Category Archives: Transportation

The Balloonatics

Posted on October 16, 2009 by lmharnisch

Photograph by Jeff Barnard/Associated Press July 6, 2008: Kent Couch prepares to lift off in a lawn chair from his gas station in Bend, Ore., in a balloon-suspended lawn chair at dawn. About nine hours later, he created a sensation … Continue reading →

Posted in @news, Music, Stage, Transportation | 1 Comment

Coming Attractions – Edwards Air Force Base Open House

Posted on October 13, 2009 by lmharnisch

Dec. 16, 1929: An artist’s concept of John K. Northrop’s Flying Wing. Alas, the 1929 version of Northrop’s Flying Wing will not be on display during the open house at Edwards Air Force Base on Saturday from 7 a.m. to … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Coming Attractions, Science, Transportation | 2 Comments

Found on EBay – Stutz Racer

Posted on October 13, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 9, 1914: Earl Cooper is driving a Stutz in the race from Los Angeles to Phoenix. This postcard showing a Stutz that took part in a race from Los Angeles to Phoenix has been listed on EBay. As … Continue reading →

Posted in Sports, Transportation | Comments Off

October 1, 1909: Fatal Land Dispute Near El Monte

Posted on October 1, 2009 by lmharnisch

October 1, 1909: A century ago, the Wright brothers hadn’t flown as high as the Eiffel Tower. A property dispute near El Monte ends in a killing with racial overtones.

Posted in #courts, Transportation | Comments Off

September 30, 1959: Matt Weinstock

Posted on September 30, 2009 by lmharnisch

September 30, 1959: “The body of a San Bernardino Freeway crash victim was hurled into a tree where it hung unnoticed for five hours today” … W.C. Fields vs. Cecil B. De Mille … and Matt Weinstock on some friendly … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Matt Weinstock, Transportation | Comments Off

‘War Is War’

Posted on September 29, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 29, 1939: Ruth Locke describes a submarine attack off the Irish coast.

Posted in Politics, Transportation, travel | Comments Off

White Sox vs. Reds in World Series

Posted on September 28, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 28, 1919: "Buster Brown" takes a look at what causes homelessness. LAPD Sgt. Frank Harlan talks about the motorcycle unit: "The worst offenders we have to contend with are boys under 20 and new drivers. Many of the latter … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Comics, LAPD, Sports, Transportation | Comments Off

Car Thief in Short Pants Is the ‘Human Eel’

Posted on September 27, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 27, 1919: Don Clauser is a car thief in short pants … and the Los Angeles Ostrich Farm seeks to dissolve the corporation. March 15, 1921: Don Clauser, the “Human Eel,” escapes from the Whittier school with the superintendent’s … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Transportation | Comments Off

34 Years on the Streetcars

Posted on September 21, 2009 by lmharnisch

Dec. 23, 1934: John Corsen reflects on his 34 years as a streetcar motorman. This is a wonderful first-person account of the early days of the streetcars in Los Angeles. "You ought to see what it was when I started. … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Downtown, Transportation | 1 Comment

Khrushchev in U.S.!; Dodgers Beat Braves

Posted on September 16, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 16, 1959: Khrushchev leaves for the U.S., accompanied by a menacing Mr. Atomic Bomb. He's carrying a briefcase marked "Threats" just in case you don't get it that atomic weapons are dangerous. Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev is greeted by … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, broadcasting, Dodgers, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Politics, Transportation | 1 Comment

Why Cars Don’t Have Running Boards Anymore

Posted on September 13, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 13, 1919: "That Guiltiest Feeling" by Clare Briggs. Mr. Huber was spending lots of time on the phone, so his wife decided to investigate, especially since he began talking about it in his sleep. Mr. Huber told his … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, art and artists, Comics, Downtown, Transportation | Comments Off

Santa Monica Dedicates Pier

Posted on September 10, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 10, 1909: Edward Henry Harriman, "the master builder of railways," dies after a long illness, but the news is withheld from reporters until the stock market closes. Cmdr. Robert Peary files Part 2 of his description of discovering the … Continue reading →

Posted in Fashion, Front Pages, health, Obituaries, Transportation, travel | Comments Off

Found on EBay — Hollywood Spin

Posted on September 9, 2009 by lmharnisch

An unusual novelty — a board game based on Hollywood streets — has been listed on EBay. Hollywood Spin is similar to Monopoly, according to the vendor, with familiar landmarks from the 1940s like Earl Carroll's and the Brown Derby. … Continue reading →

Posted in #games, Hollywood, Transportation | Comments Off

Good Girl Becomes a Fallen Woman

Posted on September 8, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 8, 1909: A.G. Wells, as drawn by Edmund Waller "Ted" Gale. As before, the Daily Mirror cautions against walking on railroad tracks. Pedestrians and cows usually come out second best in encounters with trains. The story of Mabel Massey, … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, art and artists, Transportation | Comments Off

Found on EBay — Pacific Electric

Posted on September 7, 2009 by lmharnisch

This bit of memorabilia from the Pacific Electric days has been listed on EBay. Not cheap with bidding that begins at $899.99.

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Poison From a Secret Admirer

Posted on September 7, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 7, 1909: Car shopping a century ago. A bottle of wine from a secret admirer nearly kills Mrs. J.G. Cash, Reno telephone operator. Cash went to the hospital because she felt ill and when a doctor prescribed some wine … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Homicide, Transportation | Comments Off

Man Saves Woman From Burning to Death

Posted on September 6, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 6, 1909: Edmund Waller "Ted" Gale draws Gen. Adna R. Chaffee, head of the Board of Public Works. Civil engineer W.O. Secor tells a remarkable story: As he was riding the Downey Avenue streetcar at Naud Junction, a flame … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, art and artists, Comics, Downtown, Transportation, travel | Comments Off

Sleepwalker Falls From Streetcar

Posted on September 1, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 1, 1909: Edmund Walller "Ted" Gale draws former Mayor Harper on the witness stand. Francisco Tralenna breaks his arm while sleepwalking — on a streetcar. A runaway horse at 1st and Los Angeles streets leaves two men injured, including … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, City Hall, Downtown, Transportation | Comments Off

Two Blacks Killed in Fight With White Co-Workers

Posted on August 31, 2009 by lmharnisch

Aug. 31, 1899: Boston Optical has sunglasses. A racial fight between members of a crew working on track for the Illinois Central Railroad near Rockford leaves two African Americans dead and one more injured. The contractor and his son say … Continue reading →

Posted in Countdown to Watts, Transportation | Comments Off

Judge Bars Bus Strike; Giants Beat Dodgers

Posted on August 29, 2009 by lmharnisch

Aug. 29, 1959: A judge's temporary restraining order prevents a bus and streetcar strike. Someone has a Cold War souvenir in the shed. Let's fire it up and see what happens. The threat of communist aggression casts a shadow over … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, #Jazz, art and artists, City Hall, Comics, Dodgers, Film, Food and Drink, Front Pages, Hollywood, LAPD, Nightclubs, Politics, Religion, Transportation, Venice Division | Comments Off