Category Archives: Hollywood

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

Posted on December 30, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Dec. 30, 1941: “Jackie Cooper is studying the finer points of drumming with Buddy Rich of Tommy Dorsey's band these days and doing so well that he sits in with the band at the Mocambo now and then just … Continue reading →

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On the Brink of the 1960s

Posted on December 30, 2009 by lmharnisch

Hedda Hopper tapes a “Ben-Hur” segment with Stephen Boyd, Francis X. Bushman and Ramon Novarro, but not Charlton Heston. Los Angeles officials struggle once more to deal with congested streets. I have said this before, but it bears repeating: Traffic … Continue reading →

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A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

Posted on December 29, 2009 by lmharnisch

Behind the news of Hollywood divorces (which, statistics prove, are no more numerous than those of any other town in America) behind the lurid news that our people sometimes make while blowing off steam, is the story of a job … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood | 1 Comment

Matt Weinstock, Dec. 28, 1959

Posted on December 28, 2009 by lmharnisch

The Pigeon Problem           A woman on the telephone a few days ago asked excitedly, “What should I do about these crazy pigeons?  They’ve moved into our neighborhood (3rd and La Cienega) and they’re all over the place.  One of … Continue reading →

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A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

Posted on December 28, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Dec. 28, 1939: Hedda Hopper calls “Of Mice and Men” one of the best pictures of the year.

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A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

Posted on December 27, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Dec. 27, 1938: “On the ‘Wizard of Oz’ set they've added 50 schoolchildren to the 150 midgets, being sure the kids were the same size. Makes it mighty difficult for Miss MacDonald and her staff of schoolteachers, because the … Continue reading →

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Predictions for the 1960s

Posted on December 27, 2009 by lmharnisch

Dec. 27, 1959: The Times leads with the Nixon-Rockefeller story.    Sen. Barry Goldwater (R-Ariz.) expresses strong support for Nixon.   Times Political Editor Kyle Palmer, as to be expected, is all for Nixon.   Nixon calls for job training … Continue reading →

Posted in Dodgers, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Politics, Richard Nixon, Sports | Comments Off on Predictions for the 1960s

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

Posted on December 26, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Dec. 26, 1963: “I was horrified by ‘The Victors,’ from which I expected so much. It's the last picture in the world you'd want to see this season. I'm amazed at Carl Foreman, who wrote 'River Kwai' and 'Guns … Continue reading →

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Movie Star Mystery Photo

Posted on December 26, 2009 by lmharnisch

   Los Angeles Times file photo   Just a reminder on how this works: I post the mystery photo on Monday and reveal the answer on Friday … or on Saturday if I have a hard time picking only five … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | 35 Comments

Predictions for 1975

Posted on December 26, 2009 by lmharnisch

“All That Is Behind You, Darling.” Dec. 26, 1959: Somehow, the forecasters failed to predict the energy crisis, leisure suits and disco.  Cardinal McIntyre celebrates Mass at St. Vibiana’s.   “The Bells of Bethlehem” by Aimee Semple McPherson (d. 1944) … Continue reading →

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Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, Dec. 25, 1959

Posted on December 25, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Mash Notes and Comment     "Dear Paul,     "Following is a little Christmas spirit I dreamed up while writing the Keely Smith-Louis Prima show here in Las Vegas:     "A WESTERN    CHRISTMAS " 'Twas the night before    ChristmasAnd … Continue reading →

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A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

Posted on December 25, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Dec. 25, 1962: "To Harold Lloyd, Christmas has always been a great feast at home. The mammoth tree stands in a high, vaulted room, the center of the family gathering. But Lloyd has been away a great deal this … Continue reading →

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Matt Weinstock, Dec. 24, 1959

Posted on December 24, 2009 by lmharnisch

  A Christmas Story     Forty-one years ago a young attorney named Patrick J. Cooney came to Calexio from Chicago.  One of his first clients was Jimmy Wong, who had 5,000 acres in cotton on the Mexican side of the … Continue reading →

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A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

Posted on December 24, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Dec. 24, 1961: Bobby Darin says,  "If I were a drinker I wouldn't have to come out like a blockbuster. But I don't drink and come on in a nightclub cold sober to entertain a crowd that's invariably high. … Continue reading →

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San Marino Pelted With Furs From Mystery Airplane

Posted on December 23, 2009 by lmharnisch

Dec. 23, 1959: "Thousands of dollars worth of fur pelts were mysteriously jettisoned from a low-flying airplane over San Marino and San Gabriel yesterday. One large gunny sack of the valuable pelts crashes through a patio roof at 1070 Kendall … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Obituaries, Sports | 3 Comments

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

Posted on December 22, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Dec. 22, 1959: “Frank Sinatra went to see the Pat Wymore show in Vegas and immediately signed her for ‘Oceans 11.’ ”

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Firefighters Set Blazes to Draw Attention to Old Equipment

Posted on December 22, 2009 by lmharnisch

  NEW QUEEN — The shah of Iran and bride Farah pose after their marriage in a Muslim ritual at his palace in Tehran. She is third wife of the shah, who divorced others after they failed to bear an heir. … Continue reading →

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A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

Posted on December 21, 2009 by lmharnisch

   Dec. 21, 1958: Jeffrey Hunter says of making “The Last Hurrah”: “Working with Spencer Tracy was great. Some of the most telling scenes between me and my wife, played by Diane Foster, had to be cut out in editing … Continue reading →

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Voices – Erich von Stroheim

Posted on December 21, 2009 by lmharnisch

     Dec. 21, 1919: Edwin Schallert profiles Erich von Stroheim and talks about his new film, "Blind Husbands."  “Everything Stroheim does is [characterization]; he can't talk to you for five minutes without starting to act.”

Posted in Film, Hollywood | 1 Comment

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

Posted on December 20, 2009 by lmharnisch

Dec. 20, 1957: (While Miss Hopper is away, column is being compiled by her staff). Preston Sturges is in Paris writing a screenplay on the most fabulous swindler of our era, F. Donald Coster. Story is based on New Yorker … Continue reading →

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