Tag Archives: Mickey Cohen

Feb. 14, 1959: Paul Coates Gets Some Reader Feedback

Posted on February 14, 2019 by lmharnisch

Feb. 14, 1959: It’s Saturday in 1959, and Paul Coates ends the week with some letters, a typical ploy in the days when columnists published six times a week, a punishing schedule. And there is a Parkey Sharkey alert! Also … Continue reading →

Posted in 1959, Columnists, Mickey Cohen, Paul Coates, Television | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

RIP: Dave Pell, Jazz Musician 1925 – 2017

Posted on May 8, 2017 by lmharnisch

Veteran jazz musician and record producer Dave Pell has died at the age of 92, according to his Facebook page. Here are excerpts of an interview I did in 2007. (The full interview is at latimes.com.) Dave Pell on Lenny … Continue reading →

Posted in 1957, 2017, Mickey Cohen, Music, Nightclubs, Obituaries | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Before You Watch ‘Mob City’ — Bugsy Siegel, Mickey Cohen and Chief Parker

Posted on December 4, 2013 by lmharnisch

Before you watch TNT’s “Mob City” tonight, read these items from The Times about what Police Capt. William H. Parker was actually doing in the 1940s. Parker served in the Army during World War II and was discharged in November … Continue reading →

Posted in 1945, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1950, Hollywood, LAPD, Mickey Cohen, World War II | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Another Good Story Ruined: William Parker vs. Bugsy Siegel

Posted on November 24, 2013 by lmharnisch

By Yvonne Villarreal in The Times. Let’s get this straight: There was never a “long and often bloody struggle between LAPD Police Chief William Parker and gangster kingpin Ben ‘Bugsy’ Siegel” for the simple reason that Siegel was shot to … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Another Good Story Ruined, History, LAPD, Mickey Cohen, Television | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

‘Gangster Squad’: Fail — Part 2 (Updated)

Posted on May 12, 2013 by lmharnisch

“Inspired by a True Story” is movie shorthand for “what you’re about to see is all b.s.” Much against my better judgment, I forced myself to watch “Gangster Squad” again when it came out on DVD and “on demand.” Not … Continue reading →

Posted in 1949, Film, Hollywood, LAPD | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

‘Gangster Squad’ a Thumbnail Review

Posted on January 11, 2013 by lmharnisch

“Gangster Squad” is bad. It’s very bad. It’s even very, very bad. I laughed several times in fact, despite my best efforts not to. I’ll write more later but here’s a start: I should say something about a spoiler alert … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Pray for Me, I’m Going to See ‘Gangster Squad’

Posted on January 11, 2013 by lmharnisch

I am heading  off to see “Gangster Squad” this morning, not because I expect it to be good, but because I expect it to be very, very bad, as already reflected by the first reviews and the trailers. I have … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Black Dahlia, City Hall, Downtown, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , | 11 Comments

Mickey Cohen on the Record – Talking With Author Tere Tereba

Posted on July 26, 2012 by lmharnisch

Photo: Tere Tereba’s “Mickey Cohen: The Life and Crimes of L.A.’s Notorious Mobster.”   Note: I have been talking with author Tere Tereba about her book “Mickey Cohen: The Life and Crimes of L.A.’s Notorious Mobster.” Was he nothing more  … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, History, Hollywood, LAPD, Mickey Cohen | Tagged , , , , | 12 Comments

Johnny Stompanato, RIP

Posted on April 5, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, the Mirror brings out an extra on the Johnny Stompanato killing.

Posted in Front Pages, Homicide, Mickey Cohen | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

April 2, 1958

Posted on April 2, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, the popularity of TV westerns spreads to "Ozzie and Harriet." Below, Holy Week is presented in a daily news feature based on the Gospels. It is difficult to imagine that even in the 1950s anybody thought this was a … Continue reading →

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March 28, 1958

Posted on March 28, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, Mickey Cohen is in trouble again. Shocking, I know. This time he has a black eye courtesy of U.S. drug agent Howard W. Chappell. Cohen was eventually fined $200 for disturbing the peace. Below, the death of W.C. Handy, … Continue reading →

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March 20, 1958

Posted on March 20, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, more layoffs, this time in Los Angeles’ auto assembly plants in South Gate, Van Nuys and Maywood, recall the recurring theme of unemployment in recent columns by Matt Weinstock and Paul Coates. Below, the Navy discovers that a mystery … Continue reading →

Posted in Dodgers, Front Pages, Homicide | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mystery photo

Posted on February 25, 2008 by lmharnisch

Photograph by Jack Gaunt / Los Angeles Times OK, who’s the blond with Mickey Cohen? (No, it’s not Walter O’Malley). Candy Barr? (Two people). Nope, Candy Barr looks like this. The Daily Mirror doesn’t do reruns! LaVonne Cohen? Sorry, no. … Continue reading →

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Mystery photo

Posted on February 18, 2008 by lmharnisch

Photograph by Fred Tschantre / Los Angeles Times OK, who’s the blond with Mickey Cohen? (Hint: No, it’s not Walter O’Malley). Elizabeth Montgomery? An intriguing guess–Elizabeth Montgomery and Mickey Cohen. But no. Lili St. Cyr? Good guess, but Lili would … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Mickey Cohen | Tagged | 5 Comments

Mystery photo

Posted on January 14, 2008 by lmharnisch

  Photograph by the Los Angeles Times   Who are these gentlemen and what are they doing? Bonus question: Who was the former owner of this Cadillac? Is it Johnny Stompanato? (Howard Decker–first by 10 minutes over the next correct … Continue reading →

Posted in Mickey Cohen | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Jan. 3, 1958

Posted on January 3, 2008 by lmharnisch

    Note: Three Border Patrol agents crawling through brush found Roberta Elizabeth Donovan the next day, asleep in a clump of mesquite. Also note ABC’s settlement with Police Chief William Parker over remarks by Mickey Cohen in an interview … Continue reading →

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Cohen’s Caddy found!

Posted on November 18, 2007 by lmharnisch

Thanks to a reader, I have located Mickey Cohen’s bulletproof Cadillac. It’s in the Southward Car Museum in New Zealand! (Note to my friends at the Petersen: Wouldn’t it be cool to borrow this car and put it on display?). … Continue reading →

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Mickey Cohen’s Cadillac

Posted on November 18, 2007 by lmharnisch

Would you like to see another picture of Mickey Cohen with one of his Cadillacs? Of course you would! This one is a bit mysterious. This is the Cadillac that took a few shots in 1949 outside Sherry's on the … Continue reading →

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Mickey Cohen

Posted on November 16, 2007 by lmharnisch

Here’s another little nugget of information I found going through the archives. Guess what kind of car Mickey Cohen had after he gave up bulletproof Cadillacs? Go ahead, guess.

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Mickey Cohen’s Caddy

Posted on November 15, 2007 by lmharnisch

Michael "Mickey" Cohen needed a new bulletproof Cadillac for several reasons: His home was bombed in February 1950 and his previous Cadillac acquired some bullet holes outside Sherry's  Restaurant, 9039 Sunset Blvd., on July 20, 1949.   Photograph by Clay … Continue reading →

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