Category Archives: Obituaries

The Brain Trust Mourns a Loss

Posted on January 13, 2016 by lmharnisch

We were saddened to learn from B.J. Merholz that his wife, Julie, has died. B.J. writes: “Julie was a long-time fan of the Mystery Photo and determined contributor who followed it as long as her health permitted. After a recent … Continue reading →

Posted in Mystery Photo, Obituaries | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

David Scholer: ‘Living With Cancer’ 10 Years Later

Posted on September 18, 2015 by lmharnisch

    Sept. 18 marks the 10th anniversary of the Rev. David Scholer’s sermon “Living With Cancer.” David was a good friend and New Testament scholar at Fuller Theological Seminary who spoke frankly about his terminal illness as viewed through … Continue reading →

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Merl Reagle: Bonus Crossword Puzzles to Remember an Old Friend

Posted on August 23, 2015 by lmharnisch

Merl Reagle in 1974 for the Invisible Theatre production of “Mad Dog.” I kept asking him why he didn’t write parts for himself and he said if he had wanted to, he would have done it. Original photo by Tim … Continue reading →

Posted in 2015, Obituaries | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Julian Bond: Video of 1968 Democratic National Convention

Posted on August 16, 2015 by lmharnisch

This is how I think of Julian Bond: At the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago (notice the shots of Mayor Richard J. Daley) being nominated for vice president, but too young to hold the job. (Yes, Bond is talking … Continue reading →

Posted in 1968, Obituaries, Politics, Television | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Black Dahlia: ‘Black Dahlia’ Composer Bob Belden Dies at 58

Posted on May 21, 2015 by lmharnisch

Adam Parker of the Post and Courier is reporting the death of composer Bob Belden, who wrote the orchestral suite “Black Dahlia,” which was released on CD in 2001. If you’re not familiar with the suite, here’s a selection. I … Continue reading →

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RIP Chuck Bowden

Posted on August 31, 2014 by lmharnisch

Sad to read that Chuck Bowden died Saturday in Las Cruces, N.M. We overlapped at the local newspapers in Tucson in the early 1980s and for a few years he lived around the corner from me, between Broadway and Sixth … Continue reading →

Posted in 2014, Books and Authors, Obituaries | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Lorin Maazel in Memoriam — A Musician Remembered

Posted on July 13, 2014 by lmharnisch

Here are some videos culled from YouTube of the late Lorin Maazel. Maazel conducts his arrangement of Wagner’s music in “The ‘Ring’ Without Words”  with the NHK Symphony Orchestra of Tokyo.

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Remembering Dr. Glen Stassen: From the Pulpit

Posted on May 3, 2014 by lmharnisch

While we are on the subject of obituaries, here’s a sermon by the late Dr. Glen Stassen, “The Ten Commandments,” delivered in 2008 at First Baptist Church of Pasadena. Here’s a sermon from 2007 titled “God Is Green: Do We … Continue reading →

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Black Dahlia: RIP Efrem Zimbalist Jr.

Posted on May 3, 2014 by lmharnisch

Efrem Zimbalist Jr., who died yesterday at the age of 95, is better remembered for “77 Sunset Strip” and “The F.B.I.”  He’s probably even better remembered for “The Chapman Report.” But yes, he did portray LAPD Det. Harry Hansen in … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Obituaries | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Ghost Bike — Pasadena

Posted on April 11, 2014 by lmharnisch

This is one of the “ghost bikes” that have cropped up around the Los Angeles area as memorials to bicyclists who have been killed. Steve Lopez writes about ghost bikes.

Posted in 2013, Obituaries, Photography | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

LAPD Mourns First Latina Officer Josephine Serrano Collier

Posted on March 20, 2014 by lmharnisch

Josephine Serrano Collier, courtesy LAPD. The LAPD is honoring the memory of Officer Josephine Serrano Collier, who died last month at the age of 91 in Tucson. The LAPD says she was its first Latina officer. Here she is in … Continue reading →

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No Carole Lombard Death Photos Here or Anywhere Else!

Posted on February 3, 2014 by lmharnisch

No Google search drives more traffic to the L.A. Daily Mirror than some permutation of “Carole Lombard Death Scene” or “Carole Lombard’s Head” or “Carole Lombard Decapitated” or “Did They Ever Find Carole Lombard’s Wedding Ring?” And as I have … Continue reading →

Posted in Another Good Story Ruined, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Obituaries | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

A Pete Seeger Song Bag

Posted on January 28, 2014 by lmharnisch

Here’s a few Pete Seeger songs I pulled together in his memory. “Frankie and Johnny” sung by Pete Seeger. Courtesy of Archive.org. “John Henry” with Big Bill Broonzy and Pete Seeger. Courtesy of Archive.org. “Pete Seeger Marathon” from 1969. Courtesy … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Obituaries | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Ernst Lubitsch Dies!

Posted on November 30, 2013 by lmharnisch

Note: This is a post I originally wrote for the 1947project in 2005. I’m reposting it for newer readers. CAIRO, Nov. 30. (AP) With Arab bitterness mounting in the Middle East, Syrian demonstrators set fire to the United States Legation … Continue reading →

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A Little Something to Think About on a Sunday Morning

Posted on November 24, 2013 by lmharnisch

I suppose the venomous Cathy Seipp (d. 2007) is pretty much forgotten now. I hadn’t thought about her in a long time until the death of Wanda Coleman and remembered that Seipp took regular potshots at Coleman when she wrote … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Obituaries | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

LAPD Photo on EBay From 1884 – To Collect and to Serve

Posted on October 2, 2013 by lmharnisch

An EBay vendor has listed this collection of cabinet cards dated 1884 showing LAPD officers. The vendor is also offering other clippings and ephemera linked to William  Ernst Stoermer. Stoermer, who died in 1932, was also a firefighter and a … Continue reading →

Posted in 1884, Found on EBay, History, LAPD, Obituaries, Photography, Preservation | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on LAPD Photo on EBay From 1884 – To Collect and to Serve

Remembering A.C. Lyles

Posted on September 30, 2013 by lmharnisch

News sources are reporting the death of longtime Paramount producer A.C. Lyles, who died Friday at the age of 95. I interviewed him back in 1997 about old Los Angeles and recently digitized the tape, so I’ll be posting excerpts … Continue reading →

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Conservatives Sexually Frustrated, UCLA Daily Bruin Says

Posted on September 26, 2013 by lmharnisch

Sept. 26, 1943: The Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen ends its strike against the Pacific Electric, with workers returning to their jobs at 2 a.m. Their first task is to untangle a “freight jam which had threatened to undermine the entire … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, Art & Artists, Comics, Education, Film, Hollywood, Labor, Obituaries, Richard Nixon, Streetcars, World War II | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Barbara Graham Sobs During Son’s Visit to Jail

Posted on September 6, 2013 by lmharnisch

Sept. 6, 1953: Barbara Graham, on trial in the Mabel Monahan killing, sobs “almost hysterically” as she holds her 18-month-old son, Tommy, during a visit at the Hall of Justice, The Times says. He was in the custody of his … Continue reading →

Posted in Art & Artists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Downtown, Film, Hill Street, Obituaries | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

On the Frontiers of Medicine

Posted on September 3, 2013 by lmharnisch

The complete Sept. 5, 1863, edition of the Los Angeles Star is available at USC and the California Digital Newspaper Collection. Sept. 5, 1863: Dr. J.C. Welsh is apparently too early to be listed in George H. Kress’ “A History … Continue reading →

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