Category Archives: Television

Remembering Newsman Tony Valdez | 1945-2023

Posted on May 11, 2023 by lmharnisch

We’re remembering veteran Fox 11 newsman Tony Valdez, who died last week at 78. Tony loved Los Angeles and he loved Los Angeles history; for Tony, the city was a profession and an avocation. When he wasn’t reporting on Los … Continue reading →

Posted in broadcasting, Obituaries, Photography, Television | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Mary Mallory: Hollywood Heights – Magic Castle

Posted on January 30, 2023 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2012. Sitting gracefully below Yamashiro restaurant just above Franklin Avenue, the Magic Castle stands as a glorious reminder of the beauty and elegance of old Hollywood.  Almost like magic it appeared on the … Continue reading →

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Black Dahlia–Why I Don’t Give Black Dahlia Interviews and a Progress Report on My Book

Posted on January 1, 2023 by lmharnisch

I decided to start the year with something different — a video update.

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, LAPD, Television | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Mary Mallory: Hollywood Heights – Keye Luke

Posted on June 20, 2022 by lmharnisch

Image: “Just a Little Longer,” illustrated by Keye Luke for Harold Weeks Melody Shop. Credit: Mary Mallory.   Note: This is an encore post from 2011. Keye Luke, the talented and respected Chinese American actor, is probably best known to … Continue reading →

Posted in Art & Artists, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Television | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Betty White, America’s Sweetheart

Posted on January 3, 2022 by lmharnisch

On December 31, beloved television actress Betty White passed away at the age of 99. For more than 80 years, she charmed audiences with her quick wit, sly smile, genuine warmth, and wicked sense of humor. White’s expert comic timing … Continue reading →

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L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Holiday Shopping Guide

Posted on December 4, 2021 by lmharnisch

I generally don’t recommend books I haven’t read, but the Brain Trust has weighed in on two new books that you might consider: The Boys, by Ron Howard and Clint Howard, comes highly recommended, as does Hayley Mills’ Forever Young: … Continue reading →

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Movieland Mystery Photo – Jury Duty Edition No. 5 (Updated)

Posted on October 8, 2021 by lmharnisch

And no, not all the judges on Perry Mason were men, so I’m closing out a week of jury duty with a mystery woman judge. Update: This is Lillian Bronson from The Case of the Shattered Dream. She was the … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Television | Tagged , , , | 14 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo – Jury Duty Edition No. 4 (Updated)

Posted on October 7, 2021 by lmharnisch

I’m on jury duty this week, so in that theme I’m posting mystery judges from Perry Mason. Update: This is Frank Wilcox from The Case of the Treacherous Toupee, as seen in the Mystery Movie ’Til We Meet Again. Brain … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Television | Tagged , , , | 15 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo – Jury Duty Edition No. 2 (Updated)

Posted on October 5, 2021 by lmharnisch

I’m on jury duty this week, so in that theme I’m posting mystery judges from Perry Mason. Update: This is Grandon Rhodes from The Case of the Restless Redhead. Brain Trust roll call: Michael Ryerson (Tuesday’s mystery judge), Howard Mandelbaum … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Television | Tagged , , , | 14 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on September 27, 2021 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery entry was The Last Letter, Season 5, Episode 7 of Death Valley Days from 1956, with William Pullen, Clint Eastwood, Forrest Stanley, George Pembroke, Russ Todd, John Sargent, Gregg Barton and Robert Sherman. Directed by Stuart E. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1956, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Television | Tagged , , , | 32 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights – Vice Raid and Early TV in Hollywood’s Biggest Storehouse

Posted on August 24, 2021 by lmharnisch

The Hollywood Storage Building as seen in Google Earth. Originally Los Angeles’ tallest building when opened in 1926, the Hollywood Storage Building at the southwest corner of Highland Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard towered over the rapidly expanding film city. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1926, Architecture, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Television | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Carmel Myers Pioneers TV Talk Shows

Posted on May 31, 2021 by lmharnisch

Carmel Myers in a show from 1951 that featured Jeanette MacDonald. Long before Barbara Walters, Oprah Winfrey, or Ellen DeGeneres came on the scene, former silent film star Carmel Myers premiered the celebrity talk show with her self-titled “The Carmel … Continue reading →

Posted in 1951, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Television | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

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

March 16, 1969: The Rosey Grier Show

Posted on April 25, 2019 by lmharnisch

March 16, 1969: Rosey Grier, seen in the “Fearsome Foursome” making their debut on Shindig, is the star of a weekly TV show on Channel 7. Keith Thursby has the story.  This post originally appeared on latimes.com in 2009 and … Continue reading →

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Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: UCLA Festival of Preservation Features Newly Restored Films

Posted on February 19, 2019 by lmharnisch

Continuing its long tradition, UCLA presented its popular Festival of Preservation condensed into a mini film festival over one weekend, unlike those in the past spread out over a month. The selection covered the gamut of entertainment, from film noir … Continue reading →

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Black Dahlia: Caught in the Act – Steve Hodel Adds Lies to George Hodel’s Wikipedia Page

Posted on February 18, 2019 by lmharnisch

So I just caught Steve Hodel inserting a nice, fat lie in his dad’s Wikipedia page. Oh this is so much fun!

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Television, Wikipedia | Tagged , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Feb. 14, 1959: Paul Coates Gets Some Reader Feedback

Posted on February 14, 2019 by lmharnisch

Feb. 14, 1959: It’s Saturday in 1959, and Paul Coates ends the week with some letters, a typical ploy in the days when columnists published six times a week, a punishing schedule. And there is a Parkey Sharkey alert! Also … Continue reading →

Posted in 1959, Columnists, Mickey Cohen, Paul Coates, Television | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Feb. 6, 1959: Matt Weinstock – Looking for the Real ‘77 Sunset Strip’

Posted on February 7, 2019 by lmharnisch

Feb. 6, 1959: The wildly popular Warner Bros. TV show “77 Sunset Strip” has people visiting the location at 8532 Sunset Blvd., next to Dino’s, and writing letters. Lots of letters. Kookie, man. Weinstock’s column was originally published in the … Continue reading →

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February 1959: Television Recorder! TV Set as Flat as a Picture! Amazing Predictions for the Future!

Posted on February 4, 2019 by lmharnisch

Note: This post originally appeared on latimes.com in 2009 and is available via Archive.org. February 1959: Speaking of the future, RCA’s David Sarnoff describes an astounding “television recorder!” “Westinghouse’s Gwilym Price expects [recorded] tapes to reproduce shows in three dimensions … Continue reading →

Posted in 1959, Education, Futurism, Television | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Jan. 13, 1959: Paul Coates Interviews Soviet Leader Mikoyan

Posted on January 13, 2019 by lmharnisch

Jan. 13, 1959: Paul Coates worked himself into an early grave. In addition to writing six columns a week for the L.A. Mirror, he also had a show on KTTV-TV Channel 11. It was definitely another era. In this piece, … Continue reading →

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