Tag Archives: film

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: ‘Don’t Be a Sucker’ Promotes American Values

Posted on January 26, 2026 by lmharnisch

Mary Mallory on the Signal Corps’ short “Don’t Be a Sucker,” produced in 1945, initially for GIs returning from World War II and in general release in 1946. “Don’t Be a Sucker,” a documentary on tolerance, describes the founding principles of the United States’ Declaration of Independence and Constitution. Continue reading →

Posted in 1946, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on January 26, 2026 by lmharnisch

For Monday, we have a woman of mystery. Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

1944 on the Radio — ‘Casablanca’ on ‘Lux Radio Theater,’ Jan. 24, 1944

Posted on January 24, 2026 by lmharnisch

January 24, 1944: On the radio, we have “Casablanca,” with Alan Ladd and Hedy Lamarr, “Information Please” and “Hop Harrigan.” Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Film, Hollywood, Radio | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

January 22, 1959: ‘Our Gang’ Star Carl ‘Alfalfa’ Switzer Dies in Fight Over $50

Posted on January 22, 2026 by lmharnisch

January 22, 1959: Carl “Alfalfa” Switzer dies in a fight over $50. Continue reading →

Posted in 1959, Baseball, Crime and Courts, Dodgers, Film, Hollywood, Keith Thursby, LAPD, Obituaries | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

January 20, 1947: Virginia Mayo Disappears!

Posted on January 20, 2026 by lmharnisch

January 20, 1947: With the city in the grips of the Black Dahlia murder, Los Angeles wonders: Where is Virginia Mayo? Or at least some publicist worries enough to feed the item to Louella Parsons at the Examiner. Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on January 19, 2026 by lmharnisch

For Monday, we have a mysterious fellow. Mystery movie update: The consensus has been to keep doing what I’ve been doing, but perhaps include more recent films. And so I will. Thank you for playing! Continue reading →

Posted in 1973, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on January 12, 2026 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie was the 1949 movie Tulsa, with Susan Hayward, Robert Preston, Pedro Armendariz, Lloyd Gough, Chill Wills, Edward Begley, Jimmy Conlin and Roland Jack.

Posted in 1949, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , | 32 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on January 5, 2026 by lmharnisch

For Monday’s mystery photo, we have a mysterious fellow. Continue reading →

Posted in 1933, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , | 20 Comments

Mary Astor’s Lost Film ‘New Year’s Eve’

Posted on December 31, 2025 by lmharnisch

Our annual look at Mary Astor’s lost 1929 film “New Year’s Eve.” It was a silent with music and sound effects and apparently disappeared after 1930. Continue reading →

Posted in 1929, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Mary Astor’s Lost Film ‘New Year’s Eve’

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on December 29, 2025 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie was the 1957 Warner Bros. film Top Secret Affair, with  Susan Hayward, Kirk Douglas, Paul Stewart, Jim Backus, John Cromwell, Roland Winters, A.E. Gould-Porter, Michael Fox, Frank Gerstle and Charles Lane.

Posted in 1957, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , | 31 Comments

December 27, 1947: Youth Questioned in Georgette Bauerdorf Killing

Posted on December 27, 2025 by lmharnisch

December 27, 1947: Sheriff’s detectives question Robert White in the 1944 killing of Georgette Bauerdorf. Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Homicide | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on December 27, 1947: Youth Questioned in Georgette Bauerdorf Killing

December 25, 1947: The Times Christmas Poem

Posted on December 25, 2025 by lmharnisch

December 25, 1947: The Los Angeles Times publishes a front-page poem for Christmas by James Warnack, who called himself “a theoretical Christian but a practical pagan.” Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Books and Authors, Obituaries, Religion | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on December 25, 1947: The Times Christmas Poem

Movieland Silent Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on December 22, 2025 by lmharnisch

For this week’s silent mystery movie, we have a mysterious couple. Continue reading →

Posted in 1925, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , | 16 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: ‘White Christmas’ Soothes the Home Front in 1942

Posted on December 16, 2025 by lmharnisch

Recognized today as one of the top selling singles and pieces of sheet music of all time, Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” was just one of eleven songs in the 1942 holiday classic, “Holiday Inn.” First put to paper by Berlin in 1940, the tune evolved over time before becoming the beloved hit sung by the dulcet tones of baritone Bing Crosby. Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Music | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: ‘White Christmas’ Soothes the Home Front in 1942

Movieland ‘Unsuitable’ Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on December 15, 2025 by lmharnisch

Concluding our exploration of ‘unsuitable’ movies, we have a mysterious woman in a movie that is not suitable. Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , | 22 Comments

Movieland ‘Unsuitable’ Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on December 8, 2025 by lmharnisch

In our exploration of “unsuitable” movies, we have the most “unsuitable” one yet, as in extremely “unsuitable.” Continue reading →

Posted in 1934, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , | 33 Comments

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Posted on December 2, 2025 by lmharnisch

A Daily Mirror gift suggestion: Mary Mallory’s latest: First Women of Hollywood. Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Movieland ‘Unsuitable’ Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on December 1, 2025 by lmharnisch

In this week’s exploration of “unsuitable” mystery movies, we have an especially “unsuitable” film, with this “unsuitable” mystery guest. Continue reading →

Posted in 1934, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , | 32 Comments

November 25, 1947: House Indicts the ‘Hollywood 10’ for Contempt

Posted on November 25, 2025 by lmharnisch

November 10, 1947: The House cites the Hollywood 10 for contempt. Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on November 25, 1947: House Indicts the ‘Hollywood 10’ for Contempt

Movieland Unsuitable Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on November 24, 2025 by lmharnisch

In our continuing exploration of “unsuitable” movies, we have an unsuitable mystery woman. Continue reading →

Posted in 1931, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , | 22 Comments