Category Archives: Television

‘Bonnie and Clyde’ — Oh Dear

Posted on December 7, 2013 by lmharnisch

I don’t expect much from period productions these days. But my goodness, get a load of these two.

Posted in Fashion, Film, Hollywood, Television | Tagged , , , , | 27 Comments

Another Good Story Ruined: William Parker vs. Bugsy Siegel

Posted on November 24, 2013 by lmharnisch

By Yvonne Villarreal in The Times. Let’s get this straight: There was never a “long and often bloody struggle between LAPD Police Chief William Parker and gangster kingpin Ben ‘Bugsy’ Siegel” for the simple reason that Siegel was shot to … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Another Good Story Ruined, History, LAPD, Mickey Cohen, Television | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Black Dahlia: George Hodel — Soil Samples at the Sowden House: FAIL

Posted on November 14, 2013 by lmharnisch

Saturday was, in case you had forgotten, the one-year anniversary of Buster the Wonder Dog’s frolic at the Sowden House in a search for evidence to link Dr. George “Evil Genius” Hodel to the Black Dahlia killing. You may recall … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Hollywood, LAPD, Television | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Coming Attractions – Honoring CBS Studio Center Oct. 19

Posted on October 12, 2013 by lmharnisch

Mary Mallory and Marc Wanamaker will be speaking at this event on Oct. 19 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Studio City Library, 12511 Moorpark St., Studio City.

Posted in Coming Attractions, Film, Mary Mallory, San Fernando Valley, Television | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Coming Attractions – Honoring CBS Studio Center Oct. 19

LAPD Spied on Mayor, Attorney General, Detective Says

Posted on August 16, 2013 by lmharnisch

Aug. 16, 1983: Former Times reporter Joel Sappell reports on allegations by Detective Michael J. Rothmiller that the LAPD’s Organized Crime Intelligence Division spied on Mayor Tom Bradley, then-Atty.Gen. John Van de Kamp, and other U.S., state, county and local … Continue reading →

Posted in 1983, City Hall, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Music, Stage, Television | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

When Hollywood Tries to Get It Right

Posted on July 5, 2013 by lmharnisch

July 5, 1983: Calendar writer Judith Michaelson has a most enjoyable story about De Forest Research, founded in 1952 by Kellam de Forest and located on the Paramount lot in Hollywood. At that time, the company had seven researchers, 16,000 … Continue reading →

Posted in 1983, Film, Hollywood, Libraries, Television | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Black Dahlia: Today on ‘Midday Sunday’

Posted on March 3, 2013 by lmharnisch

Set your DVR: I will be discussing the Black Dahlia case and Buster the cadaver dog’s romp at the Sowden House – Dr. George “Evil Genius” Hodel’s purported Murder HQ —  with my good friend Tony Valdez on “Midday Sunday” … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, 1950, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, Hollywood, LAPD, Television | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

TCM: Fail

Posted on January 19, 2013 by lmharnisch

Hobart Bosworth’s previously unknown role as Bob the Tomato.

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Television | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Millennial Moment: Ban on Blood Donations From Gay Men Urged

Posted on January 18, 2013 by lmharnisch

Jan. 18, 1983: Gay men are “known to be at increased risk of acquiring a mysterious and often fatal new disease that suppresses the body’s immune system” so the National Hemophilia Foundation is seeking to bar them from donating blood, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1983, LAPD, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Medicine, Millennial Moments, Religion, Television | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Millennial Moment: Ban on Blood Donations From Gay Men Urged

Punk Rock Riot on Sunset Boulevard!

Posted on January 10, 2013 by lmharnisch

  How about this retro artwork on the ad for “Nicholas Nickleby?” Sort of Peter Max via “Yellow Submarine.” Jan. 10, 1983: A riot breaks out among an estimated 2,000 punk rockers during a concert at Studio Instrument Rentals at … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Downtown, Hollywood, Music, Spring Street, Television | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Millennial Moment: Hit Man Says Car Dealer Belongs to Mafia

Posted on October 18, 2012 by lmharnisch

Oct. 18, 1980: In one of the more unusual revelations in testimony by admitted hit man Jimmy “the Weasel” Fratianno, El Monte Toyota dealer Dominic Longo (d. 1985) is described as a Mafia member. Appearing at the trial of five … Continue reading →

Posted in 1980, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Millennial Moments, Politics, Television | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Highway Patrol Day: 10-4!

Posted on October 4, 2012 by lmharnisch

Here’s a salute to one of my favorite childhood TV shows. Remember: “Leave your blood at the blood bank, not on the road. For ‘Highway Patrol,’ this is Broderick Crawford.”

Posted in Television | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on August 27, 2012 by lmharnisch

Photo: A 1972 Cadillac hearse has been listed on EBay at Buy It Now for $4,200. (Note: it has a 472 engine in case you are in a hurry). Queen of the Dead – dateline August 27, 2012 •   Phyllis … Continue reading →

Posted in Eve Golden, Film, Hollywood, Music, Obituaries, Queen of the Dead, Television | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

James Curtis: L.A. Voices – Jules White, Part 1

Posted on August 8, 2012 by lmharnisch

Photo: Jules White in an undated picture. Here’s another of those interviews I did during a random burst of energy in 1975. This one took place a couple of weeks before my previously-posted talk with Dick Lane, and my memory … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, James Curtis, L.A. Voices, Television | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on July 30, 2012 by lmharnisch

A promotional card for Pennsylvania funeral home, listed on EBay at Buy It Now for $95.  Queen of the Dead – dateline July 30, 2012 •   Two reliably talented British performers have died: Angharad Rees (on July 21, at 63) … Continue reading →

Posted in Eve Golden, Film, Found on EBay, Hollywood, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Obituaries, Queen of the Dead, Television | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on July 19, 2012 by lmharnisch

Here’s another photo from the amazing collection of Steven Bibb!

Posted in Film, Mystery Photo, Television | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on July 2, 2012 by lmharnisch

This gag postcard of a hearse has been listed on EBay. Bidding starts at  $19.95. Queen of the Dead – dateline July 2, 2012 •  Don Grady, the hottest of My Three Sons, died on June 27; he was 68. … Continue reading →

Posted in Eve Golden, Film, Hollywood, Queen of the Dead, Television | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on June 25, 2012 by lmharnisch

A motorcycle hearse listed on EBay at $10,000. Queen of the Dead – dateline June 25, 2012 •  Remember a couple months ago when Thomas Kinkade died and there were all these debates about “was he a worse painter than … Continue reading →

Posted in Art & Artists, Eve Golden, Film, Found on EBay, Hollywood, Obituaries, Queen of the Dead, Television | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on June 18, 2012 by lmharnisch

This postcard of a Cuban hearse has been listed on EBay, listed as Buy It Now  at $20. Queen of the Dead – dateline June 18, 2012 •   Production designer J. Michael Riva, 63, died on June 7. Modern filmgoers … Continue reading →

Posted in Eve Golden, Film, Obituaries, Queen of the Dead, Television | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on June 11, 2012 by lmharnisch

Photo: A 1938 Packard hearse has been listed on EBay at $40,000. Queen of the Dead – dateline June 11, 2012 •   It’s an oddity of these YouTube days that you can become famous (or re-famous) not only for an … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Eve Golden, Film, Found on EBay, Nightclubs, Obituaries, Queen of the Dead, Television | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment