Category Archives: History

The Black Dahlia at 65

Posted on January 15, 2012 by lmharnisch

Photo: Lobby of the Biltmore Hotel, Jan. 9, 2012, 6:30 p.m. Credit: Larry Harnisch/L.A. Daily Mirror. I wandered over to the Biltmore on Monday night to keep my annual appointment. I’m not compulsive about being there, and I don’t bother … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Another Good Story Ruined, Architecture, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Donald Wolfe, Downtown, Film, History, Hollywood, LAPD | Tagged , | 24 Comments

A Firsthand History Lesson on Pearl Harbor

Posted on December 7, 2011 by lmharnisch

In 1962, I was a seventh-grader at Washington Junior High School in Naperville, Ill. On Dec. 7, Mr. Humbert, our social studies teacher, put aside the regular curriculum to give his young pupils a firsthand account of Pearl Harbor. Many … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, Education, History, World War II | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

Ford’s Theatre Bans O’Reilly’s ‘Lincoln’ Book Over Mistakes

Posted on November 17, 2011 by lmharnisch

Manson family member Charles “Tex” Watson was denied parole. L.A. Times | AP via Washington Post Stephan Benzkofer of the Chicago Tribune takes a look at Police Officer Francis O’Neill in Part 2 of his Legendary Lawmen series. Edith Brady-Lunny … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Chicago, Crime and Courts, History, Homicide, Washington, World War II | Tagged , | Comments Off on Ford’s Theatre Bans O’Reilly’s ‘Lincoln’ Book Over Mistakes

A Casebook on ‘Los Angeles Plays Itself’

Posted on November 11, 2011 by lmharnisch

A user named smithrs has uploaded Thom Andersen’s elusive film essay “Los Angeles Plays Itself” to YouTube. The two-part film is something of a cult item in Los Angeles because Andersen made it without licensing the hundreds of clips he … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, History, Hollywood, Native Americans, Nightclubs | Tagged , | 4 Comments

History and Obituaries in the News

Posted on November 6, 2011 by lmharnisch

My Times colleague Connie Stewart has a nice piece about the Fenelon Place Elevator in her hometown of Dubuque, Iowa. Times obituary writer Elaine Woo profiles Cahuilla Indian leader Katherine Siva Saubel, one of the few speakers of the Cahuilla … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Native Americans, Obituaries | Tagged , , | Comments Off on History and Obituaries in the News

The Shrinking U.S. Newspaper: 1964 – 2011

Posted on October 25, 2011 by lmharnisch

Most people know that newspapers have reduced the size of their pages (or what we used to mean when we talked about “the web”) to save newsprint, but unless you have a lot of old papers lying around the house … Continue reading →

Posted in Front Pages, History | Tagged , | 14 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

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

Coming Attractions: Los Angeles Archives Bazaar [Updated]

Posted on October 9, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: The 2010 Archives Bazaar at Doheny Memorial Library. Credit: Larry Harnisch/LADailyMirror.com [Update: This is today! Mary Mallory says she’ll be at the Hollywood Heritage table from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., so if you’re there be sure to say … Continue reading →

Posted in Coming Attractions, Education, Film, History, Latinos, Libraries, Music, Photography | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Coming Attractions: Los Angeles Archives Bazaar [Updated]

Restoration at Wilshire Boulevard Temple

Posted on October 8, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: Wilshire Boulevard Temple, interior. Credit: Jim Winstead On the 140th anniversary of the Chicago fire, it’s a time to celebrate the city’s libraries. Rick Kogan explains in the Tribune’s Sidewalks blog. Jay Jones, writing for the Los Angeles Times, … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art & Artists, Black Dahlia, Chicago, Crime and Courts, Downtown, History, Interior Design, Libraries, Mary Mallory, Museums, Preservation, Religion | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Restoration at Wilshire Boulevard Temple

Killer in 1964 ‘Kitty’ Genovese Case Up for Parole

Posted on October 6, 2011 by lmharnisch

March 28, 1964: New Yorkers shrugged as Catherine “Kitty” Genovese was killed. Winston Moseley, convicted in the infamous 1964 killing of Catherine “Kitty” Genovese, is up for parole and Sam Favate takes a look in the Wall Street Journal’s Law … Continue reading →

Posted in 1964, Art & Artists, Chicago, Crime and Courts, History, Museums, New York | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Killer in 1964 ‘Kitty’ Genovese Case Up for Parole

The Best Books on L.A.

Posted on October 6, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: “Los Angeles,” by Morrow Mayo. Credit: Larry Harnisch/LADailyMirror.com Earlier this year, I queried readers about the best books on Los Angeles. It was interesting to see how many people suggested novels – by Raymond Chandler and John Fante – … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, History, Libraries | Tagged , | 4 Comments

The Odyssey of the Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers

Posted on September 24, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: Dorothy (Judy Garland) is wearing the ruby slippers. But which pair? Reuters is reporting that Profiles in History is auctioning off one of the pairs of ruby slippers used in “The Wizard of Oz.” Auction house owner Joe Maddalena … Continue reading →

Posted in 1939, Fashion, Film, History, Hollywood, Preservation | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

‘Zoot Suit’ and History – Part 9

Posted on September 20, 2011 by lmharnisch

Image: Isadore Bernstein’s name appears on a list of  undesirables.  Credit: The 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 in the Last … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, 1943, African Americans, Crime and Courts, Fashion, Film, History, Hollywood, Latinos, Libraries, Stage, World War II, Zoot Suit | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on ‘Zoot Suit’ and History – Part 9

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on September 12, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: “One of a kind” customized 1993 Cadillac hearse with satellite dish  for sale on EBay at $6,000 with reserve. Queen of the Dead – dateline September 12, 2011 •  The restoration of the Habsburgs becomes less likely (OK, it … Continue reading →

Posted in Eve Golden, Film, History, Queen of the Dead, Television, World War II | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Database of Slave Names Going Online

Posted on September 9, 2011 by lmharnisch

Image: “Christ Carrying the Cross Dragged by a Rogue.” The Virginia Historical Society is compiling a database of slaves and owners. The database, which will go online Wednesday, contains the names of 1,400 slaves and 180 owners, according to Eve … Continue reading →

Posted in Art & Artists, Crime and Courts, Genealogy, History, Libraries, Museums, World War II | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Database of Slave Names Going Online

Nazi Swastika on Hollywood Hills!

Posted on September 7, 2011 by lmharnisch

Image: “I guess I’m a fool,” she panted. Credit: This Week magazine, Los Angeles Times Sept. 7, 1941:It’s Sunday in Los Angeles, and although Pearl Harbor is three months away, concern about the impending war is everywhere. Someone even changed … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, Books and Authors, Film, History, Hollywood, Music, Radio, Religion, World War II | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Smithsonian Plans Exhibit on Paradox of Jefferson and Slavery

Posted on August 31, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: “New Native Photography”; “Shiprock Fair, 2009.” Credit: Jinniibaah Manuelito Jacqueline Trescott of the Washington Post writes that the Smithsonian Institution and the Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello are collaborating on a new exhibit about Jefferson and slavery. “Jefferson and … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Books and Authors, History, Medicine, Museums, Native Americans, Photography | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Smithsonian Plans Exhibit on Paradox of Jefferson and Slavery

Rosa Parks Archives Off-Limits to Scholars

Posted on August 30, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: The Rosa Parks archive. Credit: Guernsey’s Auctioneers.   Julian Bond and Jeanne Theoharis have a piece in the Washington Post’s opinion pages tracing the troubled history of Rosa Parks’ archives. Parks’ papers and other items have been caught in … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, History, Libraries | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

An Inquiry Into Photographic Truth

Posted on August 27, 2011 by lmharnisch

Image: The Las Vegas Mob Experience. Nancy Trejos of the Washington Post visits the Las Vegas Mob Experience, an interactive museum/theme park,  (tickets $30) at the Tropicana. As I bought my ticket, the young lady behind the counter said, in … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Courts, History, Museums, Photography | Tagged , | Comments Off on An Inquiry Into Photographic Truth