
March 24, 1925: I found this while researching something else and it’s too cool not to share.

March 24, 1925: I found this while researching something else and it’s too cool not to share.

A postcard of a horse-drawn hearse listed on EBay with bidding starting at $2.50.
Queen of the Dead – dateline April 9, 2012
• The Telegraph hits another one out of the ballpark with their tribute to Peregrine John Wishart Fairfax, 12th Lord Fairfax of Cameron, who died on February 23 at 86. A Royal Lancer during the Allied advance through Italy, he later was a champion of the farming life. But here comes the creamy nougat center (sorry, centre) of the Telegraph’s obit, as they talk of his animal husbandry (watch that!) and “his passion for lurchers and longdogs” (I have no idea what that even means, but I blush just typing it). Fairfax kept a black and white rat with him during the war, till it was tragically eaten by locals, and—wait for it—“One of his party tricks was to dress for dinner, accessorised with a pair of white ferrets down his trousers. When he stood up, their red eyes would shine out from his nether regions in the candlelight.” Bliss! Thank you, Telegraph.

Oct. 25, 1924: “What’s the Matter With the Modern Woman?” also “Fast Young Women – Sowing the Wind and Reaping the Whirlwind.”

In case you just tuned in, I’m doing a little fact-checking as I go through Scotty Bowers’ “Full Service.” This will be fairly tedious except to a research drudge.
This is interesting. The city of Beverly Hills has compiled a list of architects and builders, arranged by street address. And although the list is from 1986, it doesn’t matter for a historic house like the one at 1110 Benedict Canyon Drive, where Scotty Bowers purportedly had his first Hollywood tryst with Walter Pidgeon and Jacob/Jack/Jacques Potts.
Fact-Checking “Full Service”: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23

The Daily Mirror HQ is not equipped to receive “Mad Men,” so the TV sensation is lost on us. However, several “Mad Men” reading lists are floating around the Web for possible inclusion on your Zombie Reading List:
The New York Public Library’s “Mad Men” Reading List
The Los Angeles Public Library’s “Mad Men” Reading List
Here are some titles that I recall from my mother’s pile of books in the “Mad Men” era. My mother was a fast and insatiable reader – and I was too young then to remember everything, especially all the books she got from the library – but these are ones we had around the house.
“How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” (1952) by Shepherd Mead.
“Catcher in the Rye,” (1951) by J.D. Salinger.
“Hawaii,” (1959) by James Michener. Everybody was reading this book when it came out.
“Inside U.S.A.,” (1947) by John Gunther. This is from the 1940s, but everybody seemed to have one, usually next to a beat-up copy of “The Bluejackets’ Manual.”
“The Second Sex,” (1953) by Simone De Beauvoir.
“From Here to Eternity,” (1951) by James Jones.
“The Caine Mutiny,” (1951) by Herman Wouk.
Also from my mom’s bookshelves: “Kon-Tiki,” (1951) by Thor Heyerdahl; “The Sea Around Us,” (1952) by Rachel Carson; “The Magic Lantern,” (1953) by Robert Carson; “Not as a Stranger,” (1954) by Morton Thompson; “Why Johnny Can’t Read,” (1955) Rudolf Flesch (my mother’s possession of this book always baffled me because I read avidly from an early age); “Profiles in Courage,” (1956) by John F. Kennedy; “The Hidden Persuaders,” (1957) by Vance Packard; “The Winthrop Woman,” 1958, by Anya Seton — a book I never examined.


April 5, 1942: Sentries fire at a car that refused to stop on a street leading to the Army camp in Alondra Park. Ralph W. Spaulding, 26, was hospitalized after being shot in the head. Bessie Edwards, who suffered a broken leg when the car hit a tree after the shooting, said she didn’t remember who was driving.
Kerry Bartels of the National Archives in Riverside will give a presentation at the downtown Los Angeles Public Library on Thursday on the newly released 1940 census material. The presentation is at 12:15 p.m. in Meeting Room A. Bartels will be available for questions afterward.

In case you just tuned in, I’m doing a little fact-checking as I go through Scotty Bowers’ “Full Service.” This will be fairly tedious except to a research drudge.
I’m examining the history of 1110 Benedict Canyon Drive, where, as far as I can tell, Scotty Bowers allegedly had his first tryst in Los Angeles in 1946 with Walter Pidgeon at the home of Jacob/Jack/Jacques Potts.
In the last post, I was mystified by the reference in a real estate ad to a “John Wolfe Regency.” Thanks to Lysandra Yaxley, who dug up a Vanity Fair article, I have found some answers about John Elgin “Jack” Woolf. And more questions.
Fact-Checking “Full Service”: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22

In case you just tuned in, I’m doing a little fact-checking as I go through Scotty Bowers’ “Full Service.” This will be fairly tedious except to a research drudge.
I’m examining the history of 1110 Benedict Canyon Drive, where, as far as I can tell, Scotty Bowers allegedly had his first tryst in Los Angeles in 1946 with Walter Pidgeon at the home of Jacob/Jack/Jacques Potts. There are numerous problems with Bowers’ account, including the statement that the house was across the street from Harold Lloyd’s estate, which is actually 0.2 of a mile away.
And there are conflicting descriptions of the driveway: was it paved or gravel? Details, details….
Fact-Checking “Full Service”: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21

Oct. 9, 1959: “The Best of Everything” opens at the Chinese Theatre.
If you’re an Eve Golden fan (and aren’t we all?) you’ll enjoy reading her article on “The Best of Everything” in The Modern.

Yes, it’s another newsboy cap edition of the mystery photo.
How to Wear a Hat – Newsboy Cap Edition
How to Wear a Hat — ‘Grapes of Wrath’ Edition
Movieland Mystery Photo – Newsboy Cap Edition I
Movieland Mystery Photo – Newsboy Cap Edition II
Movieland Mystery Photo – Newsboy Cap Edition III
How to Wear a Newsboy Cap – Marc Chevalier Edition

In case you just tuned in, I’m doing a little fact-checking as I go through Scotty Bowers’ “Full Service.” This will be fairly tedious except to a research drudge.
I am still on Bowers’ account of his first purported tryst in Los Angeles and this is what we have so far: In 1946, in the days before cars had air conditioning, Walter Pidgeon is motoring around Hollywood on a miserably hot day with the windows in his car rolled up. Pidgeon — a prominent movie star and board member of the Screen Actors Guild — picks up a total stranger at a gas station for some gay sex, offering to pay $20 ($233.50 USD 2012).
He and Bowers head up Benedict Canyon Drive to a house occupied by Jacob/Jack/Jacques Potts, allegedly across the street from Harold Lloyd’s estate – which is actually 0.2 of a mile away
Walter Pidgeon (actual age 46) was “at least fifty,” according to Bowers.
Jacob/Jack/Jacques Potts (actual age 70) “could have been a bit older,” according to Bowers.
In other words, questionable if not outright wrong.
Fact-Checking “Full Service”: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20

A 1984 Cadillac hearse, which the vendor says may be haunted, has been listed on EBay at $520 – with a reserve.
Queen of the Dead – dateline April 2, 2012
• This damn well better not be an obit, but I read this week that the 107-year-old show biz bible Variety has been put up for sale by the Dutch and British conglomerate Reed Elsevier. The Intranets done kil’t it, of course, and as far as I am concerned Peter Bart (editor from 1989-2009) did it no favors by decimating the obituary section. Variety’s obit section used to be the industry’s bulletin board: it covered not just the big stars—as it still does today—but bit players, behind-the-scenes people, and even their relatives. The best chunk of cash I ever spent was on a complete set of the bound Variety Obits, 1905-1988. My preferred bedside reading.

A (mostly) complete Batchelder fireplace that was salvaged – if that’s the right term – from a Catholic school in Wisconsin has been listed on EBay. The vendor says: “There were a few ornate carved animal 4″x4″ tiles that i DON’T have. But you could either eliminate them or buy the artsy ones that you like from Ebay.”
View Down to Earth in a larger map
After yesterday’s post on the Black Dahlia and downtown Los Angeles at night, I pulled together a map while watching the process shots filmed for “Down to Earth.” Google, unfortunately, wiped out some of the addresses and time stamps. And WordPress hates anything that’s embedded, hence the screen shot.
The film car made four passes, taking both sides of the street, starting around 5th Street and Olive, heading south on Olive, east on 8th Street and ending up between Los Angeles Street and Maple Avenue. Because the film was shot at night, it’s hard to make out the details.
Notice the number of police officers (including a black and white and what appears to be a three-wheeled Servi-Car). There seems to have been an Owl Drug Store on every corner! Notice the number of furriers at the time – and the marquee of the Olympic Theatre.
The locations are approximate and in some instances I couldn’t make out the signs. Enjoy!

This will be too easy, but after Geene Courtney, I thought I should pick something everybody will recognize.
Yes, everyone recognized this as Janet Gaynor’s feet in “A Star Is Born.” Ed was first, followed by Michael Ryerson, Mary Mallory, Jenny M, Julie Merholz, Gary Martin, Benito, Dewey Webb, Craig Deco, Eve, Cindy Walters, L.C., Jo Anne, Rance Ryan, Herb Nicholas, Pat in Michigan, Karen, Barbara Klein, Roget-L.A., Norman Desmond and Don Danard. Bill Krieger wins for most original answer.
There are some fun location shots in the film. Here are a few:
You might be wondering: Where’s the next post on Scotty Bowers’ “Full Service?”
I have been busy with other tasks. I was asked to write a column for The Times and was happy to profile Ed Fuentes. Here’s the story: “A vibrant voice chronicles the renaissance of downtown L.A.”
I have also been busy on an ambitious project (no, it has nothing to do with the Black Dahlia) that I can’t reveal until it’s officially rolled out, which I expect to happen in the next week.
So many stories, only one Larry Harnisch. And thanks for your patience!
(And to the individual who responded to one of my previous “Full Service” posts to assure me that 70-year-olds are sexually active: You are an inspiration to us all.)


Photo: Man with a slate in footage shot for “Down to Earth.”
My friends over at the 1947project have found some process footage that was filmed about April 1946 for the Columbia feature “Down to Earth.”
It’s unfortunate that they are hyping it as an eerie foreshadowing of the Black Dahlia case, allegedly tracing Elizabeth Short’s path on the night she disappeared, purportedly walking from the Biltmore to the Crown Grill. In truth, nobody knows for certain where she went or what she did.
The Crown Jewel Cocktail Room (also known as the the Crown Jewel Grill, the Crown Grill and the Crown Grill Cocktail Lounge), 427 W. 8th St., was just another downtown bar where people thought they had seen Elizabeth Short. There is a shadow — but only a shadow — of truth because her roommate Ann Toth sometimes met her boyfriend there.
But there’s nothing in any official records to confirm that Elizabeth Short ever set foot in the place, despite a fairly extensive investigation by the district attorney’s office. And it is less than honest to present such a statement so definitively and without attribution.
Downtown L.A. in color | black and white version
But the footage of downtown Los Angeles is worth a look:


March 28, 1942: A fiery explosion during a secret experiment at the Kellogg Radiation Laboratory kills Raymond L. Robey and injures six others. Robey was thrown 50 feet by the force of the explosion, which scorched the four-story building, The Times said.
Charles Cummins, one of three telephone workers who were repairing a cable outside the building, was credited with helping to pull Robey from the laboratory. The Times later reported that before he died, Robey told investigators he didn’t know what caused the explosion, which was ruled an accident.
Hollywood Boulevard osteopath William H. Kanner is charged with performing an abortion after aircraft worker Delmar Marshall, 24, attacked him with a monkey wrench and accused him of making improper advances to his wife, Louise, 19. Kanner denied performing an abortion and said he had been treating the woman for an infection. Pharmacist Milton Niemitz was also charged for allegedly recommending Kanner to the Marshalls.
On Main Street, “Valley of the Nudists” is at the Liberty and the Aztec has an “All Colored Revue.”

Larry thought that some of you fellow research nerds might be interested in my trip to the Library of Congress to see four John Gilbert films for my upcoming biography. First, I must tell you I could not have picked two better days—temps in the upper 70s, and not only were the cherry trees in full bloom, but so were the apple and wisterias trees. Comically lovely—you have all seen the famous government landmarks a million times, but attached are some of the swell mid-Victorian houses just blocks from the Capitol, and a delightfully cheesy wig shop right on Pennsylvania Avenue. I had not been in D.C., my dears, since the Harding administration, when Nan Britton and I used to paint the town red.