Category Archives: Music

Elvis trivia contest

Posted on November 5, 2007 by lmharnisch

Update: The 1947p's/LAPL's own Mary McCoy delves into ProQuest and turns up some ready answers, noting: "Gotta leave some for the rest of the kids to answer – no one likes a ProQuest-it-all!" Update II: I'm going to start filling … Continue reading →

Posted in #gays and lesbians, 1957, @news, art and artists, broadcasting, Film, Music, Stage, Television | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Elvis live!

Posted on October 29, 2007 by lmharnisch

  Oct. 29, 1957 Los Angeles He came out of nowhere, barely a blip on the nation’s radar in 1955 (according to Proquest, he wasn’t mentioned even once in The Times that year). But by 1957, he was an unstoppable … Continue reading →

Posted in Blues, broadcasting, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Music, Television | 4 Comments

October 21, 1957: Paul V. Coates–Confidential File

Posted on October 21, 2007 by lmharnisch

October 21, 1957 When a funnyman tries to be serious, he doesn’t always come across. In fact, sometimes his sincerity is rewarded with laughs that approach guffaws. And, much as he hates it, the guy is downright hilarious. And maybe … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Music, Paul Coates | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

October 12, 1957: Matt Weinstock

Posted on October 12, 2007 by lmharnisch

October 12, 1957 Burl Ives, who took off more than 40 pounds to play the part of the viciously righteous father in “Desire Under the Elms,’ was putting some of it back on the other day at Frascati’s and between … Continue reading →

Posted in broadcasting, Columnists, Film, Food and Drink, Matt Weinstock, Music, Nightclubs, Television | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on October 12, 1957: Matt Weinstock

As crazy as two waltzing mice

Posted on October 9, 2007 by lmharnisch

  Oct. 9, 1957 Ventura, Calif. Renzee Louis Alameda, 36, was the quietest man on the block. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound ex-Marine, a USC graduate, was unmarried and had lived alone at 2412 Ridgeley Drive for the last 10 years. He … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, #gays and lesbians, 1957, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, Music | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on As crazy as two waltzing mice

Requiem

Posted on September 16, 2007 by lmharnisch

  Sept. 16, 1957 Los Angeles Franklyn West Storer, 50, woke up on a Saturday morning to discover that his beloved 16-year-old daughter, Mary Alice, had taken a fatal overdose of sleeping pills. In despair, he also took a fatal … Continue reading →

Posted in classical music, Hollywood, Hollywood Division, LAPD, Music, Suicide | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Confidential–Tells the Facts and Names the Names

Posted on September 5, 2007 by lmharnisch

Scenes from the Confidential trial: Sept. 4, 1957, Dorothy Dandridge testifies Photograph by Dan McCormack, Los Angeles Times

Posted in #courts, 1957, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Music, Photography | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Confidential–Tells the Facts and Names the Names

Max Roach, 1977

Posted on August 16, 2007 by lmharnisch

Leonard Feather on Max Roach, Jan. 6, 1977

Posted in Music | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Max Roach, 1977

Prisoner’s dream

Posted on August 16, 2007 by lmharnisch

  Aug. 16, 1957 Santa Monica We will never know what really happened on the night ad executive Guy F. Roberts was shot to death in a Santa Monica motel room because everyone involved was lying to cover up the … Continue reading →

Posted in Blues, Columnists, Homicide, Music, Paul Coates | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Prisoner’s dream

Songs of the week

Posted on August 5, 2007 by lmharnisch

The picks from KWFB-AM (980), Aug. 3, 1957. I actually recognize most of these tunes; "Old Cape Cod" and "Gold Mine in the Sky" are new to me, but at least I’ve heard of Patti Page and  Pat Boone.  Alas … Continue reading →

Posted in broadcasting, Music, Rock 'n' Roll | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

KFWB–980

Posted on July 24, 2007 by lmharnisch

July 24, 1957 Los Angeles You mean there was a time when KFWB didn’t have an all-news format? Yes, indeed. Read about Larry Finley here. More (much, much more) about Boss radio here.  Vintage air checks from KFWB (and many, … Continue reading →

Posted in @news, Music, Rock 'n' Roll | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on KFWB–980

Edith Piaf at the Mocambo

Posted on July 18, 2007 by lmharnisch

Edith Piaf opens at the Mocambo. Chet Baker… Art Blakey… Buddy Collette…. Slim Gaillard….And look at all the Dixieland groups. Who knew?

Posted in Film, Music, Nightclubs | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Orchestra wives

Posted on June 27, 2007 by lmharnisch

June 28, 1957 Los Angeles It’s a tough life for orchestra wives. Consider the case of Joy Windsor, bandleader Charlie Barnet’s 10th wife. In May, Barnet had assured her that his days of touring were over. “I was on the … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, #Jazz, Music, Nightclubs | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Orchestra wives

Retro moment

Posted on June 20, 2007 by lmharnisch

The Puppini Sisters…  Here’s a video with some nice (uncredited) retro animation.  Enjoy! 

Posted in Music | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Retro moment

Detour to 1904

Posted on June 9, 2007 by lmharnisch

  Saturday’s New York Times features an article by Craig R. Whitney about the enormous pipe organ at Macy’s in Philadelphia, a massive instrument from the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair that was built in Los Angeles. And indeed, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Dave Pell

Posted on May 18, 2007 by lmharnisch

Dave Pell swings at the Shrine Auditorium.

Posted in #Jazz, Music, Nightclubs | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Dave Pell

Buddy Rich!

Posted on May 14, 2007 by lmharnisch

Buddy Rich plays the Valley, May 14, 1957 Click here to see Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa.

Posted in #Jazz, 1957, Music, Nightclubs, Television | Comments Off on Buddy Rich!

Like gonesville

Posted on April 23, 2007 by lmharnisch

Ethel Merman and Perry Como Email me  

Posted in #video, Music, Television | Comments Off on Like gonesville

The honorary mayor of Sherman Oaks

Posted on April 21, 2007 by lmharnisch

Liberace on Edward R. Murrow’s "Person to Person" Email me

Posted in #video, Music, San Fernando Valley, Television | Comments Off on The honorary mayor of Sherman Oaks

Twin Celebrations

Posted on February 13, 2007 by lmharnisch

Feb.13, 1907Los Angeles An enormous masked ball for the city’s elite was staged on Mardi Gras at Kramer’s Studio and Dancing Academy, 1500 S. Figueroa. Kramer’s Hall, as it was informally known. The Times, in a rare bylined article—by Katherine … Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, City Hall, LAPD, Music, Streetcars | Comments Off on Twin Celebrations