2008 by lmharnisch

According to a note from the L.A. Conservancy’s Modern Committee, Bob’s Big Boy is interested in rebuilding the Johnie’s Broiler, 7447 Firestone Blvd., in Downey that was partially destroyed in an illegal demolition. On Tuesday at 7 p.m., the committee … Continue reading →

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