Category Archives: Lakers

Jim Murray, March 21, 1961

Posted on March 21, 2011 by lmharnisch

        March 21, 1961:  Every time I pull up another Jim Murray column, I am reminded once again of what a breath of fresh air he was for The Times. Today’s installment is a particularly good example. … Continue reading →

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Jim Murray, March 16, 1961

Posted on March 16, 2011 by lmharnisch

        March 16, 1961: Around the league, Elgin [Baylor] is known as "The Big Hurt." He's a four Band-Aid player. The man assigned to cover him usually stocks up with liniment and aspirin and approaches his task … Continue reading →

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Lakers Draw Small Crowd for Celtics Game

Posted on December 5, 2010 by lmharnisch

    Dec. 5, 1960: The Lakers lost to the Boston Celtics, 113-103 at the Sports Arena but the statistic that jumped out was the attendance. The Times' headline noted the presence of 9,224 fans at the Sports Arena, an … Continue reading →

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Lakers Playing to Empty Seats

Posted on November 5, 2010 by lmharnisch

    Nov. 5, 1960: Don Page was worried about the Lakers. No one was watching. "Bigger crowds have watched knitting tournaments than have viewed the Lakers thus far," wrote Page, The Times' radio columnist. He blamed the lack of … Continue reading →

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Lakers Sign Jerry West

Posted on September 21, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Sept. 21, 1960: The Lakers signed rookie Jerry West to a two-year contract. West played 14 seasons for the Lakers, winning one championship in a remarkable career that helped make basketball a marquee sport in L.A. He might have … Continue reading →

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‘Once in a Lifetime’ Chance to Coach the Lakers

Posted on August 21, 2010 by lmharnisch

Aug. 21, 1960: The Lakers of Los Angeles were coming together. West Virginia University Coach Fred Schaus was hired as the team's new coach. "It was an opportunity that comes once in a lifetime," he told UPI. The team already … Continue reading →

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Why History Must Be Saved, Even When Nobody Wants It

Posted on June 17, 2010 by lmharnisch

  The death of Ernest Fleischmann, former executive director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, offers a nice point of departure for a few musings about how casually we treat the past. About a year ago, I noticed a trash cart … Continue reading →

Posted in classical music, Lakers, Music | 2 Comments

Lakers Arrive in L.A.!

Posted on June 15, 2010 by lmharnisch

  June 15, 1960: The Lakers are here! And this is the welcoming committee? Unlike the reception given the Dodgers when they moved west to Los Angeles, the Lakers quietly moved into town in 1960. I loved the silliness of … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Lakers | 1 Comment

Get Your Lakers Tickets!

Posted on June 10, 2010 by lmharnisch

  June 10, 1960: The Lakers started selling season tickets for their new home in Los Angeles and what a different world it was. Season ticket holders would be assured of at least 25 home games in the new Los … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Lakers, Sports | 1 Comment

Lakers Moving to L.A.

Posted on April 28, 2010 by lmharnisch

April 28, 1960: The Lakers became the newest member of Los Angeles' growing collection of sports teams, agreeing to move from Minneapolis in time for the 1960-61 season. Owner Robert Short and the Coliseum Commission agreed on playing dates and … Continue reading →

Posted in Lakers, Sports | 1 Comment

Magic Johnson Puts Lakers Over the Top

Posted on March 6, 2010 by lmharnisch

March 6, 1980: Magic Johnson has one of his best rookie nights. “It was the most entertaining garbage-time basketball since Hot Rod Hundley wore a Laker uniform,” Scott Ostler says of the Lakers’ victory over Kansas City, 117-101.  On the … Continue reading →

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Does L.A. Want the Lakers?

Posted on February 23, 2010 by lmharnisch

   Feb. 23, 1960: Minneapolis Lakers owner Bob Short was ahead of his time. Reading comments made by Short to a group of basketball writers, one could assume he owned a team in 2010 rather than 1960. After all, he … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Lakers, Sports | 2 Comments

NBA Courting Los Angeles

Posted on February 18, 2010 by lmharnisch

Feb. 18, 1960 Los Angeles was being courted. "We don't regard the games as test contests—Los Angeles fans already have shown they appreciate big league sports," Marty Blake told The Times leading up to the Lakers' games at the Sports … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Lakers, Sports | 1 Comment

Lakers Seeking New Home

Posted on February 5, 2010 by lmharnisch

Feb. 5, 1960: The Lakers were inching closer to a new home in Los Angeles. The team's owner, Bob Short, was complaining about life in Minneapolis while the team was adjusting its schedule to play two games in February at … Continue reading →

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Nixon, the ‘Indispensible Man’

Posted on February 1, 2010 by lmharnisch

“You Remember Her?”     NBC used to have an opera company. Amazing, no? Although I can’t say I’ve ever heard of Virginia Copeland (Gordoni), David Poleri or Chester Ludgin. “Goliath and the Barbarians” in Colorscope!  Paul Zimmerman takes a … Continue reading →

Posted in #opera, broadcasting, classical music, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, JFK, Lakers, Politics, Richard Nixon, Sports, Television | Leave a comment

Plot Alleged in Finch Killing

Posted on January 19, 2010 by lmharnisch

    Donald Williams testifies about a murder-for-hire plot in the Finch killing. Sen. Hubert Humphrey (D-Minn.) challenges Vice President Nixon to a series of debates with potential Democratic candidates.   “Cash McCall” is opening in Los Angeles. Jan. 19, 1960: … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, Lakers, Politics, Richard Nixon, Sports | Leave a comment

USC Coach Turns Down Lakers’ Offer

Posted on June 13, 2009 by lmharnisch

“Who Wants a Dumb Artist Around Who Can’t Even Keep Out of Trouble?” The Lakers offered their coaching job to a very successful college coach who wouldn’t even have to relocate. No, not John Wooden. USC Coach Bob Boyd turned … Continue reading →

Posted in Comics, Lakers, Sports | 1 Comment

The Fabulous Forum

Posted on June 10, 2009 by lmharnisch

Los Angeles Times file photo Nov. 21, 1968: Chick Hearn in a Forum luxury box. Art Rogers / Los Angeles Times Dec. 31, 1967: Usherette Patricia Sanderling wears a "mini toga" at the new Forum. The Times ran a long … Continue reading →

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Teacher Puts the Broom to Process Server in Communist Probe; Meet Wilt Chamberlain

Posted on June 6, 2009 by lmharnisch

"Terry, What's Wrong?" Police have few leads in the beating of boxing promoter Jackie Leonard, who was left partially paralyzed. Leonard had testified before the State Athletic Commission on corruption in prizefighting. Kindergarten teacher Ruth Adair Bishop, 54, whacks Grant … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, art and artists, Comics, Fashion, Film, Hollywood, Lakers, Religion, Sports | 3 Comments

Lakers Looking for New Coach?

Posted on June 4, 2009 by lmharnisch

Stories about coaches being hired or fired are tricky. If things aren't finalized, there's every reason for caution. So it's not unusual to read a story that says a team is close to hiring a coach or is expected to … Continue reading →

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