Category Archives: Hollywood

July 17, 1907: Hollywood Organizes to Catch Serial Arsonist

Posted on July 17, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 17, 1907:
A serial arsonist has been at work in Hollywood, setting six fires in the last three weeks. The community’s small volunteer fire department has been overwhelmed by the crimes. Continue reading →

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July 15, 1957: The laughter dies; Abbott and Costello break up the act

Posted on July 15, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 15, 1957: Abbott and Costello break up the act. Abbott was going to retire to his ranch in Ojai. Costello was going solo — he wouldn’t work with anyone else. Continue reading →

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Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Hollywood Sign Built and Illuminated November-December 1923

Posted on July 14, 2026 by lmharnisch

Mary Mallory has a word for everyone celebrating the Hollywood Sign’s anniversary in July: It was in November-December 1923. Continue reading →

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Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + +)

Posted on July 13, 2026 by lmharnisch

For Monday, we have a mysterious fellow. Continue reading →

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Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Eleanor Jones, Librarian to Hollywood

Posted on July 6, 2026 by lmharnisch

Mary Mallory profiles Eleanor Jones, head of the Hollywood branch library for 18 years. Continue reading →

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Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on July 6, 2026 by lmharnisch

For Monday, we have a mysterious fellow (no worries, it all works out in the end). Continue reading →

Posted in 1934, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , , | 28 Comments

July 5, 1927: Voices — Christine Collins

Posted on July 5, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 5, 1927: The prison warden replies to Christine Collins regarding parole for her husband, Walter. Christine Collins’ tragedy inspired the Clint Eastwood movie ‘Changeling.’ Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Changeling, Film, Hollywood, LAPD | Leave a comment

July 1, 1947: ‘Mom and Dad’ — Elliot Forbes and Sexploitation in the 1940s

Posted on July 1, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 1, 1947: Elliot Forbes and the notorious sexploitation film “Mom and Dad.” Continue reading →

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Voices — Christine Collins, June 30, 1931

Posted on June 30, 2026 by lmharnisch

June, 30, 1931: Police Chief R.E. Steckel tells the parole board that Walter Collins should be considered a habitual criminal. Collins’ wife, Christine, was the inspiration for Clint Eastwood’s film ‘Changeling.’ Continue reading →

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Coming Attractions: ‘It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World’ (1963) in Beverly Hills

Posted on June 29, 2026 by lmharnisch

Stanley Kramer’s 1963 comedy ‘It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World’ will be shown Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Fine Arts Theatre in Beverly Hills. Kramer’s widow and daughter will appear and James Curtis will sign his new book on the making of the film. Continue reading →

Posted in 1963, Artist's Notebook, Coming Attractions, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on June 29, 2026 by lmharnisch

For Monday, we have two mysterious guests and an enigmatic vehicle. Continue reading →

Posted in 1971, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 27 Comments

June 23, 1947: Jim Tully, Hobo Novelist and Prizefighter, Dies at 56

Posted on June 23, 2026 by lmharnisch

June 23, 1947: Jim Tully, hobo author of “Shanty Irish” and “Beggars of Life” dies at 56. Continue reading →

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Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on June 22, 2026 by lmharnisch

For Monday, we have a mystery girl having tea with her mysterious doll. Continue reading →

Posted in 1961, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , | 22 Comments

Black Dahlia: Mamie Van Doren Is Hallucinating About Knowing the Black Dahlia

Posted on June 20, 2026 by lmharnisch

Mamie Van Doren, age 95, is hallucinating about knowing Elizabeth Short, the Black Dahlia. Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Black Dahlia: Mamie Van Doren’s Invented Memories of Elizabeth Short

Posted on June 19, 2026 by lmharnisch

It’s a bit sad when a superannuated actor writes a memoir about what they think they “remember” about old Hollywood. There’s no truth to Mamie Van Doren’s claim that she knew Elizabeth Short, the Black Dahlia. It’s all imagined. Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, books, Books and Authors, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Black Dahlia: Mamie Van Doren’s Invented Memories of Elizabeth Short

June 18, 1947: Actor Jon Hall Says Tale of Being Shot Down in Plane Was a Hoax

Posted on June 18, 2026 by lmharnisch

June 18, 1947: Actor Jon Hall admits he was lying with a story that a bullet tore into the propeller of his plane as he and his wife, Frances Langford, were taking off from Clover Field for Tulare. Continue reading →

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Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Tsuru Aoki, Lotus Flower of the Cinema

Posted on June 15, 2026 by lmharnisch

Mary Mallory profiles Japanese American actress Tsuru Aoki, often obscured by her famous husband, Sessue Hayakawa. An encore post from 2017. Continue reading →

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Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on June 15, 2026 by lmharnisch

For Monday, we have two mysterious guests. Continue reading →

Posted in 1951, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Nation’s First Legally Permitted Gay Pride Parade

Posted on June 8, 2026 by lmharnisch

Mary Mallory looks at the nation’s first legally permitted Gay Pride parade, June 28, 1970. Continue reading →

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Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on June 8, 2026 by lmharnisch

For Monday, we have some very mysterious guests! Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Film, Hollywood, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , | 19 Comments