Category Archives: Hollywood

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on July 30, 2018 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie has been the 1957 RKO picture “Escapade in Japan,” with Teresa Wright, Cameron Mitchell, Jon Provost, Roger Nakagawa, Philip Ober, Kuniko Miyake, Susumu Fujita, Katsuhiko Haida and Tatsuo Saito. It was written by Winston Miller, filmed … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 31 Comments

July 27, 1947: Chinese Author Visits Dr. George Hodel,

Posted on July 27, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project. “Knowledge is desirable, but learning is pleasure.” That is one of the sayings of Author Helena Kuo, who came a long way from her native China … Continue reading →

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Black L.A. 1947: The Story of Jimmie Lunceford’s Death

Posted on July 25, 2018 by lmharnisch

Mike’s Waikiki Inn, 3741 S. Western Ave. 3741 S. Western Ave., via Google Street View. July 24, 1947: The Sentinel publishes an account of the death of bandleader Jimmie Lunceford. According to the article by Wendell Green, at dinner before … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, African Americans, Film, Hollywood, Music | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on July 23, 2018 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie has been the 1949 Warner Bros. picture “The Girl From Jones Beach,” with Ronald Reagan, Virginia Mayo, Eddie Bracken, Dona Drake, Henry Travers, Lois Wilson, Florence Bates, Jerome Cowan, Helen Westcott, Paul Harvey, Lloyd Corrigan, Gary … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 51 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights — ‘The Diamond From the Sky’ Shines Light on Marketing

Posted on July 23, 2018 by lmharnisch

“Like a Diamond From the Sky,” by Leo Bennett and Leo Wood, courtesy of Mary Mallory. Note: This is an encore post from 2013. Thanks to “What Happened to Mary?” (Edison, 1912), “The Adventures of Kathlyn” (Selig, 1913) and “The … Continue reading →

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July 21, 1947: Julie London Marries Jack Webb

Posted on July 21, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project. In the courthouse corridor, just after she received one of the biggest divorce settlements in Los Angeles history, someone asked her: “If you had your choice … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Music, Television | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Hollywood on Wheels: Gary Cooper’s 1935 Duesenberg SSJ Heading for Auction

Posted on July 17, 2018 by lmharnisch

Gary Cooper’s 1935 Duesenberg SSJ is heading for auction by Gooding and Company, Aug. 24-25 at Pebble Beach. The car was on display at the Briggs Cunningham Automotive Museum in Costa Mesa and later acquired by the Miles Collier Collections.

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July 17, 1907: Hollywood Organizes to Catch Serial Arsonist

Posted on July 17, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. July 17, 1907 Los Angeles A serial arsonist has been at work in Hollywood, setting six fires in the last three weeks. The community’s small volunteer fire department has been overwhelmed by … Continue reading →

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Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on July 16, 2018 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie has been the 1958 British production “Fiend Without a Face” or the “The Flying Brains Movie,” made by Amalgamated and released by MGM. With Marshall Thompson, Kynaston Reeves, Kim Parker, Stanley Maxted, Terence Kilburn, James Dyrenforth, … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 20 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: The Enchanted Hill – Hollywood’s Ultimate Mansion

Posted on July 16, 2018 by lmharnisch

Fred Thomson in an undated image. In the early days of the Hollywood film industry, moguls and movie stars lived simply, residing in comfortable but elegant homes. As the business evolved from small companies into large-scale moviemaking factories in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

July 15, 1947: Orson Welles Films ‘Macbeth’ on Tight Deadline

Posted on July 15, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project. Over at Republic Studios, master showman Orson Welles is engaged in an enormous stunt: He has promised to film “Macbeth” in 24 days (later cut to … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Historic L.A. in ‘Illegal’ | Part 6

Posted on July 14, 2018 by lmharnisch

In the last post on historic Los Angeles in “Illegal,” here are a few nighttime shots of Main Street. At the far right you can see the sign for the Hotel Cecil. The 500 block of South Main Street via … Continue reading →

Posted in 1955, Architecture, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Historic L.A. in ‘Illegal’ | Part 5

Posted on July 13, 2018 by lmharnisch

In this portion of “Illegal,” we have a long chase sequence. I’m not able to identify all the locations so any help would be appreciated.

Posted in 1955, Architecture, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Historic L.A. in ‘Illegal’ | Part 4

Posted on July 12, 2018 by lmharnisch

I suppose you prop guys at Warner Bros. think this is very funny.

Posted in 1955, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Historic L.A. in ‘Illegal’ | Part 3

Posted on July 11, 2018 by lmharnisch

Here’s another shot of the California State Building lobby and the bank of elevators as Hugh Marlowe exits.

Posted in 1955, Architecture, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Historic L.A. in ‘Illegal’ | Part 2

Posted on July 10, 2018 by lmharnisch

Here’s the footprint of the demolished California State Building, as seen from space in 2011 via Google Earth. Our crime buddy Nathan Marsak also took a tour of the remains, posted on SkyscraperPage.com. Here’s a shot of the bank of … Continue reading →

Posted in 1955, Architecture, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Black L.A. 1947: No Black Writers Invited to Preview of ‘Black Narcissus’

Posted on July 10, 2018 by lmharnisch

July 10, 1947: Earl Griffin, the Sentinel’s Hollywood Spotlight columnist, writes of a press premiere of “Black Narcissus” at the Carthay Circle Theater and notes that “the Negro press has been conspicuous by their absence (not being invited).” Griffin salutes … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, African Americans, Columnists, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Historic L.A. in ‘Illegal’ | Part 1

Posted on July 9, 2018 by lmharnisch

If you are cursed with the memory of having seen “Gangster Squad,” you may recall this ridiculous shot of Spring Street from City Hall. In last week’s mystery movie, “Illegal”  (1955) we have the actual location, now occupied by Grand … Continue reading →

Posted in 1955, Architecture, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: ‘Sins of Hollywood – Tinseltown’s First Sordid Look at Scandal

Posted on July 9, 2018 by lmharnisch

“The Sins of Hollywood,” via Archive.org. Note: This is an encore post from 2015. From its very beginnings, the motion picture industry has endured protests and censorship attacks from conservative members of the American public, those scandalized at seeing women … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on July 9, 2018 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie has been the 1939 RKO picture “Fixer Dugan,” with Lee Tracy, Virginia Weidler, Peggy Shannon, Bradley Page, William Edmunds, Edward Gargan, Jack Arnold, Rita LaRoy, Irene Franklin, John Dilson and Edythe Elliott. Photography was by J. … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 38 Comments