Category Archives: Music

Welcome Home Champs!

Posted on October 9, 2009 by lmharnisch

Oct. 9, 1959: Welcome Home Champs! The “Cinderella Boys” made it! Oct. 9, 1959: A bit of road rage from Frank Sinatra!

Posted in Dodgers, Front Pages, LAPD, Music | 2 Comments

The Strange, Terrible Saga of Mario Lanza

Posted on October 8, 2009 by lmharnisch

Oct. 8, 1959: Columnist Dick Williams on Mario Lanza. Oct. 8, 1959: “The Best of Everything” starts tomorrow at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre.

Posted in classical music, Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Music, Obituaries | Comments Off

Oct. 8, 1959: The Mirror celebrates the Dodgers’ victory! And NBC suspends Charles Van Doren. USC students protest new regulations imposed after the death of Richard Swanson during a fraternity hazing. Elvis says of being in the Army: "It … Continue reading →

Posted in broadcasting, Dodgers, Education, Front Pages, Music, Rock 'n' Roll, Television | Comments Off

Tango Craze Invades Pasadena

Posted on October 8, 2009 by lmharnisch

Jan. 14, 1913: That wicked dance, the “Tango Argentine,” is coming to Pasadena! These poses, among the most modest in the tango, are demonstrated by Oscar and Suzette, who “brought the sensational dance to America.”

Posted in Music, Stage | Comments Off

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

Ike, Khrushchev Deadlock on Berlin; Cubs Beat Dodgers

Posted on September 27, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 27, 1959: Not so fast. The Cubs routed the Dodgers, 12-2, and the Braves edged the Phillies, 3-2, creating another tie atop the National League standings. The Dodgers could have clinched at least a tie for the N.L. title … Continue reading →

Posted in #Jazz, Dodgers, Music, Richard Nixon | Comments Off

The Dodgers, Juan Marichal and the Beanball

Posted on September 21, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 21, 1969: Surfers are cleaning up their act, The Times says. Richard Nixon owns a surfboard? Jules Feiffer on the Miranda case. All the pseudo-surfers have become pseudo-hippies! The Dodgers and Giants were fighting again and Juan Marichal was … Continue reading →

Posted in Dodgers, Music, Richard Nixon, Rock 'n' Roll | Comments Off

Found on EBay — Vintage Bongo Drums

Posted on September 17, 2009 by lmharnisch

These vintage Valje bongo drums have been listed on EBay. Perfect for re-creating the mood of the Beats of Venice West. Listed as Buy It Now for $375.

Posted in books, Music, Stage, Venice Division | Comments Off

Voices — Mary Travers, 1936 – 2009

Posted on September 16, 2009 by lmharnisch

Peter, Paul & Mary Keep the Faith Folk music: Trio's public TV special airing on KOCE Channel 50, new family album and video feature familiar ethnic and traditional songs that define group. March 13, 1993 By LYNNE HEFFLEY, TIMES STAFF … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | 5 Comments

Found on EBay — Earl Carroll’s Nightclub

Posted on September 16, 2009 by lmharnisch

This menu from Earl Carroll's nightclub in Hollywood (now the Nickelodeon building at 6230 Sunset Blvd.) has been listed on EBay. The vendor suggests the menu is from about 1946. Bidding starts at $9.99.

Posted in Architecture, Hollywood, Music, Nightclubs | Comments Off

Larry Gelbart’s 1951 ‘My L.A.’ Found

Posted on September 15, 2009 by lmharnisch

Nov. 25, 1951: Rehearsals of "My L.A.," sketches inspired by Matt Weinstock's book, with a script by Larry Gelbart, Laurence Marks and Bill Manhoff. You may recall this photo from the posts I did about the death of Larry Gelbart. … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Music, Stage | Comments Off

Police Seek to Close Dance Halls

Posted on September 13, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 13, 1909: Edmund Waller "Ted" Gale draws Dr. Reinhardt Wernigk. A campaign endorsed by Police Chief Dishman is underway to shut down the dance halls of Los Angeles. The businesses would have already been closed except that they their … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Music, Nightclubs | Comments Off

Artist’s Notebook — Third Street Promenade

Posted on September 12, 2009 by lmharnisch

Third Street Promenade by Marion Eisenmann, Sept. 4, 2009 Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade awakens a bit at a time in the sweet coolness of a summer morning near the ocean. Along the darkened strip of gleaming glass and steel … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Marion Eisenmann, Music, Nuestro Pueblo | 1 Comment

Don’t Underestimate Khrushchev

Posted on September 10, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 10, 1959: A tidy little piece showing just how much Americans feared Nikita Khrushchev. "So Long, Mom. I'm Off to Drop the Bomb." "We'll All Go Together When We Go" At left, Tom Lehrer performs at UCLA. His satirical … Continue reading →

Posted in Dodgers, Music, Politics, Sports, Stage | Comments Off

Jazz Musician Syncopates Jail

Posted on September 7, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 7, 1919: C.H. Baker has three shoe stores on Broadway and one on Spring Street. African American jazz musician William H.F. Wilkins is put in jail for not being able to "give a satisfactory account of himself." What's … Continue reading →

Posted in #Jazz, LAPD, Music | Comments Off

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movies

Posted on September 5, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 5, 1923: "The Lone Star Ranger," starring Tom Mix, premieres at the Symphony at Broadway and 6th Street … and "Wayfarer" is being produced at the Coliseum. "The Wayfarer," written by J.E. Crowther, was a pageant with a cast … Continue reading →

Posted in broadcasting, Film, Hollywood, Music, Religion | 1 Comment

‘Holy Barbarians’ Revisited

Posted on September 2, 2009 by lmharnisch

Coastlines magazine, Spring-Summer 1958, with a cover story on LSD. Note: In late June and early July, I wrote about Lawrence Lipton's 1959 book on the beatniks of Venice West, "Holy Barbarians." I was particularly interested in the account of … Continue reading →

Posted in #Jazz, art and artists, books, Music, Venice Division | 1 Comment

Ike Rides Wave of Popularity; Dodgers Call Up Reinforcements

Posted on September 2, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 2, 1959: A story about President Eisenhower's European trip marking the 20th anniversary of Hitler's invasion of Poland notes that he remains popular. But look at what's happening in the country as Ike prepares to leave office: The prime … Continue reading →

Posted in #Jazz, art and artists, City Hall, Comics, Dodgers, Downtown, Film, Food and Drink, Hollywood, LAPD, Music, Nightclubs, Politics, RFK, Venice Division | 2 Comments

Theater Troupe Near Riot Over Pay

Posted on August 27, 2009 by lmharnisch

Aug. 27, 1899: Alexandra Dagmar at the Orpheum … and at base-ball at Fiesta Park. Ladies free. The backer of a theatrical troupe is taken to the police station for protection after performers threaten to riot because they … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Downtown, Music, Stage | Comments Off

Baseless Prosecution of Homeless Addict

Posted on August 24, 2009 by lmharnisch

Aug. 24, 1899: The Orpheum presents barrelistic wonders and rag time comedians, plus Joseph Adelman, master of the xylophone. The Times reports "baseless prosecution" of Richard Woodward, a homeless drug addict who accidentally broke a pane of glass at a … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Film, Hollywood, Music, Stage, travel | 1 Comment