Category Archives: Obituaries

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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Jean Renoir, Orson Welles and the Dim Remembrance of Things Past

Posted on August 13, 2013 by lmharnisch

Journalists are fond of telling and retelling their favorite war stories. These are raucous tales of daring exploits — usually mixed with strong drink — of great personal heroism, of triumphs on deadline and other various noble achievements, often involving … Continue reading →

Posted in 1979, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Obituaries | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

‘Mysterious Objects’ in Skies Over L.A.

Posted on August 1, 2013 by lmharnisch

Comics characters of the 1950s got to drive MGs! Edward Irving Foote was born June 29, 1861, in Michigan. Someone by that name attended the University of Michigan at Lansing, class of 1877-78, and was described as a “farmer, miner, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1953, Art & Artists, Comics, Downtown, Homicide, LAPD, Obituaries, Suicide | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on ‘Mysterious Objects’ in Skies Over L.A.

Preaching at the Court House

Posted on July 30, 2013 by lmharnisch

USC has taken its collection of the Los Angeles Star offline for indexing. Here’s a backup copy from the California Digital Newspaper Collection. July 25, 1863: A staunchly anti-Republican paper, the Star endorses the Democratic ticket, including John G. Downey … Continue reading →

Posted in 1863, Crime and Courts, Obituaries, Politics, Religion | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Anne Knudsen Memorial

Posted on July 11, 2013 by lmharnisch

A celebration of the life of Anne Baldwin Knudsen, the former Herald Examiner photographer who died of cancer in May, is being held at 10 a.m. July 28 at Huddart County Park, 1100 Kings Mountain Road in Woodside, Calif. The … Continue reading →

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

The Death of Ted Healy — Part 12

Posted on June 18, 2013 by lmharnisch

Dec. 23, 1937: Ted Healy’s funeral, as reported in the Daily News. In case you just tuned in, we are nearing the end of a long journey that began in April, when I stumbled across a Wikipedia entry claiming that … Continue reading →

Posted in 1937, Film, Hollywood, Obituaries | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Death of Ted Healy — Part 3

Posted on May 30, 2013 by lmharnisch

Dec. 23, 1937: The funeral of Ted Healy as reported by the Daily News. Today’s installment was supposed to be a look at Jack Marcus, Ted Healy’s manager. Marcus picked up Healy and took him home after he was treated … Continue reading →

Posted in 1937, Film, Hollywood, Obituaries | Tagged , , , , | 15 Comments

Women’s History — Gertrude S. Reynolds McMullen

Posted on May 26, 2013 by lmharnisch

This postcard of the Southwest Turquoise Co., 113 N. Broadway, has been listed on EBay. The shop would have been roughly across the street from the old Times Building at 1st and Broadway. Bidding on the postcard starts at $8. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1909, 1910, Broadway, Found on EBay, Obituaries | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Anne Knudsen — Photographer

Posted on May 24, 2013 by lmharnisch

Note: Herald Examiner photographer Anne Knudsen’s sister shared this obituary with the Daily Mirror. Anne Baldwin Knudsen, 57, passed away on Mothers’ Day, May 12, following a courageous battle with breast cancer. She was surrounded by her loving family and … Continue reading →

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Voices — Anne Knudsen

Posted on May 16, 2013 by lmharnisch

March 9, 2013: Former Herald Examiner photographers Anne Knudsen and Mike Mullen at the Herald Examiner Building. Photo courtesy of Mike Mullen. I recently wrote a column about a reunion of Herald Examiner photographers only to discover that one of … Continue reading →

Posted in Obituaries, Photography | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Voices — Anne Knudsen

Roger Ebert, Jerry Lewis and Me

Posted on April 7, 2013 by lmharnisch

My Rolodex card for Roger Ebert, c. 1982. In the outpouring of appreciations and reminiscences after the death of film critic Roger Ebert, my little tale is really not much. I am adding it because I believe that even a … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Obituaries | Tagged , , , , | 14 Comments

No Carole Lombard Death Scene Photos Here!

Posted on February 21, 2013 by lmharnisch

One of the oddest experiences in running the L.A. Daily Mirror is to see how many people stumble in while searching for “snuff” pictures of Carole Lombard, who died in a 1942 plane crash. Not a day goes by that … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Obituaries, Photography | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Emancipation Proclamation: Lincoln’s Outrage!

Posted on January 2, 2013 by lmharnisch

Read all of the Jan. 3, 1863, Los Angeles Star at USC’s digital library. Jan. 3, 1863: Of all that you may know about the Emancipation Proclamation, I doubt you have read anything negative (unless you’re a historian), so the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1863, Education, Los Angeles Star, Medicine, Obituaries | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Eve Golden / Queen of the Dead: Mae Murray

Posted on January 1, 2013 by lmharnisch

I hope you don’t mind if I use my column to plug a friend’s book, Michael Ankerich’s new Mae Murray biography, The Girl With the Bee Stung Lips (OK, so he did dedicate it to me. But you needn’t dedicate … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Eve Golden, Film, Hollywood, Obituaries, Queen of the Dead | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

Eve Golden / Queen of the Dead – Betty Grable

Posted on December 25, 2012 by lmharnisch

A 1938 publicity photo of Betty Grable listed on EBay with bids starting at $25. Betty Grable Betty Grable is so damned adorable. Her oft-repeated self-assessment does not do her justice: “As a dancer I couldn’t outdance Ginger Rogers or … Continue reading →

Posted in Eve Golden, Film, Hollywood, Obituaries, Queen of the Dead | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Eve Golden / Queen of the Dead – Lyle Talbot

Posted on November 20, 2012 by lmharnisch

A photo of Lyle Talbot has been listed on EBay with bids starting at $25.   Lyle Talbot I have a thing for those Big Boxy Guys from the 1930s and ’40s. You know, the ones who look like they’re … Continue reading →

Posted in Eve Golden, Film, Hollywood, Obituaries, Queen of the Dead | Tagged , , , , | 11 Comments

Eve Golden / Queen of the Dead – James Reese Europe

Posted on November 13, 2012 by lmharnisch

A piece of sheet music featuring James Reese “Jim” Europe has been listed on EBay with bids starting at $3,999.99. James Reese Europe   I think my favorite period is 1900-15. Not that I’d want to live back then, I’m … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Dance, Eve Golden, Film, Found on EBay, Music, Obituaries, Queen of the Dead | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Eve Golden / Queen of the Dead: Marjorie White

Posted on November 6, 2012 by lmharnisch

  A photo of Marjorie White and Frank Albertson has been listed on EBay, with bids starting at  $9.99.   Marjorie White 1904 – 1935   My friend, writer Mel Neuhaus, calls them “say girls.” The hard-boiled dames who start … Continue reading →

Posted in Eve Golden, Film, Found on EBay, Hollywood, Obituaries, Queen of the Dead | Tagged , , , , | 12 Comments