Category Archives: Photography

Voices — Edith Shain and ‘The Kiss’

Posted on June 23, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Photograph by Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times   Celebrating the V-J Day Kiss Seen 'Round the World * The 60th anniversary of the end of World War II focuses new attention on the joyful smooch between two exuberant … Continue reading →

Posted in Obituaries, Photography | 5 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on June 21, 2010 by lmharnisch

     Los Angeles Times file photo    As nearly everyone realized, this is Evelyn Nesbit, the subject of a recent Paul Coates column.  Just a reminder on how this works: I post the mystery photo on Monday and reveal the … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 66 Comments

Found on EBay — ‘Salome’

Posted on June 20, 2010 by lmharnisch

One of the more intriguing lost films of the silent era is Theda Bara’s “Salome,” which was destroyed in a vault fire. A still from the film has been listed on EBay. Bidding starts at $10.50. And look, imdb folks, … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Photography | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on June 20, 2010 by lmharnisch

 Los Angeles Times file photo  Nearly everybody (even poor country boy Fibber McGee!) recognized this week’s mystery guest as Evelyn Nesbit. So here’s another mystery. This handout photo from Warner Bros., dated June 1939, was in Evelyn Nesbit’s photo file … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 7 Comments

Mini Mystery Photo

Posted on June 13, 2010 by lmharnisch

Photograph by the Los Angeles Times Update: This is artist Hugo Ballin and Marlene Dietrich in a photo stamped May 25, 1936, apparently during filming of “Garden of Allah.” I’m at a loss to explain her expression.  Here’s our weekend … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 14 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on June 13, 2010 by lmharnisch

     Los Angeles Times file photo  Update: This is Madge Bellamy as “The Spirit of Christmas” in a photo marked Dec. 30, 1923. Curiously enough, I saw her introduce a showing of “The Iron Horse” at the Autry museum years … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 67 Comments

Found on EBay – Chester Place

Posted on June 9, 2010 by lmharnisch

Another postcard of Chester Place, near Adams and Figueroa, has been listed on EBay. Other postcards of the wealthy neighborhood have turned on EBay but this is the first time I have seen this one. Bidding starts at $10.

Posted in Architecture, Photography | Comments Off on Found on EBay – Chester Place

The Parkey Sharkey Story

Posted on June 8, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Parkey Sharkey, the terror of Palo Alto, with his taxi, about 1961. Readers frequently assume that Parkey Sharkey was a fictional character invented by Paul Coates to fill his Saturday letters column. I recently found a copy of Sharkey’s … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Columnists, Paul Coates, Photography | 3 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on June 5, 2010 by lmharnisch

     Los Angeles Times file photo    Update: As most people realized, our mystery guest is Hollywood nightclub owner Earl Carroll, who died in 1948 plane crash. In the above photo, he’s the young fellow with Elbert Hubbard (sorry, folks, … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography, Stage | 26 Comments

William A. Fraker, 1923 – 2010

Posted on June 2, 2010 by lmharnisch

William A. Fraker In my two-story career as a freelancer for American Cinematographer, I interviewed the late William Fraker on location in Florence, Ariz., for the 1985 James Garner-Sally Field movie "Murphy's Romance," directed by Martin Ritt. For my previous … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Obituaries, Photography | 1 Comment

Movie Star Mystery Photo

Posted on May 30, 2010 by lmharnisch

Photograph by the Los Angeles Times Update: Yes, this is George Raft and Bugsy Siegel from a 1944 hearing on bookmaking charges. OK, this may not be much of a mystery, but it’s too cool not to post. Finding a … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 13 Comments

Movie Mystery Photo

Posted on May 29, 2010 by lmharnisch

       Los Angeles Times file photo Update: As everybody finally realized, this is Marian Carr. In the above photo, she’s showing a derringer being displayed at an antique show, Oct. 19, 1946: It’s a mystery guest with a gun! … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 34 Comments

Movie Mystery Photo

Posted on May 22, 2010 by lmharnisch

Los Angeles Times file photo Here’s two mystery guests in a mystery film…..

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 7 Comments

Movie Star Mystery Photo

Posted on May 22, 2010 by lmharnisch

      Los Angeles Times file photo I’m calling this series of mystery photos “Lucille Ball and Friends.” In going through The Times’ files of Ball photos, I was struck by the number of unfamiliar images.  We’ve all seen the stills … Continue reading →

Posted in broadcasting, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography, Television | 46 Comments

Mystery Photo

Posted on May 16, 2010 by lmharnisch

Isn’t this a great photo? There’s a little story that goes with it. Update: As everybody realized, this is an extremely casual Otis Chandler in one of the few pictures I’ve ever seen of him in which he’s not wearing … Continue reading →

Posted in Mystery Photo, Photography | 4 Comments

Movie Mystery Photo

Posted on May 9, 2010 by lmharnisch

    Los Angeles Times file photo  Los Angeles Times file photo  Here’s our mystery guest with two mystery companions. Please congratulate Dennis Morgan, James Curtis, Lou Zogby, Angus, LA Morgue Files, Zabadu and Rick Scott  for identifying him. I thought … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Photography | 21 Comments

Movie Mystery Photo

Posted on May 7, 2010 by lmharnisch

    Los Angeles Times file photo  I am always amazed by the Daily Mirror’s “brain trust,” which is my nickname for our readers. I never fail to be impressed by how much people know – or can find out. These … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 34 Comments

Found on EBay – Brenda Allen

Posted on May 6, 2010 by lmharnisch

An EBay vendor has listed this Aug. 12, 1948, wire photo of Hollywood Madam Brenda Allen with defense lawyer Max Solomon, right, and Deputy City Atty. Lindsay Dickey examining a "little black box" of clients’ names seized during a vice … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Photography | 2 Comments

Chessman’s Execution a ‘Breath of Fresh Air,’ Times Says

Posted on May 3, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Los Angeles Times file photo May 2, 1960: A hearse carries the body of Caryl Chessman out of San Quentin.   May 3, 1960: Caryl Chessman is executed after a last-minute plea goes awry when a judge’s secretary calls … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Caryl Chessman, Photography | Comments Off on Chessman’s Execution a ‘Breath of Fresh Air,’ Times Says

Crowds Demand Money From Spring Street Bank

Posted on May 3, 2010 by lmharnisch

 Los Angeles Times file photo The All Night and Day Bank, Spring and 6th Streets, c. 1911. May 3, 1910: You may recall the All Night and Day Bank from a 2009 post.  For reasons that aren’t explained in this … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Front Pages, Photography | Comments Off on Crowds Demand Money From Spring Street Bank