Category Archives: Parks and Recreation

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Hollywood Pioneer Eugene Plummer and His Park

Posted on October 12, 2021 by lmharnisch

Eugene Plummer holds what he claimed was Joaquin Murrieta’s 12-shot pistol, Los Angeles Times, Sept. 5, 1938. Virtually forgotten today, Hollywood pioneer Eugene R. Plummer preserved many romantic traditions of old Los Angeles throughout his 91 years. Generous to a … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Parks and Recreation, Preservation | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Yorty Elected Mayor!

Posted on June 1, 2011 by lmharnisch

             June 1, 1961: Sam Yorty defeats Norris Poulson in the mayor’s race. Poulson says one reason for his loss was the Memorial Day riot in Griffith Park in which a mob of African Americans … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1961, art and artists, Comics, Countdown to Watts, Crime and Courts, Front Pages, LAPD, Parks and Recreation | Leave a comment

Pages of History — Morrow Mayo’s ‘Los Angeles’

Posted on March 3, 2011 by lmharnisch

      The Evening Express,Dec. 17, 1927       The Evening Express,Dec. 20, 1927       The Times, Dec. 17, 1927     The Times, Dec. 20, 1927   I haven’t forgotten about my little project on … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1927, Another Good Story Ruined, books, Crime and Courts, Parks and Recreation | 1 Comment

A Notable Absence – Updated

Posted on September 17, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Note: A bloodless bullfight at Schuetzen Park. [Update: Schuetzen Park was renamed Rose Hills Park about 1923.] Sept. 16, 1910: Many writers have noted that Gen. Harrison Gray Otis wasn’t in Los Angeles when The Times was bombed but … Continue reading →

Posted in 1910 L.A. Times bombing, Animals, Parks and Recreation | 1 Comment

Pages of History

Posted on July 22, 2010 by lmharnisch

  "I was seeing Pershing Square, Los Angeles, now for the first time…the nervous fugitives from Times Square, Market Street SF, the French Quarter — masculine hustlers looking for lonely fruits to score from, anything from the legendary $20 to … Continue reading →

Posted in #gays and lesbians, art and artists, books, Downtown, Parks and Recreation | 2 Comments

Artist’s Notebook: Bastille Day

Posted on July 16, 2010 by lmharnisch

“Bastille Day” by Marion Eisenmann Marion Eisenmann called Sunday and suggested we visit a Bastille Day celebration in Elysian Park. I practiced my rusty high school French on the way there with Marion quizzing me “How would you say ‘I’m … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Marion Eisenmann, Nuestro Pueblo, Parks and Recreation | 3 Comments

An American Fourth of July

Posted on July 5, 2010 by lmharnisch

    July 5, 1910: The Scottish American community of Los Angeles celebrates the Fourth of July with the Highland Fling and the caber toss. And there’s nobody on talk radio to tell them to go back “home” if they … Continue reading →

Posted in 1910 L.A. Times bombing, Fire Department, Parks and Recreation, Transportation | Leave a comment

L.A. to Celebrate the Fourth of July in Many Languages

Posted on July 3, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Maybe beer is something other than “liquid bread.” July 3, 1910: Los Angeles prepares to celebrate the Fourth of July with a parade in the downtown business district followed by a ceremony at the Plaza with a reading of … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Food and Drink, Parks and Recreation | 2 Comments

Random Shot – Pershing Square

Posted on July 2, 2010 by lmharnisch

Photograph by Rosanna Xia / Los Angeles Times Rosanna Xia, a summer intern with The Times, visited an art show in Pershing Square on Sunday and took this photo of Dan Brown’s “Tribute to the King of Pop,” a portrait … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Downtown, Parks and Recreation, Photography | Leave a comment

Pages of History [Updated]

Posted on June 28, 2010 by lmharnisch

   Central Park, later named Pershing Square, and Philharmonic Auditorium.   One of the most influential books ever written about the city is Morrow Mayo’s 1933 “Los Angeles.” It is, in fact, easy to argue that Mayo was the father … Continue reading →

Posted in 1910 L.A. Times bombing, books, Parks and Recreation | 3 Comments

City to Renovate Downtown Park

Posted on June 21, 2010 by lmharnisch

Central Park, which was renamed Pershing Square in November 1918. June 26, 1907, a headline that will live in infamy. June 21, 1910: William Hicks is fined $10 [$227.39 USD 2009] for using “shocking language” in the presence of women. … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Parks and Recreation | Leave a comment

Found on EBay – Alligator Farm

Posted on June 6, 2010 by lmharnisch

Although the ostrich farms get more attention, Los Angeles also had alligator farms, shown above in an image from USC’s digital archive. The postcard at left showing alligators at play has been listed on EBay. Bidding starts at $5.95.

Posted in Animals, Parks and Recreation | Leave a comment

Found on EBay – Central Park

Posted on April 22, 2010 by lmharnisch

Someone recently asked me when “L.A.” became a common term for Los Angeles. I said I didn’t know and was reluctant to speculate because at the Daily Mirror, we don’t guess, we look things up. This postcard of Central Park … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Parks and Recreation | Leave a comment

Death at the Bimini Baths

Posted on April 14, 2010 by lmharnisch

  April 14, 1910: The story is old and the details are fragmentary. Victor Lamar, 15, and Father E.V. Reynolds, a Catholic priest from Oklahoma, met somehow in Los Angeles. Reynolds might have paid Lamar $3 or $4 [$68-$90 USD … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Parks and Recreation | Leave a comment

Pacific Ocean Park

Posted on April 11, 2010 by lmharnisch

  April 11, 1960: Happy Easter from Pacific Ocean Park (1958-1975). Adult admission is $10.75, USD 2009. On the jump, African Americans across the South begin an Easter week boycott of stores with segregation policies.

Posted in Countdown to Watts, Parks and Recreation | Leave a comment

Artist’s Notebook: Travel Town

Posted on March 19, 2010 by lmharnisch

“Travel Town,” by Marion Eisenmann. Marion Eisenmann and I went to Travel Town in Griffith Park last summer because the old trains are popular with young children and I thought there would be some opportunities for interesting sketch subjects. It … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Marion Eisenmann, Parks and Recreation, Transportation | 1 Comment

Found on EBay: Pershing Square Cannon

Posted on March 4, 2010 by lmharnisch

  You may recall a post I did last year on Pershing Square’s missing cannon, which vanished after being moved to Travel Town in Griffith Park. Here’s a 1905 postcard showing the cannon, which has been listed on EBay. Bidding … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Parks and Recreation, Photography | 1 Comment

L.A. Prepares for Auto Show

Posted on January 31, 2010 by lmharnisch

     Jan. 31, 1910: Some grand old names of the past are at the auto show, like Packard and Pierce-Arrow. Buick and Cadillac seem to be about the only survivors. The first Los Angeles auto show was held in … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Freeways, Parks and Recreation, Transportation | Leave a comment

Nuestro Pueblo, Plummer Park

Posted on January 27, 2010 by lmharnisch

  View Larger Map    Sept. 23, 1938: Joe Seewerker and Charles Owens visit Plummer Park in Hollywood. The original run of Nuestro Pueblo ended in 1939, so I’m going back and picking up the ones I missed last year.

Posted in art and artists, Hollywood, Nuestro Pueblo, Parks and Recreation | 1 Comment

Glorious Southern California!

Posted on January 1, 2010 by lmharnisch

    “He who thinks that the Southland's many miles of smooth automobile roads penetrating every beauteous section have relegated the alpenstock to the reverent care of the antiquarian is mistaken. In case you doubt me ask any member of … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Parks and Recreation | Leave a comment