Category Archives: Preservation

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Hollywood’s Long Struggle for a Movie Museum

Posted on September 28, 2021 by lmharnisch

The Motion Picture Museum and Hall of Fame, about 1932. Photo courtesy of Marc Wanamaker, Bison Archives. On September 30, 2021, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures finally opens to the public. Long a dream of many in the Hollywood … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Museums, Preservation | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Cinecon 57 – Brightening Days With Classic Film2

Posted on September 8, 2021 by lmharnisch

For the second year in a row, the Cinecon Classic Film Festival occurred virtually, bringing a respite from ongoing COVID struggles with entertaining and informative movies and television kinescopes. Overflowing with music, heart-tugging animals, and even issues society is wrestling … Continue reading →

Posted in 2021, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Preservation | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Saving a Historic Hollywood Home, Thanks to Alice Harrod

Posted on July 12, 2021 by lmharnisch

The home at 6831 De Longpre Ave., via Google Street View, as shown in 2014. Historic buildings tell as much about people and their eras as they do about architecture and usage. Preserving the actual structure celebrates the past and … Continue reading →

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Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Hugo Ballin, L.A. Muralist

Posted on March 29, 2021 by lmharnisch

Photographs by Larry Harnisch / LADailyMirror.com Mural in the Los Angeles Times Globe Lobby, dated July 19, 1934, by Hugo Ballin Note: This is an encore post from 2011. Hugo Ballin is one of the greatest muralists in Los Angeles … Continue reading →

Posted in 1934, Art & Artists, Books and Authors, Brain Trust, Downtown, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Libraries, Mary Mallory, Parks, Photography, Preservation, Religion | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Holiday Shopping Guide

Posted on December 15, 2020 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2011. I picked up “The Big Picture,” Melba Levick and Stanley Young’s 1988 book about Los Angeles murals, not realizing what a terribly sad book it would be. As Young notes: “Most artists … Continue reading →

Posted in 1988, Architecture, Art & Artists, Books and Authors, Crime and Courts, Downtown, From the Stacks, Hollywood, Latinos, Photography, Preservation, San Fernando Valley, Sports, Zoot Suit | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Holiday Shopping Guide: ‘Bunker Hill Los Angeles’

Posted on November 27, 2020 by lmharnisch

Time to start the Daily Mirror’s holiday gift suggestions and there’s no better way to begin than with “Bunker Hill Los Angeles: Essence of Sunshine and Noir” by my Crime Buddy Nathan Marsak, published by Angel City Press ($40). The … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Books and Authors, Downtown, Preservation | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on November 23, 2020 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery program was “Queen of the Orange Bowl,” which aired Jan. 13, 1960,  on the CBS anthology show “U.S. Steel Hour.” With Anne Francis, Johnny Carson, Glenda Farrell, Frank McHugh, Elizabeth Wilson and Robert Elston. Adapted for television … Continue reading →

Posted in 1960, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Preservation, Television | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 43 Comments

Coming Attractions: Nathan Marsak Discusses Bunker Hill With Mary Mallory and Brian Judd

Posted on November 9, 2020 by lmharnisch

My old Crime Buddy Nathan Marsak has written a book on Bunker Hill in his informed yet freewheeling style and will be appearing Wednesday at 7 p.m. PST in a virtual event hosted by Hollywood Heritage in its “Evening @ … Continue reading →

Posted in 2020, books, Coming Attractions, Preservation | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Cineconline Brings Entertainment in Troubling Times

Posted on September 14, 2020 by lmharnisch

After isolating through the pandemic, sweltering summer, and blazing fires, Cineconline brought a respite of lighthearted , breezy entertainment. While Cinecon 55 occurred only online, it succeeded beyond its wildest dreams in providing rare films to thousands of film fans. … Continue reading →

Posted in 2020, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Preservation | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: 2178 High Tower Drive, L.A.’s First Community Elevator

Posted on July 13, 2020 by lmharnisch

The Tower appeared in the March 24, 1939, installment of Nuestro Pueblo by Joseph Seewerker and Charles Owens of the Los Angeles Times. Both marketing gimmick and necessity, the elevator shaft that gave the name High Tower Drive to a … Continue reading →

Posted in 1922, Architecture, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Knickerbocker Hotel – a Survivor

Posted on May 18, 2020 by lmharnisch

The Hollywood Knickerbocker Hotel in an undated photo from the Security Pacific Collection, housed at the Los Angeles Public Library. A little run-down today, the Knickerbocker Hotel at 1714 Ivar has survived scandal and notoriety to endure as one of … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: William Pereira, Entertainment Architect

Posted on April 13, 2020 by lmharnisch

Elmer Balaban, left, Mary Martin and William L. Pereira, Boxoffice, Aug. 3, 1940. Almost a year to the day after the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved funding to construct a new Peter Zumthor-designed building for the Los Angeles … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Newhallywood Film Festival Shines a Light on Silent Films

Posted on February 19, 2020 by lmharnisch

Over the Presidents Day weekend, Santa Clarita, the county Department of Parks and Recreation, and the Los Angeles County Natural History Museum hosted the inaugural Newhallywood Silent Film Festival at the William S. Hart Museum, allowing people of all ages … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. Restoration Summit

Posted on February 18, 2020 by lmharnisch

An image from a Georges Melies film presented by Serge Bromberg at the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn.’s Restoration Summit. The Hollywood Foreign Press Assn.,  best known for hosting the Golden Globes, presented its second annual Restoration Summit February 15 and … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Fernridge Row Pays Homage to Tam O’Shanter

Posted on November 4, 2019 by lmharnisch

In the 1920s, housing developments sprang up all around the Los Angeles area as real estate developers purchased small farms to subdivide into housing tracts holding everything from small homes to apartments to bungalow courts. Fernridge Row, stylish Hollywood bungalow … Continue reading →

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Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Villa Elaine Courts Tenants

Posted on October 14, 2019 by lmharnisch

The Villa Elaine via Google Street View. Still stylish after 94 years, Villa Elaine has reigned as one of Hollywood’s most popular apartment/hotels in its location on Vine Street just blocks from Sunset Boulevard. Courtly and regal, the building has … Continue reading →

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Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: North Hollywood Federal Savings and Loans Funds Business and Housing

Posted on September 16, 2019 by lmharnisch

North Hollywood Federal Savings and Loan, 1961, Valley Times Collection, L.A. Public Library. Originally designed to serve as a combination bank and office building, the former North Hollywood Federal Savings and Loan building at Riverside Drive and Lankershim Boulevard in … Continue reading →

Posted in 1960, 1961, Architecture, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Preservation, San Fernando Valley | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Norman Kerry, Preservationist

Posted on June 16, 2019 by lmharnisch

Norman Kerry in 1924. Long before billionaire investor Ron Burkle purchased and restored such historic architectural properties as Frank Lloyd Wright’s Ennis-Brown House, Harold Lloyd’s Greenacres, and Bob Hope’s Palm Springs and Toluca Lake houses, silent film star Norman Kerry … Continue reading →

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Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: First National Building Banks On Hollywood’s Future

Posted on June 3, 2019 by lmharnisch

Hollywood First National Bank Building, Courtesy of Mary Mallory. Note: This is an encore post from 2014 Soaring to the skies, displaying confidence in Hollywood’s unlimited future, the First National Building, constructed and opened in 1928, brought Art Deco-Gothic beauty … Continue reading →

Posted in 1927, Architecture, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Maria Ridulph, Mary Mallory, Preservation | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: 4634 Santa Monica Blvd., Where History Was Made

Posted on May 13, 2019 by lmharnisch

Though today the home of Union Swap Meet, 4634 Santa Monica Blvd. once served as the location for pioneering director Lois Weber’s motion picture studio from 1917 through 1925. Ranking as one of the top three directors in 1915, Weber … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments