Category Archives: Hollywood

Before YouTube

Posted on December 28, 2007 by lmharnisch

You may be wondering why you are looking at a poster of the 1973 film “Bad Charleston Charlie.” (And what a poster: the hair… the bloated lettering… the hearts… that suit! If this doesn’t say “lousy 1970s movie” I don’t … Continue reading →

Posted in broadcasting, Film, Hollywood, LAPD | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Irv Letofsky RIP

Posted on December 24, 2007 by lmharnisch

Irv, who died Sunday, was one of the first big guns I met at The Times. Here I was, a music critic from a 80,000-circ.  daily and he was an editor with an office at The Times. I had fed … Continue reading →

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Jay Leno’s badge

Posted on December 18, 2007 by lmharnisch

Photograph by Al Seib / Los Angeles Times I let it pass when we first ran this photo a few weeks ago, but I couldn’t help noticing something unusual about Al Seib’s picture of Jay Leno delivering doughnuts to striking … Continue reading →

Posted in broadcasting, Hollywood, Television | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

–30– revisited

Posted on December 14, 2007 by lmharnisch

  Los Angeles Times file photo Jack Webb, William Conrad and James Bell in a scene from "–30–". Howard Decker, formerly of the Examiner, writes: Regarding Jack Webb’s film –30– you are right. Webb made a copy of the Examiner … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Company town

Posted on December 13, 2007 by lmharnisch

  Photograph by the Los Angeles Times Actress Taina Elg and Mayor Norris Poulson at Main and 7th streets in a photo published Dec. 13, 1957. HOLLYWOOD'S GOLDEN JUBILEE 1907-1957   MAJOR MOTION PICTURE FILMING INLOS ANGELES BEGAN AT THIS … Continue reading →

Posted in 1957, City Hall, Downtown, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Christmas past

Posted on December 8, 2007 by lmharnisch

Dec. 22, 1968 Los Angeles   Photograph by Boris Yaro / The Los Angeles Times Police Officer John Boddie of the Hollywood Division hands a doll to one of 250 youngsters who received Christmas presents after officers took up collection … Continue reading →

Posted in Hollywood, Hollywood Division, LAPD | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Photo shoot

Posted on November 28, 2007 by lmharnisch

Here’s how news editors (now they’re called "page designers") used to crop feature pictures down to a one-column mug. The original portrait. Here’s hoping the poor AP photographer never saw how it got butchered.    First, rotate the picture so … Continue reading →

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Brenda Allen

Posted on November 25, 2007 by lmharnisch

The scanner at the Daily Mirror has been working overtime on the Brenda Allen photos. It's interesting to put all the battered old pictures in order and go through them, as if you can pick up a feeling for someone. … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1950, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Brenda Allen

Posted on November 24, 2007 by lmharnisch

    Photograph by Al Humphreys / Los Angeles Times Someone asked: Who was Brenda Allen? I imagine you’ve read something about her or more likely you have at least heard of her. This is Brenda (she also used the … Continue reading →

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Santa Claus Lane

Posted on November 19, 2007 by lmharnisch

Nov. 19, 1957Los Angeles Hollywood Boulevard gets ready for Christmas.   I’ll see if I can find a better photo of this in the archives. Meanwhile, here’s a 1946 postcard that shows the electric Christmas trees, courtesy of Nathan Marsak … Continue reading →

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Ed Gein arrested

Posted on November 17, 2007 by lmharnisch

Nov. 18, 1957 Plainfield, Wis. “It appears to be cannibalism.” What more does anyone need to say? (Notice that The Times did not put this on Page 1).  

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Homicide | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Location sleuth

Posted on November 8, 2007 by lmharnisch

Twentieth Century Fox goes to Main Street, Los Angeles. The work of cinematographer Joseph MacDonald: I had an opportunity to tour the Regent, 448 S. Main St. (yes, it’s still standing) during the Los Angeles Conservancy’s recent Mainly Main tour. … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Film, Hollywood, Homicide | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Actress seeks divorce

Posted on November 6, 2007 by lmharnisch

  Nov. 6, 1957 Los Angeles A dissolute, self-centered millionaire playboy with two marriages under his belt meets a gorgeous starlet on the rebound from her second marriage and the outcome should be obvious to everyone. But it wasn’t. Frederick … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Film, Hollywood, Religion | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Elvis live!

Posted on October 29, 2007 by lmharnisch

  Oct. 29, 1957 Los Angeles He came out of nowhere, barely a blip on the nation’s radar in 1955 (according to Proquest, he wasn’t mentioned even once in The Times that year). But by 1957, he was an unstoppable … Continue reading →

Posted in Blues, broadcasting, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Music, Television | 4 Comments

Blue movies

Posted on October 25, 2007 by lmharnisch

Oct. 24, 1957Los Angeles The wages of sin was a hilltop mansion in Bel-Air for Donald De Munck, who according to The Times provided his home at 10689 Somma Way as a location to shoot stag films.* The Times account … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, LAPD, San Fernando Valley, Suicide | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Meet my boss, Walter Lantz

Posted on October 22, 2007 by lmharnisch

  Oct. 18, 1957BY HAL MORRIS Mirror-News Staff Writer There may be no production of cartoon shorts for theaters within five years, warns Walter Lantz, veteran cartoonist-producer. The creator of Woody Woodpecker blames the possible end of a theater cartoon … Continue reading →

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Rock Hudson’s wedding album

Posted on October 21, 2007 by lmharnisch

I went down to The Times’ archives and pulled Rock Hudson‘s wedding pictures because I’m the kind of person who would want to see Rock Hudson’s wedding pictures. Please note: All captions are from original information provided when the photos … Continue reading →

Posted in #gays and lesbians, Adoptions, books, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

October 19, 1957: Matt Weinstock

Posted on October 19, 2007 by lmharnisch

October 19, 1957 Edwin Anthony Browne, playboy newspaperman of another day, is revisiting L.A. after 20 years and he is aghast. Perhaps aghast is too strong a word. Let’s say amused or mildly interested. Brownie, an innocent-looking cherub but a … Continue reading →

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Drug bust

Posted on October 19, 2007 by lmharnisch

Oct. 19, 1957 Los Angeles Perhaps you remember publicist Desmond Slattery from Paul Coates’ Aug. 22, 1957, column. In brief, he was selling crickets as pets. This time, however, his problem is roaches–or rather, a roach. Slattery and his roommate, … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Hollywood, Hollywood Division | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Marie Wilson update

Posted on October 17, 2007 by lmharnisch

I went into the archives last night and pulled the photos of Marie Wilson and her family. Photograph by Don Cormer / Los Angeles TimesMarie Wilson and her son, Greg. Los Angeles Times photoMarie Wilson with Greg and Christine, Oct. … Continue reading →

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