Category Archives: LAPD

Nixon Leads Stevenson, Kennedy in Poll

Posted on January 27, 2010 by lmharnisch

Jan. 27, 1960: A letter by the Finch family’s maid to her mother in Sweden recounts a conversation with victim Barbara Jean Finch: “During the night, Dr. Finch tried to kill Mrs. Finch, who now absolutely wanted to have her … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Countdown to Watts, Homicide, JFK, LAPD, Politics, Richard Nixon | Comments Off

Matt Weinstock, Jan. 26, 1960

Posted on January 26, 2010 by lmharnisch

Patient's Prescription A doctor who has been overworked treating flu patients came down himself the other day with the old virus. He was home in bed, sniffing and coughing, when a woman patient phoned through his … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Countdown to Watts, LAPD, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off

Paul Coates – Confidential File, Jan. 25, 1960

Posted on January 25, 2010 by lmharnisch

Earthy language from Eva Marie Saint shocks Hollywood bash! It's Yo Ho Ho for Seafarer The current national insanity for small boats, and its consequent problems, is nothing new to me, matey. So avast, you lubbers, … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, LAPD, Paul Coates | 2 Comments

The ‘Onion Field’ Remembered [Update]

Posted on January 25, 2010 by lmharnisch

Photograph by Don Cormier / Los Angeles Times March 11, 1963: Jimmy Lee Smith returns to the crime scene to reenact the “Onion Field” killing with Sgt. G.H. Bates, left, as Officer Ian Campbell; Sgt. Danny Galindo, center, as Officer … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1963, books, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD, Photography | 7 Comments

‘Onion Field’ Killing Revisited

Posted on January 22, 2010 by lmharnisch

March 13, 1963, Jimmy Lee Smith reenacts the killing of Officer Ian Campbell. March 12, 1963: "Ex-convict Jimmy Lee Smith stood in a Kern County onion field Monday and acted out his version of how an unarmed policeman was slain … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, books, Homicide, LAPD | 2 Comments

Nuestro Pueblo

Posted on January 20, 2010 by lmharnisch

Sept. 19, 1938: Joe Seewerker and Charles Owens visit 211 W. 2nd St., close to home! Note: The original run of Nuestro Pueblo concluded in 1939. I’m picking up entries that I missed the first time around.

Posted in Architecture, art and artists, Downtown, Food and Drink, LAPD, Nuestro Pueblo | Comments Off

Steve Hodel to Mark Anniversary of Black Dahlia Killing

Posted on January 14, 2010 by lmharnisch

Steve Hodel, whose father, Dr. George Hodel, has been turned into a serial killer franchise, will be appearing at the Los Angeles Police Historical Society Museum on Jan. 15, the 63rd anniversary of the killing of Elizabeth Short, nicknamed … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Homicide, LAPD | 3 Comments

Lure of the Desert Is Too Much for Prospector

Posted on January 10, 2010 by lmharnisch

“That Guiltiest Feeling,” by Clare Briggs. Jan. 10, 1920: The old prospector just wanted some money for a grubstake to go back to Mexico. "The lure of the desert proved too much for me," says James Barker, 70, a man … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, LAPD | Comments Off

Calvin Coolidge – Modest Candidate

Posted on January 8, 2010 by lmharnisch

“Movie of a Man Celebrating New Year’s Eve (New Style),” by Clare Briggs. Massachusetts Gov. Calvin Coolidge enters the race for the Republican presidential nomination in a declaration that is unimaginable today: "I do not feel that any man … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, LAPD | Comments Off

Police Raid Gambling Operation

Posted on January 2, 2010 by lmharnisch

“When a Feller Needs a Friend,” by Clare Briggs. Monsieur De Conde and Miss Burdette, specializing in "The Apache!" Jan. 2, 1920: Detectives sneak up the stairs at 708 N. Alameda St. and use the Chinese phrase for “open the … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Comics, LAPD | Comments Off

Monkey Business on ‘Inherit the Wind’ Set

Posted on December 31, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sheriff John covers preparations for the Rose Parade! Dr. Charles F. Sebastian dies, Sept. 4, 1971. You may recall him from the Harry Raymond bombing. The Central Receiving Hospital was replaced by the Rampart Division station, shown by … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Obituaries, Sports | Comments Off

Man’s Skull Fractured in Assault

Posted on December 31, 2009 by lmharnisch

Dec. 31, 1909: Former stockbroker Henry SO. Clark is hospitalized after hitting his head on the pavement at Spring and 9th streets when a man struck him for talking to his wife.

Posted in Downtown, LAPD | Comments Off

No Gunfire for New Year’s Eve

Posted on December 30, 2009 by lmharnisch

Joseph’s has a sale on Stickley furniture! Dec. 30, 1909: Rules for New Year’s Eve – No slapping of people on the back, no rude jostling, no disrespectful address of persons one does not know. Most important, “no discharging of … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Downtown, Fashion, LAPD | Comments Off

Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, Dec. 29, 1959

Posted on December 29, 2009 by lmharnisch

Incredibly, Old Con Game Still Works The name of the game is “pigeon drop.” And, like pinochle, it generally requires three players. Unlike pinochle, however, two of them must be equipped with glib tongues. The third player … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Front Pages, LAPD, Mickey Cohen | Comments Off

The Empty Prophecy of Prohibition

Posted on December 28, 2009 by lmharnisch

Detectives Brown, Barnett and Harry Raymond in a raid on a club in Little Tokyo. Dec. 28, 1919: The Times analyzes the first six months of Prohibition and finds that many predictions have not come true. Some minor offenses have … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Food and Drink, Front Pages, LAPD, Nightclubs | Comments Off

An Actress and Her Dog

Posted on December 28, 2009 by lmharnisch

"Five iron manhole caps, each weighing more than 100 pounds, shot into the air last night when "burn-out gas" in the sewer between Spring Street and the northeast corner of 1st and Main streets blew them higher than the … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, LAPD, Stage, Transportation | Comments Off

Minister Vanishes After Predicting Christ’s Return on Christmas Day

Posted on December 27, 2009 by lmharnisch

Dec. 27, 1909: A mob in Hurley, Va., lynches Henry Pennington after he killed Samuel Baker, who was on his way to a Christmas program with his family. Pennington had run away, but Baker’s wife tricked him into coming back … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Downtown, Food and Drink, LAPD | Comments Off

Fliers Spend Christmas Overhauling Planes for Aviation Week

Posted on December 26, 2009 by lmharnisch

Frances Nordstrom stars in “The Girl of the Golden West” at the Burbank. View Larger Map 7th and Los Angeles Streets, via Google maps’ street view. Dec. 26, 1909: Fliers work on their airplanes on Christmas at the official … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, LAPD, Stage, Transportation | Comments Off

Matt Weinstock, Dec. 23, 1959

Posted on December 23, 2009 by lmharnisch

Erring Blacklisters Sorry A week after it was disclosed, the strange case of Louis Pollock is still the big talk among Hollywood writers. Pollock has written a dozen screenplays and 30 television plays in the past five … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Comics, LAPD, Matt Weinstock, Mickey Cohen | Comments Off

A Mystery Photo That Is Not Arnold Stang

Posted on December 22, 2009 by lmharnisch

Los Angeles Times file photo I have been told that this mystery photo from 2007 has been circulating on the Internet as Arnold Stang. Notice that when I originally posted the photo I said “Hint: He’s not Arnold Stang.” This … Continue reading →

Posted in Homicide, LAPD, Mystery Photo | Comments Off