Category Archives: Transportation

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on June 27, 2011 by lmharnisch

Here’s another mystery photo, courtesy of Steven Bibb. There’s a closer look on the jump. [Update: This is Dorothea Wieck (d. 1986), known for “Maedchen in Uniform,” arriving in Los Angeles, April 13, 1933. She returned to Germany because she … Continue reading →

Posted in 1933, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography, Transportation, World War II | Tagged #film, #hollywood, #la, #photography | 7 Comments

From the Archives: King Tut Bus

Posted on June 22, 2011 by lmharnisch

Primary Resources, a blog of Metro’s Dorothy Peyton Gray Transportation Library and Archive, has posted some images of vehicles, including this “King Tut bus,” decorated for the U.S. tour of “The Treasures of King Tutankhamun” exhibit, which was on display … Continue reading →

Posted in 1978, Museums, Photography, Transportation | Tagged #King Tut, #museums, #photography | 1 Comment

Charlie Chaplin’s Big Moment in Venice

Posted on June 21, 2011 by lmharnisch

I was intrigued by Sunday’s Then and Now piece by Anthony Mostrom on Charlie Chaplin’s “Kid Auto Races at Venice” and I thought I’d do a little digging. Here’s what I found. The film includes footage of two races. One … Continue reading →

Posted in 1914, Film, Hollywood, Libraries, Photography, Transportation | Tagged #1914, #Charlie Chaplin, #Dogs, #film, #hollywood, #Motorsports, #Sports, #Venice, Animals, Auto Racing | 7 Comments

From the Reference Desk: Movie Star’s Mother Dies in Car Crash

Posted on June 18, 2011 by lmharnisch

Here’s a lesson in what to do if you don’t have access to ProQuest. Stacia of She Blogged by Night had a question the other day about car a accident involving Vera Steadman, Al Christie and Marie Prevost’s Mother, Mrs. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1926, Film, From the Reference Desk, Hollywood, Libraries, Obituaries, Transportation | Tagged #car accidents, #film, #hollywood, #movie stars, #obituaries | 4 Comments

The Mystery of the Transparent Car

Posted on June 16, 2011 by lmharnisch

For sale: A transparent Pontiac! The sale car is on display in St. Petersburg, Fla., Feb. 19, 1940. The sale car on display in Spokane, Wash., in 1941. But wait! A different transparent Pontiac is on display in Los Angeles … Continue reading →

Posted in 1939, 1940, 1941, Art & Artists, Transportation | 8 Comments

Heresy on L.A. Streetcars!

Posted on June 15, 2011 by lmharnisch

My hair (or what’s left of it) stood on end when I read this portion of Tim Rutten’s column on Wednesday about Rick Caruso’s mayoral campaign: Mythology has it that the old Red Cars were killed by a conspiracy, but … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Columnists, Downtown, Politics, Transportation | 7 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 crime and courts, lapd | Comments Off

Immigrants Overwhelm San Diego!

Posted on June 13, 2011 by lmharnisch

San Diego has everything a family might want: A moderate climate and jobs in the expanding defense industries. But there’s no place to live. Rep. John H. Tolan (D-Oakland) is holding hearings in San Diego on the plight of migrants … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, 1947, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Environment, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, Immigration, LAPD, San Diego, Transportation, World War II | Tagged 1947, black dahlia, cold cases, lapd | 1 Comment

Army Clears Strikers at North American Aviation

Posted on June 10, 2011 by lmharnisch

June 10, 1941: Bill Henry files a color story on soldiers using rifles with bayonets to herd strikers away from the North American Aviation plant. Unfortunately, my new optical character recognition software can’t handle these old clips, so I have … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Transportation, World War II | Comments Off

North American Aviation Strike

Posted on June 9, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photograph by the Los Angeles Times Labor activists picket the North American Aviation plant in a photo published June 6, 1941. One of the first challenges in studying the 1941 North American Aviation strike is using The Times as source … Continue reading →

Posted in 1910 L.A. Times bombing, 1941, LAPD, Transportation, World War II | Comments Off

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, June 1, 1941

Posted on June 1, 2011 by lmharnisch

June 1, 1941: LONDON, May 31. (AP)– German airmen who went belatedly to Iraq to bolster the Axis-inspired war against Britain were reported fleeing the country tonight as Iraqi resistance … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Lee Shippey, Music, Tom Treanor, Transportation | 2 Comments

Found on EBay – Duesenberg

Posted on May 23, 2011 by lmharnisch

Perhaps your Duesenberg Model J needs a rebuilt generator. Or perhaps you can’t afford an entire Model J but would like a piece of one. A Delco-Remy generator for a Duesenberg has been listed on EBay for $755. As with … Continue reading →

Posted in Found on EBay, Transportation | 1 Comment

Found on EBay – 1947 Thomas Bros. Guide

Posted on May 17, 2011 by lmharnisch

A 1947 Thomas Bros. guide has been listed on EBay. These are terrific resources (the Daily Mirror HQ has a small collection of them) showing what Los Angeles looked like before freeways. The guides also include streetcar … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Found on EBay, Freeways, Transportation | Comments Off

MTA Plans Rapid Transit Route From Century City to El Monte!!

Posted on May 15, 2011 by lmharnisch

May 15, 1961: The Metropolitan Transit Authority announces plans for a rapid transit system from Century City to El Monte! The proposed line, including 12 miles of subway, would extend from the downtown area … Continue reading →

Posted in 1961, art and artists, Comics, Freeways, Transportation | 1 Comment

Found on EBay – Angels Flight

Posted on May 9, 2011 by lmharnisch

Postcards of Angels Flight are fairly common, but I can’t say I have ever seen one taken from this perspective on 3rd Street. Bidding starts at $6.89.

Posted in Downtown, Photography, Transportation | Comments Off

Found on EBay — Mystery Postcard [Updated]

Posted on May 7, 2011 by lmharnisch

[Update: What’s wrong with this postcard? Notice City Hall way down the block? Please congratulate Cat Murray for recognizing this as Broadway, not Spring Street. ] This postcard of downtown Los Angeles has been listed on … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Mystery Photo, Photography, Transportation | 4 Comments

Found on EBay — John Barrymore’s Town Car

Posted on May 4, 2011 by lmharnisch

A photograph of John Barrymore’s 1930 Cord L-29, with a body by Murphy Coach Builders of Pasadena, has been listed on EBay. According to an 1989 article in the Spartanburg Herald-Journal, this car is in the Auburn, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1930, Film, Hollywood, Transportation | Comments Off

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, April 17, 1941

Posted on April 17, 2011 by lmharnisch

SANTA FE CHIEF, April 16 — NOTHING MAKES YOU feel more remote from the toil, trouble and strife of the war world than a powerful train. It's a moving island from which all disturbing influences … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Lee Shippey, Tom Treanor, Transportation | Comments Off

Paul Coates and Matt Weinstock, April 14, 1961

Posted on April 14, 2011 by lmharnisch

April 14, 1961: Like some huge, weird, robot-like monster in a dream, the steel and concrete pillars and bridges of the Santa Monica Freeway are advancing slowly westward from Figueroa Street to Venice Boulevard, laying waste all before … Continue reading →

Posted in 1961, art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Matt Weinstock, Paul Coates, Transportation | Comments Off

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, April 6, 1941

Posted on April 6, 2011 by lmharnisch

The country is virtually at war. Its defense efforts are being hamstrung by unjustified strikes, uncooperative industrialists and blathermouthed, spotlight-hunting politicians. The average man in America has, with excellent reason, such a deep distrust of inefficient nincompoops in public office that his patriotism is in danger of being poisoned by his distrust.
Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Lee Shippey, Tom Treanor, Transportation | Comments Off