George Hodel: Ask Me Anything, August 2025

Posted on August 19, 2025 by lmharnisch

Here’s Boxie and I with this month’s “Ask Me Anything” on George Hodel.

In this session, I discussed:

–The dismal quality of the “true” crime genre.
–The origins of “Black Dahlia Avenger.” Continue reading →

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1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip by Louella Parsons, August 19, 1944

Posted on August 19, 2025 by lmharnisch

Aug. 19, 1944, Comics

August 19, 1944

Really interesting news that Freddie March is ready to sign a contract to play Major Joppolo in “A Bell for Adano.” I don’t mean the movie, either. He is being signed by Leland Hayward for the stage play, which will reach New York before the movie is finished.

Little Joyce Reynolds has certainly won a place for herself on the Warner lot since “Janie.” Interesting that she will play the shrewish daughter in “Mildred Pearce,” a real departure from the wholesome schoolgirl in “Janie.”* Joan Crawford, who plays Mildred Pearce, is, I am told, negotiating with Edward Small for the lead in “Bella Donna.” That would give her one of the really dramatic parts of her career.

LEO: Stars offer fine scope for your talents and ability. Responsibility needed to fathom pitfalls and be able to combat same properly.

From the Philadelphia Inquirer via Fultonhistory.com.

Continue reading →

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August 18, 1959: Paul V. Coates — Confidential File

Posted on August 18, 2025 by lmharnisch

Note from 2009: Devon McReynolds, the Daily Mirror’s UCLA intern, is off to Paris. Until our next intern starts in September, the Daily Mirror won’t be able to transcribe Paul Coates or Matt Weinstock. Rather than discontinue the columns, we’ll be posting them as image files. Because of the way Typepad handles images, the thumbnails are murky, but the full-size images are readable.

August 18, 1959: Paul Coates writes about a man selling the stage name Starr Knight.

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August 18, 1947: John Steven McGroarty, California Poet Laureate, Honored in Memorial Tribute

Posted on August 18, 2025 by lmharnisch

L.A. Times, 1947

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

His favorite verses and anecdotes of his life were recited yesterday as old friends and admirers made their third annual pilgrimage to the grave of John Steven McGroarty, late poet laureate, playwright and Times columnist, at Calvary Cemetery.

The program, held before the poet’s simple headstone beneath the largest oak in the cemetery, was sponsored by the Eire Four Province Club with Thomas R. Lynch, club president, acting as chairman.

Continue reading →

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August 18, 1944: Times reporter killed covering war

Posted on August 18, 2025 by lmharnisch

Through most of World War II, Tom Treanor provided Times readers with firsthand accounts of the battle against the Axis as his travels took him to such places as China, South America and Europe.

This is the last story he wrote before being killed Aug. 18, 1944, when a tank made a turn and struck his jeep on a dusty road outside a French village that had just been liberated from the Nazis. He lived long enough to learn that the doctor attending his wounds was from Los Angeles: Capt. William Werner, 1402 Crenshaw Blvd. Treanor told Werner that
he was sorry he wouldn’t be able to cover the liberation of Paris. Continue reading →

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Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Theatre Mechanique: Little Theatre, Big Heart

Posted on August 18, 2025 by lmharnisch

Olga Baclonova Theatre Mechanique

Theatre has enlightened and entertained audiences for centuries as it weaves the tales of life and love through both the comedic and dramatic talents of myriad actors. While most stage acting involves the danger and electricity of live performance, sometimes it employs only the voice to bring characters to life, such as in puppetry.

Puppetry and marionette work come alive solely through the magic of performers’ skills in voice acting. Both have entertained people young and old for eons, either through the slapstick anger of Punch and Judy shows, or the technical skill of real theatrical performance. Los Angeles possessed its own unique form of puppetry work in the early 1930s with Ellsworth Martin’s Theatre Mechanique, a sophisticated blend of old and new technologies for stage enthusiasts in what some newspapers at the time called “the world’s smallest theatre.”

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

Continue reading →

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Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on August 18, 2025 by lmharnisch

Main title: Lettering over painting of a bullring.

This week’s mystery movie was the 1947 MGM film Fiesta, with Esther Williams, Akim Tamiroff, John Carroll, Mary Astor, Cyd Charisse, Fortunio Bonanova, Hugo Haas, Ricardo Montalban, Jean Vanderwilt, Joey Preston, Frank Puglia, Los Bocheros, and Alan Napier. Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , , | 33 Comments

August 17, 1959: Matt Weinstock

Posted on August 17, 2025 by lmharnisch

August 17, 1959: Matt Weinstock is on vacation. Matt Weinstock is on vacation until September 7

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August 17, 1959: Paul V. Coates — Confidential File

Posted on August 17, 2025 by lmharnisch

Note from 2009: Devon McReynolds, the Daily Mirror’s UCLA intern, is off to
Paris. Until our next intern starts in September, the Daily Mirror
won’t be able to transcribe Paul Coates or Matt Weinstock. Rather than
discontinue the columns, we’ll be posting them as image files. Because
of the way Typepad handles images, the thumbnails are murky, but the
full-size images are readable.

 

August 17, 1959: Paul Coates has the story of a judge and a defendant charged with public intoxication who insisted on pleading not guilty and demanding a

 

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Aug. 17, 1947: At UCLA’s Gayleyville , Tough Times for Married Veterans

Posted on August 17, 2025 by lmharnisch

L.A. Times, 1947

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

Married veterans attending the Los Angeles campus of the University of California have discovered that the dollar—unlike some bank checks—doesn’t stretch like rubber.

They have found it impossible to live on their G.I. Bill of Rights $90 ($851.78 USD 2005) a month.

Continue reading →

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August 17, 1958: Fugitive couple attack LAPD officer

Posted on August 17, 2025 by lmharnisch

August 17, 1958

Joan Marie Wrosch, a 17-year-old from Milwaukee with “eyes like a tiger,” wired home for money. That’s how they found her.

Milwaukee police had issued a fugitive warrant for her and her boyfriend: Joan was a runaway and Elmo Monroe Schilling, 24, had violated his parole for a burglary conviction. They had a room on the fifth floor of the Alexandria Hotel, 5th and Spring, and until two days ago were selling magazine subscriptions door to door. Their boss, Jim Auteri, who also lived at the Alexandria, said he fired them because Elmo kept flirting with the other women selling subscriptions.

Continue reading →

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August 16, 1947: L.A. Widow Says Louisiana Sheriff Failed to Protect Husband From Lynch Mob

Posted on August 16, 2025 by lmharnisch

L.A. Times, 1947

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

His face and body were burned with a blowtorch so that his eyes popped out of his head. He was beaten with a wide, flat object, like a belt or a wide plank. His wrists were hacked with a cleaver and he was partially castrated.

Continue reading →

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August 16, 1940: Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood

Posted on August 16, 2025 by lmharnisch


The Times publishes a war map by Charles Owens.

August 16, 1940: Joan Crawford is mulling the notion of a second adoption as companion for her recent first, Jimmie Fidler says.
Continue reading →

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August 15, 1959: Matt Weinstock

Posted on August 15, 2025 by lmharnisch

Note from August 2009: Devon McReynolds, the Daily Mirror’s UCLA intern, is off to
Paris. Until our next intern starts in September, the Daily Mirror won’t be able to transcribe Paul Coates or Matt Weinstock. Rather than discontinue the columns, we’ll be posting them as image files. Because of the way Typepad handles images, the thumbnails are murky, but the full-size images are readable.

Also Note: Matt Weinstock is going on vacation.

August 15, 1959: Matt Weinstock says a Fern Dell fountain dispenses spring water -- not an urban legend.
Posted in 1959, Columnists, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off on August 15, 1959: Matt Weinstock

August 15, 1959: Paul V. Coates — Confidential File

Posted on August 15, 2025 by lmharnisch

Note from August 2009: Devon McReynolds, the Daily Mirror’s UCLA intern, is off to Paris. Until our next intern starts in September, the Daily Mirror won’t be able to transcribe Paul Coates or Matt Weinstock. Rather than discontinue the columns, we’ll be posting them as image files. Because of the way Typepad handles images, the thumbnails are murky, but the full-size images are readable.

August 15, 1959: Paul Coates runs a letters column. One writer asks why grownups are so mean to teenage idols.

Posted in 1959, Columnists, Paul Coates | Comments Off on August 15, 1959: Paul V. Coates — Confidential File

August 15, 1947: India Formally Partitioned Into Two Nations

Posted on August 15, 2025 by lmharnisch

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

NEW DELHI, Aug. 15 (Friday) (U.P.)—The proud British Empire of India died last night as the clocks struck midnight.

Two independent nations were born at the moment of its death—the dominions of Hindustan and Pakistan.

Adm. Viscount Mountbatten, great-grandson of Queen Victoria in whose name India was made an empire 70 years ago, ceased to be viceroy and became governor general of Hindustan.

Continue reading →

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1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip by Louella Parsons, August 15, 1944

Posted on August 15, 2025 by lmharnisch

Aug. 15, 1944, comics

Aug. 15, 1944

Clark Gable is not returning to work in September. He says he may never make another picture, which would be a terrible blow, not only to his studio, but to all his many fans.

Said Clark: “I saw so much death and suffering overseas that the movies will never appeal to me again, unless I can do something off the beaten path; something that is not conventional, but is important and significant. Otherwise, I don’t want to return to the screen. I don’t need the money. I’m not rich but I can live on my very little ranch and be happy.”

MGM already has announced “Lucky Baldwin” and several other pictures for Clark. (As we know, “Lucky Baldwin” was never made.)

LEO: With vibrations favorable, the Sun your ruling planet and your keyword POWER — there should be plenty of useful “fireworks,” if you are living up to the true Leo-born.

From the Philadelphia Inquirer via Fultonhistory.com

Continue reading →

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August 14, 1959: Matt Weinstock

Posted on August 14, 2025 by lmharnisch

Note from August 2009: Devon McReynolds, the Daily Mirror’s UCLA intern, is off to
Paris. Until our next intern starts in September, the Daily Mirror won’t be able to transcribe Paul Coates or Matt Weinstock. Rather than discontinue the columns, we’ll be posting them as image files. Because of the way Typepad handles images, the thumbnails are murky, but the full-size images are readable.

August 14, 1959: Matt Weinstock

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August 14, 1959: Paul V. Coates — Confidential File

Posted on August 14, 2025 by lmharnisch

Note from August 2009: Devon McReynolds, the Daily Mirror’s UCLA intern, is off to Paris. Until our next intern starts in September, the Daily Mirror won’t be able to transcribe Paul Coates or Matt Weinstock. Rather than discontinue the columns, we’ll be posting them as image files. Because of the way Typepad handles images, the thumbnails are murky, but the full-size images are readable.

August 14, 1959: Paul Coates

Posted in 1959, Columnists, Paul Coates | Comments Off on August 14, 1959: Paul V. Coates — Confidential File

Aug. 14, 1947: L.A. Telephone Exchanges, Adams to Whittier

Posted on August 14, 2025 by lmharnisch

L.A. Times, 1947

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

The growth of Southern California was reflected in a Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. report issued yesterday. The company said that the number of telephones it has in service in the Southland has increased more than 50 per cent since Pearl Harbor, more than 25 per cent since V-J Day.

R.L. Sawyers, division telephone manager, said that at the beginning of the war the company had 852,000 telephones in service in Southern California. The number had reached 1,021,000 by the time peace came and today it stands at 1,290,000. The increase for the last two years reached a total of 269,000 telephones.

And there are still insufficient telephones for all potential subscribers. About 149,000 applicants are waiting.

Los Angeles Telephone Exchanges:

Continue reading →

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