Category Archives: Hollywood

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 →

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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

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on June 29, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photographs by Howard Decker Our pal Fibber (Howard Decker) sends along two pictures as mystery photos. Thanks! [Congratulations to Lorenzo for identifying Season Hubley!]

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

From the Stacks: ‘The Big Picture’

Posted on June 29, 2011 by lmharnisch

I picked up “The Big Picture,” Melba Levick and Stanley Young’s 1988 book about Los Angeles murals, not realizing what a terribly sad book it would be. As Young notes: “Most artists are aware that, exposed as it is to … Continue reading →

Posted in 1988, Architecture, Art & Artists, Books and Authors, Crime and Courts, Downtown, From the Stacks, Hollywood, Latinos, Photography, Preservation, San Fernando Valley, Sports, Zoot Suit | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

From the Galleries: Soviet Film Posters

Posted on June 28, 2011 by lmharnisch

Friday’s New York Times has a brief article on an exhibit of Soviet film posters at the Tony Shafrazi Gallery on West 26th Street in Chelsea. According to the New York Times, the posters were collected by Susan Pack, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Art & Artists, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on June 28, 2011 by lmharnisch

Here’s another mystery photo from Steven Bibb’s collection! [Update: Please congratulate Don Danard for identifying our mystery hero as Buddy Roosevelt. His mystery companion isn’t identified on the back of the picture, but Don says it is  Lafe McKee.]

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on June 27, 2011 by lmharnisch

Here’s another mystery photo, courtesy of Steven Bibb. There’s a closer look on the jump. [Update: This is Dorothea Wieck (d. 1986), known for “Maedchen in Uniform,” arriving in Los Angeles, April 13, 1933. She returned to Germany because she … Continue reading →

Posted in 1933, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography, Transportation, World War II | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

‘Zoot Suit’ and history – Part 1

Posted on June 27, 2011 by lmharnisch

I was extremely fortunate to attend Wednesday night’s showing of “Zoot Suit” and hear remarks by the panel that preceded the show. Betto Arcos moderated a session with director Luis Valdez, Rose Portillo (Della), Edward James Olmos (El Pachuco) and … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, 1943, 1947, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Fashion, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD, Latinos, Music, Stage, Theaters, Zoot Suit | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on June 27, 2011 by lmharnisch

Queen of the Dead—dateline June 25, 2011 • Wheelchair-bound actor and male stripper Lee Kemp, 39, died of cancer on April 11. The British actor became a paraplegic after a 1990 motorcycle accident and—against all odds—continued his career, even winning … Continue reading →

Posted in Eve Golden, Film, Hollywood, Obituaries, Queen of the Dead, Religion, Stage | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated+++]

Posted on June 25, 2011 by lmharnisch

Here’s a mystery couple in a mystery movie. There’s a new photo on the jump! [Update: These photos are from the 1916 Selig-Polyscope film “The Garden of Allah” starring Helen Ware and Tom Santschi. These photos appear in the photoplay … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment