Category Archives: Music

1944 on the Radio — ‘Information Please’ and ‘Screen Guild Theater,’ on Jan. 17, 1944

Posted on January 17, 2014 by lmharnisch

Jan. 17, 1944 It’s Monday in 1944 and today we have: —“Information Please” hosted by Clifton Fadiman, with John Kieran, Franklin P. Adams, Oscar Levant and guest John P. Marquand, author of the current best-seller “So Little Time.” Bonus fact: … Continue reading →

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Fact-Checking ‘City of Nets’ — Uh-Oh

Posted on January 16, 2014 by lmharnisch

Back in the 1990s, when I began scrounging and scouring for everything I could find on Los Angeles in the 1940s in my research on the Black Dahlia case, I got a copy of Otto Friedrich’s 1986 book “City of … Continue reading →

Posted in 1933, Books and Authors, Music | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

1944 in Print — Daily Mirror Newsstand, Jan. 15, 1944

Posted on January 15, 2014 by lmharnisch

Top songs on the Hit Parade. No wonder all the radio shows are talking about “Paper Doll” and “Shoo-Shoo, Baby.” Via Billboard. Jan. 15, 1944 It’s Saturday in 1944 and therefore we have a new issue of the Saturday Review … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Music, Radio, World War II | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

1944 on the Radio — ‘Command Performance,’ Jan. 15, 1944

Posted on January 15, 2014 by lmharnisch

Jan. 15, 1944 It’s Saturday in 1944 and today we have: — “Command Performance” with Frances Langford, and Spike Jones and the City Slickers doing “Glow-Worm.” “Shoo-Shoo Baby” must have been a popular song in January 1944. It was on … Continue reading →

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The Whisky a Go Go Opens, Jan. 15, 1964

Posted on January 13, 2014 by lmharnisch

The Whisky a Go Go at Sunset Boulevard and Clark Street via Google Street View. Trentham Roberts, the proprietor of “The ‘60s at 50” blog, has an entry on the opening of Whisky a Go Go on Jan. 15, 1964.

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1944 on the Radio — ‘Ellery Queen’ and ‘Kraft Music Hall,” Jan. 13, 1944

Posted on January 13, 2014 by lmharnisch

Jan. 13, 1944 It’s Thursday in 1944, and today we have: — “Forgery and Murder” on “Challenge of the Yukon.”  Courtesy of Archive.org. — “The Adventure of the Mischief-Maker” on “Ellery Queen, Master Detective.” Courtesy of Archive.org. — ‘Kraft Music … Continue reading →

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1944 on the Radio — Kay Kyser’s Kollege of Musical Knowledge

Posted on January 12, 2014 by lmharnisch

Jan. 12, 1944: Here’s Kay Kyser and the Kollege of Musical Knowledge. Courtesy of Archive.org.

Posted in 1944, Music, Radio | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

1944 on the Radio — ‘Inner Sanctum’ and ‘Abie’s Irish Rose,’ Jan. 8, 1944

Posted on January 8, 2014 by lmharnisch

Jan. 8, 1944: Today we have four features: –“The Death Laugh” on “Inner Sanctum Mysteries.” Notice the creaking door. –“City of the Dead” Part 1 on “Adventures by Morse.” Featuring Capt. Friday! —“Abie’s Irish Rose” via WMAQ Chicago. (The sound … Continue reading →

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1944 on the Radio — ‘Abbott and Costello,’ Jan. 6, 1944

Posted on January 6, 2014 by lmharnisch

Jan. 6, 1944: Here’s “Revenge in the Yukon,” a 15-minute episode of “Challenge of the Yukon,” from WXYZ in Detroit.  As far as I can tell, this show was not broadcast in Los Angeles at the time, but it fills … Continue reading →

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1944 on the Radio — ‘Mail Call’

Posted on January 5, 2014 by lmharnisch

Jan. 5, 1944: Here’s “Mail Call,” an Armed Forces Radio Service program featuring Jack Benny, Skinnay Ennis, Judy Garland and Johnny Mercer, announced by Harry von Zell. Courtesy of Archive.org.

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L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Drinking Guide: The Harvey Wallbanger

Posted on December 19, 2013 by lmharnisch

A vintage 1972 iron-on transfer of Harvey Wallbanger himself, on EBay for $12. We have been looking at some historic drinks for this holiday season. To the millennials in the audience: This is what mom and dad used to drink … Continue reading →

Posted in 1971, Food and Drink, Music | Tagged , | 6 Comments

Manhattan Mystery: ‘Makers of Melody’

Posted on November 21, 2013 by lmharnisch

Ruth Tester and the mysterious Allan Gould sing “Manhattan” in “Makers of Melody.”   The mysterious Allan Gould with Inez Courtney in “The Girl Friend.” We have the illustrious Eve Golden to thank for this mystery. The other day, Eve … Continue reading →

Posted in 1929, Film, Hollywood, Music, Stage | Tagged , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights — Carrie Jacobs-Bond, Hollywood Tunesmith

Posted on September 23, 2013 by lmharnisch

Long before Harold Arlen wrote “Lose That Long Face” for “A Star Is Born” starring Judy Garland, songwriter Carrie Jacobs-Bond practiced those words. Mostly forgotten today, Jacobs-Bond was one of the most successful composers of the 20th century. She endured … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Music | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Navy Doctors Defuse ‘Human Bomb’

Posted on September 19, 2013 by lmharnisch

Sept. 19, 1943: In a story delayed for wartime, the Associated Press reports that Allen L. Gordon, 23, of Rock Island, Ill., fire control operator third class, was struck Dec. 2 with a 20-millimeter antiaircraft shell that lodged in his … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, African Americans, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Hollywood, Labor, Medicine, Music, Tom Treanor, World War II | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Escaped Soldier Denies Attacking Former Screen Star

Posted on September 11, 2013 by lmharnisch

Sept. 11, 1943: The Times features the Los Angeles Times-Army Ordnance in Action Show being held at Exposition Park. The Times promised that “visitors will see the massive 32-ton Gen. Sherman tanks whose tough armor and deadly firepower blasted the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, Art & Artists, Books and Authors, Columnists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Film, Music, Tom Treanor, World War II | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Rocket Builder Steals Truckload of Equipment From Caltech

Posted on August 22, 2013 by lmharnisch

Aug. 22, 1953: Fred Frank Wildemuth kills his wife because he didn’t want her to catch carbon monoxide poisoning from him. “I, the Jury” in 3-D at the Paramount theaters in Hollywood and downtown. A brilliant — and unidentified — … Continue reading →

Posted in 1953, Comics, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, Music, Suicide | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

LAPD Spied on Mayor, Attorney General, Detective Says

Posted on August 16, 2013 by lmharnisch

Aug. 16, 1983: Former Times reporter Joel Sappell reports on allegations by Detective Michael J. Rothmiller that the LAPD’s Organized Crime Intelligence Division spied on Mayor Tom Bradley, then-Atty.Gen. John Van de Kamp, and other U.S., state, county and local … Continue reading →

Posted in 1983, City Hall, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Music, Stage, Television | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Hero Stops Runaway L.A. Streetcar

Posted on August 15, 2013 by lmharnisch

Aug. 15, 1943: Los Angeles’ long-gone streetcar system has achieved sainthood, but here’s an incident suggesting that in reality, it was less than perfect. (Heresy, I know). Shura Cherkassky performs at the Greek Theatre. Hedda Hopper with her version of … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Music, Streetcars, Transportation | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Officer Kills Two, Wounds Two in Brawl at Shipyard Workers’ Party

Posted on August 7, 2013 by lmharnisch

Aug. 7, 1943: A zoot suit with a drape shape, reet pleat and stuff cuff in the comics! This is a story that, as presented in The Times, seems straightforward: A Palos Verdes police officer responding to a rowdy party … Continue reading →

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Millennial Moment: Prison Escapee Slaughters Family

Posted on August 2, 2013 by lmharnisch

Aug. 2, 1983: Terry Atkinson reviews the L.A. debut of the Eurythmics at the Palace, saying: “Move over, Chrissie Hynde and Martha Davis, and make room for Annie Lennox.” Kevin Cooper is arraigned in an attack that killed four people … Continue reading →

Posted in 1983, Comics, Crime and Courts, Millennial Moments, Music, Sports | 1 Comment