| Larry Harnisch Reflects on L.A. History

Grim Sleeper, Interiors

Posted on December 19, 2010 by lmharnisch

Many of the photos show a woman in the passenger seat of a vehicle. The coiled cord visible through the window in Photo No. 156 made me wonder if this was taken at some sort of drive-in.

I’ve tried to collect these photos on the jump. Photos 36 and 87 appear to show the same woman, as do Photos 95 and 175.

There appear to be at least five vehicles involved, based on the interiors. One (No. 36) appears to have gray upholstered seats, one (No. 157) has a blue interior, one (No. 95) has been stripped down to the body and shows white metal, one (No. 150) has a plain interior of metal painted white. The interior shown above in Photo 156 doesn’t seem to be in any other picture.

ALSO

Grim Sleeper Nos. 4 and 52
Grim Sleeper Nos. 48-49
Grim Sleeper Nos. 51-53
Grim Sleeper Nos. 56-57
Grim Sleeper Nos. 59 and 81
Grim Sleeper Nos. 75-78, labrets
Grim Sleeper Nos. 75 and 77, Kendreay
Grim Sleeper No. 91
Grim Sleeper Nos. 96-96, Maxine
Grim Sleeper No. 139, The Mail Slot
Grim Sleeper Nos. 141-142, Deborah B. Cleveland
Grim Sleeper No. 149
Grim Sleeper No. 166, Ms. D. Johnson

Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Courts, Grim Sleeper, Homicide, Photography | Comments Off

Grim Sleeper No. 91

Posted on December 19, 2010 by lmharnisch

When I first looked at this photo, I thought the item in the background might be a calendar. In fact it’s a page of display ads for a sporting goods store that has been placed over some sort of opening, like a window covered with a heavy screen.

That’s something of a pattern in these photos. Many pictures have a window in the background that has been covered up, either with tinfoil, or cardboard and blue masking tape.

ALSO

Grim Sleeper Nos. 4 and 52
Grim Sleeper Nos. 48-49
Grim Sleeper Nos. 51-53.
Grim Sleeper Nos. 56-57
Grim Sleeper Nos. 59 and 81
Grim Sleeper Nos. 75-78, labrets
Grim Sleeper Nos. 75 and 77, Kendreay
Grim Sleeper Nos. 96-96, Maxine
Grim Sleeper No. 139, The Mail Slot
Grim Sleeper Nos. 141-142, Deborah B. Cleveland
Grim Sleeper No. 149
Grim Sleeper No. 166, Ms. D. Johnson

Posted in Crime and Courts, Grim Sleeper, Homicide, LAPD, Photography | 1 Comment

Season’s Greetings and Happy Holidays

Posted on December 19, 2010 by lmharnisch

Dec. 21, 1889, Season's Greetings

One of the more annoying political pinatas of our era, in which every facet of life is subjected to a “red litmus test” of partisan correctness, is notion that “Season’s Greetings” and “Happy Holidays” are trendy euphemisms to keep Christ out of Christmas.

Not in the least.

Here’s an excerpt from the Dec. 21, 1889, Times, two display ads from Christmas 1915 and an ad from 1919 that dispel such ideas.

More on the jump, including a 1933 ad promoting gift subscriptions to The Times with a card that said “Season’s Greetings.” There are many more examples, but I think I’ve made my point.

Please note: ProQuest’s search engine is far from perfect and rarely reads elaborate lettering, so there may be earlier examples that I have missed.

Bonus facts:

First appearance of “Merry Christmas” in The Times, Dec. 25, 1881.
First appearance of “Merry Xmas” in The Times, Dec. 25, 1886.
First appearance of “Happy Holiday” in the Times, Dec. 25, 1890.

Continue reading →

Posted in Religion | 2 Comments

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Dec. 18, 1940

Posted on December 18, 2010 by lmharnisch

Every lady attending the New Year’s party at the Cocoanut Grove gets a baby panda! Wouldn’t it be great if we could visit the Ambassador? Oh, wait. We let L.A. Unified tear it down.

Dec. 18, 1940: Movie producers should study closely the pictures of 1940's leading box office stars and note that sex and risque scenes or dialogue are nonexistent in those films, Jimmie Fidler says.

[Corrected at 1:23 p.m. A previous version of this post and headline gave the date Dec. 18, 1960. We're in 1940 … for the moment at least!]

Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Nightclubs | Comments Off

Grim Sleeper No. 139

Posted on December 18, 2010 by lmharnisch

Grim Sleeper No. 139 has a bit of interesting signage that says “The Mail Slot” and gives a phone number that appears to be 419-0395. I’m not able to locate this number or business, so I’m assuming it’s defunct. Does the “82” indicate 1982? A car in the background looks like a Volkswagen Beetle but otherwise identifying the cars will take more research.

ALSO

Grim Sleeper Nos. 4 and 52
Grim Sleeper Nos. 48-49
Grim Sleeper Nos. 51-53.
Grim Sleeper Nos. 56-57
Grim Sleeper Nos. 59 and 81
Grim Sleeper Nos. 75-78, labrets
Grim Sleeper Nos. 75 and 77, Kendreay
Grim Sleeper Nos. 96-96, Maxine
Grim Sleeper Nos. 141-142, Deborah B. Cleveland
Grim Sleeper No. 149
Grim Sleeper No. 166, Ms. D. Johnson

Posted in Crime and Courts, Grim Sleeper, Homicide, Photography | 1 Comment

Grim Sleeper Nos. 75-78

Posted on December 18, 2010 by lmharnisch

Grim Sleeper No. 76

Grim Sleeper No. 78

These ladies, plus Nos. 75 and 77, have a labret, or piercing, in their lower lip. No. 76 also has a tattoo on her chest, but I’m not going to speculate on whether it says “Kendreay” because I can’t clarify the image adequately

Grim Sleeper, No. 75

Grim Sleeper, No. 76

Grim Sleeper, No. 77

Grim Sleeper No., 78

ALSO

Grim Sleeper Nos. 4 and 52
Grim Sleeper Nos. 48-49
Grim Sleeper Nos. 51-53.
Grim Sleeper Nos. 56-57
Grim Sleeper Nos. 59 and 81
Grim Sleeper Nos. 75 and 77, Kendreay
Grim Sleeper Nos. 96-96, Maxine
Grim Sleeper No. 139, The Mail Slot
Grim Sleeper Nos. 141-142, Deborah B. Cleveland
Grim Sleeper No. 149
Grim Sleeper No. 166, Ms. D. Johnson

Posted in Crime and Courts, Grim Sleeper, Homicide, Photography | 1 Comment

Reagan May Call Economic Emergency

Posted on December 18, 2010 by lmharnisch

Dec. 18, 1980: With the prime lending rate at 21% and expected to rise to 23% or 25% (welcome to 1980 and the Carter administration!) President-elect Ronald Reagan is weighing whether to declare an economic emergency when he takes office.

Notice the twin two-column stories at the bottom of the front page. In Times’ layout style of this era, these were called “corner stories” and prevailed for years. Also notice that one of them deals with Gov. Jerry Brown using tax money for political purposes (he reimbursed the money) and that his chief of staff was Gray Davis.

On the jump, the rest of George Skelton’s first-rate analysis of what Reagan did wrong on his first trip to Washington as governor and what he did right as president-elect.

Skelton says: “Most veterans of the Reagan era now agree that the former actor's initial poor relationship with the Legislature resulted from a combination of his ignorance of the subtle ways of government and his then basic disrespect for politicians generally.”

"He and all the people around him had the feeling that all the members of the Legislature were a bunch of bums, which is not to say some weren't," said a former Republican state officeholder.

Continue reading →

Posted in Comics, Front Pages, Ronald Reagan, Television | 2 Comments

Grim Sleeper Nos. 75 and 77

Posted on December 18, 2010 by lmharnisch

This is a different sort of puzzle. Grim Sleeper No. 75, top, and No. 77, have a tattoo that reads “Kendreay, RIP or HIP” and they both have a piercing (called a labret) in their bottom lips, but one woman is much heavier than the other.

Above, No. 75’s tattoo.

And No. 77’s tattoo.

ALSO

Grim Sleeper Nos. 4 and 52
Grim Sleeper Nos. 48-49
Grim Sleeper Nos. 51-53.
Grim Sleeper Nos. 56-57
Grim Sleeper Nos. 59 and 81
Grim Sleeper Nos. 75-78, labrets
Grim Sleeper Nos. 96-96, Maxine
Grim Sleeper No. 139, The Mail Slot
Grim Sleeper Nos. 141-142, Deborah B. Cleveland
Grim Sleeper No. 149
Grim Sleeper No. 166, Ms. D. Johnson

Posted in Crime and Courts, Grim Sleeper, Homicide, Photography | 1 Comment

Grim Sleeper Nos. 96-97, Maxine — Updated

Posted on December 17, 2010 by lmharnisch

Nos. 96, left, and 97, right, seem to be the same woman. And in No. 97, she’s wearing a name tag that says “Maxine.” The shape of her name tag is quite distinctive. Does anyone recognize it?

[Update: This is a Taco Bell uniform.]

ALSO

Grim Sleeper Nos. 4 and 52
Grim Sleeper Nos. 48-49
Grim Sleeper Nos. 51-53.
Grim Sleeper Nos. 56-57
Grim Sleeper Nos. 59 and 81
Grim Sleeper Nos. 75-78, labrets
Grim Sleeper Nos. 75 and 77, Kendreay
Grim Sleeper No. 139, The Mail Slot
Grim Sleeper Nos. 141-142, Deborah B. Cleveland
Grim Sleeper No. 149
Grim Sleeper No. 166, Ms. D. Johnson

Posted in Crime and Courts | 7 Comments

Grim Sleeper Nos. 59 and 81

Posted on December 17, 2010 by lmharnisch

It seems that Grim Sleeper Nos. 59, left, and 81, right, show the same woman and may have been taken at the same time. No. 81 is dated May 8, 2006, which may or may not be accurate.

The background in No. 81 shows quite a bit of “shade-tree mechanic” material. At left, there are some old traffic cones and some piece of a car (maybe an alternator?) in a Capri Sun box.

And here’s a set of plastic shelves full of motor oil, spray bottles, coolant (Valucraft is sold at AutoZone) and other auto-related material.

ALSO

Grim Sleeper Nos. 4 and 52
Grim Sleeper Nos. 48-49
Grim Sleeper Nos. 51-53.
Grim Sleeper Nos. 56-57
Grim Sleeper Nos. 75-78, labrets
Grim Sleeper Nos. 75 and 77, Kendreay
Grim Sleeper Nos. 96-96, Maxine
Grim Sleeper No. 139, The Mail Slot
Grim Sleeper Nos. 141-142, Deborah B. Cleveland
Grim Sleeper No. 149
Grim Sleeper No. 166, Ms. D. Johnson

Posted in Crime and Courts, Grim Sleeper, Homicide, Photography | 1 Comment

Matt Weinstock, Dec. 17, 1960

Posted on December 17, 2010 by lmharnisch

“Quiet, Dreena … I must think!”

Dec. 17, 1960: Members of the Associated Plumbing Contractors of L.A. pool their Christmas party money to build an elaborate model train layout for the disabled children at Casa Colina in Pomona, Matt Weinstock says.

Paul Coates dips into his mailbag…. and

CONFIDENTIAL TO BERTHA, SALLY AND ROSALIE: If you want male companionship in Miami this winter, better bring your own.

Continue reading →

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

Plane Crash Survivor Dies, Dec. 17, 1960

Posted on December 17, 2010 by lmharnisch

Dec. 17, 1960: Maurice Zolotow’s biography of Marilyn Monroe ends with a portrait of the actress’ continual insecurity, professionally and personally. And Zolotow adds a postscript on Monroe and Yves Montand.

“The breakup that was to make Arthur Miller another ex-Mr. Marilyn Monroe, like Jim Dougherty and Joe DiMaggio, had been presaged by the declining status of the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright in the Monroe menage as well as in the world of the stage. And also by rumors and jokes that emanated from Hollywood,” Zolotow says.

Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Front Pages, Hollywood | 2 Comments

Grim Sleeper Nos. 141-142

Posted on December 17, 2010 by lmharnisch

Grim Sleeper No. 141 appears to be a Polaroid marked Deborah B. Cleveland, Sept. 18, 2001, although there seems to have been some hesitation about the “18,” as if the writer started with 28 and changed his mind. It is also marked “B.K.A. Chocolate.” If you boost the contrast, you can see the double mirrors outside the passenger’s window, but that’s all.

Grim Sleeper No. 142 is a detail from this photo that crops out the handwriting.

ALSO

Posted in Crime and Courts, Grim Sleeper, Homicide, LAPD, Photography | 3 Comments

Grim Sleeper No. 149

Posted on December 17, 2010 by lmharnisch

Grim Sleeper photo No. 149 has quite a bit of detail. The picture apparently shows Frenchie’s Patio Soul Food, which was located 8101 S. Western Ave. (323) 753-2614. The only mention in The Times is a 1998 story by Jocelyn Stewart about an annual day of dialogue on race relations begun in 1995 after the L.A. riots.

A quick look at a map might fill in some blanks. The restaurant was just around the corner from 1728 W. 81st St., the home of Grim Sleeper suspect Lonnie David Franklin Jr.

But we run into some problems. According to Property Shark, 8101 S. Western Ave. is a restaurant/cocktail lounge built in 1977.

Which is clearly not what we find on Google maps street view.

Aha, this was built in 2006.

We can also see a little bit more of the neighborhood reflected in the right side-view mirror. I’ve flopped it (we’re starting with a reflection in a mirror) to show what we would see if we were standing by the van and looking back. This appears to be the north side of West 81st Street.

On further examination, I found a couple of interesting things in the van. The first is some sort of humorous bumper sticker on the passenger’s sun visor.

And there also appears to be some sort of vehicle registration fixed to the windshield.

ALSO

Posted in Crime and Courts, Grim Sleeper, Homicide, Photography | 3 Comments

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Dec. 17, 1940

Posted on December 17, 2010 by lmharnisch

Dec. 17. 1940: Watching Mae West stroll down the avenue, I always catch myself musing on the sway of all flesh, Jimmie Fidler says.

Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Nightclubs, Transportation | 1 Comment

Grim Sleeper No. 166

Posted on December 17, 2010 by lmharnisch

Grim Sleeper No. 166 is wearing an ID badge reading “Ms. D. Johnson, N.A.” If I had to guess, I would say this was taken professionally and is some sort of graduation picture, and I would assume that D. Johnson was a nurse’s aide.

ALSO

Posted in Crime and Courts, Grim Sleeper, Homicide, Photography | 2 Comments

Movieland Christmas Mystery Photo

Posted on December 17, 2010 by lmharnisch

Photograph by Bill Murphy/Los Angeles Times

Here’s a mystery fellow with a mystery pet!

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 13 Comments

Never Seen Again — Update

Posted on December 17, 2010 by lmharnisch

I recently heard from relatives of Dr. George Ripley Fuller, who was the subject of a Paul Coates column in July 2007 and a follow-up post a few days later. Fuller’s story was one of several baffling accounts published in the late 1950s about brilliant men, usually scientists, who mysteriously vanished. One of the more unusual cases was that of Albert Clark Reed, a scientist who disappeared on his way to Caltech and turned up six years later as a groom at Santa Anita.

One thing I noted in my 2007 post was the apparent disinterest of Fuller’s relatives in his disappearance. I received this e-mail from one of Fuller’s nephews and I’m sharing it as an update.

My name is Walter Atherton Fuller III. My grandmother and grandfather were Marjorie and Walter A. Fuller Sr. (parents of George Ripley Fuller) My father was W. Atherton Fuller Jr. (brother of George Ripley Fuller) Today the oldest of my three sisters told me of this LA Times blog article about the disappearance of my uncle George. Our father didn't talk much about his brother. We only met him once in New York while we were visiting our grandparents during Thanksgiving. I have a pastel portrait of my uncle George when he was a young boy. It was in our house when we were growing up in Maine. We brought it to California when my dad passed away. The portrait resembled our son and until recently hung over our mantle.

George's other brother , Leroy, lived with his family in Virginia. We saw Leroy and his family often when they came to visit us in Maine.

What concerned me in the blog article was the next to the last paragraph.

"Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of Fuller's disappearance is that his family took absolutely no interest in it. Neither of his brothers, one living in Maine and the other in Florida, nor his parents set foot in Los Angeles as far as I can tell and apparently they had little interest in solving what became of him."

We were all very young when our uncle disappeared. His disappearance devastated my grandmother. True, they did not travel to California to follow-up on the investigation of his disappearance, but to say they apparently had little interest in finding out what became of him seems a stretch. My grandparents kept in constant touch with investigators. Every year at Christmas she and my grandfather would set a light outside and leave it on for 24 hours. As far as the mystery being solved, we were told that they found his remains years later when doing road construction, near the spot where the car was originally located. My dad didn't talk much about him, just that he had some emotional problems.

ALSO

Paul Coates on Dr. George Ripley Fuller

Never Seen Again