Category Archives: Television

Predictions for Presidential Race

Posted on January 1, 2010 by lmharnisch

“Who Will Be Elected President in November?” Our future president hosts the warm-up to the Rose Parade! Vice President Richard Nixon, the Rose Parade grand marshal, with Rose Queen Margarethe Bertelson and her court at Wrigley mansion. Pat Nixon is … Continue reading →

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Laguna Beach Greeter at Rose Parade

Posted on January 1, 2010 by lmharnisch

  June 1, 1967: Eiler Larsen, the Laguna Beach Greeter, says of hippies — “They will fade and I will last because I have goals and this ability to make friends no matter where I am.”   Jan. 2, 1970: … Continue reading →

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Death Row Brawl Over Watching Rose Parade on TV

Posted on January 1, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Fifty years after Ezra Meeker and his team of oxen were in the Rose Parade, a float features a team of oxen pulling a covered wagon. A Death Row brawl over watching the Rose Parade. Jan. 2, 1960: After … Continue reading →

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On the Brink of the 1960s

Posted on December 30, 2009 by lmharnisch

Hedda Hopper tapes a “Ben-Hur” segment with Stephen Boyd, Francis X. Bushman and Ramon Novarro, but not Charlton Heston. Los Angeles officials struggle once more to deal with congested streets. I have said this before, but it bears repeating: Traffic … Continue reading →

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Three Tristans!

Posted on December 29, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Ramon Vinay, the tenor cast with Birgit Nilsson in "Tristan," said he was too ill to do the entire opera, so Rudolph Bing had Vinay sing Act I, Karl Liebel (likewise under the weather) sing Act II and Albert … Continue reading →

Posted in #opera, broadcasting, Columnists, Sports, Television | 1 Comment

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

Posted on December 23, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Dec. 23, 1960: “Mary Martin invited the sons and daughters of radio and TV writers to a rehearsal of ‘Peter Pan.’ They were assembled on stage and she flew down to greet them. ‘Why, you're a girl!’ said one … Continue reading →

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Christmas 1608

Posted on December 21, 2009 by lmharnisch

  "The General Historie of Virginia, New England and the Summer Islands," on display at the Huntington Library. "Sleeping in his boat, accidentallie one fired his powder bag, which tore the flesh from his body and thighes, nine or ten … Continue reading →

Posted in books, broadcasting, Television | 1 Comment

Sid Gillman ‘Quits’

Posted on December 13, 2009 by lmharnisch

Dec. 13, 1959: Sid Gillman is regarded as a football genius, a Hall of Fame coach with a bow tie whose disciples spread his offensive theories throughout the NFL. Back in 1959, however, he was just another unemployed coach. The … Continue reading →

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December 9, 1959: Matt Weinstock

Posted on December 9, 2009 by lmharnisch

Dialing Chessman Francois de Montfort, correspondent for Ici Paris, is in Hollywood having a look at the movie making.  As he arrived on the set of “Strangers When We Meet” to interview Kim Novak the other day, he told publicist … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1959, art and artists, broadcasting, Caryl Chessman, Columnists, Comics, Matt Weinstock, Television | Comments Off on December 9, 1959: Matt Weinstock

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

Posted on December 8, 2009 by lmharnisch

Dec. 8, 1945: Larry Storch, 22,  gets a lucky break.

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Boy Kills Mother, Wounds Stepfather in ‘Dream’

Posted on December 8, 2009 by lmharnisch

Dec. 8, 1959: A teenager kills his mother and wounds his stepfather during what he calls a bad dream.   Edna Fisher, 38, was killed and Donald Fisher, 28, was injured. Dec. 9, 1959: Edgar Lee Cox was suspended from … Continue reading →

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Matt Weinstock, Dec. 3, 1959

Posted on December 3, 2009 by lmharnisch

      Book Banning     In 1946 two Los Angeles booksellers were arrested for selling copies of Edmund Wilson's "Memoirs of Hecate County," which had been banned.  The book was ruled obscene and they were convicted.    Now, 13 years later, … Continue reading →

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December 1, 1959: Paul V. Coates – Confidential File

Posted on December 1, 2009 by lmharnisch

Arab League bans Elizabeth Taylor’s movies! Jerry Lewis at Bat for Actor Robinson Strange guy, Jerry Lewis. I’ve known him for years.  I knew him when he was a kid on Broadway, when he had a partner named Martin, and … Continue reading →

Posted in 1959, broadcasting, Columnists, Front Pages, Paul Coates, Television | 1 Comment

‘Ben-Hur’ Premieres in Benefit for USC

Posted on November 25, 2009 by lmharnisch

Nov. 25, 1959: Los Angeles' population reaches 2.4 million.   Parents pose with newly adopted children in a program of the Adoption Institute. “Ben-Hur” premieres as a benefit for USC. Gore Vidal worked on the script for “Ben-Hur?” William Wyler, … Continue reading →

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Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, Nov. 24, 1959

Posted on November 24, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Face It; Aren't You Just a Mite Rigged?     Sit down.     No.  Better yet, lie down.  Or is it lay down?     Anyway, get prone.  Tuck a pillow under your head if it'll help relieve that nervous tension … Continue reading →

Posted in broadcasting, Columnists, Paul Coates, Television | 2 Comments

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

Posted on November 23, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Nov. 23, 1960:  “Had a few days in New York while homebound from Europe so took in Lucille Ball's show 'Wildcat' in Philadelphia. It makes you laugh and cry and when it reaches Broadway it'll take this old town … Continue reading →

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Voices – Evelyn Rudie

Posted on November 15, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Above, Evelyn Rudie, 9, who played Eloise on TV, makes the front page of the Mirror with a story about vanishing from home to go see Mamie Eisenhower. Paul Coates’ Nov. 10, 1959, column (“Evelyn Is a Real Old … Continue reading →

Posted in broadcasting, Paul Coates, Television | 1 Comment

Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, Nov. 10, 1959

Posted on November 10, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Evelyn Is a Real Old Hand at Drum Beating     I'm not one to go around saying I told you so.   But I did.     Three years ago I warned you about Eloise's alter ego, Evelyn Rudie.     I … Continue reading →

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Yet Another Killer Dad in the Black Dahlia Case

Posted on November 8, 2009 by lmharnisch

The front page of the Los Angeles Examiner, Jan.  25, 1947. The only message ever confirmed to be from the Black Dahlia’s killer. With the publication of Steve Hodel’s “Black Dahlia Avenger” and “Most Evil,” I assumed that the market … Continue reading →

Posted in broadcasting, Homicide, LAPD, Television | 1 Comment

House Committee to Investigate Payola

Posted on November 7, 2009 by lmharnisch

Nov. 7, 1959: A U.N. group finds no proof that Laos had been invaded by communist troops from North Viet-Nam but discovers that Laotian rebels were supplied by Viet-Nam Reds. You may hear more about Viet-Nam in the days ahead … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, broadcasting, Front Pages, Politics, Richard Nixon, Rock 'n' Roll, Sports, Television | Comments Off on House Committee to Investigate Payola