Category Archives: Hollywood

Paul Coates, Dec. 8, 1960

Posted on December 8, 2010 by lmharnisch

       Dec. 8, 1960, Richard Duket writes a 22-page letter to Paul Coates describing his descent into a life of crime…. And Marilyn Monroe says one reason she divorced Joe DiMaggio is because he watched TV instead of … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Paul Coates | 2 Comments

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Dec. 8, 1941

Posted on December 8, 2010 by lmharnisch

           Dec. 8, 1941: Boris Karloff dislikes horror and mystery books, Jimmie Fidler says.

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Photography | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Dec. 8, 1941

Movieland Mystery Photo — Updated

Posted on December 8, 2010 by lmharnisch

        Los Angeles Times file photo   Update: Roland West, Alice Todd, center, and May Whitehead enter the church at Forest Lawn for Thelma Todd's funeral.     Dec. 19, 1935: A "swarthy man" always seems to … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography, Thelma Todd | 1 Comment

Paul Coates, Dec. 7, 1960

Posted on December 7, 2010 by lmharnisch

    Dec. 7, 1960: Paul Coates files another piece on his recent trip to the Soviet Union, this time about his Intourist guide. “Like most educated Russians I met, she was either very well-informed or grossly misinformed on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul Coates, Dec. 7, 1960

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Dec. 7, 1940

Posted on December 7, 2010 by lmharnisch

            Dec. 7, 1940: Yes, the bell on traffic semaphores in the old Warner Bros. cartoons wasn’t a joke. Today, we just honk since drivers are usually checking their BlackBerrys when the light turns green. … Continue reading →

Posted in classical music, Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Transportation | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo — Updated II

Posted on December 7, 2010 by lmharnisch

      Photograph by the Los Angeles Times   Update: And here’s a mystery photo!  Update II: This is Zasu Pitts and John E. Woodall. Please congratulate Mary Mallory, Karen and Dennis Gilliam for identifying our mystery couple and … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography, Thelma Todd | 9 Comments

Found on EBay – Marya Marco

Posted on December 6, 2010 by lmharnisch

A movie still showing Marya Marco has been listed on EBay. Who is Marya Marco, you ask? She’s one of the women misidentified as Elizabeth Short in Steve Hodel’s “Black Dahlia Avenger.” Bidding starts at $9.99. ALSO “Black Dahlia Avenger” … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Photography | 1 Comment

Paul Coates, Dec. 6, 1960

Posted on December 6, 2010 by lmharnisch

       Dec. 6, 1960: Paul Coates writes about a Soviet woman he calls Tanya and describes the hardships of her daily life. It’s marriage for Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe in Maurice Zolotow’s “The Real Marilyn Monroe.”

Posted in Columnists, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul Coates, Dec. 6, 1960

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Dec. 6, 1940

Posted on December 6, 2010 by lmharnisch

           Dec. 6, 1940: Latest candidate for the plum lead in "For Whom the Bell Tolls" is Ingrid Bergman, who'll get it if boss David O. Selznick says yes, Jimmie Fidler says.

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood | 4 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on December 6, 2010 by lmharnisch

         Los Angeles Times file photo    Dec. 17, 1935: The finding by autopsy surgeons last night of evidence that monoxide gas poisoning caused the death of Thelma Todd, blonde motion picture actress whose body was found … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography, Thelma Todd | 5 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo — Updated

Posted on December 6, 2010 by lmharnisch

      Los Angeles Times file photo       Update: Our mystery guest in this photo, published in The Times on Oct. 30, 1927, is former mystery guest Josephine Dunn. Please congratulate Mary Mallory for identifying her! I … Continue reading →

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

‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ Protested in Berlin

Posted on December 6, 2010 by lmharnisch

       Dec. 6, 1930:  Fascists in Berlin protest a showing of the German version of “All Quiet on the Western Front.” “Fascists, who were planted in the audience, shouted, ‘Out Jews!’ hurled stench bombs and set white mice … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Homicide | Comments Off on ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ Protested in Berlin

From the Vaults: ‘Pillow Talk’ (1959)

Posted on December 6, 2010 by lmharnisch

"I love you." "I know." You know what movie that's from, right? WRONG! Years before Han Solo (and hey, RIP Irvin Kershner), his possibly-most-famous line gets drawled by Rock Hudson, playing a womanizing songwriter in "Pillow Talk." Hudson tosses it … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, From the Vaults, Hollywood | 9 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on December 4, 2010 by lmharnisch

      Los Angeles Times file photo         Los Angeles Times file photo   Update: Yes, this is Thelma Todd, above, in “Follow Through.” I’m a bit pressed for time this morning so I’ll be back … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 33 Comments

Santa Monica Man Admits Strangling Waitress

Posted on December 3, 2010 by lmharnisch

       Dec. 3, 1960: Gerald "Frenchy" Fernandez admits strangling Susan Kilgore, whose body was found outside the Wind and Sea Tavern, 101 Broadway, Santa Monica. Her clothing was "disarranged" and Fernandez says he killed her when she "resisted … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Homicide | Comments Off on Santa Monica Man Admits Strangling Waitress

On the Trail of the Keystone Kops

Posted on December 3, 2010 by lmharnisch

            Oct. 25, 1915: Charlie Chaplin, Fatty Arbuckle … and Mayor Sebastian? The ad for the costume ball is the earliest reference to the “Keystone Kops” that I can find in The Times. However, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Stage | 2 Comments

Matt Weinstock, Dec. 2, 1960

Posted on December 2, 2010 by lmharnisch

    Dec. 2, 1960: For a second time, Matt Weinstock debunks the notion that the tear-off strips on cellophane cigarette packs should be saved as a way to raise money.  Urban myths are hard to kill, he discovers. Also … Continue reading →

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

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Dec. 2, 1940

Posted on December 2, 2010 by lmharnisch

           RKO's new importation, Signe Hasso, almost severed a finger peeling a potato; it's sewed in place and doctors say she won't lose it, Jimmie Fidler says.  ALSO Signe Hasso on the Daily Mirror

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Dec. 2, 1940

Christina Makes Peace With Joan Crawford, Dec. 1, 1960

Posted on December 1, 2010 by lmharnisch

             Dec. 1, 1960: Eastside Beer is $1.09 a six-pack or $7.81 USD 2009. On the jump, Joan Crawford’s daughter Christina tells Lee Belser: "At long last Mummy and I seem to be feeling a … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Front Pages, Hollywood | 1 Comment

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Dec. 1, 1941

Posted on December 1, 2010 by lmharnisch

        Dec. 1, 1941: Tom Treanor visits the cavalry troops at Camp Seeley and mentions the remarkable lack of interest in the war. All the men talk about is their horses and maybe the M-1 Garand. Pat … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Tom Treanor | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Dec. 1, 1941