Dec. 7, 1959: Paul Coates Interviews Tokyo Rose

Posted on December 7, 2013 by lmharnisch

On Dec. 7, 1959, Paul Coates published an interview with Tokyo Rose. She says: “What’s the use? What good is it to talk to the press?  Everybody’s mind is made up about me.”

A throwback from 2009, when my blog when it was at latimes.com.

Posted in 1941, 1959, World War II | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Mary Pickford Warns Aspiring Actresses: Bring Your Mothers!

Posted on December 7, 2013 by lmharnisch

Dec. 4, 1923, Mary Pickford Day

Dec. 4, 1923: Los Angeles celebrates Mary Pickford Day with an appearance by the silent screen star, her mother, Charlotte, and her husband,  Douglas Fairbanks, before a crowd of fans (mostly women, The Times noted) at Pershing Square.

Speaking to the crowd without amplification, Pickford could hardly be heard by the crowd, but The Times reported that she devoted her address to the problem of the throngs of aspiring actors and actresses hoping to storm the gates of the movie studios.

The Times said: “It seems that the Chamber of Commerce statistics show that some 10,000 young men and women, less than legal age, come to this city every month to seek jobs in pictures, and of course only a small part of them have any talents or, if so, have the good fortune in the struggle to find places, for the directors are deluged with applications.”

Pickford didn’t discourage young people from seeking stardom, but she warned that they should expect to work for five years before attaining stardom and if they failed, be prepared for another line of work.

“The girls should be accompanied by their mothers,” Pickford warned, a strong rebuttal to the notion that at some point Hollywood “lost its innocence.” Hollywood never had any innocence to lose.

ps: Build a home in Inglewood, which boasted that it kept out people of color!

Continue reading →

Posted in 1923, Downtown, Film, Hill Street, Hollywood, Olive, Parks | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Pages of History — Morrow Mayo and ‘Los Angeles’

Posted on December 6, 2013 by lmharnisch

Los Angeles Inscribed

This is something of a find. “Los Angeles” is one of the most influential — though certainly not one of the most accurate — books ever written about local history and although it’s well known, the author, George “Morrow” Mayo is quite obscure. An EBay vendor has listed an autographed copy, and I don’t recall ever seeing another one. (Mayo’s final manuscript of the book, by the way, is at the Huntington and I once spent an afternoon going through it. Each page is has been punctured from being hung on a hook or stuck on a spike during the publishing process.)

Bidding on this item starts at $75 and if I didn’t already have a copy I would be tempted. As with anything on EBay, an item and vendor should be evaluated thoroughly before submitting a bid.

Read more about Morrow Mayo here | and here.

Posted in 1933, Books and Authors, History | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Pages of History — Morrow Mayo and ‘Los Angeles’

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on December 6, 2013 by lmharnisch

Dec. 6, 2013, Mystery Photo

Today’s mystery chap is especially tricky because Christopher McPherson, who kindly shared these photos, has no idea about the identity of this gent. He could be someone’s Uncle Freddy, although this does look like a publicity shot.

Google’s image search (if you don’t know about this, you should, although you will now be on your honor not to use it to cheat on the mystery photos) is quite unhelpful.

Continue reading →

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

Farewell to Old Los Angeles

Posted on December 6, 2013 by lmharnisch

Oct. 22, 1933, Farewell to Old Los Angeles
image

The old Plaza area as drawn by Times artist Charles Owens. Along with the demolition to make way for Union Station, historic buildings between the Plaza and Union Station were torn down in February 1951.

Oct. 22, 1933: I came across this article while looking for something else and thought I would post it, followed by the Feb. 7, 1951, article on the demolition of the Lugo Adobe and 18 other buildings between the Plaza and Union Station.

Stanley Gordon takes a look at the area that will soon be leveled to make way for Union Station — and on an interesting side note, he refers to “a great union depot, and possibly a central airway terminal.”

He notes that the brick home of Mathew Keller, 726 Alameda, who once kept a vineyard and orchard, “will either be destroyed or moved away to make room for the concourse in front of the depot.

At Macy and Alameda, Gordon says, was the home of Benjamin D. Wilson, for whom Mt. Wilson was named.

Also at risk, Gordon says, are the Lugo Adobe, which was demolished in February 1951, along with 18 other buildings between the Plaza and Union Station.

Read on, but notice the references to “heathen Indians”  and Chinese opium dens.

Continue reading →

Posted in 1933, 1951, Downtown, Preservation, Transportation | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Posted on December 5, 2013 by lmharnisch

Walking Your Octopus

For the steampunk fan on your gift list, you might consider “Walking Your Octopus,” with wonderful illustrations by Brian Kesinger. I had an opportunity to chat with Brian at the Cartoon Expo and scored a signed copy.

Available from Brian Kesinger and Skylight Books

Posted in Animals, Art & Artists, Books and Authors | Tagged , | Comments Off on L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on December 5, 2013 by lmharnisch

Dec. 5, 2013, mystery photo

Here’s Thursday’s mystery woman, courtesy of Christopher McPherson.

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 16 Comments

PROHIBITION ENDS!

Posted on December 5, 2013 by lmharnisch

image
The Times marks the end of Prohibition with a front page cartoon by Edmund Waller “Ted” Gale, who  quit in 1934 and went to the Examiner in a dispute over The Times’ editorial policies.

Dec. 5, 1933, Prohibition Ends
Dec. 5, 1933: With the passage of the 21st Amendment by Utah, the 18th Amendment is repealed, ending Prohibition. The Paris Inn offered lunch for 75 cents “with a big glass of wine” and the Bowery, Grand at 9th, advertised “Eastside Beer on tap.” The Times reported that WCTU speaker Justice Fidus E. Fish, 79, dropped dead after completing a speech.

Beverly Hills screenwriter Sidney Lazarus and his wife, Maud, 522 Palm Drive, are found dead in the back seat of their car, which was left running in the garage with a hose from the exhaust through the floor board and into the vehicle.

“The writer had placed his arm about his life mate and she nestled her head on his shoulder as they died,” The Times said. Authorities were alerted when Mrs. Sol Schiff, 2005 La Salle Ave., received a note. According to friends, the couple had been having health problems.

Lazarus was 43.

In the Theaters: “Roman Scandals” at Grauman’s Chinese; “Elysia” at Tally’s Criterion, Grand and 7th.

Joan Crawford and Franchot Tone deny rumors that they are engaged.

A nationwide effort targets the “itinerant unemployed” from sneaking rides on trains or hitchhiking. Los Angeles’ notorious “bum blockade” was attempted in 1936.

Continue reading →

Posted in 1933, Art & Artists, Comics, Downtown, Film, Food and Drink, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Posted on December 4, 2013 by lmharnisch

John Gilbert Book

Today’s holiday gift suggestion is the latest biography from Eve Golden, “John Gilbert: The Last of the Silent Film Stars.”

The Daily Mirror likes to support its local independent bookstore whenever possible. But if you’re not close to a good local bookstore, “John Gilbert” is available from TCM and Amazon (both print and Kindle, and something called “Audible.”)

Posted in Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Before You Watch ‘Mob City’ — Bugsy Siegel, Mickey Cohen and Chief Parker

Posted on December 4, 2013 by lmharnisch

Dec. 12, 1946, Motorcycle Officers

Before you watch TNT’s “Mob City” tonight, read these items from The Times about what Police Capt. William H. Parker was actually doing in the 1940s.

Parker served in the Army during World War II and was discharged in November 1945. On July 25, 1947, Parker was named head of the LAPD Traffic Division. By December 1947, Parker had attained the rank of inspector. He became head of Internal Affairs in May 1950 and became LAPD chief Aug. 2, 1950.

As I have noted before, by the time Parker became LAPD chief, Bugsy Siegel had been dead for three years.

Where was Mickey Cohen when Parker became chief? Traveling across the U.S. with John Stompanato.

And if the name Robert Gilmore in the Dec. 12, 1946, story seems familiar, you’re right. Regardless of what you may read elsewhere, “Severed” writer John Gilmore’s father was a traffic officer at this time.

Continue reading →

Posted in 1945, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1950, Hollywood, LAPD, Mickey Cohen, World War II | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on December 4, 2013 by lmharnisch

Dec. 4, 2013, Mystery Photo

And here is Wednesday’s mystery chap, courtesy of writer Christopher McPherson.

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

LAPD: Parker Center Cop Shop Files

Posted on December 4, 2013 by lmharnisch

DR-65-594-262

Feb. 7, 1972, Praying Rapist

I was given a box of material that was cleaned out of the old press room at the LAPD’s Parker Center headquarters, sometimes called “the cop shop.” The box was a jumble of press releases, photographs, artists’ sketches and other items dating from the late 1960s to the early 1980s. I am organizing and cataloging the material and I’ll be posting selected items on a weekly basis.

The “Remorseful Rapist” is one the oldest items in the “cop shop files,” dating from 1965, as reflected by the LAPD case number DR 65 594-262.

Continue reading →

Posted in 1965, 1973, Art & Artists, Books and Authors, Crime and Courts, LAPD, Parker Center Cop Shop Files | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Posted on December 3, 2013 by lmharnisch

Nuestro Pueblo

Whenever I’m asked about my favorite books on Los Angeles, my first recommendation is “Nuestro Pueblo,” a selection of features by Times artist Charles Owens and writer Joseph Seewerker that appeared in The Times. I went through all of them when the blog was at latimes.com, so I won’t repeat them now, but if you’re a fan of Rediscovering Los Angeles, which was illustrated by Owens with commentary by Timothy Turner, you may enjoy “Nuestro Pueblo.”  Unfortunately, Rediscovering Los Angeles was never published in book form and has languished in obscurity.

“Nuestro Pueblo” is long out of print and the prices have gone up since I started writing about it, with some dealers asking more than $100 for a copy. A patient shopper can still find a copy for less than $20, however. One of my favorite tools for finding out of print books is bookfinder.com, which shows wide price range on copies of “Nuestro Pueblo.”

And what are your gift recommendations for this holiday season?

Posted in Art & Artists, Books and Authors, Nuestro Pueblo | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated)

Posted on December 3, 2013 by lmharnisch

Dec. 3, 2013, Mystery Photo

And for Tuesday, we have a mystery lady, courtesy of writer Christopher McPherson.

Lilyan Tashman

Yes, Eve, it’s Lilyan Tashman. Honest!

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments

Rediscovering Los Angeles — Sam Kee Laundry

Posted on December 3, 2013 by lmharnisch

Jan. 20, 1936, Rediscovering Los Angeles

Jan. 20, 1936: For this installment of Rediscovering Los Angeles, Times artist Charles Owens and columnist Timothy Turner visit a Chinese laundry on Figueroa near Temple.

Turner writes:

It was a busy hive before John Chinaman cut off his pigtail, back when he had the quaint custom of taking a huge mouthful of water and spraying it over the bone-dry clothes before he applied the iron. This traditional custom was finally broken by threats and pleadings of municipal health officers, who accomplished the substitution of a tin mechanical sprayer.

“Chinatown,” anyone?

Continue reading →

Posted in 1936, Architecture, Art & Artists, Columnists, Downtown, Film, Nuestro Pueblo | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Posted on December 2, 2013 by lmharnisch

Mary Mallory, Hollywoodland

If you enjoy Mary Mallory’s columns (and our survey shows that readers do) you might like this anthology of Hollywood Heights called “Hollywoodland: Tales Lost and Found.” It’s available for the Kindle, but don’t forget that Amazon has a free app so you can read it on a PC or on an iPad.

Posted in Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on December 2, 2013 by lmharnisch

Dec. 2, 2013, Mystery Photo

Here’s Monday’s mystery chap, courtesy of writer Christopher McPherson. The annoying black box is where our mystery fellow thoughtfully signed his photo.

Update: Yes, this is William Bakewell (d. 1993), who appeared in “All Quiet on the Western Front.”

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights — Bonner Fruit Co. Cans San Fernando Valley’s Peaches

Posted on December 2, 2013 by lmharnisch

Bonner Fruit Co.


The San Fernando Valley has experienced a great evolution over the last several centuries from bucolic fields to economic powerhouse. Quiet and peaceful for years, it served as Southern California’s breadbasket for decades until Angelenos looked to its empty vistas as places to escape harsh, city life. What had been a vast agricultural and ranching engine eventually became hedgerows of homes and factories.

For centuries, Indians lived here peaceably until the Spanish arrived and claimed the land, later establishing the San Fernando Rey Mission in 1797. Indians and settlers farmed and ranched the land on behalf of the mission, until Isaac Lankershim and Isaac Newton Van Nuys purchased 60,000 acres on July 2, 1869, and established the San Fernando Homestead Assn., later reorganized as the Los Angeles Farm and Milling Co. In 1888, Lankershim established the Lankershim Ranch Land and Water Co. to subdivide the land, starting the migration of Americans to this rich undeveloped area.

Mary Mallory’s “Hollywoodland: Tales Lost and Found” is available for the Kindle.

Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, Food and Drink, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, San Fernando Valley | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights — Bonner Fruit Co. Cans San Fernando Valley’s Peaches

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Posted on December 1, 2013 by lmharnisch

Sept. 16, 1957, Parker T-Ball Jotter

We are being bombarded by stories about Black Friday and Cyber Monday, with videos of long lines at stores and the attendant consumer frenzy.

The L.A. Daily Mirror prefers a more subdued approach to buying gifts during the holiday season. Here’s proof that an ideal retro gift can be practical and inexpensive. It’s the Parker T-Ball jotter, which has changed very little since this 1957 ad.

You can pick one up at most office supply stores for about $8. We like ours with the gel refill, medium point. Perfect for doing the New York Times crossword puzzle.

What’s on your shopping list? If you have a good gift idea, share it with us.

Posted in 1957, Art & Artists, Books and Authors | Tagged , , | Comments Off on L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Take the L.A. Daily Mirror Reader Survey — Responses Closed

Posted on November 30, 2013 by lmharnisch

Jack Webb, William Conrad, "-30-"

Jack Webb and William Conrad phone in their answers to the L.A. Daily Mirror Reader Survey.

Update 2: Today’s the last day to express your thoughts in the Daily Mirror Reader Survey. And stay tuned for the results.

Update: More than 100 L.A. Daily Mirror readers have taken the survey and the results are most gratifying! I’m going to run it a few more days for any stragglers in the crowd, but I suspect I have already received the bulk of responses.

So far, the most essential item is the mystery photo, which I assumed, but it’s nice to have some data to show just how popular it is.

Readers — a lot of them — would like book reviews. And so would I, but the challenge is finding the time to do them, as in our oft-repeated lament: “So many stories, only one Larry Harnisch.”

I’ll publish more detailed results when the survey closes in a few days. And thanks for reading!

I have asked for readers’ feedback in the past, but I have never gone so far as to conduct a survey. This is my first attempt at writing a poll, so if I have omitted one of your favorite features or blogs, it’s entirely an oversight.

What we’re looking for is what works and what we could do better. There’s an open question at the end where you can write to us.

The L.A. Daily Mirror Reader Survey is open through December and results will be posted in January.

CLICK HERE to take the L.A. Daily Mirror Reader Survey.

And thanks!

Posted in Film, History, Hollywood, LAPD, Mystery Photo, Theaters | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Take the L.A. Daily Mirror Reader Survey — Responses Closed