Category Archives: Obituaries

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 →

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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.

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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

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Dec. 26, 1940

Posted on December 26, 2010 by lmharnisch

        Dec. 26, 1940: No merrier Christmas in all Los Angeles than the one in moppet Betty Brewer's manse. Her screen success made it possible for them to buy their first turkey in years, Jimmie Fidler says.

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Blake Edwards Loves (and Hates) Peter Sellers — Updated

Posted on December 16, 2010 by lmharnisch

Blake Edwards: Love, hate, Peter Sellers and the Pink Panther.
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Beatle John Lennon Slain; Shot Down Outside New York Apartment

Posted on December 8, 2010 by lmharnisch

Dec. 9, 1980: Former Beatle John Lennon, 40, who led a revolution in popular music that captured the imagination of an entire generation, was shot to death Monday outside his exclusive Manhattan apartment house.He was rushed to Roosevelt Hospital, less … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Obituaries, Rock 'n' Roll | 3 Comments

Bruno Walter’s Last Concert

Posted on December 2, 2010 by lmharnisch

        Dec. 2, 1960: Van Cliburn, the Cold War sensation who won the 1958 Tchaikovsky piano competition, performs the Brahms second piano concerto with the Los Angeles Philharmonic under Bruno Walter at Shrine Auditorium.   [Yes, I cringe … Continue reading →

Posted in classical music, Music, Obituaries | 1 Comment

Found on EBay – W.C. Fields

Posted on November 23, 2010 by lmharnisch

       A letter attributed to Harriet “Hattie” Fields, who was married to W.C. Fields, has been listed on EBay. The vendor says that the letter was written to a member of the McIntyre and Heath comedy team. Bidding … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Obituaries | 2 Comments

Mae West Dies, Nov. 23, 1980

Posted on November 23, 2010 by lmharnisch

       Nov. 23, 1980: Mae West dies at the age of 87 and gets a first-rate  obituary by Kevin Thomas and the legendary/notorious Ted Thackrey.  A sample: She was painted by Dali, admired by George Bernard Shaw, photographed … Continue reading →

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Dorothy Stratten — ‘Galaxina’

Posted on November 22, 2010 by lmharnisch

          Nov. 22, 1980: “Galaxina” is released to movie theaters three months after one of the stars, former Playmate of the Year Dorothy Stratten, died in a murder-suicide. “Since Stratten plays a robot in the title … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Homicide, Obituaries, Suicide | 1 Comment

Ritchie Valens and ‘Donna’

Posted on November 19, 2010 by lmharnisch

Feb. 5, 1959, Donna Ludwig. Feb. 5, 1959: Here’s a story I neglected to post in my original coverage of “The Day the Music Died,” an interview with Donna Ludwig of Granada Hills, the subject of Ritchie Valens’ song “Donna.” … Continue reading →

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