Category Archives: Music

The Times’ Court Reporter Files a Story in Dialect

Posted on June 3, 2010 by lmharnisch

  June 3, 1910: The Times’ court reporter files a story in dialect about two African American women who are charged with fighting. Ouch. And police arrest newsboys shooting dice behind the offices of Los Angeles Record (1886-1931).

Posted in #courts, classical music, Countdown to Watts, LAPD, Music | 2 Comments

Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, April 25, 1960

Posted on April 25, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Heartsick Mother's Problem One Which Has No Solution       Steve's mother knows she did wrong.  But she wonders, under the circumstances, what would have been right.       "I don't know," she told me from behind her handkerchief, … Continue reading →

Posted in Caryl Chessman, Columnists, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Music, Obituaries, Paul Coates | 3 Comments

Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, April 21, 1960

Posted on April 21, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Being a Celebrity Weighs So Heavily     Since everyone else is hesitant to say it, I'll say it myself.       I'm a celebrity.       It's been a long, hard, often discouraging fight to reach the top.  But, … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Front Pages, Music, Paul Coates, Rock 'n' Roll | Comments Off on Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, April 21, 1960

On the Road With Linda Ronstadt, April 20, 1980

Posted on April 20, 2010 by lmharnisch

  April 20, 1980: Linda Ronstadt tells Robert Hilburn, “A lot of musicians mistakenly think you're supposed to know everything about your craft at age 18 just because a couple of geniuses, like Bob Dylan and Mick Jagger, seem to … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Rock 'n' Roll | 1 Comment

Found on EBay – Williams and Walker

Posted on March 26, 2010 by lmharnisch

I’ve been searching for items of Bert Williams and George Walker on EBay since I wrote about the vaudeville team in 2008. Sheet music turns up somewhat often but this is the first time I’ve seen souvenir postcards for sale. … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Stage | 1 Comment

L.A. Moment

Posted on March 23, 2010 by lmharnisch

Dec. 25, 1944: Glenn Miller’s plane disappears. I was coming back from lunch at Koo-Koo-Roo on Grand Avenue this afternoon and while waiting for the light, I heard Glenn Miller’s “American Patrol” floating out a window of one of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Music | 1 Comment

In the Days of Film Flacking

Posted on March 22, 2010 by lmharnisch

  March 22, 1920: The Times says Annette Kellerman takes too many risks to get accident insurance or life insurance,  but she can get “coverage” – so to speak — for her figure.

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Music | 1 Comment

Robert Hilburn on The Jam, March 18, 1980

Posted on March 18, 2010 by lmharnisch

  March 18, 1980: Robert Hilburn wonders whether The Jam will be The Who of the 1980s. Actually, they broke up about 1983.

Posted in Music, Rock 'n' Roll | Comments Off on Robert Hilburn on The Jam, March 18, 1980

Hearing on the Gas House, Part 4

Posted on March 13, 2010 by lmharnisch

Sept. 8, 1959: This is the fourth part of a transcript of testimony by “Holy Barbarians” author Lawrence Lipton before the the Los Angeles Police Commission on the Gas House, the Beat hangout in Venice.  Part 1 is here. Part … Continue reading →

Posted in #Jazz, books, LAPD, Music | Comments Off on Hearing on the Gas House, Part 4

Westbrook Pegler, March 11, 1926

Posted on March 11, 2010 by lmharnisch

Before he emerged as a columnist on the national scene, Westbrook Pegler was a sportswriter. Here’s one of his columns about spring training by the Brooklyn Dodgers. And, frankly, he reads like a pretty fair writer.

Posted in #Jazz, Columnists, Dodgers, Music, Sports | Comments Off on Westbrook Pegler, March 11, 1926

‘I Laugh, Ho, Ho, at Black Hand,’ Caruso Says

Posted on March 6, 2010 by lmharnisch

  March 6, 1920: Enrico Caruso laughs at threatening letters from the Black Hand. “I will sing in Brooklyn on Monday!” he vows.

Posted in #opera, classical music, Music | Comments Off on ‘I Laugh, Ho, Ho, at Black Hand,’ Caruso Says

Kennedy Pulls Even With Nixon in Poll

Posted on March 4, 2010 by lmharnisch

  March 4, 1960: Nancy Sinatra greets Elvis! March 4, 1960: Sen. John F. Kennedy (D-Mass.) pulls even with Vice President Richard Nixon – even though Kennedy is Catholic! (More on the jump). 

Posted in #courts, Dodgers, Front Pages, health, JFK, Music, Politics, Religion, Richard Nixon, Rock 'n' Roll, Sports | 1 Comment

Fiery Train Wreck Kills 17

Posted on March 2, 2010 by lmharnisch

The San Francisco Santa Fe Chief smashes into an oil tank truck and trailer 12 miles west of Bakersfield. March 2, 1960: Gov. Pat Brown gives up hope that the California Legislature will abolish the death penalty …  and Elvis … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Downtown, Music, Rock 'n' Roll, Sports, Stage | Comments Off on Fiery Train Wreck Kills 17

‘Madame Butterfly’

Posted on February 25, 2010 by lmharnisch

Feb. 4, 1908: Sharpless (Ottley Cranston) and Pinkerton (Vernon Stiles) find the body of Cio-Cio San (Phoebe Strakosch) in the Los Angeles premiere of “Madame Butterfly.”   One of the joys of research is following a thread wherever it leads. In … Continue reading →

Posted in #opera, Music | Comments Off on ‘Madame Butterfly’

Matt Weinstock, Feb. 24, 1960

Posted on February 24, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Story of Stories     The biggest story of the century, any century, would be the discovery that there is human life on another planet.       While most of us can only contemplate such a thing, men at the … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Matt Weinstock, Music | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock, Feb. 24, 1960

Found on EBay – Williams and Walker

Posted on February 20, 2010 by lmharnisch

 May 1, 1898: Williams and Walker share the stage with McIntyre and Heath at the Orpheum.  “Dora Dean,” a song by Bert Williams and George Walker, has been listed on EBay. Many people are familiar with Williams and Walker but … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Stage | Comments Off on Found on EBay – Williams and Walker

Matt Weinstock, Feb. 18, 1960

Posted on February 18, 2010 by lmharnisch

Squaw Valley Squawk       Doubtless it is attributable to crotchety advancing age but the Squaw Valley gymkhana leaves me cold.  So a flock of virile young people are going sliding in the snow.  What does that prove?  Outside of … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Countdown to Watts, Dodgers, Matt Weinstock, Music, Nightclubs | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock, Feb. 18, 1960

Found on EBay – Pacific Electric Trolley Waltz

Posted on February 15, 2010 by lmharnisch

I would have never guessed that there was a tune called “The Pacific Electric Trolley Waltz,” but there is. It was written by Eliza Mahala Greenough and published in 1906. In case you’re wondering, it sounds like this. A copy … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Transportation | Comments Off on Found on EBay – Pacific Electric Trolley Waltz

Bette Midler in Pasadena

Posted on February 15, 2010 by lmharnisch

      Feb. 15, 1980: Lee Grant covers the filming of Bette Midler's "Divine Madness." Midler says of "The Rose," "The director had to explain to me that for the film to have any semblance of reality there would … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Music, Rock 'n' Roll | Comments Off on Bette Midler in Pasadena

Hearing on the Gas House, Part 1

Posted on February 14, 2010 by lmharnisch

     Sept. 8, 1959: This is the first part of a transcript of testimony by “Holy Barbarians” author Lawrence Lipton before the the Los Angeles Police Commission on the Gas House, the Beat hangout in Venice. I’ll be posting … Continue reading →

Posted in books, LAPD, Music, Nightclubs | 2 Comments