Category Archives: Music

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 →

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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

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Max Roach, 1977

Posted on August 16, 2007 by lmharnisch

Leonard Feather on Max Roach, Jan. 6, 1977

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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Retro moment

Posted on June 20, 2007 by lmharnisch

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

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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 →

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Dave Pell

Posted on May 18, 2007 by lmharnisch

Dave Pell swings at the Shrine Auditorium.

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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.

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Like gonesville

Posted on April 23, 2007 by lmharnisch

Ethel Merman and Perry Como Email me  

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The honorary mayor of Sherman Oaks

Posted on April 21, 2007 by lmharnisch

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

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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 →

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A Conductor Throws Caution to the Winds

Posted on January 19, 2007 by lmharnisch

Jan. 19, 1907Los Angeles Despite his ill health, Harley Hamilton drove himself to conduct a concert by the Los Angeles Symphony because he believed so much in bringing the music of Tchaikovsky (or in those days, Tschaikowsky) to the public. … Continue reading →

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No Christ in Christmas? Good Lord!

Posted on December 14, 2006 by lmharnisch

Dec. 14, 1907Los AngelesThe madman who calls himself the superintendent of the Los Angeles schools has touched off an absolute firestorm of anger by ordering teachers not to mention Christ during Christmas pageants or other festivities.“The town was agog with … Continue reading →

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Dissecting ‘Messiah’

Posted on December 13, 2006 by lmharnisch

Los AngelesDec. 13, 1907What do we find in music criticism of another era? Let’s take a good look.“ ‘The Messiah’ was presented at Shrine Auditorium by the Apollo Club last night, and the production, which moved expeditiously, apparently gave pleasure … Continue reading →

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Revolutionary Defense Fund

Posted on November 13, 2006 by lmharnisch

Nov. 13, 1907Los Angeles An uproarious meeting was held last night at Simpson Auditorium to raise money for the four Mexican revolutionaries being held in the Los Angeles County Jail. The hall was packed with “revolutionists, Socialists, labor unionites, atheists … Continue reading →

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