Category Archives: Obituaries

Paul V. Coates — Confidential File, Sept. 11, 1959

Posted on September 11, 2009 by lmharnisch

Actor Paul Douglas dies at the age of 52. "The reading public is seldom aware of the enterprise, imagination, teamwork and tireless digging that goes into the achievement of an exclusive newspaper story. The Mirror News published such a scoop … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, Obituaries, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul V. Coates — Confidential File, Sept. 11, 1959

Santa Monica Dedicates Pier

Posted on September 10, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 10, 1909: Edward Henry Harriman, "the master builder of railways," dies after a long illness, but the news is withheld from reporters until the stock market closes. Cmdr. Robert Peary files Part 2 of his description of discovering the … Continue reading →

Posted in Fashion, Front Pages, health, Obituaries, Transportation, travel | Comments Off on Santa Monica Dedicates Pier

Voices — Army Archerd, 1922 – 2009

Posted on September 8, 2009 by lmharnisch

Perfect Casting * The Role Called for a Dapper Guy Who Could Schmooze With Hollywood's Rich and Famous as They Arrived at the Academy Awards. Enter Army Archerd. The Rest Is History. Sunday March 21, 1999 By ROBIN ABCARIAN, Robin … Continue reading →

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A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Valentino’s Funeral

Posted on September 8, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 8, 1926: Valentino's funeral, invitation only, Church of the Good Shepherd, Beverly Hills. Pola Negri "went to the casket moaning in grief and at times sobbing loudly. She lifted the old rose pall and her flowers upon it and … Continue reading →

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Police Captain Found Not Guilty of Corruption

Posted on September 5, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Sept. 5, 1909: Etiwanda Vineyards. You get the profit — We do the work.     Capt. Thomas H. Broadhead is found not guilty of taking a $1,000 bribe for protection in the red light district. Even so, the … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Food and Drink, LAPD, Obituaries | Comments Off on Police Captain Found Not Guilty of Corruption

Voices — Dominick Dunne, 1925 – 2009

Posted on August 26, 2009 by lmharnisch

Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times / August 7, 2001 Dominick Dunne gestures during an introduction before reading to a small group of people from his book "Justice: Crimes, Trials and Punishments" at a Beverly Hills hotel. Dominick Dunne's Dangerous … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, books, Obituaries | 3 Comments

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 →

Posted in books, Budd Schulberg, Film, Hollywood, Obituaries | Comments Off on Budd Schulberg and Sammy Glick