Category Archives: San Fernando Valley

Celebrity Politicians: Hollywood’s Honorary Mayors, Part I

Posted on November 5, 2012 by lmharnisch

Photo: Hugh Herbert, honorary mayor of Studio City, courtesy of Mary Mallory. Tomorrow is election day. Elections and politics are important to everyone, be they Joe Citizen or Joseph Kennedy. Over the years, celebrities have entered the political arena, some … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Politics, San Fernando Valley | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Little Brown Church in the Valley

Posted on October 15, 2012 by lmharnisch

Photo: Republic Studios President Herbert Yates marries Vera Hruba Ralston in 1952. Courtesy of Mary Mallory. Originally ranch land that helped support the city of Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley sometimes seemed slower and a tad more old fashioned … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Religion, San Fernando Valley | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Keaton Sons Change Names to Talmadge

Posted on June 30, 2012 by lmharnisch

July 2, 1942: Buster Keaton’s sons Robert, 18, and James, 20, legally change their last names to Talmadge after a petition to the court by Keaton’s ex-wife Natalie Talmadge. Lee Gilcrease, 29, kills his wife, Ethel, and commits suicide in … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Art & Artists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, San Fernando Valley, Suicide | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Keaton Sons Change Names to Talmadge

Location Sleuth: Lasky Mesa

Posted on August 18, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: “Charge of the Light Brigade,” filmed at Lasky Mesa. James Curtis’ interview with Dick Lane touched on a filming location known as Lasky Mesa. Films shot there include “Rose of the Rancho” 1914, “The Thundering Herd” (1925), “The Charge … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, History, Hollywood, Lee Shippey, Location Sleuth, Parks, San Fernando Valley | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Van Nuys Plane Crash Kills 2 – Aug. 11, 1941

Posted on August 11, 2011 by lmharnisch

Aug. 11, 1941: Walter P. Palmer and William S. Raney are killed when their plane goes into a spin during a flying lesson and crashes into a bean field at Woodley Avenue and Oxnard Street in Van Nuys, which is … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Jimmie Fidler, Lee Shippey, Politics, San Fernando Valley, Transportation, World War II | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Another Good Story Ruined – Mulholland and the Valley ‘Conspiracy’

Posted on July 9, 2011 by lmharnisch

My L.A. Times colleague Elaine Woo has a first-rate obituary on Catherine Mulholland, author of “William Mulholland and the Rise of Los Angeles.” One reason Mulholland took on the biography was to provide what she viewed as a more balanced … Continue reading →

Posted in 1963, Another Good Story Ruined, Books and Authors, Film, History, Hollywood, Obituaries, San Fernando Valley | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Another Good Story Ruined – Mulholland and the Valley ‘Conspiracy’

From the Stacks: ‘The Big Picture’

Posted on June 29, 2011 by lmharnisch

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 are aware that, exposed as it is to … 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 , , , | 5 Comments

LAPD End of Watch, June 15, 1920

Posted on June 15, 2011 by lmharnisch

Dec. 23, 1915: LAPD motorcycle officers take delivery of 37 new Indian motorcycles, capable of 75 mph. The daily NewsWatch of the Los Angeles Police Protective League always honors the anniversaries of LAPD officers killed in the line of duty. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1911, 1915, 1920, Crime and Courts, LAPD, Obituaries, San Fernando Valley, Streetcars, Transportation | Tagged , | Comments Off on LAPD End of Watch, June 15, 1920

From the Stacks – ‘Portraits of Crime’ (1977)

Posted on April 29, 2011 by lmharnisch

    Two years after writing about  LAPD Det. Ector Garcia, I finally located a copy of his book, “Portraits of Crime,” which arrived in the mail from the U.K. while I was on vacation. No one will ever mistake … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1977, books, Crime and Courts, Downtown, From the Stacks, Hollywood, Hollywood Division, Homicide, LAPD, Pages of History, San Fernando Valley, Venice Division, West Hollywood, Zombie Reading List | 1 Comment

What If a Thermonuclear Blast Hit the Valley?

Posted on March 26, 2011 by lmharnisch

           March 26, 1961: So, if a nuclear blast from the Soviets (who else?) hit the San Fernando Valley, it would be bad. How bad? "The Valley would not survive a direct hit," The Times said.  … Continue reading →

Posted in 1961, San Fernando Valley | Comments Off on What If a Thermonuclear Blast Hit the Valley?

Van Nuys Is Born!

Posted on February 23, 2011 by lmharnisch

               Sylvan Street and Van Nuys Boulevard via Google maps’ street view.     Feb. 23, 1911: The Times says, “There are few more beautiful sites for a city anywhere than that which lies … Continue reading →

Posted in 1911, Photography, San Fernando Valley | 5 Comments

Matt Weinstock, Feb. 3, 1961

Posted on February 3, 2011 by lmharnisch

       Feb. 3, 1961: What does a Burbank family do about their 4-year-old son, who refuses to go outside because he’s afraid of the street sweeper? CONFIDENTIAL TO "TROUBLE AT HOME": Someone once said "Divorce is hash made … Continue reading →

Posted in 1961, art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Matt Weinstock, San Fernando Valley | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock, Feb. 3, 1961

Found on EBay – Bullock’s

Posted on September 16, 2010 by lmharnisch

  This outfit from the Collegienne department at Bullock’s in the San Fernando Valley has been listed on EBay. Of the Bullock’s items that are listed on EBay, those from the Valley store are by far the most rare. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Fashion, San Fernando Valley | Comments Off on Found on EBay – Bullock’s

U.S. Launches Spy Satellite

Posted on May 25, 2010 by lmharnisch

    May 25, 1960: The U.S. successfully launches a Midas satellite after a previous attempt failed. The Times editorialized that the satellites would make spy planes such as the U-2 obsolete. Which is why the Midas satellites became space … Continue reading →

Posted in LAPD, San Fernando Valley, Science, Transportation | Comments Off on U.S. Launches Spy Satellite

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

Posted on January 5, 2010 by lmharnisch

 Sign a Bomb! Jan. 5, 1943 — Hedda Hopper says: The first thing Bob Hope did when he heard that Bing Crosby's house had burned down was to phone from Arrowhead and ask the family to move in with them. … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood, San Fernando Valley | 1 Comment

Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, Dec. 5, 1959

Posted on December 5, 2009 by lmharnisch

Mash Notes and Comment       "Mr. Coates:     "In your column of last Wednesday, you delved into the timely issue of 'Is TV on the Up-and-Up?'     "You suggested, rather broadly, that maybe it isn't.     "You cited Desi … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Front Pages, Homicide, LAPD, Mickey Cohen, San Fernando Valley | Comments Off on Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, Dec. 5, 1959

Orchestras Ban Women Musicians

Posted on November 16, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Nov. 2, 1919: Orchestra managers want to ban women musicians because an ensemble consisting entirely of men in tuxedos is more pleasing to the eye, The Times says. No, I'm not kidding. Nov. 16, 1919: Alma Whitaker writes about … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, classical music, Music, Nuestro Pueblo, San Fernando Valley, Transportation | Comments Off on Orchestras Ban Women Musicians

Found on EBay – Oviatt’s

Posted on November 10, 2009 by lmharnisch

    Here’s a remarkable item from Oviatt’s – a necktie that the vendor says belonged to James Benton Van Nuys. And by remarkable, I mean remarkably hideous.  But it is from Oviatt’s, one of the most distinguished men’s stores … Continue reading →

Posted in Fashion, San Fernando Valley | Comments Off on Found on EBay – Oviatt’s

Landmark Nightclub Modernized

Posted on October 26, 2009 by lmharnisch

Virginia Arness attempts suicide in Hawaii. The Biltmore Bowl is heavily modernized so that is virtually unrecognizable. New and Old Chinatown, divided by Broadway. "I don't belong to the tong. I am an American. I belong to the Kiwanis Club." … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Downtown, San Fernando Valley, Sports, Suicide | Comments Off on Landmark Nightclub Modernized

48,000-Acre Lankershim Ranch Sold to Developers

Posted on September 24, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 24, 1909: The 48,000-acre Lankershim Ranch is sold to investors who will subdivide it for homes. The Times says of this milestone in the development of the San Fernando Valley: "This is the largest and most notable real estate … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, San Fernando Valley | Comments Off on 48,000-Acre Lankershim Ranch Sold to Developers