Category Archives: Obituaries

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy’s Eulogy for Robert F. Kennedy

Posted on August 26, 2009 by lmharnisch

"Love is not an easy feeling to put into words. Nor is loyalty, or trust, or joy. But he was all of these. He loved life completely and lived it intensely." June 9, 1968: The Times' obituary of Sen. Edward … Continue reading →

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Voices — Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, 1932 – 2009

Posted on August 25, 2009 by lmharnisch

Those Who See Only Dwarfs Today Are the Sort Who Belittled Giants Past December 3, 1987 By EDWARD M. KENNEDY, Edward M. Kennedy is the senior senator from Massachusetts. This commentary is adapted from a speech that he gave recently … Continue reading →

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Voices — Don Hewitt, 1922 – 2009

Posted on August 19, 2009 by lmharnisch

Don Hewitt, the creator of CBS' "60 Minutes" news program in New York in 2004. (Jim Cooper / Associated Press) The Man Who Winds the Clock Don Hewitt built '60 Minutes' and still drives TV's top-rated news program. How does … Continue reading →

Posted in @news, broadcasting, Obituaries, Television | 1 Comment

Movie Star Mystery Photo

Posted on August 14, 2009 by lmharnisch

 Los Angeles Times file photo   Above, Everett Sloane as Capt. Frank Kennelly in CBS radio's "21st Precinct," July 21, 1953.  Update: This week's photos weren't much of a mystery. I think this is the first time anyone has complained … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Obituaries | 393 Comments

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

Angeles Abbey Mausoleum

Posted on August 12, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 8, 1929: Angeles Abbey Mausoleum James Curtis writes: Gee–Preston Sturges and Angeles Abbey on the same page! I grew up in Compton, and the sight of that mausoleum is one of my most vivid childhood memories. I was never on … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, books, Obituaries | 3 Comments

Found on EBay — Biblical Mystery

Posted on August 10, 2009 by lmharnisch

Edgar J. Goodspeed was a famous Bible scholar who spent the last years of his life in Los Angeles and died here in 1962. He was a prolific writer on religious subjects and an avid mystery fan, so he combined … Continue reading →

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August 9, 1979: Walter O’Malley Dies

Posted on August 9, 2009 by lmharnisch

Photograph courtesy of the Dodgers. Vin Scully and Walter O’Malley before the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles. Is it a stretch to suggest that Walter O’Malley was the man chiefly responsible for pro sports in Southern California? Consider that the Lakers … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Dodgers, Downtown, Obituaries | 1 Comment

Second Takes — Preston Sturges

Posted on August 8, 2009 by lmharnisch

James Curtis, author of the Preston Sturges biography "Between Flops," writes:   I was a little taken aback today when I came upon your clutch of articles on Preston Sturges, and was suddenly reminded that he died exactly 50 years … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Film, Hollywood, Obituaries, Second Takes | 1 Comment

In Mourning

Posted on August 8, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Aug. 8, 1899: Cut-rate mourning millinery.

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Found on EBay — Angeles Abbey Mausoleum

Posted on August 7, 2009 by lmharnisch

I had never heard of Angeles Abbey Mausoleum in Compton before I found this brochure listed on EBay. My first reaction was horrified glee that something like this ever got built — followed quickly by the question: Is it still … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Obituaries | 1 Comment

Preston Sturges Dies

Posted on August 6, 2009 by lmharnisch

Preston Sturges by Bruce Russell, 1932 "Sullivan's Travels" and "Mr. Bug Goes to Town," Feb. 12, 1942.   Aug. 7, 1959 in The Times: Preston Sturges, renowned Hollywood film producer-writer-director and Broadway playwright, died of a heart attack yesterday in … Continue reading →

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

A Curious Family Tree Rooted in the Old South

Posted on August 6, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Aug. 6, 1899: "You'se a lady …. You'se fum one er de fust famblys in Ferginy, an' you ain't a gwine to work long as I'se got two han's. Ef you'll des behave yo-seff, an be a lady, I'll … Continue reading →

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Budd Schulberg and Sammy Glick

Posted on August 5, 2009 by lmharnisch

There's Something About 'Sammy.' * Hollywood May Finally Be Ready for 'What Makes Sammy Run?', Author Budd Schulberg's Scathing Indictment of the Film Industry. It's About Time. September 6, 1998By MARY MELTON, Mary Melton is the magazine's research editor What … Continue reading →

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Budd Schulberg on Watts

Posted on August 5, 2009 by lmharnisch

  By Budd Schulberg, July 2, 1967: Johnie Scott, coming home from Stanford for this summer's vacation, returns to a world bordered by 92nd Street and Imperial Highway on the north and south, by Central Avenue and Alameda on the … Continue reading →

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By Budd Schulberg

Posted on August 5, 2009 by lmharnisch

By Budd Schulberg, Feb. 17, 1952: "You know how married couples get after a while if they're not careful….." When they all dined out together it was traditional to separate wives and husbands, but in the case of the Springers … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Budd Schulberg, Obituaries | 2 Comments

L.A. Olympics Begin

Posted on July 29, 2009 by lmharnisch

July 29, 1984: Two wire obits (George Gallup and James Mason) and a lead story out of Beirut with the Olympics as the main art. Below right, July 30, 1984. The Summer Olympics opened in LA. with equal doses of … Continue reading →

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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

Indian Jim Dies

Posted on July 27, 2009 by lmharnisch

  July 27, 1889: The Times receives word on the passing of "Indian Jim" of Yuma, Ariz. … a follow-up on the abandoned baby story … the "White Caps" trial … and home-wrecker Robert Sykes must stay in jail.

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Remembering Armida Wiltsey

Posted on July 25, 2009 by lmharnisch

Karen Davis writes of Armida Wiltsey, whose 1978 killing was solved through DNA analysis: My family has been following the news stories since the real killer was found and each time I read another update, the angrier I became as … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Homicide, LAPD, Obituaries | 1 Comment