Tag Archives: Books and Authors

When Doctors Turn Deadly: Hallie Rubenhold’s ‘Story of a Murder: The Wives, the Mistress, and Dr. Crippen’

Posted on March 3, 2025 by lmharnisch

An advance look at Hallie Rubenhold’s forthcoming “Story of a Murder.” Well-written and suspenseful!
@hallierubenhold.bsky.social Continue reading →

Posted in 1910, Books and Authors, Homicide | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

End of Watch: Joseph Wambaugh, 1937-2025

Posted on February 28, 2025 by lmharnisch

Remembering author Joseph Wambaugh (1937-2025) with a 2013 video interview for the L.A. Times and articles about the Onion Field, the 1963 kidnapping of two LAPD officers in which one was killed and the other survived. Continue reading →

Posted in books, Books and Authors, Film, LAPD, Obituaries | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights — The Three Lives Of Villa Aurora

Posted on January 9, 2025 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2013. Cats have nine lives. People often experience second or third acts in their lives or careers. Some homes have multiple lives as well, like Villa Aurora, which has experienced three diverse lives, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1928, Architecture, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights — The Three Lives Of Villa Aurora

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Drinking Guide: A Brief History of the Tom and Jerry

Posted on December 26, 2024 by lmharnisch

A recipe for the Tom and Jerry from the San Francisco Call, June 30, 1912. Note: This is an encore post from 2013. Over on Facebook, Christopher McPherson asked whether the Tom and Jerry was named for the MGM cartoon … Continue reading →

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L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Holiday Shopping Guide: ‘Making Black Los Angeles’

Posted on December 16, 2024 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2018. I only recommend books that I have read, which is why I haven’t listed Susan Orlean’s “The Library Book” or Stephen Gee’s “Los Angeles City Hall: An American Icon.” I look forward … Continue reading →

Posted in 2016, African Americans, Books and Authors, History | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Holiday Shopping Guide: ‘Making Black Los Angeles’

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Holiday Shopping Guide

Posted on December 11, 2024 by lmharnisch

The Daily Mirror Holiday Shopping Guide: David Lewis’ “The Creative Producer: A Memoir of the Studio System.” #Books Continue reading →

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L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Holiday Shopping Guide

Posted on December 10, 2024 by lmharnisch

Retro Shopping Guide: “The Los Angeles Book” (1950) featuring wonderful photographs by Max Yavno, who was responsible for so many iconic shots of L.A. Continue reading →

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Raymond Chandler Auction Update

Posted on December 6, 2024 by lmharnisch

One of three John Engstead portraits of Raymond Chandler, a lot that sold for $512. The results are in for Doyle’s auction of Raymond Chandler items from the the Jean Vounder-Davis Collection.

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L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Holiday Shopping Guide

Posted on December 6, 2024 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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L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Holiday Shopping Guide

Posted on December 5, 2024 by lmharnisch

Today’s retro holiday shopping suggestion in Don Normark’s excellent book “Chavez Ravine, 1949.” Continue reading →

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L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Holiday Shopping Guide

Posted on December 4, 2024 by lmharnisch

Photo by John Engstead / Courtesy of Doyle Auctions. Speaking of Raymond Chandler, Doyle Auctions is offering material from the the Jean Vounder-Davis Collection of Raymond Chandler to be sold Friday (Dec. 6).

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L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Holiday Shopping Guide

Posted on December 3, 2024 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2020. Many years ago, the editor of the Los Angeles Times book review section (yes, the really, really odd one) insisted that publishers send him advance review copies and unbound galleys rather than … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Raymond Chandler, Retro | Tagged , , | Comments Off on L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Holiday Shopping Guide

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Holiday Shopping Guide

Posted on December 2, 2024 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 →

Posted in 2010, Books and Authors, Libraries | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Holiday Shopping Guide

Black Dahlia: Michael Connelly and ‘The Waiting’ (Spoiler Alert)

Posted on October 15, 2024 by lmharnisch

Executive summary: Michael Connelly’s latest novel, The Waiting, uses the Black Dahlia case as a device in his secondary plot involving Maddie Bosch. The treatment in the novel perpetuates mistakes and contributes to the folklore about the case, doubly unfortunate … Continue reading →

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Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights — The Three Lives Of Villa Aurora

Posted on July 23, 2024 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2013. Cats have nine lives. People often experience second or third acts in their lives or careers. Some homes have multiple lives as well, like Villa Aurora, which has experienced three diverse lives, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1928, Architecture, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights — The Three Lives Of Villa Aurora

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on January 29, 2024 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie was the 1949 Paramount film The Great Gatsby, with Alan Ladd, Betty Field, Macdonald Carey, Ruth Hussey, Barry Sullivan, Howard Da Silva, Shelley Winters, Henry Hull, Carole Mathews, Ed Begley, Elisha Cook Jr., Nicholas Joy, Walter … Continue reading →

Posted in 1949, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , | 51 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Sada Cowan, Screenwriting Pioneer

Posted on May 31, 2022 by lmharnisch

Sada Cowan and writing partner Howard Higgin in 1925, Exhibitors Herald. Women made an integral contribution to the early silent film industry in all areas, both behind and in front of the camera. Without their presence, the field could not … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: New Books Examine Film Noir, the Mankiewicz Brothers and Women in the Movies

Posted on May 10, 2022 by lmharnisch

Over the last several months, a plethora of film books have been released, examining Golden Age Hollywood up close or at large, offering something for everyone from experienced cinephiles to new film fans. Some come from TCM hosts or others … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: New Books Examine Film Noir, the Mankiewicz Brothers and Women in the Movies

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Drinking Guide: A Brief History of the Tom and Jerry

Posted on December 26, 2021 by lmharnisch

A recipe for the Tom and Jerry from the San Francisco Call, June 30, 1912. Note: This is an encore post from 2013. Over on Facebook, Christopher McPherson asked whether the Tom and Jerry was named for the MGM cartoon … Continue reading →

Posted in 1862, Books and Authors, Food and Drink | Tagged , , | Comments Off on L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Drinking Guide: A Brief History of the Tom and Jerry

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Holiday Shopping Guide

Posted on December 22, 2021 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2020. Many years ago, the editor of the Los Angeles Times book review section (yes, the really, really odd one) insisted that publishers send him advance review copies and unbound galleys rather than … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Raymond Chandler, Retro | Tagged , , | Comments Off on L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Holiday Shopping Guide