Category Archives: Obituaries

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 →

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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

Eve Golden / Queen of the Dead: Margaret Dumont

Posted on October 23, 2012 by lmharnisch

A photo of Groucho Marx and Margaret Dumont in “A Day at the Circus,” listed on EBay for $5.95. Margaret Dumont 1882 – 1965 I think we can all agree that Groucho Marx was a real sonofabitch, can’t we? A … Continue reading →

Posted in Eve Golden, Film, Found on EBay, Hollywood, Obituaries, Queen of the Dead | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Eve Golden / Queen of the Dead: Ada Jones

Posted on October 16, 2012 by lmharnisch

Ada  Jones 1873 – 1922   You youngsters can have your Ladies Gaga and Pinks and Katy Perrys. Give me the great Ada Jones. Ada was the first—and for ten years, the only—female superstar of the early record industry.

Posted in Eve Golden, Hollywood, Music, Obituaries, Queen of the Dead | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments

Retired Police Lt. George H. Williams, Badge 1, Dies at 84

Posted on September 13, 2012 by lmharnisch

Sept. 13, 1942: Retired Lt. George H. Williams,who held LAPD retirement Badge 1, dies at the age of 84. He retired in 1912 after serving with the department for 23 years and was in charge of the detail that brought … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Art & Artists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Obituaries, World War II | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Retired Police Lt. George H. Williams, Badge 1, Dies at 84