Category Archives: Music

Police Smash Marihuana Ring

Posted on July 11, 2013 by lmharnisch

The Times publishes artist Charles H. Owen’s map of the Sicilian invasion. Owens’ artwork is featured in “Nuestro Pueblo,” one of my favorite books on Los Angeles. July 11, 1943: LAPD officers and state narcotics agents raid an apartment at … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, A Kinder, Simpler Time, LAPD, Music | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

L.A. County Jail’s New Piano Should Be an Instrument of Torture!

Posted on June 28, 2013 by lmharnisch

Jun2 28, 1921: Mrs. K.T. Lindy of Inglewood thinks jails are for punishment. Now that someone has given women prisoners a piano, she hopes they have to practice chromatic scales and not that evil jazz! Lindy says: “I hope this … Continue reading →

Posted in 1921, Comics, Music | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

A Note on Music for Silent Films

Posted on May 28, 2013 by lmharnisch

A Blackhawk film in all its low-tech glory is for sale on EBay with bids starting at $9.99. Note the lack of a ZIP Code in the address, which would peg the film as dating from the 1950s or early … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Music | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Organist C. Sharp Minor, Major Talent

Posted on April 29, 2013 by lmharnisch

Music was an integral part of silent films, giving emotional texture or humorous voice to the films’ precious images. Different types of music and musicians accompanied them: orchestras, bands, photoplayers, pianists and organists. Leading the pack as one of Los … Continue reading →

Posted in 1957, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Music | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Musicland Mystery Photo (Updated ++++)

Posted on February 23, 2013 by lmharnisch

Look what I found! Remember it from here?

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Music, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , | 28 Comments

Punk Rock Riot on Sunset Boulevard!

Posted on January 10, 2013 by lmharnisch

  How about this retro artwork on the ad for “Nicholas Nickleby?” Sort of Peter Max via “Yellow Submarine.” Jan. 10, 1983: A riot breaks out among an estimated 2,000 punk rockers during a concert at Studio Instrument Rentals at … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Downtown, Hollywood, Music, Spring Street, Television | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Millennial Moment: Soviets at Stalemate in Afghanistan, U.S. Economy Worst in Four Decades

Posted on December 19, 2012 by lmharnisch

Licorice Pizza! Michael Jackson’s “Thriller!” Men at Work! Kenny Loggins! Stray Cats! J. Geils Band! Foreigner! Dec. 19, 1982:  In the lead story, Times reporter Tyler Marshall says: “Despite three years of increasingly intense military operations and deepening political involvement, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1982, Film, Hollywood, Millennial Moments, Music, Politics, Washington | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

On Eve of Pearl Harbor Anniversary, Roosevelt Halts Enlistments

Posted on December 6, 2012 by lmharnisch

Dec. 6, 1942: As the nation nears the first anniversary of Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt halts all enlistments in the armed forces, shifting the military entirely to the draft. The services also stopped taking men older than 38 and opened … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, African Americans, Hollywood, Music, World War II | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on On Eve of Pearl Harbor Anniversary, Roosevelt Halts Enlistments

Eve Golden / Queen of the Dead – James Reese Europe

Posted on November 13, 2012 by lmharnisch

A piece of sheet music featuring James Reese “Jim” Europe has been listed on EBay with bids starting at $3,999.99. James Reese Europe   I think my favorite period is 1900-15. Not that I’d want to live back then, I’m … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Dance, Eve Golden, Film, Found on EBay, Music, Obituaries, Queen of the Dead | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Hollywood Boosts Itself With a Song

Posted on October 22, 2012 by lmharnisch

  Hollywood Boulevard came into existence in 1910, when Prospect Avenue saw its name changed to Hollywood Boulevard. This was Hollywood’s main street, full of stores, churches and theaters. As the town grew, and especially when movie studios moved to … Continue reading →

Posted in 1929, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Music | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Eve Golden / Queen of the Dead: Ada Jones

Posted on October 16, 2012 by lmharnisch

Ada  Jones 1873 – 1922   You youngsters can have your Ladies Gaga and Pinks and Katy Perrys. Give me the great Ada Jones. Ada was the first—and for ten years, the only—female superstar of the early record industry.

Posted in Eve Golden, Hollywood, Music, Obituaries, Queen of the Dead | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments

Eve Golden / Queen of the Dead: Valaida Snow

Posted on October 1, 2012 by lmharnisch

Valaida Snow 1904 – 1956 I am a huge Bix Beiderbecke fan; I prefer him to Louis Armstrong, and as far as I’m concerned, jazz died with Bix in 1931. But a close second to Bix in my heart is … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Eve Golden, Film, Found on EBay, Hollywood, Music, Queen of the Dead | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on August 27, 2012 by lmharnisch

Photo: A 1972 Cadillac hearse has been listed on EBay at Buy It Now for $4,200. (Note: it has a 472 engine in case you are in a hurry). Queen of the Dead – dateline August 27, 2012 •   Phyllis … Continue reading →

Posted in Eve Golden, Film, Hollywood, Music, Obituaries, Queen of the Dead, Television | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on August 13, 2012 by lmharnisch

A folk art carving of a hearse has been listed on EBay. Bidding starts at $64.99. Queen of the Dead – dateline August 13, 2012 •  I hate it when someone fascinating dies and I first hear about them through … Continue reading →

Posted in Eve Golden, Film, Hollywood, Music, Queen of the Dead, Stage | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

‘Casablanca’ Cast Honors Michael Curtiz’s 15 Years in U.S.

Posted on July 7, 2012 by lmharnisch

July 7, 1942:Twin brothers Walter and Sol Brundo, jazz musicians, join a military band stationed at Camp Haan in Riverside County.   I can’t find any trace of Sol and Walter. I wonder what became of them. “The Magnificent Ambersons”opens at … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Art & Artists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Music, World War II | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Judge Cites ‘Right of Battle’ in Sentencing Conscientious Objector

Posted on June 16, 2012 by lmharnisch

June 16, 1942:  Robert Lee Allen is sentenced to five years in federal prison for refusing to enlist in the Army. Judge Jeremiah Neter, 80, noted that Allen had not used the available provisions to file for conscientious objector status … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Art & Artists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Food and Drink, Music, Religion, Stage, World War II | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on June 4, 2012 by lmharnisch

Photo: A stereo picture of the hearse carrying the body of President McKinley has been listed on EBay at  $18.95. Queen of the Dead – dateline June 4, 2012 Just back from Paris, my dears, and what you’ve heard is … Continue reading →

Posted in Eve Golden, Film, Food and Drink, Hollywood, Music, Obituaries, Queen of the Dead, Television | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on May 21, 2012 by lmharnisch

Photo: A 2003 Cadillac hearse listed on EBay, with bids starting at $18,900. Queen of the Dead – dateline May 21, 2012 •   Restaurateur (The Forge and The Glen in Tulsa), racecar driver, military historian and coffee heir (McLaughlin’s Coffee … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Eve Golden, Film, Hollywood, Music, Nightclubs, Obituaries, Queen of the Dead | 5 Comments

Pilot Lands P-38 Between Venice, Ocean Park Piers

Posted on May 17, 2012 by lmharnisch

May 17, 1942: Lt. William K. Long lands his P-38, with smoke pouring from one of the engines, between the Venice and Ocean Park piers. “Then, swimming a short distance through deep water, he waded ashore,” The Times said. Philip … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, African Americans, Film, Hollywood, Music, Mystery Photo, Transportation, World War II | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on February 27, 2012 by lmharnisch

Photo: A Hot Wheels model of a customized 1963 Cadillac hearse listed on EBay at $6.50. Queen of the Dead – dateline February 27, 2012 •  Do you collect Instant Disaster books? I do. I have same-year accounts of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Eve Golden, Film, Found on EBay, Hollywood, Music, Queen of the Dead, San Francisco, Television | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments