Category Archives: Obituaries

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, March 14, 1941

Posted on March 14, 2011 by lmharnisch

March 14, 1941: Some time ago, this column told of the work of Ruby Berkley Goodwin, the Fullerton Negro poetess whose work has attracted national attention. Wendell Malliet & Co., New York, have just announced … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, 1961, art and artists, books, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Lee Shippey, Obituaries, Tom Treanor | 1 Comment

Architectural Ramblings, March 5, 1911

Posted on March 5, 2011 by lmharnisch

236 Adelaide Drive via Google maps’ street view. March 5, 1911: The Times features the new home of Los Angeles capitalist Isaac Milbank at 236 Adelaide Drive, Santa Monica. According … Continue reading →

Posted in 1911, Architecture, Obituaries | 2 Comments

Upton Sinclair House for Sale

Posted on March 2, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo courtesy of Cecilia Farnum, Century 21 The Upton Sinclair House at 464 N. Myrtle Ave., Monrovia has been listed for sale at $1.5 million. The 1923 home was designed by Frederick H. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1923, 1943, Architecture, art and artists, books, Obituaries | 3 Comments

Voices — Jane Russell 1921 – 2011 [Updated]

Posted on February 28, 2011 by lmharnisch

Los Angeles Times file photo Jane Russell and Victor Mature visit with George Dolenz on the set of “The Las Vegas Story.” May 6, 1945: Jane Russell has Hollywood abuzz, The Times says. … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Obituaries, Photography | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on February 26, 2011 by lmharnisch

Los Angeles Time file photo I thought it would be fun to switch back to mystery people, so here’s today’s mystery guest! [Update: Please congratulate Mike Hawks and Mary Mallory for identifying our mystery fellow!] [Update … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Obituaries, Photography | 45 Comments

On the Frontiers of Ethnomusicology

Posted on February 11, 2011 by lmharnisch

Feb. 11, 1911: Among the items at the Southwest Museum is a flute, made of a human bone, that was discovered while excavating Native American graves on Santa Catalina Island. The flute was something of … Continue reading →

Posted in 1911, classical music, Music, Obituaries | 1 Comment

Maria Schneider, Marlon Brando and ‘Last Tango’

Posted on February 3, 2011 by lmharnisch

Maria Schneider, the co-star of “Last Tango in Paris,” has died at the age of 58. Here’s a March 11, 1973, Times feature on the movie for people who are too young to remember what a sensation it … Continue reading →

Posted in 1973, Film, Hollywood, Obituaries | 1 Comment

Paul Coates, Feb. 2, 1961

Posted on February 2, 2011 by lmharnisch

Feb. 2, 1961: Los Angeles County Supervisor Ernest Debs (d. 2002) calls for lower fares on buses and streetcars (yes, Los Angeles still had them in 1961) for senior citizens between 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. on … Continue reading →

Posted in 1961, Columnists, Front Pages, Obituaries, Paul Coates, Transportation | Comments Off

Doyce Nunis Jr., 1924 — 2011

Posted on February 2, 2011 by lmharnisch

Doyce Nunis Jr.USC historian, Southern California Quarterly editor Doyce Nunis Jr., 86, an educator, author and historian who edited the Historical Society of Southern California's respected journal Southern California Quarterly for 43 years, died Jan. 22 at Los Angeles County-USC … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Obituaries | Comments Off

Paul Coates, Jan. 31, 1961

Posted on January 31, 2011 by lmharnisch

Jan. 31, 1961: After hearing reports that the Lady in Black had vanished, and then rumors that she had returned, Paul Coates interviews Ditra Flame.

Posted in Columnists, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Obituaries, Paul Coates | Comments Off

Paul Coates, Jan. 30, 1961

Posted on January 30, 2011 by lmharnisch

Jan. 30, 1961: Paul Coates has a feature on Ditra Flame, who mourns at Valentino’s tomb as the Lady in Black. ALSO The Ladies in Black on the Daily Mirror

Posted in Columnists, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Obituaries, Paul Coates | Comments Off

Voices: Milton Babbitt, 1916 — 2011

Posted on January 29, 2011 by lmharnisch

March 7, 1986: As he nears the age of 70, composer Milton Babbitt tells Times arts writer Marc Shulgold, "Even so-called popular composers don't really care what an audience likes. In the end, you write for … Continue reading →

Posted in classical music, Obituaries | Comments Off

Jack LaLanne, 1914 – 2011 [Updated]

Posted on January 23, 2011 by lmharnisch

Oct. 4, 1974: Jack LaLanne celebrates his 60th birthday by swimming from Alcatraz to Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco — with his hands and feet tied and pulling a 1,000-pound boat. In addition to his usual training program … Continue reading →

Posted in broadcasting, health, Obituaries, Television | 5 Comments

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Jan. 13, 1941

Posted on January 13, 2011 by lmharnisch

Jan. 13, 1941: Author James Joyce dies at the age of 58 …. “Fantasia” is coming! The Dionne quints are finished actresses; 20th Century-Fox didn't renew their option, Jimmie Fidler says … also note the item … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Obituaries | Comments Off

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Jan. 11, 1941

Posted on January 11, 2011 by lmharnisch

Jan. 11, 1941: When Orson Welles resigned as director of Connecticut's Stony Creek Theater, he was succeeded by one William Castle, a very young man with definite ideas of Art, Jimmie Fidler says.

Posted in art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Obituaries | 1 Comment

Dashiell Hammett Dies, Jan. 11, 1961

Posted on January 11, 2011 by lmharnisch

Jan. 11, 1961: Dashiell Hammett dies at the age of 67. A Times editorial the next days wonders about a “slight odor of Communist mentality” in “The Maltese Falcon.” No, really! Also from The Times’ editorial … Continue reading →

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

Hollywood Pays Tribute to an Ailing Gary Cooper

Posted on January 9, 2011 by lmharnisch

Jan. 9, 1961: A testimonial by the Friars Club was one of the many tributes Gary Cooper received in the months before his death. His deteriorating condition from cancer was not widely known until April, when he … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Obituaries | Comments Off

Mrs. Eddy Will Rise Again, as Christ Did, Follower Says

Posted on December 30, 2010 by lmharnisch

Dec. 30, 1910: The death of Christian Science founder Mary Baker Eddy on Dec. 3, 1910, left followers predicting her return. Christian Science leader Augusta E. Stetson said that "she believed the millennium is at hand, … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, books, Obituaries, Religion | 3 Comments

Lina Romay on the Daily Mirror

Posted on December 27, 2010 by lmharnisch

Los Angeles Times photo You may recall that Lina Romay was a mystery guest in October 2009. Here’s a reprise of her post. Romay died Dec. 17 at the age of 91. Sept. 25, 1945: Lina Romay photographed by Harmon … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Obituaries, Photography | Comments Off

Teena Marie, 1956 — 2010: ‘I wish I was colorless’

Posted on December 26, 2010 by lmharnisch

Teena Marie: “I’m a different kind of person. Blacks and whites don’t really react in any special way to me. I don’t get anything negative from blacks and not really anything negative from whites now. But I will say it was different before I started getting some popularity. I don’t think it was prejudice from whites as much as ignorance of something they didn’t know much about. You know, I wish I was colorless sometimes.”
Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Obituaries, Rock 'n' Roll | 4 Comments