Category Archives: Hollywood

Paul Coates, Jan. 25, 1961

Posted on January 25, 2011 by lmharnisch

         Jan. 25, 1961: Mel Blanc, 51, is making progress after being badly injured in a head-on crash with Menlo College student Arthur Rolston, 18, on Sunset Boulevard at the notorious “Dead Man’s Curve” at Groverton Place. … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Film, From the Vaults, Hollywood, Paul Coates, Transportation | Comments Off on Paul Coates, Jan. 25, 1961

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Jan. 25, 1941

Posted on January 25, 2011 by lmharnisch

           Jan. 25, 1941: The recent Jew persecutions in Rumania struck a special note of horror to a visiting American because they were so invisible, Tom Treanor says. Why cast Margaret Sullavan as a Jewish refugee … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Tom Treanor | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Jan. 25, 1941

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on January 25, 2011 by lmharnisch

      Los Angeles Times file photo   [Update: These are  photos published in 1965, showing Hal Needham, Stephanie Epper and Patty Elder.] Here’s a mystery sequence of photos showing a stunt that went wrong.

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 8 Comments

Found on EBay — ‘They Call Them Camisoles’

Posted on January 24, 2011 by lmharnisch

A rather battered but interesting copy of “They Call Them Camisoles” has been listed on EBay. “Camisoles” was written by Wilma Carnes under the pen name Wilma Wilson and is a graphic first-person account of her time at Camarillo (“Camisoles” … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Film, Food and Drink, health, Hollywood | Comments Off on Found on EBay — ‘They Call Them Camisoles’

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on January 24, 2011 by lmharnisch

      Los Angeles Times file photo   [Update: This is “The Bugle Sounds.”] Aha! Mystery tanks!

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 8 Comments

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Jan. 23, 1941

Posted on January 23, 2011 by lmharnisch

           Jan. 23, 1941: Tom Treanor sums up his experiences in Europe with thoughts on reporting and censorship. “The assumption that great untold stories are lying around in Europe like gold nuggets on the sidewalk is … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Tom Treanor | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Jan. 23, 1941

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on January 23, 2011 by lmharnisch

      Los Angeles Times file photo   [Update: This is the production of the 1949 film “Sand.” ] Here’s another scenic shot….

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 2 Comments

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Jan. 22, 1941

Posted on January 22, 2011 by lmharnisch

        Jan. 22, 1941: Times reporter Tom Treanor, who was killed covering World War II, files the last in his series of columns from Europe before heading to Los Angeles. “And now at last goodbye to Europe, … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Tom Treanor | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Jan. 22, 1941

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on January 22, 2011 by lmharnisch

      Los Angeles Times file photo         Nov. 11, 1927: “Jesse James” at Loew’s Metropolitan theater. Look! It’s Rube Wolf!   [Update: Please congratulate Mary Mallory, who recognized this as the 1927 production of “Jesse … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 13 Comments

Hollywood’s Rename Game

Posted on January 22, 2011 by lmharnisch

        June 27, 1937: I stumbled across this article while trying to determine the title of the film in Wednesday’s mystery photo, which was in production as “Death Valley.” One of the more entertaining examples is “Murder … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood | Comments Off on Hollywood’s Rename Game

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Jan. 21, 1941

Posted on January 21, 2011 by lmharnisch

           Jan. 21, 1941: In these confused and tortured times when democracy seems floundering in a swamp of its own failings we hear too often the defeatist cry that we must have Fascism to fight Fascism. … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Tom Treanor | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Jan. 21, 1941

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Jan. 20, 1941

Posted on January 20, 2011 by lmharnisch

           Jan. 20, 1941: Comparisons may be odious but today I'm thinking about the contrasting fortunes of two actors who were great stars way back yonder in the '20s. Both had armies of devoted fans and … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on January 20, 2011 by lmharnisch

      Los Angeles Times file photo   [Update: Once again, this is more of a mystery than it seems. According to the caption information, this is a crew from Fox filming “Death Valley” with George O’Brien and Cecilia … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 4 Comments

From the Vaults: ‘After the Thin Man’ (1936)

Posted on January 20, 2011 by lmharnisch

Are there detectives anywhere in pop culture more fun than Nick and Nora Charles? Oh, Inspector Clouseau may be amusing, but you'd never want to have dinner at his house: at best, he'd spill the soup in your lap. At … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, From the Vaults, Hollywood | 3 Comments

Town Called Hollywood, Jan. 19, 1941

Posted on January 19, 2011 by lmharnisch

           Jan. 19, 1941: The Times Philip K. Scheuer describes watching Bing Crosby record “A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square” and rehearsal for a dance scene in “Ziegfeld Girl.” Times reporter Tom Treanor and his entourage … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Tom Treanor | Comments Off on Town Called Hollywood, Jan. 19, 1941

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on January 19, 2011 by lmharnisch

      Los Angeles Times file photo   [Update: This turned out to be more of a mystery than I expected.  It’s from “The Climax.” According to imdb, there is a deteriorating copy of the silent version at UCLA, … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 4 Comments

Another Good Story Ruined – The Black Dahlia

Posted on January 19, 2011 by lmharnisch

    I was talking about the Black Dahlia case the other day to someone who pulled up this picture on a cellphone. Looks great, doesn’t it? But it’s a fake.  Here, I’ll show you. ALSO Another Good Story Ruined … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Another Good Story Ruined, books, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Photography | 3 Comments

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Jan. 18, 1941

Posted on January 18, 2011 by lmharnisch

        Jan. 18, 1941: There isn't a critic or group of critics in the world who can sit in a deserted projection room and call 'em good or bad, Jimmie Fidler says.  Times reporter Tom Treanor is … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Tom Treanor | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Jan. 18, 1941

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on January 18, 2011 by lmharnisch

      Los Angeles Times file photo   [Update: This is the filming of “Buffalo Bill,” starring Joel McCrea.] Here we have horses, cavalry soldiers and puffy white clouds…

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 9 Comments

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Jan. 17, 1941

Posted on January 17, 2011 by lmharnisch

        Jan. 17, 1941: Times reporter Tom Treanor, who was killed covering World War II, is back in Los Angeles, but continues to file updates on his trip from Turin, Italy, to Lisbon, Portugal. His party has … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Tom Treanor | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Jan. 17, 1941