Tag Archives: film

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on December 28, 2015 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie has been the 1957 MGM picture “I Accuse!” The film stars Jose Ferrer (who also directed), Anton Walbrook, Viveca Lindfors, Leo Genn, Emlyn Williams, David Farrar, Donald Wolfit and Herbert Lom.  The screenplay was by Gore … Continue reading →

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

Samuel Steward and Rudolph Valentino: Another Good Story Ruined

Posted on December 22, 2015 by lmharnisch

I may have retired, but I haven’t lost any of my annoyance over b.s. when it comes to historical figures. The case in point is today’s review in the New York Times by Jennifer Senior of “Philip Sparrow Tells All,” … Continue reading →

Posted in 1926, Another Good Story Ruined, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on December 21, 2015 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie has been the 1933 RKO picture “Christopher Strong,” Katharine Hepburn’s second film and her first in a leading role. It starred Colin Clive and Billie Burke (also in Hepburn’s film debut, “Bill of Divorcement”), with a … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 44 Comments

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

Posted on December 21, 2015 by lmharnisch

Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Marjorie Reynolds and Virginia Dale in “Holiday Inn.” 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 … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Music | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on December 14, 2015 by lmharnisch

This week’s unusual mystery movie is “Once Too Often” and I chose it to promote film preservation. “Once Too Often” is otherwise known as …

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 37 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Al Levy’s Tavern Toasts 1930s Hollywood

Posted on December 14, 2015 by lmharnisch

A detail of a matchbook for Al Levy’s Tavern, 1627 N. Vine St., listed on EBay as Buy It Now for $6.95. Much of the glamour of classic Hollywood grew out of the fame and atmosphere of its famous restaurants … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Food and Drink, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Al Levy’s Tavern Toasts 1930s Hollywood

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + +)

Posted on December 8, 2015 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie has been the 1938 Warner Bros. picture “Men Are Such Fools,” with Wayne Morris, Priscilla Lane, Humphrey Bogart, Hugh Herbert, Johnnie Davis, Penny Singleton, Mona Barrie, Marcia Ralston and Gene Lockhart. The movie was directed by … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 54 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Movie Tie-Ins for the Holidays

Posted on December 7, 2015 by lmharnisch

Since almost the beginning of the motion picture industry, advertising tie-ups and promotions have stoked audience interest and desire in seeing certain moving pictures and movie stars. Studios quickly learned that partnering with another company or popular product cut the … Continue reading →

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Daily Mirror Holiday Gift Guide

Posted on December 4, 2015 by lmharnisch

Another book we are recommending for this year is “The 33” also known as “Deep Down Dark,” by my former Los Angeles Times colleague Hector Tobar. “The 33” is available at Book Soup, Skylight Books, Vroman’s, and online at Amazon.

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Daily Mirror Holiday Gift Guide

Posted on December 2, 2015 by lmharnisch

“Hollywood Celebrates the Holidays” by Karie Bible and Mary Mallory has been receiving lots of attention since it was released in October and we were quite pleased to add a copy to the Daily Mirror library. The book  is available … Continue reading →

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Daily Mirror Holiday Gift Guide

Posted on December 1, 2015 by lmharnisch

December is upon us and as usual, we will be offering a few gift suggestions – some new, some retro — for the holiday season. And as is our tradition, we will be repost the retro drinking guide leading up … Continue reading →

Posted in 2015, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, James Curtis | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on November 30, 2015 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery film has been the 1941 Alexander Korda film “Lydia,” released through United Artists, directed by Julien Duvivier, with Merle Oberon, Alan Marshal, Joseph Cotton, Hans Jaray (“Yaray” in the screen credits), John Halliday, George Reeves, Sara Allgood … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 38 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Hollywoodland Sign Arises November 1923

Posted on November 30, 2015 by lmharnisch

When I began researching and writing my Arcadia Publishing book “Hollywoodland” almost five years ago, standard gossip stated that developers constructed the giant Hollywoodland sign in July 1923 as a billboard promoting the development, all with no documentation or backup. … Continue reading →

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Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on November 23, 2015 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie has been the 1949 MGM feature “The Great Sinner,” starring Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Melvyn Douglas, Walter Huston, Ethel Barrymore, Frank Morgan and Agnes Moorehead, with Ludwig Donath, Curt Bois and Ludwig Stossel. The screenplay was … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 52 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: ‘Weegee, Weegee, Tell Me Do’

Posted on November 23, 2015 by lmharnisch

“Weegee, Weegee, Tell Me Do,” courtesy of Mary Mallory.   What we know as the game of Ouija evolved out of spiritualism practices into a major fad of the early twentieth century. While some denounced it as a form of … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

What’s Up at TCM?

Posted on November 21, 2015 by lmharnisch

TCM’s showing of “At Sword’s Point” on Friday, part of its tribute to the late Maureen O’Hara, was preceded by what may be the oddest Robert Osborne introduction I have ever seen. Bob was taped against a black background and … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Television | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on November 16, 2015 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie has been the 1935 MGM picture “Kind Lady,” starring Aline MacMahon, Basil Rathbone, Mary Carlisle, Frank Albertson, Dudley Digges, Doris Lloyd, Nola Luxford, Murray Kinnell, Eily Malyon, Justine Chase, Barbara Shields, Donald Meek and Frank Reigher. … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 64 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: The Case of the Clicking Heels, Part 2

Posted on November 16, 2015 by lmharnisch

  Hazel Glab In later life as Hazel Stoddard This is Part 2 of the story of Hazel Glab, flamboyant flapper, whose husband, John, died under mysterious circumstances June 18, 1928, at 12744 Ventura Blvd., in Studio City. Murder charges … Continue reading →

Posted in 1935, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, San Fernando Valley | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Biltmore Hotel Appears in 1931 Film

Posted on November 12, 2015 by lmharnisch

TCM recently aired several Wheeler and Woolsey films and we were happily surprised to see this establishing shot at the opening of the 1931 RKO picture “Cracked Nuts.” It is our old friend the Biltmore Hotel. Let us also recall … Continue reading →

Posted in 1931, Downtown, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on November 9, 2015 by lmharnisch

  This week’s mystery movie has been the 1949 RKO picture “The Woman on Pier 13” (originally released as “I Married a Communist”)  starring Laraine Day, Robert Ryan, John Agar, Thomas Gomez, Janis Carter, Richard Rober, William Talman, Paul E. … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , | 69 Comments