| Larry Harnisch Reflects on L.A. History | Page 30

LAPD Parker Center Cop Shop Files: Jane Doe, September 5, 1973

Posted on September 5, 2025 by lmharnisch

Note: Last year I was given a box of news releases, photographs and random pieces of paper from the old press room at Parker Center. I’m gradually posting the material.

These are the earrings and the label from a pair of pants worn by a teenage girl whose body was found Sept. 5, 1973, in an open grave in Hacienda Heights. She had been dead about 30 to 90 days, authorities said. She had been shot in the head.

From the original press release:

Sheriff Peter J. Pitchess is requesting the cooperation of the public in identifying a young girl who’s body was found in an open grave on September 5, 1973, in Hacienda Heights.

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Posted in 1973, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Parker Center Cop Shop Files | Tagged #Sheriff's Department, 1973, Jane Doe, Parker Center Cop Shop Files | 1 Comment

September 5, 1959: Paul V. Coates — Confidential File

Posted on September 5, 2025 by lmharnisch

Posted in Columnists, Paul Coates | Comments Off

September 5, 1947: L.A. Turns 166, Becomes Third-Largest City in America

Posted on September 5, 2025 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project.

Los Angeles mounted a festive reenactment of its founding, with people taking the roles of padres, soldiers and settlers. On the gaily decorated steps of City Hall, officials told tales of the city’s past: Mrs. Leiland Atherton Irish on the Mexican-Spanish period; Marshall Stimson on life from 1850 to 1900; former Mayor George E. Cryer on 1900 to 1947; and Mayor Fletcher Bowron on the city’s future.

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Posted in 1947, City Hall, Environment, Transportation | Tagged #Traffic, 1947, City Hall, population, smog | Comments Off

1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip by Louella Parsons, September 5, 1944

Posted on September 5, 2025 by lmharnisch

September 5, 1944

Dear Martha Foster: I am a constant reader of your column and I have noticed that many of your letters are from women who are losing their husbands to younger girls. I think I may be able to help them. I am 42 and have been married 24 years. I have very little trouble with my husband’s running around and leaving me at home alone. Why? It’s very simple. Stay sweet, stay young and flatter him!

Wives always blame the man or the other woman when they themselves are to blame. How do you correct this? Easy! How did you win him in the beginning? Well stay that way.

Men are hard to handle but if you know how, you can get anything you want.

Louella Parsons says; “One Touch of Venus” has been sold to the movies, according to word from New York. Mary Pickford has bought it through Victor Orsatti, who represents John Wildberg and Cheryl Crawford, the producers, as well as Ogden Nash and the other authors. Every company in Hollywood has been bidding for it. Mary, who finally obtained the rights, goes East Tuesday to sign the papers.

It is possible that Mary Martin, who created the role on the New York stage, will be brought here for the part.

VIRGO: Financial, economic and important social issues greatly favored; exercise utmost care and scrutiny in money matters. Aggressive tactics, carelessness is out. Be calm, gentle.

From the Philadelphia Inquirer via Fultonhistory.com.

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Posted in 1944, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Horoscope | Tagged 1944, film, hollywood, horoscope, Louella Parsons | Comments Off

September 5, 1944: Left in Car While Mother Goes Dancing, Boy, 6, Drinks Fatal Shot of Whiskey

Posted on September 5, 2025 by lmharnisch

Harry Truman, friend of libraries!

September 5, 1944

Maria Fierro of 879 1/2 Lookout Drive decided to go dancing with Robert Fierro (apparently her brother) and Robert Gomez at a cafe in the 4600 block of Brooklyn Avenue (now Cesar Chavez).

Because children weren’t allowed in the cafe, Stella Barrios, 13, and Maria’s 6-year-old son, Rudolfo, were left to wait outside in the car. Stella went to get a bottle of soda pop, but Rudolfo found a half-full bottle of whiskey in the car and drank enough to send him into convulsions. He died of alcohol poisoning, with a blood-alcohol content of 0.38%, The Times said.

All three adults were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, but the charges were dropped.

The Gallup Poll reports that Republican presidential candidate Thomas E. Dewey has a slight edge, 51% to 49%, over President Roosevelt among registered voters who are certain that they will cast a ballot. Roosevelt, however, has a substantial lead among voters who are “fairly certain” or “not certain” of casting a ballot.

In the theaters: “Gypsy Wildcat.”

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Posted in 1944, Comics, Film, Food and Drink, Hollywood, Politics | Tagged 1944, comics, film, food and drink, hollywood, politics | Comments Off

September 5, 1943: Union Pleads With Streetcar Workers Not to Strike

Posted on September 5, 2025 by lmharnisch

Sept. 5, 1943: Explaining that “war strategies between President Roosevelt and Britain’s Prime Minister Churchill come first,” William P. Nutter of the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen pleads with dissatisfied employees of the Pacific Electric Railway to stay on the job.

At issue is a raise approved for streetcar employees that is higher than permitted under wartime wage-price restrictions.

With an acute labor shortage in Los Angeles and the impasse over raises, eight to 10 streetcar employees are quitting every day to take more lucrative jobs, a union official says.

P.B. Harris, head of the Los Angeles Street Railway Co., says the company is hiring every day but cannot keep up with the number of workers who are quitting.

“The bus situation is not as bad,” he says.

Among the best sellers in Los Angeles: “The Robe,” by Lloyd C. Douglas and “One World” by Wendell L. Wilkie.

Times columnist Lee Shippey begins a series of lectures at the Broadway in Hollywood. His first is “What Shall We Do About Russia.”

Hedda Hopper profiles Wallace Beery and says: “The real boss of the Beery home is Carol Ann Beery, his adopted daughter. They’re inseparable. If Wally is dumb like a fox, Carol Ann is dumb like two foxes.”

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Posted in 1943, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Lee Shippey, Streetcars, Transportation, World War II | Tagged 1943, film, hollywood, labor, Streetcars, Wallace Beery | Comments Off

September 4, 1959: Paul V. Coates — Confidential File

Posted on September 4, 2025 by lmharnisch

Posted in Columnists, Paul Coates | Comments Off

September 4, 1947: Red Influences in Hollywood!

Posted on September 4, 2025 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project.

Among the celebrities declining an invitation to discuss Communists in Hollywood was Hedda Hopper, and her column expands on the number of Red-influenced films in Hollywood and reflects the reasoning of the day.

In addition to the previously mentioned films “Mission to Moscow,” “North Star” and “Song of Russia” attacked as being Red-influenced, Hopper adds:

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Posted in 1947, Columnists, Film, Hollywood | Tagged #Hedda Hopper, 1947, Communism, film, hollywood, Red Scare | Comments Off

1944 in Print — Life Magazine, September 4, 1944

Posted on September 4, 2025 by lmharnisch

The U.S. Secretary of State, who is offstage director for the Dumbarton Oaks conference on postwar security is shown in this excellent portrait by Karsh. Secretary Hull welcomed the delegates to Washington. Last week, Mr. Hull talked with John Foster Dulles, Dewey’s foreign affairs adviser. The two agreed on many points but Mr. Dulles came away insisting that a “nonpartisan discussion” of foreign policy was a proper part of the coming campaign.

September 4, 1944

Cordell Hull is the cover feature of this week’s Life magazine.

Alfred Eisenstaedt celebrates 15 years as a photojournalist.

In a feature on which city has the most pretty girls, a photographer snaps photos at Hollywood and Vine.

This week’s Hollywood feature is Jeanne Crain, 19, a graduate of Inglewood High School.

Scanned by Google Books.

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Posted in 1944, Film, Hollywood, Photography, World War II | Tagged 1944, film, hollywood, photography, World War II | Comments Off

1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip by Louella Parsons, September 4, 1944

Posted on September 4, 2025 by lmharnisch

September 4, 1944

Danton Walter says: Brazil and Colombia plan to cut coffee exports to the U.S. if the OPA price ceiling isn’t lifted … FDR has requested James Byrnes to hold up his resignation until after election day … Major radio stations have already made up their V-Day programs.

Louella Parsons says: “Kiss and Tell” is certainly launched in fine style with Shirley Temple as the star. Yes, that’s the news today. David O. Selznick has loaned her to the new independent production company headed by George Abbott, Sol C. Siegel and F. Hugh Herbert for their first picture. The release is through Columbia.

The controversial “Mildred Pearce” is again the center of controversy. Jack Warner is refusing to bring it to the screen until he is satisfied with the script, so it has been temporarily shelved. It’s so censorable it takes a bit of doing to adopt. Well this means Joan Crawford is again out of a picture, so she is taking a trip to New York until such time as there is a play ready. Jack has said he wants Joan to have a screenplay that is right for her and apparently he thinks “Mildred Pearce” isn’t.

From the Philadelphia Inquirer via Fultonhistory.com.

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Posted in 1944, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood | Tagged 1944, comics, film, hollywood, Louella Parsons | Comments Off

September 4, 1933: Man Kills Wife and Daughter, Commits Suicide Over Pink Bedroom

Posted on September 4, 2025 by lmharnisch

September 4, 1933: A streetcar broadsides an auto at the crossing on Olympic Boulevard between Broadway and Figueroa, killing two people and leaving two others near death, The Times said.

A man fatally stabs his estranged wife and daughter, then slits his throat after an argument because his wife had the bedroom painted pink.

The vice squad raids the Cock Roost in North Hollywood, a club on South Main and the Tia Juana Inn at 1150 Santa Monica Boulevard. Police arrested 13 people on assorted charges of gambling and liquor violations. More than 100 clubs have been raided since the vice squad began raids less than a week ago.

Seven young women come to Hollywood seeking stardom in a “film experiment.” You have never heard of any of them.

Erich von Stroheim’s third wife, Valerie, is in the hospital after being badly burned in a bizarre accident when she went for a shampoo and manicure at Jim’s Beauty Shop, 6769 Sunset Blvd. The Stroheims met during the filming of “The Heart of Humanity.”

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Posted in 1933, Art & Artists, Comics, Downtown, Film, Homicide, LAPD, Main Street, Nightclubs, San Fernando Valley, Streetcars, Suicide, Transportation | Tagged 1933, film, hollywood, homicide, Streetcars, Suicide | Comments Off

September 4, 1781: Los Angeles Is Founded

Posted on September 4, 2025 by lmharnisch

September 4, 1926:The Times publishes a map showing the streets of the day, noting the changes made since Ord’s survey.

September 4, 1981: Mayor Tom Bradley and actress Bernadette Peters cut the cake for Los Angeles’ 200th birthday

January 1, 1892: To retell the founding of Los Angeles, The Times reprints an account from Juan Jose Warner’s “Historical Sketch of Los Angeles County” (1876). This account also appears in the Thompson and West’s “History of Los Angeles County, California” (1880).

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Posted in 1781, 1926, 1981, City Hall, Downtown | Tagged #LA Birthday, 1781 | Comments Off

September 3, 1959: Paul V. Coates — Confidential File

Posted on September 3, 2025 by lmharnisch

Posted in Columnists, Paul Coates | Comments Off

1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip by Louella Parsons, September 3, 1944

Posted on September 3, 2025 by lmharnisch

“Green Dolphin Street” wins MGM’s annual novel award. The movie was released in 1947, starring Lana Turner and Van Heflin, directed by Victor Saville with a script by Samson Raphaelson.

Sept. 3, 1944

Louella Parsons is pushed off Page 1 of the Entertainment section by a review of Eugene Ormandy on a three-month conducting tour of Australia. Ormandy is the longtime conductor in Philadelphia, so it makes perfect sense.

Parsons says: Phil Terry, the tall bespectacled young man whose career took a terrific nose dive just before and after his marriage to Joan Crawford, is on the beam again. For no good reason, after Phil made “The Parson of Panamint” a success, he was never able again to get on his starring feet. He was put in “Sweater Girl,” a B picture and almost crowded out of “Wake Island,” an “AA.” In fact, you couldn’t see him unless you looked quickly.

From the Philadelphia Inquirer via Fultonhistory.com.

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Posted in 1944, Books and Authors, Columnists, Film, Hollywood | Tagged 1944, Books and Authors, film, hollywood, Louella Parsons | Comments Off

September 3, 1943: Los Angeles Tattoo Shops

Posted on September 3, 2025 by lmharnisch

This is one of my favorite discoveries from the city archives, a description of tattoo shops in Los Angeles by an anonymous citizen.

Los Angeles City Council File 15670

September 2, 1943

Dear Sir,

I recently made an investigation of the tattoo shops here and the persons who operate them, for a friend of mine, whose young son, age 13, had been marked up like a circus freak by a so called (professor) Freaser.

Of course I knew nothing and cared less about this business until I saw the filthy conditions under which they operate, which are just about as filthy and unsanitary as the restaurants in which I am compelled to eat. Of course I know that no one in the city or state govt. is interested in their sanitation or the filth of the foods they serve. As long as they pay their license they can poison any one they want to and get away with it.

Sept. 3, 1943: Councilman Ira McDonald’s attempt to regulate tattoo shops brought this anonymous response, which I unearthed in the city archives.

Photo: Undated postcard showing Artoria, tattooed by C.W. Gibbons, Los Angeles

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Posted in 1943, Art & Artists, City Hall, Crime and Courts, Downtown, Libraries, Photography, World War II | Comments Off

September 3, 1941: Widow Accused of Killing Ft. MacArthur Officer

Posted on September 3, 2025 by lmharnisch

September 3, 1941: OK, Maj. Tucker, let me get this straight.

You and your wife, Marie, got home from a party, where both of you had been drinking. She was in the bedroom and you were in the kitchen making yourself a ham sandwich and slicing the bread — or the ham — which you were holding against your abdomen.

The knife slipped and you realized you stabbed yourself. And you thought you pulled the knife out — only you hadn’t got it out all the way.

Then you fell against a kitchen drawer and the knife went back in a second time.

So you fell to the floor, reached for the knife — and rolled over onto it.

Well, if that’s your story. Only your wife says there was no ham or bread in the house. She also says she “might have done it,” but was too drunk to remember exactly what happened.

Marie Tucker was indicted in the killing of Maj. George A. Tucker, battalion commander at Ft. MacArthur, and released on $5,000 bail. The charges were dropped in 1947 because the witnesses, all military officers, were scattered around the world, The Times said.

Also on the jump: Lee Shippey and Tom Treanor.

Leatrice Gilbert, 17-year-old daughter of Leatrice Joy and the late John Gilbert, does not want the screen career mamma wants for her, Jimmie Fidler says.

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Posted in 1941, Art & Artists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Homicide, LAPD, Lee Shippey, Tom Treanor, World War II | Tagged #homicide, #LAPD, 1941, World War II | Comments Off

September 3, 1907: A Oration for Labor Day

Posted on September 3, 2025 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006.

September 3, 1907
Editorial, Los Angeles Times

“I have no patience with the prejudices which exist between alleged classes when the classes themselves do not exist. There is no reason for hostility between employer and employee, between capitalist and wage earner. A condition of class hatred, such as has developed in Colorado, is a curse to this country.”

The utterer of these excellent sentiments was W.R. Hearst, orator of the day at the Jamestown Exposition yesterday—whose string of yellow socialistic newspapers and magazines has done more than any other agency existing to foment prejudice and class hatred and arouse reasonless hostility between capitalists and wage earners.

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Posted in 1907, Labor, Streetcars | Tagged #Labor Day, 1907, editorials, W.R. Hearst | Comments Off

September 2, 1959: Paul V. Coates — Confidential File

Posted on September 2, 2025 by lmharnisch

Posted in Columnists, Paul Coates | Comments Off

Black Dahlia: Ask Me Anything, September 2025

Posted on September 2, 2025 by lmharnisch

In the September 2025 Ask Me Anything on the Black Dahlia case, I talk about my work in progress, Heaven Is HERE!

In addition to the absurdity of the “Black Dahlia edition” of “Clue” and the infamous list of 22 suspects, I discussed:
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Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, Homicide, LAPD | Tagged Ask Me Anything, Black Dahlia, Cleveland Torso Killings, Elizabeth Short, John Gilmore, lapd | Comments Off

September 2, 1947: Miss Muscle Beach of 1947

Posted on September 2, 2025 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project.

Muscle Beach began in the early 1930s as a program of the Federal Works Progress Administration, part of the government’s effort to recover from the Great Depression. It was later taken over by the Santa Monica Recreation Department.

Although already well-established, Muscle Beach was first mentioned in The Times in 1946, when a human pyramid collapsed and the young woman at the top suffered a dislocated shoulder.

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Posted in 1947, Sports | Tagged 1947, bodybuilding, Muscle Beach, sports | Comments Off