Category Archives: Hollywood

December 1, 1938: California prepares to execute two killers at San Quentin

Posted on December 1, 2008 by lmharnisch

The secret of Babe Ruth’s happy marriage: White Owl cigars. December 1, 1938: California prepares to use the gas chamber for executions rather than hanging.

Posted in #courts, 1938, @news, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD, Politics, Religion, Sports | 1 Comment

Coming attractions — Three Stooges

Posted on November 28, 2008 by lmharnisch

The Alex Film Society will host its annual Three Stooges event at the Alex Theatre in Glendale on Nov. 29, 2008, shows at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets $15/$12.50/$8.

Posted in Film, Hollywood | Comments Off on Coming attractions — Three Stooges

Movie star mystery photo

Posted on November 28, 2008 by lmharnisch

Los Angeles Times file photo Our mystery guest on the left (Arthur Shields–or is it?) has more than 80 credits on imdb and more than 20 credits on on ibdb. The mystery woman (Maureen Delany) has less than 25 credits … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Stage | 10 Comments

November 27, 1968: O.J. Simpson wins Heisman

Posted on November 27, 2008 by lmharnisch

O.J. Simpson won the Heisman Trophy as the best college football player of 1968 after a remarkable two-year USC career. Dwight Chapin’s story in The Times portrayed the lack of suspense–even Simpson said he was “pretty confident.” Who could blame … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, @news, broadcasting, Current Affairs, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD, Sports, Television | 1 Comment

Poison gas kills Disney’s mother, November 27, 1938

Posted on November 27, 2008 by lmharnisch

  Above, Walt Disney gave his parents a home at 4605 Placidia Ave., Toluca Lake, for their golden wedding anniversary. According to The Times, a faulty furnace connection let carbon monoxide into the house. Disney’s father, Elias, was found unconscious … Continue reading →

Posted in @news, Blues, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Music, Religion, Sports | 2 Comments

Southern California in flames, November 25, 1938

Posted on November 25, 2008 by lmharnisch

This photograph is 70 years old but it could have been taken last week.   The Times’ L.D. Hotchkiss takes on Pulitzer-winning columnist Westbrook Pegler. Fire damage –10,000 acres in Topanga and Rustic canyons –4,000 acres in San Bernardino County. … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Music, Sports, Stage | Comments Off on Southern California in flames, November 25, 1938

Comedian dies during Friars roast, November 24, 1958

Posted on November 24, 2008 by lmharnisch

Ozone in downtown Los Angeles reaches 0.49 parts per million, just short of a Stage 1 alert. Today, 0.50 would be a Stage 3 alert. Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller arrive in New York. Comedian Harry Einstein, 53, known as … Continue reading →

Posted in @news, broadcasting, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Nightclubs, Obituaries, Television | 4 Comments

Nazi SS troops kill wealthy Jews in orgy of murder, November 23, 1938

Posted on November 23, 2008 by lmharnisch

Death at Sachsenhausen. These old papers are full of ugly stereotypes, but this one makes a powerful contrast with the Holocaust coverage. The Times publishes a United Press story based a London News Chronicle account. The report says a group … Continue reading →

Posted in @news, City Hall, Countdown to Watts, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, LAPD | 2 Comments

Writer arrested for threatening wife with butcher knife, November 21 1958

Posted on November 21, 2008 by lmharnisch

          "Suddenly it seemed the whole panorama of his life was a race and he was running last…. There was something in him that had to come out. He had to find a way to get … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, books, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, LAPD | 1 Comment

Coming attractions — Maltese Falcon

Posted on November 20, 2008 by lmharnisch

"The Maltese Falcon" will be shown at the Warner Grand in San Pedro at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, 2008. Tickets are free for L.A. Conservancy members–while supplies last. If you’re a member of the Los Angeles Conservancy, RSVP to … Continue reading →

Posted in Coming Attractions, Film, Hollywood | 2 Comments

Found on EBay — Vintage film poster

Posted on November 20, 2008 by lmharnisch

At left, a poster from the 1912 Selig film "The Peculiar Nature of the White Man’s Burden" is on EBay. Bidding starts at $9.95 or buy it now for $150.

Posted in Film, Hollywood | Comments Off on Found on EBay — Vintage film poster

Rams tie San Francisco, November 18, 1968

Posted on November 18, 2008 by lmharnisch

The Rams escaped from San Francisco with a 20-20 tie and quarterback Roman Gabriel realized it could have been a lot worse. Gabriel waved off the Rams’ field goal unit for one more chance to score a touchdown that would … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Sports | 5 Comments

November 18, 1958: Mickey Cohen pal back from the dead

Posted on November 18, 2008 by lmharnisch

Here’s an amusing little wrap-up of crime news: Mickey Cohen’s pal comes back from the dead and a minor actress figures in a major trial about drunk driving. It never ceases to amaze me how much publicity celebrities were willing … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1958, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Mickey Cohen | Comments Off on November 18, 1958: Mickey Cohen pal back from the dead

Police chief quits; Nazi fears drive Jews to suicide, November 17, 1938

Posted on November 17, 2008 by lmharnisch

Voice of executed man speaks from Tijuana grave. At left, the current film "The Citadel," with Rosalind Russell and Robert Donat. Police Chief James Davis, who figured in the Gordon Northcott "Changeling" case, says he’s stepping down to protect his … Continue reading →

Posted in Changeling, City Hall, Downtown, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, LAPD, Sports | Comments Off on Police chief quits; Nazi fears drive Jews to suicide, November 17, 1938

I Want to Live — The Barbara Graham murder case, November 16, 1958

Posted on November 16, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above: Barbara Graham, one of four women to be executed in California, along with Juanita “the Duchess” Spinelli, Louise Peete and Elizabeth Duncan. The trailer–dig those bongos! Gerry Mulligan! Five years after the execution of Barbara Graham in the Mabel … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Homicide, San Fernando Valley | 10 Comments

DVD revival — Buster Keaton’s The General

Posted on November 15, 2008 by lmharnisch

I am unfamiliar with the reviews of Katherine Lipke, a movie critic for The Times from 1922 to 1927. (She also wrote a novel published in 1932, "Rain on the Roof"). Given her tepid review of Buster Keaton’s "The General," … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood | 2 Comments

Film tells story of 1920s Jewish athletes

Posted on November 14, 2008 by lmharnisch

Photographs from Laemmle/Zeller Films A Jewish basketball team from 1921-22. ‘First Basket’ honors Jewish athletes Film documents the early days of organized basketball. By Gary Goldstein November 9, 2008 Inky Lautman of he Philadelphia SPHAS, about 1939-40. Did you hear … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Religion | 2 Comments

Movie star mystery photo

Posted on November 14, 2008 by lmharnisch

Our mystery guest has nearly 50 credits on imdb.  Update: Yes, she’s Jean Porter … "she has just completed ‘Abbott and Costello in Hollywood’ and ‘Early to Wed,’ " according to the caption information on the back of the photo. … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | 24 Comments

Lasorda’s Dodger forecast, November 13, 1968

Posted on November 13, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, "Therese and Isabelle," 1968. "Reminds us anew that there’s nothing quite so puritanical as a dirty picture."— Kevin Thomas Some clips on YouTube for the curious.,,, Part of the pleasure in plowing through old sports stories is reading about … Continue reading →

Posted in #gays and lesbians, Columnists, Dodgers, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Sports | 1 Comment

Voices — Jay Fiondella

Posted on November 12, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, Jay Fiondella sets off to look for World War II planes that crashed in Greenland. "My Holy Grail." "Adventure is out there."

Posted in broadcasting, Film, Food and Drink, Hollywood, Obituaries, Television | Comments Off on Voices — Jay Fiondella