Tag Archives: books

Found on EBay: ‘What Actors Eat (When They Eat!)’

Posted on December 30, 2021 by lmharnisch

A copy of What Actors Eat (When They Eat!), a collection of celebrities’ recipes by Kenneth Harlan and Rex Lease, has been listed on EBay for $14.99. Copies are fairly rare an in good condition can sell for hundreds of … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Food and Drink, Found on EBay, Hollywood | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Ethel Barrymore Dons Blackface for ‘Scarlet Sister Mary’

Posted on September 7, 2020 by lmharnisch

Ethel Barrymore in “Sister Scarlet Mary” Stage legend Ethel Barrymore continually sought challenges to advance her craft through her many decades in the theater. In the late 1920s, she took on perhaps her biggest challenge, portraying the lead character in … Continue reading →

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Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on August 31, 2020 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie was the 1953 Twentieth Century-Fox film “Treasure of the Golden Condor,” with Cornel Wilde, Constance Smith, Finlay Currie, Walter Hampden, Anne Bancroft, George Macready, Fay Wray, Leo G. Carroll and Konstantin Shayne. Screenplay by Delmer Daves … Continue reading →

Posted in 1953, books, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 45 Comments

Los Angeles Junior League Cookbook, 1930

Posted on April 29, 2019 by lmharnisch

A copy of the Los Angeles Junior League cookbook from 1930 has turned up on EBay. It’s not cheap, listed as Buy it Now for $250, but then again, who can put a price on Mrs. John Russell’s recipe for … Continue reading →

Posted in 1930, Books and Authors, Food and Drink | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Another Good Story Ruined: Gen. Otis’ ‘Death Car’ Rides Again

Posted on September 24, 2017 by lmharnisch

Photo: Times President Gen. Harrison Gray Otis. Credit: Press Reference Library, 1912 Evidently the folks at Esotouric (nee “The Crime Bus”) have neglected their homework when it comes to the bombing of The Times, judging by a recent story. Which … Continue reading →

Posted in Another Good Story Ruined, Books and Authors, Downtown, History, Libraries | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Coming Events: Book Signing for ‘Hollywood at Play’

Posted on January 30, 2017 by lmharnisch

A book signing for “Hollywood at Play,” by Donovan Brandt, Mary Mallory and Stephen X. Sylvester, will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday at Larry Edmunds Bookshop at 6644 Hollywood Blvd.

Posted in 2017, Books and Authors, Coming Attractions, Film, Hollywood, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mystery Manuscript

Posted on September 6, 2016 by lmharnisch

If you think the mystery movies are tough – try the British Library’s mystery manuscript.

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‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 31

Posted on September 17, 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 Los … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip by Louella Parsons, Aug. 27, 1944

Posted on August 27, 2014 by lmharnisch

Aug. 27, 1944 Hollywood’s divorces and nightclub battles always manage to get on the front pages. It’s just too bad the public doesn’t get an equal chance to learn about the topic of conversation that really interests the stars. Go … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Books and Authors, Columnists, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Books, Reading and Lending Libraries

Posted on August 15, 2014 by lmharnisch

Note to millennials: This is an example of a book from a lending library. These were generally small  businesses that rented books for pennies a day and specialized in current literature and somewhat racy material that wasn’t available at the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1959, Books and Authors, Found on EBay, Libraries | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Noir Fans, Mark Your Calendars

Posted on April 9, 2013 by lmharnisch

Among the events scheduled for the upcoming Los Angeles Times Festival of Books (April 20-21), you may especially enjoy a panel moderated by Patt Morrison titled “The Real L.A. Noir,” featuring reporters Andrew Blankstein and Richard Winton — and me. … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Coming Attractions, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Mobs Storm Butchers Trying to Beat Ration Deadline

Posted on March 28, 2013 by lmharnisch

People line up outside a meat market at 2100 N. Broadway. 2100 N. Broadway via Google Street View. March 28, 1943: And did the “Greatest Generation” meekly, humbly and patriotically accept meat rationing for the war effort? They did not. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, Books and Authors, Broadway, Comics, Downtown, Food and Drink, World War II | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Coming Attractions: Denise Hamilton

Posted on March 13, 2013 by lmharnisch

Author and former Times reporter Denise Hamilton will be speaking about her book “The Last Embrace,” on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the Hollywood Heritage Museum, 2100 N. Highland Ave. Hamilton will also talk about Los Angeles’ influence on her … Continue reading →

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Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Douglas Fairbanks, Author

Posted on February 18, 2013 by lmharnisch

Douglas Fairbanks: “Teaching his dog to smile.” Douglas Fairbanks exploded onto the filmmaking scene in 1915 after a successful career on Broadway as a dashing leading man. His jaunty joie de vivre and flashy acrobatics wowed audiences on stage and … Continue reading →

Posted in 1918, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Found on EBay – 1880 History of Los Angeles County

Posted on October 14, 2012 by lmharnisch

A copy of the 1959 reprint of the 1880 “History of Los Angeles County” has been listed on EBay. The book was compiled over five months from newspapers, books, magazines public records and interviews, producing “three large grain sacks” filled … Continue reading →

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Reading Los Angeles: Glen Creason

Posted on September 26, 2012 by lmharnisch

Photo: “Murder at the Sleepy Lagoon” by Eduardo Obregón Pagán. In interviewing Los Angeles Public Library map librarian Glen Creason, I asked about his favorite books on Los Angeles. There wasn’t space to include the list with the story, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, History, Libraries, Zoot Suit | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Mary Holland Kinkaid – Early Newspaperwoman

Posted on August 14, 2012 by lmharnisch

“The Man of Yesterday” by Mary Holland Kinkaid, has been listed on EBay. Kinkaid, who died in 1948, is forgotten today, but was city editor of the Herald and is probably the first woman city editor of a Los Angeles … Continue reading →

Posted in 1948, Books and Authors, Found on EBay | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Reading ‘Mad Men’ — Mom’s Edition

Posted on April 6, 2012 by lmharnisch

The Daily Mirror HQ is not equipped to receive “Mad Men,” so the TV sensation is lost on us. However, several “Mad Men” reading lists are floating around the Web for possible inclusion on your Zombie Reading List: The New … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Film, Libraries, Television | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

The L.A. Daily Mirror Holiday Gift Guide

Posted on December 16, 2011 by lmharnisch

Here are some recommendations for things that might please a Daily Mirror reader. The out of print books can usually be found on Bookfinder.com. “Spencer Tracy: A Biography,” by Daily Mirror contributor James Curtis. “Hollywoodland,” by Daily Mirror contributor Mary … Continue reading →

Posted in Art & Artists, Books and Authors, Eve Golden, James Curtis, Marion Eisenmann, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

The Best Books on L.A.

Posted on October 6, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: “Los Angeles,” by Morrow Mayo. Credit: Larry Harnisch/LADailyMirror.com Earlier this year, I queried readers about the best books on Los Angeles. It was interesting to see how many people suggested novels – by Raymond Chandler and John Fante – … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, History, Libraries | Tagged , | 4 Comments