Movieland Mystery Photo [Update]

Posted on December 27, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Dec. 26, 2010, Mystery Photo  
  Los Angeles Times file photo  

Isn’t this a great picture? More details on the jump.

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Posted in Fashion, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 9 Comments

World Record at L.A. Aviation Meet!

Posted on December 27, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Aviation Meet, Dec. 23 1910  

  Los Angeles Times file photo  

  Dec. 27, 1910, Aviation Meet  

Dec. 27, 1910: The year ends as it began, with an aviation meet. Despite  50-mph winds that swept Dominguez Field, Arch Hoxsey of Pasadena sets a new altitude record of 11,474 feet in a Wright biplane.

"The young aviator looked more like a deep sea diver than a bird man," The Times' Harry Carr wrote. "He wore long rubber leggings, like a duck shooter, to his hips, a cap like an Arctic explorer with fur trimming. Gloved and booted and almost hidden in a great leather automobile coat, he climbed through the wires and was off to scrape the sky.”

French aviator Hubert Latham crashed his aircraft to splinters against a barbed-wire fence in trying to land in the heavy winds. According to the Herald, Latham pulled off pieces of the broken wing and set fire to them. "It will be cold working here," he said. "We may as well have a little fire."

ALSO

1910 Aviation Meet on the Daily Mirror

Coverage in the Herald

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Posted in Photography, Transportation | 2 Comments

Teena Marie, 1956 — 2010: ‘I wish I was colorless’

Posted on December 26, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Oct. 19, 1980, Teena Marie

 
  Oct. 19, 1980, Teena Marie  

Oct. 19, 1980: Some people refuse to believe that Teena Marie is white, Dennis Hunt writes. "I tell them I'm white but they think I'm black and I'm trying to pass for white…. This is white skin. I'm not trying to fool anybody."

She also said: "I'm a different kind of person. Blacks and whites don't really react in any special way to me. I don't get anything negative from blacks and not really anything negative from whites now. But I will say it was different before I started getting some popularity. I don't think it was prejudice from whites as much as ignorance of something they didn't know much about. You know, I wish I was colorless sometimes."

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Posted in Music, Obituaries, Rock 'n' Roll | 4 Comments

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Dec. 26, 1940

Posted on December 26, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Dec. 26, 1940, Nazis Rush Army to Balkans  
  Dec. 26, 1940, Agnes Ayres  

Dec. 26, 1940: No merrier Christmas in all Los Angeles than the one in moppet Betty Brewer's manse. Her screen success made it possible for them to buy their first turkey in years, Jimmie Fidler says.

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Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Obituaries | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Dec. 26, 1940

Movieland Mystery Photo — Updated

Posted on December 26, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Dec. 25, 2010, mystery photo  
  Los Angeles Times file photo  

I came across a big file on film crews and I thought they would make entertaining mystery photos. Rather than a mystery guest of the week, I’ll post one a day for a while.

[Update: DOWNTOWN HILL district was covered by film unit headed by Cornel Wilde and Patricia Knight for thriller, "Shock Proof," which provided a somewhat novel experience, particularly for many early morning sightseers, Jan. 3, 1949.]

Isn’t this a cool shot? I suppose you’d like more detail.

  Dec. 25, 2010, mystery photo  

Here’s our very cool mystery building….

  Dec. 25, 2010, mystery photo  

… and the mystery car…

  Dec. 25, 2010, mystery photo  

… and the mystery crew….

  Dec. 25, 2010, mystery photo  

… and I suppose you’ll insist on seeing the mystery actors.
Posted in Downtown, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 13 Comments

Monks’ Dispute Delays Celebration of Jesus’ Birth

Posted on December 26, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Dec. 26, 1960, Comics    
   Dec. 26, 1960, Mideast  

Dec. 26, 1960: An argument between Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox monks at the Grotto of the Manger delays a religious procession to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

"The point at issue appeared trivial to laymen. It was whether the Latin (Roman Catholic) sacristan could stand during the rites on the step-side spot where, according to tradition, Jesus was born. The step is normally under the care of the Greek Orthodox Church in the multisect church," the AP story said.

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Posted in art and artists, Comics, Religion | Comments Off on Monks’ Dispute Delays Celebration of Jesus’ Birth

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Dec. 25, 1940

Posted on December 25, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Dec. 25, 1940, Christmas Truce  

  Dec. 25, 1940, Poem  

Dec. 25, 1940: “Merry Christmas! And may 1941 bring peace on earth and good will among men,” Jimmie Fidler says. 

ALSO

James “Sunrise Jim” Warnack in the Daily Mirror

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Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Dec. 25, 1940

Christmas and the Comics, 1960

Posted on December 25, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Dec. 25, 1960  

  Dec. 25, 1960, Comics  

  Dec. 25, 1960, Comics  

  Dec. 25, 1960, Comics  

  Dec. 25, 1960, Comics  

Posted in art and artists, Comics, Religion | 1 Comment

The Mirror, Dec. 24, 1960

Posted on December 24, 2010 by lmharnisch

 

  Dec. 24, 1960, Comics  

 

  Dec. 24, 1960, Comics  

Dec. 24, 1960: Our friends at the Los Angeles Mirror are celebrating Christmas – not realizing that in a little more than a year the paper — and the Los Angeles Examiner — will be no more.

Matt Weinstock has a vignette of Christmas in San Quentin, Paul Coates has a take on the office Christmas party and Abby has advice for a wife whose husband won’t take a bath….

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Posted in Columnists, Comics, Front Pages, Matt Weinstock, Paul Coates | 1 Comment

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Dec. 24, 1940

Posted on December 24, 2010 by lmharnisch

 
 

  Dec. 24, 1940, Floods  

  Dec. 224, 1940, Southland Rain  

Dec. 24, 1940: Mr. Claus, I'd like to wager: I'll bet you can't fill Carole Landis' stockings with anything prettier than she's already filled 'em with herself, Jimmie Fidler says.

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Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo — Updated

Posted on December 24, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Dec. 21, 2010, Mystery Photo  
  Los Angeles Times file photo  

Here’s our mystery guest.

Last week’s mystery guest was Thelma Todd, followed by Ford Sterling and friends.

There’s a new photo on the jump!

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

Iran Hostages Spend 2nd Christmas in Captivity

Posted on December 24, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Dec. 24, 1980, Iran Hostages  

  Dec. 24, 1980, Comics  

  Dec. 24, 1980, Officer Killed  

Dec. 24, 1980: The nation’s Christmas tree is lit for 417 seconds, one for each day the 52 hostages have been held in captivity in Iran…. San Fernando Police Officer Dennis Webb is shot to death while questioning a young man about the robbery of a 7-Eleven. The killer evidently took Webb’s patrol car and abandoned it eight miles away.

And from Kenya, Charles T. Powers files a first-rate piece of writing on the future of college graduates in Kenya.

On the jump, examples of The Times covers: the Morning Final, Late Final and home edition.

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Posted in art and artists, Comics, Front Pages, Ronald Reagan | 1 Comment

Matt Weinstock, Dec. 23, 1960

Posted on December 23, 2010 by lmharnisch

 
 

  Dec. 23, 1960, comics  

Deck us all with Boston Charlie,
Walla Walla, Wash
an' Kalamazoo…
Nora's freezin' on the trolley
Swaller dollar cauliflower
Alleygaroo!

Dec. 23, 1960: One of the ugliest moments in the annals of the LAPD — the "Bloody Christmas" of 1951 — is told in full for the first time in Man magazine [probably Man's magazine–lrh] for February 1961, Matt Weinstock says.

DEAR ABBY: I am engaged to a man with whom I have gone for two years. We aren't kids. I am 28 and he is 36 (This will be the second marriage for both of us.) We like the same things and he is very easy to get along with. One thing worries me. He loves to….

ALSO

 “Bloody Christmas” on the Daily Mirror

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Posted in #courts, art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Crime and Courts, LAPD, Matt Weinstock | 1 Comment

Paul Coates, Dec. 23, 1960

Posted on December 23, 2010 by lmharnisch

 
 

  Dec. 23, 1960, Mirror Cover  

Dec. 23, 1960: Paul Coates dips into the mailbag and writes about Hugh Hefner’s plans for Playboy tours “designed to appeal to the sophisticated urban young Playboy reader."

Talk about futurism: Reader A.M. Spencer warns of the dangers of debris discarded by space travelers!

 

  Dec. 23, 1960, Space Debris  
  Dec. 23, 1960, Coates  
Posted in Columnists, Front Pages, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul Coates, Dec. 23, 1960

Jimmie Fidler, Dec. 23, 1940

Posted on December 23, 2010 by lmharnisch

 
 

  Dec. 23, 1940, Axis Bases Smashed  

  Dec. 23, 1940, Pictures  

Dec. 23, 1940: If Greta Garbo is idle much longer, she'll have all the obscurity even she could ask, Jimmie Fidler says.

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Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood | 2 Comments

Santa Claus Is No Ordinary Man!

Posted on December 23, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Dec. 23, 1960, Comics  

Dec. 23, 1960: Take that, Sluggo, you gender-stereotyping clod!

On the jump, a “legless World War II veteran” is charged with having 250 reels of stag films…. Jack Smith goes Christmas shopping and finds his fellow human beings a bit lacking in the holiday spirit … bridge expert Alfred Sheinwold says the four of clubs is a card of warning … and Pope John XXIII reads his Christmas message.

The Times said: “The pontiff dedicated much of his message … to the subject of truth.  He especially appealed to all engaged in mass communication — press, radio, television, movies — to dedicate themselves to it.”

ALSO

7 Men, Woman, Arrested in Lewd Film Racket, Oct. 24, 1957

King of Obscene Films Kills Self in Chicago, Sept. 14, 1947

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Posted in #games, 1947, 1957, 1960, art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Jack Smith, LAPD, Religion | 1 Comment

Found on EBay – Marya Marco

Posted on December 22, 2010 by lmharnisch
Marya Marco on EBay This sketch of Marya Marco by Herbert Ryman has been listed on EBay.

Ryman (d. 1989) was an illustrator and artist for Disney (he is credited with the concept drawings for Disneyland) and MGM,where he worked on "The Good Earth," "The Robe" and "The Tale of Two Cities," according to The Times.

Marco, of course, is the woman who was mistakenly identified as Elizabeth Short in a photo published in “Black Dahlia Avenger.”

The vendor says this is part of a lot of Marya Marco material obtained at an auction. Bidding starts at $9.99.

ALSO

Marya Marco
“Black Dahlia Avenger”
Posted in art and artists, Homicide | Comments Off on Found on EBay – Marya Marco

Matt Weinstock, Dec. 22, 1960

Posted on December 22, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Dec. 22, 1960, Comics  

Dec. 22, 1960: Matt Weinstock has more on job applicants who aren’t hired after taking elaborate tests. One fellow scored too well, according to the test results. 

DEAR ABBY: I am at home all day with three children to take care of. Nothing exciting ever happens. I do the same thing every day. When my husband comes home, I just don't have anything to talk about. He certainly doesn't want to hear that I ironed today, did the dishes or vacuumed. Lately he's been asking why I don't talk to him. Well, I just don't have anything to talk about. We've been married eight years and are both 25.

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Posted in art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock, Dec. 22, 1960

Paul Coates, Dec. 22, 1960

Posted on December 22, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Dec. 22, 1960, Mirror Cover  

Dec. 22, 1960: Police are hunting a “werewolf”  and Paul Coates has more on the notorious Brink family, in which William Brink  talks about changing his name to avoid the stigma.

ALSO

Paul Coates on the Brink family

Family with 11 children loses battle for home 

And here

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Posted in Columnists, Crime and Courts, Front Pages, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul Coates, Dec. 22, 1960

Location Sleuth — ‘Starsky and Hutch’

Posted on December 22, 2010 by lmharnisch
Starsky and Hutch

Look! They had a two-for-one sale on Volkswagen Beetles!
I’m a respectful researcher. So when someone writes to The Times and asks about the location of a sleazy hotel featured in the “Bounty Hunter” episode of “Starsky and Hutch,” I assume there’s a good reason. Why people at The Times know to pass a question like this to me is an issue that I’m just going to ignore.

Young persons: “Starsky and Hutch” was one of those popular cop shows of the 1970s that your parents probably watched. The program moved between Wednesday nights at 10 and Tuesday nights at 9 and starred David Soul (yes, that’s his name) as Det. Kenneth Hutchinson and Paul Michael Glaser as Det. David Starsky.

Here are screen grabs from Hulu of the sequence in question.

Notice that the top of City Hall is barely visible in the opening frames.

The entire episode is on Hulu. The hotel sequence begins at the 36:26 time mark.

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Posted in broadcasting, Film, Hollywood, Television | 3 Comments