Category Archives: Stage

Found on EBay – Julian Eltinge

Posted on March 31, 2010 by lmharnisch

This postcard of female impersonator Julian Eltinge advertising his appearance at Los Angeles’ Mason Opera House in October 1913 has been listed on EBay. The photo shows him in “The Fascinating Widow,” one of his most famous roles. Bidding on … Continue reading →

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Voices – June Havoc, 1912 – 2010

Posted on March 29, 2010 by lmharnisch

Jan. 5, 1981: “This is what I wanted since I was 3,” June Havoc says of her home in Connecticut.

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Found on EBay – Williams and Walker

Posted on March 26, 2010 by lmharnisch

I’ve been searching for items of Bert Williams and George Walker on EBay since I wrote about the vaudeville team in 2008. Sheet music turns up somewhat often but this is the first time I’ve seen souvenir postcards for sale. … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Stage | 1 Comment

Meet Pat Nixon

Posted on March 22, 2010 by lmharnisch

   March 22, 1960: Pat Nixon supported herself after her parents died, including work as a movie extra. Look for her in “Becky Sharp.” On the jump, “The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond” … and Roy Campanella is taken … Continue reading →

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GOP Loses Voting Strength, Poll finds

Posted on March 20, 2010 by lmharnisch

March 20, 1960: The Gallup Poll says: “…the Republican Party nationwide continues at one of its lowest ebbs in basic voting strength.” I have to wonder whether results like this set off any alarms among Republicans. Perhaps later stories will … Continue reading →

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Ron Milner, March 19, 1980

Posted on March 19, 2010 by lmharnisch

  March 19, 1980: Lawrence Christon reviews Ron Milner’s “Season’s Reasons,” which he calls “a state of the black union address." "Much of the play emphasizes how little American racial attitudes have improved," Christon says.  Milner died in July 16, … Continue reading →

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Mary Tyler Moore on Broadway

Posted on March 14, 2010 by lmharnisch

  March 14, 1980: Mary Tyler Moore stars in “Whose Life Is It Anyway?”

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America’s Leading Actor Hit by Fish Wagon

Posted on March 13, 2010 by lmharnisch

    March 13, 1920: You may recall David Warfield as one of last year’s mystery guests. Warfield was appearing in “The Auctioneer” at the Mason Operahouse on Broadway when he was hit by a fish market’s delivery wagon.

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Fiery Train Wreck Kills 17

Posted on March 2, 2010 by lmharnisch

The San Francisco Santa Fe Chief smashes into an oil tank truck and trailer 12 miles west of Bakersfield. March 2, 1960: Gov. Pat Brown gives up hope that the California Legislature will abolish the death penalty …  and Elvis … Continue reading →

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A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

Posted on March 1, 2010 by lmharnisch

  March 1, 1960: Hedda Hopper writes about Claude Rains’ 60 years in show business.

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Found on EBay – Williams and Walker

Posted on February 20, 2010 by lmharnisch

 May 1, 1898: Williams and Walker share the stage with McIntyre and Heath at the Orpheum.  “Dora Dean,” a song by Bert Williams and George Walker, has been listed on EBay. Many people are familiar with Williams and Walker but … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Stage | Comments Off on Found on EBay – Williams and Walker

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

Posted on February 20, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Feb. 20, 1958: Hedda Hopper says, “[Michael] Todd and Liz flying all over Europe in their own plane. No, he's not at the controls.”

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A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

Posted on February 18, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Feb. 18, 1956: Hedda Hopper says “A Streetcar Named Desire” is “dated.” You are probably wondering, “Did this woman ever get anything right?” I certainly am.

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Businessman Chosen as LAPD Chief

Posted on February 15, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Feb. 15, 1910: Los Angeles gets a new police chief, Alexander Galloway, a former railroad executive with no law enforcement experience. “Chief Galloway is about 55 years of age, of Scotch descent. He is not a typical policeman in … Continue reading →

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Officers Suspended Over Prostitution Investigation

Posted on February 14, 2010 by lmharnisch

“Florodora” is at the Grand Operahouse.   The “Florodora” girls are in town and “A Clubman” catches up with them – or tries to.    Feb. 14, 1910:  Police Officers Bowman and Whaling were suspended after reporting a brothel on Jackson … Continue reading →

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Mystery Photo

Posted on February 5, 2010 by lmharnisch

      Los Angeles Times file photo Update: This is Blossom Seeley and Benny Fields in a photo stamped July 8, 1923. Their lives were made into the 1952 film “Somebody Loves Me” with Betty Hutton and Ralph Meeker. Aug. … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Food and Drink, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Obituaries, Photography, Stage | 17 Comments

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

Posted on February 4, 2010 by lmharnisch

  The dark ages of crossword puzzle construction: Look at all those two-letter answers! Marian Anderson performs at Philharmonic Auditorium in a recital of works by Bach, Handel, Scarlatti, Rachmaninoff and Gretchaninoff, who is not a composer I recognize. Anderson … Continue reading →

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Harry Raymond Quits LAPD

Posted on February 4, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Feb. 4, 1920: Ted Shawn, Martha Graham and dancers from Denishawn. But separate performances for men and women? Crime has increased dramatically, but no one knows why, the district attorney’s office says.  Feb. 4, 1920: Harry Raymond resigns as … Continue reading →

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Diana Barrymore Dies at 38

Posted on January 26, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Nice headline – does that make the nun a college girl? And I guess Kennedy isn’t a headline name yet. Jan. 26, 1960: The trial of Dr. R. Bernard Finch and Carole Tregoff in the killing of Barbara Jean … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, books, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Homicide, JFK, Obituaries, Politics, Stage | Comments Off on Diana Barrymore Dies at 38

An Actress and Her Dog

Posted on December 28, 2009 by lmharnisch

  "Five iron manhole caps, each weighing more than 100 pounds, shot into the air last night when "burn-out gas" in the sewer between Spring Street and the northeast corner of 1st and Main streets blew them higher than the … Continue reading →

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