Category Archives: Music

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

Artist’s Notebook — Olvera Street

Posted on August 22, 2009 by lmharnisch

Olvera Street by Marion Eisenmann, Aug. 8, 2009 To visit the old Plaza is to stand at the crossroads of the city's past and present — and maybe even its future. I wonder what the preservationists who envisioned "a Mexican … Continue reading →

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

Deputies Raid Spahn Movie Ranch; Booed by Fans, Wills Hits Grand Slam

Posted on August 17, 2009 by lmharnisch

Aug. 17, 1969: I suppose we at the Daily Mirror HQ should be talking about "Amerika" and how the military-industrial complex sucks the blood of the Woodstock Nation. But we're not. The only thing up against the wall here are … Continue reading →

Posted in #gays and lesbians, @news, Comics, Current Affairs, Dodgers, Front Pages, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD, Music, Nightclubs, Politics, Rock 'n' Roll, San Fernando Valley, Science, Television, Transportation | 1 Comment

Les Paul, 1915 – 2009

Posted on August 13, 2009 by lmharnisch

Solid-Body Legend Plagued by arthritis, Les Paul acknowledges that his playing days are probably numbered, but new releases will preserve his work November 24, 1991 By MICHAEL WALKER, Michael Walker is a free-lance writer based in New York. NEW YORK … Continue reading →

Posted in #Jazz, art and artists, Blues, broadcasting, Music, Obituaries, Rock 'n' Roll | 3 Comments

August 11, 1969: Ritual Killings Terrorize L.A.

Posted on August 11, 2009 by lmharnisch

Aug. 11, 1969: The Times brings out an extra for the La Bianca killings. Note: In keeping with the Daily Mirror’s practice of posting original documents in Los Angeles history, often for the first time, we present former Deputy Dist. … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, @news, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD, Music, Rock 'n' Roll, Television | 3 Comments

Russian Leader to Visit L.A.! A.L. Wins All-Star Game

Posted on August 4, 2009 by lmharnisch

Bruce Russell's editorial cartoon is appalling today, but this style is typical of the 1950s, when artists frequently relied on a small repertory company of characters that included the Peace Dove, the Russian Bear, Mr. A-Bomb, Uncle Sam, the … Continue reading →

Posted in @news, art and artists, classical music, Comics, Current Affairs, Dodgers, Front Pages, Hollywood, Music, Politics, Religion, Richard Nixon, Sports, Stage | Comments Off

From the Daily Mirror Files: Merce Cunningham, 1980

Posted on July 27, 2009 by lmharnisch

April 4, 1980: The late Daniel Cariaga interviews Merce Cunningham for a Times feature story. One line reads: "When career over, how do you want to be remembered?" Note: Several months ago I rescued several boxes of old ephemeral … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Music, Obituaries, Stage | 1 Comment

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept: Sus Peliculas

Posted on July 26, 2009 by lmharnisch

July 26, 1948: Pedro Infante and Sara Garcia in "¡Vuelven los Garcia!"

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Music | Comments Off

Nuestro Pueblo — Gage Mansion

Posted on July 24, 2009 by lmharnisch

July 24, 1939: Gov. Henry T. Gage's home was such a well-known landmark that The Times rarely said where it was in writing about it during his term in office, from 1899 to 1903. The answer is yes, the Gage … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, art and artists, Music, Nuestro Pueblo, Politics, Stage | Comments Off

Man Thrown Off Yacht for Singing

Posted on July 22, 2009 by lmharnisch

July 22, 1889: A man nearly drowns after being thrown off a yacht returning from Santa Catalina Island because he insisted on singing the tune "White Wings," which was evidently considered bad luck. Note: If you search on the … Continue reading →

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

Update on ‘Long Sam’

Posted on July 19, 2009 by lmharnisch

Since I wrote about Dorothy "Long Sam" Brown in 2007 I have received repeated inquiries about the beautiful young North Carolina woman who became famous in 1957 after being found living in a shack with no running water. Here's an … Continue reading →

Posted in broadcasting, Comics, Education, Hollywood, Music, Stage | Comments Off

Police Botch Raid on Club

Posted on July 19, 2009 by lmharnisch

July 19, 1899: Police testified about a raid on the Republican Club, run by African Americans, but although they described debauchery, they couldn't cite specific instances. They just said it was a bad place: "Officers who testified were woefully lacking … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Blues, Food and Drink, LAPD, Music, Nightclubs, Politics | 1 Comment

Architectural Rambling, R.M. Schindler

Posted on July 14, 2009 by lmharnisch

Photo by Susanne Hayek Photography The 1941 Jose Rodriguez house at 1845 Niodrara Drive in Glendale, designed by R.M. Schindler, has been listed at $2,475,000. The home is an official Glendale landmark. Read more>>> This home sold for $550,000 in … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Music, Real Estate | Comments Off

Found on EBay — Enrico Caruso

Posted on July 11, 2009 by lmharnisch

Caruso in "I Pagliacci." What appears to be a collection of ephemera given by Enrico Caruso to Rosa Ponselle has been listed on EBay. There is no strong tie to Los Angeles, although both of them performed here. For example, … Continue reading →

Posted in #opera, classical music, Music, Stage | 1 Comment

Services for Theater Organist Bob Mitchell

Posted on July 7, 2009 by lmharnisch

Daily Mirror fan Karie Bible of Film Radar reports the death of theater organist Bob Mitchell. Mitchell was a regular feature of the Los Angeles Conservancy's Last Remaining Seats series. He was quite frail at this year's event but … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Music, Obituaries | 2 Comments

Houdini at the Orpheum!

Posted on July 6, 2009 by lmharnisch

July 6, 1899: The Times reminds tourists to watch out for pickpockets. July 6, 1899: Look who's playing at the Orpheum. It's Houdini, with his wife, doing the Oregon boot routine. There's also a female impersonator named Tacianu. On May … Continue reading →

Posted in #gays and lesbians, 1897, 1899, Comics, Music, Stage | Comments Off