Category Archives: Hollywood

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

Posted on November 5, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Nov. 5, 1942: Lon Chaney Jr. is preparing for a role in Universal’s remake of “The Phantom of the Opera” … well, not quite.

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A Jovial Nixon Tells Strangers He’s Bob Hope, Makes Prank Phone Calls

Posted on November 4, 2009 by lmharnisch

Vice President Richard Nixon interrupting early morning walk on Wilshire Boulevard to watch sidewalk repairs, lingers to talk sports with Vic Salazar, left and another worker. It's easy to find weird stories about Richard Nixon, before and after his presidency. … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Richard Nixon, Sports | 3 Comments

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

Posted on November 3, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Nov. 3, 1940: C.B. and “North West Mounted Police.”

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Nixon and Kennedy Visit L.A.

Posted on November 3, 2009 by lmharnisch

 Vice President Richard Nixon and his wife, Pat, arrive in Arcadia.  Nixon voices confidence the Republican Party … And the MTA is increasing fares on buses and streetcars from 17 cents to compensate for raises granted to union workers. Sen. … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Politics, Richard Nixon | Comments Off on Nixon and Kennedy Visit L.A.

Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, Nov. 3, 1959

Posted on November 3, 2009 by lmharnisch

 Erwin “He Walked by Night” Walker is recaptured. Japan of Today Has Its Lost Generation     TOKYO — There are striking things you see when you look at a country 14 years after it lost the most devastating war in … Continue reading →

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A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

Posted on November 2, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Nov. 2, 1939: Hedda Hopper, matchmaker.

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A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

Posted on November 1, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Nov. 1, 1938: Hedda Hopper begins writing a column on Hollywood. I thought it would be interesting to spend a month surveying her newspaper career.

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood | 1 Comment

Orson Welles Describes Offer for Rigged Quiz Show

Posted on November 1, 2009 by lmharnisch

Nov. 1, 1959: Orson Welles says he turned down an offer to pose as a genius on a TV quiz show, explaining that he knew nothing about baseball and would miss all such questions. A producer told him: “We're not … Continue reading →

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A Reminder From the Mystery Woman

Posted on November 1, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Former Daily Mirror Mystery Movie Star Pier Angeli reminds everyone to turn back the clocks. Daylight saving time is over for another year.

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A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movies

Posted on October 31, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Oct. 31, 1958: “The Spider/Earth vs. the Spider” and co-hit “Terror From the Year 5000” play in Los Angeles. (Oh come on! TFTY5K only gets two stars on imdb? Nothing gets less than six stars on imdb! And only … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood | 2 Comments

U.S. Approves Project to Clear Bunker Hill

Posted on October 31, 2009 by lmharnisch

Guess what happens after a plumber connects a butane line to Crestview, Fla.'s water supply Someone, we're not sure who, reminisces about Halloweens of the past. I figured out how to make the "ticktack" the woman describes, but the first … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Sports | Comments Off on U.S. Approves Project to Clear Bunker Hill

KNX’s Mornings With Bob Crane

Posted on October 30, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Aug. 9, 1959: The Times profiles KNX announcer Bob Crane, who became the star of “Hogan’s Heroes.” Somewhere at the Daily Mirror HQ, I’ve got an LP that KNX released with Bob Crane on one side and Pat Buttram … Continue reading →

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A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movies

Posted on October 30, 2009 by lmharnisch

   Oct. 30, 1957: “The Cyclops” and “Daughter of Dr. Jekyll.”

Posted in Film, Hollywood | 1 Comment

Movie Star Mystery Photo

Posted on October 30, 2009 by lmharnisch

Los Angeles Times file photo Update: Josephine Dunn in an undated photo Update: This is actress Josephine Dunn (1906-1983). The Times evidently didn’t publish an obituary on her. Just a reminder on how this works: I post the mystery photo … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | 25 Comments

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movies

Posted on October 29, 2009 by lmharnisch

    Oct. 29, 1956: “Friendly Persuasion” will premiere at the Fox Wilshire Theatre … introducing Anthony Perkins. The film was reviewed twice in The Times, on Sept. 16, 1956, by Philip K. Scheuer and again on Oct. 31, 1956,  … Continue reading →

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A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movies

Posted on October 28, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Oct. 28, 1955: “The Phenix City Story” plays in Los Angeles. It’s not on Netflix!

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Teen Hoped to Bear Errol Flynn’s Child

Posted on October 28, 2009 by lmharnisch

 Los Angeles Times file photo Errol Flynn and Beverly Aadland in a photo published Oct. 15, 1959. Oct. 28, 1959: Jack Smith interviews Errol Flynn’s teenage girlfriend Beverly Aadland (whom Smith describes as the actor’s “last playmate”)  and her attorney … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Film, Hollywood, Jack Smith, Obituaries | 1 Comment

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movies

Posted on October 27, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Oct. 27, 1954: “Bengal Brigade” opens in Los Angeles. Something is really wrong with Rock Hudson’s proportions this artwork.

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Grauman to Remodel Rialto Theater

Posted on October 27, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Oct. 27, 1919: Sid Grauman has big plans for the Rialto theater on Broadway near 8th Street. Grauman will install a Wurlitzer organ and cover the theater’s seats in white satin. The first three films booked after the theater … Continue reading →

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Movie Star Bonus Mystery Photo

Posted on October 25, 2009 by lmharnisch

Photograph by Ray Graham / Los Angeles Times Here’s a little bonus: A certain film star’s funeral. See if you can identify the (not very) mysterious pallbearers. Update: As most people realized, this is Errol Flynn's funeral. Curiously enough, although … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Forest Lawn, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Obituaries | 9 Comments