Category Archives: LAPD

Matt Weinstock, Dec. 23, 1960

Posted on December 23, 2010 by lmharnisch

       Deck us all with Boston Charlie,Walla Walla, Washan' Kalamazoo… Nora's freezin' on the trolleySwaller dollar cauliflowerAlleygaroo! Dec. 23, 1960: One of the ugliest moments in the annals of the LAPD — the "Bloody Christmas" of 1951 — … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Crime and Courts, LAPD, Matt Weinstock | 1 Comment

Santa Claus Is No Ordinary Man!

Posted on December 23, 2010 by lmharnisch

    Dec. 23, 1960: Take that, Sluggo, you gender-stereotyping clod! On the jump, a “legless World War II veteran” is charged with having 250 reels of stag films…. Jack Smith goes Christmas shopping and finds his fellow human beings … Continue reading →

Posted in #games, 1947, 1957, 1960, art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Jack Smith, LAPD, Religion | 1 Comment

Grim Sleeper No. 119, Details

Posted on December 21, 2010 by lmharnisch

A curtain or some type of fabric can be seen in Grim Sleeper No. 119, which has been identified, according to the Daily Beast, as victim Janecia Peters. I thought it would be interesting to see if I could find … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Courts, Grim Sleeper, Homicide, LAPD | 1 Comment

Grim Sleeper, Interiors 3

Posted on December 19, 2010 by lmharnisch

Grim Sleeper No. 118 Although some images show a window blocked with tinfoil (Interiors, 2) a few photos show windows blocked with what appears to be a paper bag attached with blue masking tape. ALSO Grim Sleeper, Interiors Grim Sleeper, … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Courts, Grim Sleeper, Homicide, LAPD, Photography | 3 Comments

Grim Sleeper, Interiors 2

Posted on December 19, 2010 by lmharnisch

      Grim Sleeper No. 22   The backgrounds in some of the photos show what appears to be a window covered with tinfoil. No. 22, above, is a frame from a video that shows this detail.  Some of … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Courts, Grim Sleeper, Homicide, LAPD, Photography | 1 Comment

Grim Sleeper No. 91

Posted on December 19, 2010 by lmharnisch

        When I first looked at this photo, I thought the item in the background might be a calendar. In fact it’s a page of display ads for a sporting goods store that has been placed over … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Courts, Grim Sleeper, Homicide, LAPD, Photography | 1 Comment

Grim Sleeper Nos. 141-142

Posted on December 17, 2010 by lmharnisch

    Grim Sleeper No. 141 appears to be a Polaroid marked Deborah B. Cleveland, Sept. 18, 2001, although there seems to have been some hesitation about the “18,” as if the writer started with 28 and changed his mind. … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Courts, Grim Sleeper, Homicide, LAPD, Photography | 3 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo — Updated

Posted on December 12, 2010 by lmharnisch

      Los Angeles Times file photo   Update: This is Thelma Todd and Inez Courtney in a photo stamped Nov. 7, 1932.     Jan. 4-11, 1936: If you’re sick of the Thelma Todd case by now, you … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Thelma Todd | 1 Comment

Paul Coates, Dec. 9, 1960

Posted on December 9, 2010 by lmharnisch

         Dec. 9, 1960: Paul Coates has a curious tale about an aspiring actor making a sort of debut – in the Hollywood Christmas Parade. On the jump, more about the killing of LAPD Detective Richard Kent.

Posted in Columnists, Front Pages, LAPD, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul Coates, Dec. 9, 1960

Found on EBay – Jean Spangler

Posted on December 8, 2010 by lmharnisch

An Oct. 12, 1949, edition of the Examiner, with a Page 1 story about the disappearance of Jean Spangler – drawing the usual parallels to the 1947 Black Dahlia case – has been listed on EBay. Old issues of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, LAPD | 1 Comment

Former Mirror Writer Beaten to Death – Update

Posted on November 18, 2010 by lmharnisch

      Roby Heard, 1921 – 1960   This is something I wrote in 2002 at the request of Det. Rick Jackson of the LAPD’s cold case unit. Jackson said that the “murder book” for 1960 was missing and … Continue reading →

Posted in Homicide, LAPD, Obituaries | 4 Comments

Bus Strike Begins!

Posted on November 16, 2010 by lmharnisch

          Nov. 16-21, 1960: Another bus strike ends after six days, with MTA mechanics winning a raise of 54 cents an hour to be given in three steps. Officials say that the raises will probably require … Continue reading →

Posted in Freeways, LAPD, Transportation | Comments Off on Bus Strike Begins!

Former Mirror Writer Beaten to Death

Posted on November 12, 2010 by lmharnisch

       Nov. 12, 1960: Here’s the sad story of Roby Heard, a former Mirror rewrite man who was beaten to death with a hammer in a killing that was unsolved for many years.

Posted in Front Pages, Homicide, LAPD | 1 Comment

Victor the Flower Vendor

Posted on October 22, 2010 by lmharnisch

        Oct. 22, 1910: The LAPD cracks down on sidewalk peddlers and beggars outside the Merchants’ National Bank at 3rd and Spring streets. But what to do with Victor, the poor flower vendor?

Posted in #courts, Downtown, Fashion, LAPD | Comments Off on Victor the Flower Vendor

Tom Bosley and the Black Dahlia

Posted on October 19, 2010 by lmharnisch

      Beverly Lafayette “Bevo” Means, 1971.   Most people associate the late Tom Bosley with his role as Howard Cunningham in “Happy Days.” But not at the Daily Mirror HQ, where we think of him in his cameo … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD, Obituaries, Television | Comments Off on Tom Bosley and the Black Dahlia

Luncheon to Celebrate Centennial of LAPD’s First Policewoman

Posted on September 13, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Sept. 14, 1910: The Herald reports Alice Stebbins Wells’ appointment as the first policewoman in Los Angeles. The Herald treated her with far more dignity than The Times, which found her to be somewhat amusing. Wells will be honored … Continue reading →

Posted in LAPD | Comments Off on Luncheon to Celebrate Centennial of LAPD’s First Policewoman

Paul Coates, Aug. 24, 1960

Posted on August 24, 2010 by lmharnisch

Aug. 24, 1960: The Mirror reports a shouting match between Mayor Norris Poulson and Police Chief William H. Parker over a proposed police cadet program. It sounds like a great item, but alas, so many stories and only one Larry … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Columnists, From the Vaults, LAPD, Paul Coates | 1 Comment

Striker Sentenced for Violating Picketing Law

Posted on August 11, 2010 by lmharnisch

A woman runs off with a man who has no legs? Somebody at The Times had a grim sense of humor. Aug. 11, 1910: A judge sentences E.P. Kreamer to a $50 [$1,136.94 USD 2009] fine or 50 days in … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1910 L.A. Times bombing, art and artists, LAPD | Comments Off on Striker Sentenced for Violating Picketing Law

Police Quash Labor Riot

Posted on August 9, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Aug. 9, 1910: Los Angeles Police Capt. Lenhausen leads fellow officers in dispersing a crowd of more than 500 rowdy brewery strikers and sympathizers as demonstrators picketed the Belmont Bar at 5th and Main streets. Although The Times' account … Continue reading →

Posted in 1910 L.A. Times bombing, art and artists, LAPD | 1 Comment

L.A. Makes Theater Censor Billboards for Play

Posted on August 3, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Aug. 3, 1910: Remember that beer is a health drink – like “liquid bread.” On the jump, the manager of the Grand Operahouse is arrested for violating the city’s billboard laws over posters for “Queen of the Highway.” Accompanied … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, LAPD, Stage | Comments Off on L.A. Makes Theater Censor Billboards for Play