Category Archives: Music

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.

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‘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 →

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‘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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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

The Specials at the Whisky

Posted on February 11, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Feb. 11, 1980: The long-awaited merger of punk and reggae is message, mirth and mayhem, Richard Cromelin says.

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Pink Floyd’s ‘The Wall’ Premieres at the Sports Arena

Posted on February 9, 2010 by lmharnisch

    Feb. 9, 1980: Robert Hilburn writes, “This production, which continues through Wednesday before moving to New York for its only other American staging, is more than just another night of rock 'n' roll. It's something the band's fans … Continue reading →

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Matt Weinstock, Feb. 2, 1960

Posted on February 2, 2010 by lmharnisch

Mystery of Missiles       One of the problems of those who guide our missile program is making it understandable to earth-bounders.  In other words, translating complex scientific data into ordinary terms.       Toward this end former newspaperman Chris … Continue reading →

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Rock Is on Its Way Out

Posted on January 10, 2010 by lmharnisch

Don Page features Stan Freberg's "Payola Roll Blues."      Jan. 10, 1960 Don Page did not dig rock 'n' roll music. How else can you explain these opinions, looking ahead to radio in the 1960s. "There are signs (if … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Music, Rock 'n' Roll | 2 Comments

Singer Pleads Not Guilty to Soliciting

Posted on December 2, 2009 by lmharnisch

Akron has remote-control dachshunds — “a zany plaything.” Johnnie Ray says he just invited a friendly undercover officer up to his room for a nightcap. Nothing indecent about that. Mr. Flynn, would you like gold plating on that nude statue … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, #gays and lesbians, books, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Music, Rock 'n' Roll, Sports, Transportation | 1 Comment

Found on EBay: the Great White Fleet

Posted on November 30, 2009 by lmharnisch

A piece of sheet music commemorating the Great White Fleet has been listed on EBay. The fleet’s visit was one of the major events in Los Angeles in 1908. This sheet music was sold at Bullock’s. Bidding starts at $18.

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New Symphony Uses Car Horn

Posted on November 30, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Nov. 30, 1909: Perhaps you thought George Gershwin was the first composer to use car horns in a piece of music (“American in Paris”). But no. August Bungert uses an auto horn in his new symphonic work, “Zeppelin’s First … Continue reading →

Posted in classical music, LAPD, Music | 1 Comment

Pilot Dies When Plane Hits House in Compton

Posted on November 28, 2009 by lmharnisch

Nov. 28, 1959: A plane crashes into a home at 519 W. Greenleaf in Compton. Mink jeans? Are you serious? Running freeways through the upper floors of existing buildings is a startling concept – but it’s not new. As envisioned … Continue reading →

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November 21, 1959: Matt Weinstock, Nov. 21, 1959

Posted on November 21, 2009 by lmharnisch

Car Troubles Two years ago, Bob Joseph bought a two-cylinder French Panhard, which has positively no area in front for a license plate.  He has been driving it with only the rear plate. On consecutive days recently he received two … Continue reading →

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