Category Archives: History

Wikipedia Watch: Novelist Amanda Filipacchi Feels the Sting of ‘Citizen Scholars’

Posted on April 28, 2013 by lmharnisch

A world without Wikipedia? Not such a bad idea. Novelist Amanda Filipacchi, writing in the New York Times, notes that the “citizen scholars” at Wikipedia have been moving women from the category of “American Novelists” to “American Women Novelists.” She … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, History | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Wikipedia: Murder and Myth – Part 4

Posted on April 26, 2013 by lmharnisch

In case you just tuned in, I am using the Wikipedia entry on Wallace Beery – alleging that he was involved in the death of Ted Healy – as a way to explore Wikipedia’s fundamental problems with accuracy and delve … Continue reading →

Posted in 1937, Film, History, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Wikipedia: Murder and Myth – Part 1

Posted on April 23, 2013 by lmharnisch

As longtime readers know, the L.A. Daily Mirror is usually a Wikipedia-free zone. I consider it a sinkhole of myth, mistakes, rumors and folklore that is created and maintained by “citizen scholars,” crackpots, coding tweakers, factoid zealots and folks in … Continue reading →

Posted in 1937, Film, History, Hollywood, Homicide | Tagged , , , , , | 26 Comments

Wikipedia: Murder and Myth, Coming Next week

Posted on April 19, 2013 by lmharnisch

A world without Wikipedia – not such a bad idea. Regular readers of the L.A. Daily Mirror know that I consider Wikipedia a sinkhole of mistakes and folklore that is created and maintained by “citizen scholars,” coding tweakers, crackpots and … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, History, Libraries | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Earl Carroll’s Nightclub

Posted on March 16, 2013 by lmharnisch

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

‘Gangster Squad’: Fail – Part 1

Posted on January 13, 2013 by lmharnisch

Uh-oh. Nobody should be surprised — least of all Warner Bros. — that  “Gangster Squad” is a terrible movie. Anyone who saw the trailers or heard the industry gossip knew that it was going to be dreadful. It was a … Continue reading →

Posted in 1949, Fashion, Fashions, Film, History, Hollywood, LAPD, Mickey Cohen | Tagged , , , , , , | 22 Comments

Los Angeles Editor Was Ahead of His Time

Posted on January 9, 2013 by lmharnisch

My latest column is about Paul Bryan Gray and his new book “A Clamor for Equality,” the biography of Francisco P. Ramirez, the youthful editor of El Clamor Público, the first entirely Spanish-language newspaper published in Los Angeles. The entire … Continue reading →

Posted in 1855, Books and Authors, Downtown, History, Latinos | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Wikipedia Hoax Exposed

Posted on January 3, 2013 by lmharnisch

As longtime readers know, I am not a fan of Wikipedia, which I consider a sinkhole of rumors and errors run by coding tweakers, factoid zealots and folks with tinfoil hats. This week, in fact, a Daily Mirror reader questioned … Continue reading →

Posted in History | Tagged , , | 20 Comments

Coming Attractions: Los Angeles Archives Bazaar

Posted on October 17, 2012 by lmharnisch

The annual Los Angeles Archives Bazaar will be held Oct. 27 at USC’s Doheny Memorial Library. The bazaar is an excellent way to become acquainted with the astounding number of libraries and historical societies across the city and their amazingly … Continue reading →

Posted in 2012, Coming Attractions, History, Libraries | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Coming Attractions: Los Angeles Archives Bazaar

Found on EBay – 1880 History of Los Angeles County

Posted on October 14, 2012 by lmharnisch

A copy of the 1959 reprint of the 1880 “History of Los Angeles County” has been listed on EBay. The book was compiled over five months from newspapers, books, magazines public records and interviews, producing “three large grain sacks” filled … Continue reading →

Posted in 1880, Books and Authors, Found on EBay, History | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Found on EBay – 1880 History of Los Angeles County

Victor Segno: Success Wave!

Posted on October 2, 2012 by lmharnisch

Prof. A. Victor Segno and a success wave (artist’s concept). My latest column for The Times deals with my favorite L.A. con man, Prof. A Victor Segno.

Posted in Books and Authors, Crime and Courts, History | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Reading Los Angeles: Glen Creason

Posted on September 26, 2012 by lmharnisch

Photo: “Murder at the Sleepy Lagoon” by Eduardo Obregón Pagán. In interviewing Los Angeles Public Library map librarian Glen Creason, I asked about his favorite books on Los Angeles. There wasn’t space to include the list with the story, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, History, Libraries, Zoot Suit | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Glen Creason: All Over the Maps

Posted on September 20, 2012 by lmharnisch

My latest column for The Times is a chat with LAPL map librarian Glen Creason. Check it out.

Posted in History, Libraries | 1 Comment

Mickey Cohen on the Record – Talking With Author Tere Tereba

Posted on July 26, 2012 by lmharnisch

Photo: Tere Tereba’s “Mickey Cohen: The Life and Crimes of L.A.’s Notorious Mobster.”   Note: I have been talking with author Tere Tereba about her book “Mickey Cohen: The Life and Crimes of L.A.’s Notorious Mobster.” Was he nothing more  … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, History, Hollywood, LAPD, Mickey Cohen | Tagged , , , , | 12 Comments

Seeing L.A. Through the Lens of History – C.C. Pierce’s Photos

Posted on July 10, 2012 by lmharnisch

My latest column for The Times is on early L.A. photographer C.C. Pierce.

Posted in History, Photography | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

On Assignment

Posted on July 3, 2012 by lmharnisch

I’m on assignment this week, so posting will be light.

Posted in History, Libraries | Comments Off on On Assignment

Saving L.A. History, One Page at a Time

Posted on June 19, 2012 by lmharnisch

Photo: The LAPD Daily Police Bulletin for Jan. 16, 1947, the day after the Black Dahlia’s body was found. Notice that the Dahlia isn’t mentioned. Credit: Larry Harnisch/LADailyMirror   My latest column for The Times is about Joan Renner and … Continue reading →

Posted in History, LAPD | Tagged , | 5 Comments

On Assignment

Posted on May 31, 2012 by lmharnisch

I’m on assignment, so posting will be light until next week.

Posted in History | Comments Off on On Assignment

Me vs. Wikipedia

Posted on February 7, 2012 by lmharnisch

I drew a range of reactions with my recent post “A World Without Wikipedia: Not Such a Bad Idea,”  in which I said “I don’t know a single serious researcher who considers it anything other than a joke.”That isn’t precisely … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Libraries | Tagged , | 29 Comments

A World Without Wikipedia: Not Such a Bad Idea

Posted on January 18, 2012 by lmharnisch

Wikipedia can stay dark permanently as far as I’m concerned. It’s a sinkhole of rumors and errors run by coding tweakers, factoid zealots and folks with tinfoil hats — and yes, Wikipedia has an entry on tinfoil hats. I don’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Another Good Story Ruined, History | Tagged , , | 21 Comments