Category Archives: Hollywood

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on July 11, 2011 by lmharnisch

Queen of the Dead—dateline July 11, 2011   • Archduke Otto of Austria, pretender to the throne of the late Austria-Hungary, died on the Fourth of July, at 98. I must admit to a schoolgirl crush on his  . . … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Brain Trust, Eve Golden, Film, Found on EBay, Hollywood, Obituaries | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated+]

Posted on July 9, 2011 by lmharnisch

[Update 2: Margaret Campbell and Gertrude Olmstead in “Monte Carlo,” 1926. ] [Update: Please congratulate Mike Hawks for identifying the mystery gal on the left right!] Here’s another mystery photo, courtesy of Steven Bibb. Thanks! June 29, 1939: Campbell’s son, … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , | 14 Comments

Another Good Story Ruined – Mulholland and the Valley ‘Conspiracy’

Posted on July 9, 2011 by lmharnisch

My L.A. Times colleague Elaine Woo has a first-rate obituary on Catherine Mulholland, author of “William Mulholland and the Rise of Los Angeles.” One reason Mulholland took on the biography was to provide what she viewed as a more balanced … Continue reading →

Posted in 1963, Another Good Story Ruined, Books and Authors, Film, History, Hollywood, Obituaries, San Fernando Valley | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Another Good Story Ruined – Mulholland and the Valley ‘Conspiracy’

Day in Hollywood: July 8, 1941

Posted on July 8, 2011 by lmharnisch

July 8, 1941: I thought it would be fun to check in with our old pals, Lee Shippey, Tom Treanor and Jimmie Fidler. Lee writes about visiting researchers spending their summers at the Huntington. That’s my idea of a vacation! … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Jimmie Fidler, Lee Shippey, Tom Treanor, World War II | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

University Demolishes Theda Bara’s Former Home

Posted on July 7, 2011 by lmharnisch

Xavier University tore down Theda Bara’s former home in Cincinnati. Not for any particular reason. Just because. Photo: Theda Bara’s former home is demolished. Credit: The Cincinnati Enquirer/Michael E. Keating

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Preservation | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Found on EBay – Theda Bara in ‘Salome’

Posted on July 7, 2011 by lmharnisch

A publicity photo of Theda Bara from the lost film “Salome” has been listed on EBay. The vendor says this is an original studio handout, not a reprint. As with anything on EBay, an item and vendor should be evaluated … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Found on EBay, Hollywood, Photography | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

‘Zoot Suit’ and History – Part 4

Posted on July 7, 2011 by lmharnisch

June 8, 1943: A mob of servicemen block a streetcar on Main Street to remove a passenger wearing a zoot suit. This was supposed to be an easy – if long – post to wrap up the Zoot Suit Riots. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, Downtown, Fashion, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Latinos, Zoot Suit | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Found on EBay – Earl Carroll’s Nightclub

Posted on July 6, 2011 by lmharnisch

This photo of some young guys having a good time at Earl Carroll’s on Aug. 7, 1943, has been listed on EBay. Bidding starts at $19.95.

Posted in 1943, Found on EBay, Hollywood, Nightclubs, Photography | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Soviet Film Posters – Update

Posted on July 6, 2011 by lmharnisch

Regular Daily Mirror reader Gary Martin visited the exhibit of Soviet film posters at the Tony Shafrazi Gallery and files this post: American museums have all become so look alike and all show such similar works by the same small … Continue reading →

Posted in Art & Artists, Film, Hollywood, New York | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Soviet Film Posters – Update

Zoot Suits in the News

Posted on July 5, 2011 by lmharnisch

Just as we were exploring the history of the Zoot Suit Riots comes news of Kathy Peiss’ book “Zoot Suit” from the University of Pennsylvania Press. Writing about the book in the New York Times’ Arts Beat, Patricia Cohen raises … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, Books and Authors, Fashion, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Zoot Suit | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Zoot Suits in the News

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on July 4, 2011 by lmharnisch

Queen of the Dead—dateline July 4, 2011   • Adorable, baby-voiced actress Alice Playten, 63, died on June 25. She was one of those “oh, her!” actresses whose face and voice are more familiar than her name. She did zillions … Continue reading →

Posted in Art & Artists, Eve Golden, Film, Hollywood, Obituaries, Queen of the Dead, Stage, Television | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Hemingway’s FBI File!

Posted on July 2, 2011 by lmharnisch

The 50th anniversary of Ernest Hemingway’s death has prompted a variety of articles, including an op-ed piece in the New York Times by A.E. Hotchner, who portrays the famous novelist as being obsessed about FBI surveillance. He told Hotchner: “It’s … Continue reading →

Posted in 1961, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Libraries, Suicide | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

#Hollywood #history #museums

Posted on July 2, 2011 by lmharnisch

DEARBORN, Mich. The Arab American National Museum is opening an exhibit focusing on the generation of children who are growing since the 9/11 attacks. The project, “In the Heart of Arab America,” was sponsored by the Asian American Journalists Assn. … Continue reading →

Posted in Art & Artists, Film, Hollywood, Museums, Religion, Television | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on #Hollywood #history #museums

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated +]

Posted on July 1, 2011 by lmharnisch

Here’s another mystery photo, courtesy of Steven Bibb! [Update: This mystery lady is Neva Gerber (d. 1974) who also performed as Jean Dolores. And she figures in the William Desmond Taylor case – although I can’t find anything about their … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , | 18 Comments

Architectural Rambling

Posted on July 1, 2011 by lmharnisch

The home at 1315 S. El Molino in Pasadena is one of my favorite local landmarks. When I moved to Los Angeles, I spent a long time looking for the house before I finally located it.  I drive by it … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Film, Hollywood, Photography | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Found on EBay – Witzel Portrait of Louise Fazenda

Posted on June 30, 2011 by lmharnisch

This striking photo of Louise Fazenda by Witzel studios has been listed on EBay. Witzel was one of the leading studios in Los Angeles for portraits of entertainers. The vendor says this is an authentic autographed picture. Bidding starts at … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Found on EBay, Hollywood, Witzel | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Charlie Chaplin – No Sale!

Posted on June 30, 2011 by lmharnisch

The New York Times reports that the short World War I propaganda film “Zepped,” a pastiche of Charlie Chaplin clips and some animation, failed to sell at auction by Bonhams.The film’s reserve price was about $160,000.

Posted in Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

#history

Posted on June 30, 2011 by lmharnisch

A summary of history-related posts on the Web: Chicago Tribune The Trib has an item on the Children’s Museum remaining at Navy Pier rather than moving to Grant Park as the facility is transferred to private management. Here’s the Trib’s … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Baseball, Chicago, Film, History, Hollywood, Museums, Music, Native Americans, Photography, Sports | Tagged , , | Comments Off on #history

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on June 30, 2011 by lmharnisch

Here’s another mystery photo courtesy of Steven Bibb. Thanks! [Update: Please congratulate Don Danard  for identifying Tex Fletcher (d. 1987) in “Six-Gun Rhythm.” ]

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

‘Zoot Suit’ and History – Part 3

Posted on June 30, 2011 by lmharnisch

In March 1943, Disney studios released “The Spirit of ’43,” a cartoon in which Donald Duck is forced to choose between saving his money for “taxes to bury the Axis” (aided by a thrifty proto-Scrooge McDuck)  and spending his paycheck … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Downtown, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Latinos, Lee Shippey, Nightclubs, Zoot Suit | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments