Tag Archives: Books and Authors

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Posted on December 10, 2014 by lmharnisch

Mark A. Vieira and Cecilia B. de Mille Presley will be making a personal appearance for the launch of the opulent volume “Cecil B. De Mille The Art of the Hollywood Epic” on Friday at the Hollywood Heritage Museum, 2100 … Continue reading →

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‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 36

Posted on December 10, 2014 by lmharnisch

Laura Hunt (Gene Tierney) confronts a sleeping Detective Mark McPherson (Dana Andrews) in “Laura.”   I have been using Louella Parsons’ May 15, 1944, item on Rouben Mamoulian being replaced as the director of “Laura” to take a meandering look … Continue reading →

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L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Posted on December 9, 2014 by lmharnisch

Note: This is a post from 2013 in which we chatted with author Christina Rice. The book is available for $22.99 for the Kindle, $36.17 in hardback from Amazon or $40 at local independent bookstores such as Vroman’s, which is … Continue reading →

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L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Posted on December 8, 2014 by lmharnisch

In 1982, Jim Romenesko, then a young reporter, compiled coroners’ reports on unusual deaths. Jim now runs the JimRomenesko.com blog and notes that he still has a few copies of his self-published book. He is selling them for $15, including … Continue reading →

Posted in 1982, Books and Authors, Crime and Courts | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Posted on December 5, 2014 by lmharnisch

Note: This is a repost from 2013. Glen Creason’s book on maps of Los Angeles shows the many ways people have viewed the city over the years. I interviewed him for The Times in 2012 and fortunately for all concerned, … Continue reading →

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L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Posted on December 4, 2014 by lmharnisch

Note: This is a repost from 2013. You might have to hunt a bit for Don Normark’s 1999 book “Chavez Ravine, 1949,” but your search will be rewarded. The photos are terrific and the residents’ recollections make the book even … Continue reading →

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Coming Attractions: Afternoon With the Authors

Posted on December 3, 2014 by lmharnisch

Hollywood Heritage Museum, 2100 N. Highland Ave., will be hosting an Afternoon With the Authors on Saturday, Dec. 6, from noon to 4 p.m. Scheduled guests include: Julia Adams, John Bengtson, Bob Birchard, Jon Boorstin, Angela Cartwright and Tom McClaren, … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Coming Attractions, Film, Hollywood, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Posted on December 3, 2014 by lmharnisch

Note: This is a repost from 2013. Whenever I’m asked about my favorite books on Los Angeles, my first recommendation is “Nuestro Pueblo,” a selection of features by Times artist Charles Owens and writer Joseph Seewerker that appeared in The … Continue reading →

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Just in Time for Christmas — Amazon Price Checker

Posted on November 15, 2014 by lmharnisch

Here’s a fun toy I just discovered. CamelCamelCamel.com tracks price fluctuations on Amazon (in case you haven’t noticed – and I hadn’t —  the hardcover price of James Ellroy’s “Perfidia” has been dropping slightly every day). Handy for the holidays, … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Shadowing Marlowe: Another Good Story Ruined

Posted on November 2, 2014 by lmharnisch

Someone asked me what I thought of this article in our hometown paper and when I got done laughing I pulled out Frank MacShane’s “Selected Letters of Raymond Chandler” and “The Life of Raymond Chandler.” You guessed it.

Posted in Another Good Story Ruined, Books and Authors | Tagged , , , | 29 Comments

Coming Attractions: Mark A. Vieira on George Hurrell

Posted on October 2, 2014 by lmharnisch

Mark A. Vieira, a photographer, historian and author of several books, will take part in a public discussion of Hollywood photographer George Hurrell on Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. at USC’s Doheny Library marking the opening of an exhibit of … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Coming Attractions, Hollywood, Photography | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

James Ellroy: ‘Perfidia’ Online

Posted on September 29, 2014 by lmharnisch

Google Books is offering a extensive preview of James Ellroy’s “Perfidia,” for those who may be curious about it.  Amazon is also offering a preview. I have to say I’m not reassured by the first lines, ostensibly a radio broadcast … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, Books and Authors | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 35

Posted on September 25, 2014 by lmharnisch

The film of “Laura” makes heavy use of David Raksin’s now-famous theme song. The tune running through Vera Caspary’s novel is “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” from the musical “Roberta.” This copy of the sheet music is for sale on … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Music | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 34

Posted on September 24, 2014 by lmharnisch

The opening lines of Vera Caspary’s “Laura,” as narrated by newspaper columnist Waldo Lydecker. In case you just tuned in, I’m using Louella Parsons’ May 15, 1944, item on Rouben Mamoulian being replaced as the director of “Laura” to take … Continue reading →

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1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip by Louella Parsons, Sept. 24, 1944

Posted on September 24, 2014 by lmharnisch

Sept. 24, 1944 Louella Parsons says:  Why is young Van Johnson the idol of the bobby sox brigade and at this moment crowding Frank Sinatra and Alan Ladd for top honors? Van isn’t handsome,he hasn’t a striking physique and he … Continue reading →

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James Ellroy: ‘Perfidia’ Update

Posted on September 23, 2014 by lmharnisch

We’re waiting to buy a used copy for the Daily Mirror library, so I haven’t read James Ellroy’s “Perfidia,” but I thought it would be interesting to see how it’s doing. “Perfidia” has yet to penetrate the New York Times … Continue reading →

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‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 33

Posted on September 23, 2014 by lmharnisch

Waldo Lydecker, played by Clifton Webb in the film version of “Laura.”  In the novel, Waldo is considerably taller and much heavier. In case you just tuned in, I’m using Louella Parsons’ May 15, 1944, item on Rouben Mamoulian being … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on ‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 33

‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 32

Posted on September 18, 2014 by lmharnisch

  In case you just tuned in, I’m using Louella Parsons’ May 15, 1944, item on Rouben Mamoulian being replaced as the director of “Laura” to take a meandering look at the making of the film, which was released in … Continue reading →

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1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip by Louella Parsons, Sept. 17, 1944

Posted on September 17, 2014 by lmharnisch

Sept. 17, 1944 Bestsellers: “Green Dolphin Street,” “Leave Her to Heaven,” “History of Rome Hanks,” “Strange Fruit,” “I Never Left Home,” “The Time for Decision,” “Yankee From Olympus,” “Anna and the King of Siam” and “Invasion!” Louella Parsons says: All … Continue reading →

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‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 30

Posted on September 16, 2014 by lmharnisch

New York critic, columnist and radio pundit Alexander Woollcott makes an endorsement for Pullman in 1940. Courtesy of the Illinois Digital Archives. In Vera Caspary’s novel “Laura,” New York columnist Waldo Lydecker endorses the Byron pen, renamed the “Wallace Flow-Rite … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments