Category Archives: LAPD

Police Raid Chinatown Gambling Operation

Posted on October 6, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Oct. 6, 1909: Police officers cross the roofs of buildings, using a ladder to span alleys, to raid a lottery operation in Chinatown. I suspect the Sgt. Sebastian mentioned in the story is future Police Chief and Mayor Charles … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, City Hall, Downtown, LAPD, Religion | Comments Off on Police Raid Chinatown Gambling Operation

Con Artists Add Movies to Their Repertoire of Tricks

Posted on October 4, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Oct. 4, 1909:  Con artists are switching from worthless gold mines and oil wells to motion pictures as a way to dupe victims.

Posted in Film, Hollywood, LAPD | Comments Off on Con Artists Add Movies to Their Repertoire of Tricks

Cafe Orchestra Fiddles While Kitchen Burns

Posted on October 3, 2009 by lmharnisch

Oct. 3, 1909: What the modern woman is wearing. $22.50 is $532.68 USD 2008. Here’s a bit of theater history: The Orpheum announces that it will no longer have advertising on its curtain, despite the loss in revenue of $500 … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Fashion, Food and Drink, LAPD, Music, Stage | Comments Off on Cafe Orchestra Fiddles While Kitchen Burns

LAPD Honors Motorcycle Officers

Posted on October 2, 2009 by lmharnisch

Los Angeles Times file photoLos Angeles Police Department officers with Indian motorcycles, June 1917.  May 20, 1907: LAPD motorcycle officers arrest speeders. The speed limit downtown is 12 mph and 20 mph elsewhere. The speed limit at certain downtown intersections … Continue reading →

Posted in LAPD | 1 Comment

September 30, 1959: Matt Weinstock

Posted on September 30, 2009 by lmharnisch

September 30, 1959: “The body of a San Bernardino Freeway crash victim was hurled into a tree where it hung unnoticed for five hours today” … W.C. Fields vs. Cecil B. De Mille … and Matt Weinstock on some friendly … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Matt Weinstock, Transportation | Comments Off on September 30, 1959: Matt Weinstock

Man Haunted by Jesuit Spies

Posted on September 29, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 29, 1909: Billie Burke in "Love Watches." Ernest Ritter's mind may be unbalanced over a sad love affair, doctors say.

Posted in #courts, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Stage | Comments Off on Man Haunted by Jesuit Spies

White Sox vs. Reds in World Series

Posted on September 28, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 28, 1919: "Buster Brown" takes a look at what causes homelessness. LAPD Sgt. Frank Harlan talks about the motorcycle unit: "The worst offenders we have to contend with are boys under 20 and new drivers. Many of the latter … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Comics, LAPD, Sports, Transportation | Comments Off on White Sox vs. Reds in World Series

George ‘Evil Genius’ Hodel Rides Again III

Posted on September 25, 2009 by lmharnisch

Above, Page 79, “Most Evil,” by Steve Hodel So far, the majority of votes are against dissecting the problems in “Most Evil,” which is fine with me because it would be almost as much work as debunking John Gilmore’s “Severed,” which … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, books, Homicide, LAPD | 8 Comments

Voices — Susan Atkins, 1948 – 2009

Posted on September 25, 2009 by lmharnisch

Dec. 7, 1969: Susan Atkins' father describes his troubles with his daughter before she joined the Manson family. Dec. 12, 1969: The late Dial Torgerson, one of The Times' most distinguished writers, on Susan Atkins: 

Posted in Film, Homicide, LAPD, Obituaries | Comments Off on Voices — Susan Atkins, 1948 – 2009

Black Dahlia Revisited

Posted on September 24, 2009 by lmharnisch

I need to make a few points about the coverage of the Black Dahlia case before I move on. The killing and the subsequent investigation are incredibly complicated and the false claims, ridiculous "true crime" books and crackpot websites have … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, @news, Front Pages, Homicide, LAPD | 1 Comment

George ‘Evil Genius’ Hodel Rides Again II

Posted on September 22, 2009 by lmharnisch

“Most Evil,” Page 190, photos shown to support Stevel Hodel’s contention that his father was Zodiac. I turned on the computer this morning, made a pot of coffee and cracked open Steve Hodel’s “Most Evil.” And I sighed. For anyone … Continue reading →

Posted in books, LAPD | 18 Comments

Bullet Claims an Innocent Victim

Posted on September 22, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 22, 1919: "The Vigilantes" is playing at the Victory Theater, 838 S. Broadway. Sept. 22, 1909: Nicolas Rodriguez is killed when a bullet ricochets several times and strikes him as he rides his bicycle near 3rd Street and Traction … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, LAPD | Comments Off on Bullet Claims an Innocent Victim

Women Arrested for Dressing as Men

Posted on September 22, 2009 by lmharnisch

Being a hobo is one thing, but dressing up as a man is something else! Sept. 22, 1909: As there are laws prohibiting women from masquerading in men's clothes and he recognized Mrs. Gunn has having been taken in custody … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, LAPD | Comments Off on Women Arrested for Dressing as Men

Police Crack Down on ‘Mashers’ in Park

Posted on September 21, 2009 by lmharnisch

Cartoonist Edmund Waller "Ted" Gale draws W.I. Hollingsworth. Sept. 21, 1909: Police crack down on mashers in Eastlake Park, which is now Lincoln Park. "These young rowdies attempt to flirt with every girl they see," said John Butler, sergeant of … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, LAPD, Parks and Recreation | Comments Off on Police Crack Down on ‘Mashers’ in Park

Khrushchev: ‘Why Not Disneyland?’

Posted on September 19, 2009 by lmharnisch

Photograph by Bruce Cox / Los Angeles Times Actor David Niven, center, in a toast at Twentieth Century Fox studios with Nikita Khrushchev, left, Eric Johnston of the Motion Picture Producers Assn., Andrei Gromyko and studio executive Buddy Adler. Photograph … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Politics | Comments Off on Khrushchev: ‘Why Not Disneyland?’

Khrushchev Arrives in L.A.!

Posted on September 19, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 19, 1959: Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev arrives in Los Angeles. Photograph by the Los Angeles Police Department Four tiers of scaffolding are set up for photographers and TV cameras, which are already in place. Khrushchev’s travels required three aircraft: … Continue reading →

Posted in @news, broadcasting, Columnists, Current Affairs, LAPD, Politics, Television | Comments Off on Khrushchev Arrives in L.A.!

Groundbreaking for Dodger Stadium

Posted on September 18, 2009 by lmharnisch

Photograph by Harry Chase / Los Angeles Times Ground-breaking for Dodger Stadium at Chavez Ravine. President Eisenhower quietly told the world today he is just as confident of the verdict of history as Soviet Chairman Khrushchev. "He is always saying … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, art and artists, City Hall, Comics, Dodgers, Downtown, Education, Front Pages, LAPD, Politics, Richard Nixon | Comments Off on Groundbreaking for Dodger Stadium

Coming Attractions — John Buntin

Posted on September 15, 2009 by lmharnisch

John Buntin, author of "L.A. Noir," which has been getting good reviews (I'm still working my way through the book) will be making a personal appearance tonight at 7 at Vroman's in Pasadena. Buntin has spent quite a bit of … Continue reading →

Posted in books, LAPD, Mickey Cohen | Comments Off on Coming Attractions — John Buntin

Cabdriver Accused of Attempted Rape

Posted on September 12, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 12, 1919: Why risk buying a poor hat? "When a Feller Needs a Friend," by Clare Briggs. Cabdriver R.M. Kennedy is accused of trying to rape Sara Revalee, 16. Yes, we identified sexual assault victims back then. And look: … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, LAPD | Comments Off on Cabdriver Accused of Attempted Rape

Man Convicted of Shooting Wife Fights a Team of Officers

Posted on September 12, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 12, 1909: Winsor McCay's "Little Nemo in Slumberland." McCay's drawings are a mixed blessing. He was a wonderful artist with a fabulous imagination — and he drew this appalling character, Imp. A police automobile speeding on a call crashes … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, art and artists, Comics, Homicide, LAPD, Suicide | Comments Off on Man Convicted of Shooting Wife Fights a Team of Officers