Category Archives: Hollywood

Second Takes — Billy Wilder

Posted on April 17, 2009 by lmharnisch

Aug. 20, 1950: Coming soon: "Sunset Boulevard." Nov. 6, 1948: Gloria Swanson meets Billy Wilder and Charles Bracket to discuss "Sunset Boulevard." Feb. 10, 1949: The script isn't done. Above, Gloria Swanson and Melvyn Douglas in a clip from the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1950, Film, Hollywood, Second Takes | 1 Comment

Movie Star Mystery Photo

Posted on April 17, 2009 by lmharnisch

Los Angeles Times file photo Aileen Pringle in the play "Tons of Money," 1932. Our mystery movie star of the week is Aileen Pringle, Please congratulate Diane Ely, Floradora, Bob Birchard, Dewey Webb, Peter Mintun, Dru Duniway, Cynthia Keillor, Sam, … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | 60 Comments

Mystery Boy Found in Echo Park, Famous Poet Serenades Goats, April 17, 1939

Posted on April 17, 2009 by lmharnisch

The Times noted that Charles Owens had an art exhibit on the third floor of City Hall. A 27-year-old man says he robbed the country club where he worked to provide a few essentials for his mother. He was sentenced … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, art and artists, books, Comics, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Nuestro Pueblo, Robberies, Sports | Comments Off on Mystery Boy Found in Echo Park, Famous Poet Serenades Goats, April 17, 1939

In the Theaters — April 16, 1947

Posted on April 16, 2009 by lmharnisch
Posted in Film, Hollywood | Comments Off on In the Theaters — April 16, 1947

Second Takes — Billy Wilder

Posted on April 16, 2009 by lmharnisch

Nov. 4, 1948: "A Song Is Born" opens in Los Angeles.   Nov. 5, 1948: The Times reviews Howard Hawks' remake of "Ball of Fire" as a showcase for jazz musicians Benny Goodman, Louis Armstrong, Tommy Dorsey, Charlie Barnett, Lionel … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Second Takes | 2 Comments

North Korea Shoots Down Navy Plane; Dodgers Beat Padres, 14-0, April 16, 1969

Posted on April 16, 2009 by lmharnisch

Jack Smith on God and Mr. Gomez. N. Korea a test for President Nixon.  Art Seidenbaum on talk radio.  Kevin Thomas on "Twisted Nerve." 1960s art influences the comics. The Dodgers moved home plate 10 feet closer to center field … Continue reading →

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Paul Coates — Confidential File, April 15, 1959

Posted on April 15, 2009 by lmharnisch

CONFIDENTIAL FILE There Was no Dame, That Was a Duchess The telephone on my desk jangled. "Hello," I said. It seemed a logical thing to say. "You heard about Goya?" the breathless voice at the other end of the line … Continue reading →

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In the Theaters — April 15, 1944

Posted on April 15, 2009 by lmharnisch
Posted in Film, Hollywood | Comments Off on In the Theaters — April 15, 1944

Second Takes — Billy Wilder

Posted on April 15, 2009 by lmharnisch

Of all the words I could use to describe "A Foreign Affair, "zany" is not one of them.  July 23, 1948: "The bitterness of 'A Foreign Affair' is thus likely to linger after its laughs have passed," Edwin Schallert says. … Continue reading →

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In the Theaters — April 14, 1942

Posted on April 14, 2009 by lmharnisch

Edwin Schallert reports that Adolphe Menjou has been cast in the critical role of the innkeeper in "Casablanca." "Menjou's part is to be the most important of the character type and he will have much to do with motivating the … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood | 1 Comment

Second Takes — Billy Wilder

Posted on April 14, 2009 by lmharnisch

Coming soon: "The Emperor Waltz," May 24, 1948. Later appraisals of Billy Wilder's career dismiss "The Emperor Waltz" as a footnote, blaming bad chemistry between Wilder and Bing Crosby. Years before making "Waltz," Wilder said he wanted to do a … Continue reading →

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SLA Pipe Bombs Revisited

Posted on April 14, 2009 by lmharnisch

Aug. 23, 1975: Bombs are found under two LAPD cars. In the last 33 years, The Times has published varying accounts of the August 1975 incident in which the Symbionese Liberation Army planted pipe bombs under two LAPD cars — … Continue reading →

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Voices — Marilyn Chambers, 1952 — 2009

Posted on April 13, 2009 by lmharnisch

"Marilyn Chambers is no dummy," The Times' Robert Hilburn says in beginning his profile of the former porn star, who was promoting a "disco-flavored" single, "Benihana."   "I'd like to be someone like Sammy Davis Jr., who can sing, dance, … Continue reading →

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

In the Theaters — April 13, 1939

Posted on April 13, 2009 by lmharnisch
Posted in Film, Hollywood | Comments Off on In the Theaters — April 13, 1939

Second Takes — Billy Wilder

Posted on April 13, 2009 by lmharnisch

After 13 films between 1938 ("Bluebeard's Wife") and 1945 ("The Lost Weekend"), there's a three-year gap before the 1948 release of "The Emperor Waltz." Wilder was active personally and professionally during this period. He divorced his wife, served in Germany … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Second Takes | 1 Comment

Teens Rescued From Ledge, Dodgers Beat Cubs, April 13, 1959

Posted on April 13, 2009 by lmharnisch

The Coliseum's improvised arrangement for the Dodgers is changed for the opening of the 1959 season. The right field fence is brought in to 333 feet from 390 feet and right center is cut to 375 feet from 440 feet. … Continue reading →

Posted in @news, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Sports, Stage | 1 Comment

In the Theaters, April 12, 1938

Posted on April 12, 2009 by lmharnisch
Posted in Film, Hollywood | Comments Off on In the Theaters, April 12, 1938

Second Takes — Billy Wilder

Posted on April 12, 2009 by lmharnisch

"Andrea Leeds is cast for the lead of "Lost Weekend" … … or maybe Katharine Hepburn.   http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=-1976207906583051047&hl=en&fs=true Note the use of the theremin in Miklos Rozsa's score.  Edwin Schallert reviews "Lost Weekend," Nov. 30, 1945 Billy Wilder wins an … Continue reading →

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October 28, 1956: Charlton Heston on the ‘Ten Commandments’

Posted on April 11, 2009 by lmharnisch

We had our religion writer Dan Thrapp interview Charlton Heston about his role as Moses in “The Ten Commandments.” Fortunately, Thrapp was not from the “over a salad and mineral water at the Polo Lounge” or “speaking by phone from Paris, … Continue reading →

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In the Theaters, April 11, 1935

Posted on April 11, 2009 by lmharnisch
Posted in Film, Hollywood | Comments Off on In the Theaters, April 11, 1935