Tag Archives: Television

Remembering Newsman Tony Valdez | 1945-2023

Posted on May 11, 2023 by lmharnisch

We’re remembering veteran Fox 11 newsman Tony Valdez, who died last week at 78. Tony loved Los Angeles and he loved Los Angeles history; for Tony, the city was a profession and an avocation. When he wasn’t reporting on Los … Continue reading →

Posted in broadcasting, Obituaries, Photography, Television | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Black Dahlia–Why I Don’t Give Black Dahlia Interviews and a Progress Report on My Book

Posted on January 1, 2023 by lmharnisch

I decided to start the year with something different — a video update.

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, LAPD, Television | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Betty White, America’s Sweetheart

Posted on January 3, 2022 by lmharnisch

On December 31, beloved television actress Betty White passed away at the age of 99. For more than 80 years, she charmed audiences with her quick wit, sly smile, genuine warmth, and wicked sense of humor. White’s expert comic timing … Continue reading →

Posted in Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Obituaries, Television | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Holiday Shopping Guide

Posted on December 4, 2021 by lmharnisch

I generally don’t recommend books I haven’t read, but the Brain Trust has weighed in on two new books that you might consider: The Boys, by Ron Howard and Clint Howard, comes highly recommended, as does Hayley Mills’ Forever Young: … Continue reading →

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Movieland Mystery Photo – Jury Duty Edition No. 5 (Updated)

Posted on October 8, 2021 by lmharnisch

And no, not all the judges on Perry Mason were men, so I’m closing out a week of jury duty with a mystery woman judge. Update: This is Lillian Bronson from The Case of the Shattered Dream. She was the … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Television | Tagged , , , | 14 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo – Jury Duty Edition No. 4 (Updated)

Posted on October 7, 2021 by lmharnisch

I’m on jury duty this week, so in that theme I’m posting mystery judges from Perry Mason. Update: This is Frank Wilcox from The Case of the Treacherous Toupee, as seen in the Mystery Movie ’Til We Meet Again. Brain … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Television | Tagged , , , | 15 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo – Jury Duty Edition No. 2 (Updated)

Posted on October 5, 2021 by lmharnisch

I’m on jury duty this week, so in that theme I’m posting mystery judges from Perry Mason. Update: This is Grandon Rhodes from The Case of the Restless Redhead. Brain Trust roll call: Michael Ryerson (Tuesday’s mystery judge), Howard Mandelbaum … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Television | Tagged , , , | 14 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on September 27, 2021 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery entry was The Last Letter, Season 5, Episode 7 of Death Valley Days from 1956, with William Pullen, Clint Eastwood, Forrest Stanley, George Pembroke, Russ Todd, John Sargent, Gregg Barton and Robert Sherman. Directed by Stuart E. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1956, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Television | Tagged , , , | 32 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights – Vice Raid and Early TV in Hollywood’s Biggest Storehouse

Posted on August 24, 2021 by lmharnisch

The Hollywood Storage Building as seen in Google Earth. Originally Los Angeles’ tallest building when opened in 1926, the Hollywood Storage Building at the southwest corner of Highland Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard towered over the rapidly expanding film city. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1926, Architecture, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Television | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Carmel Myers Pioneers TV Talk Shows

Posted on May 31, 2021 by lmharnisch

Carmel Myers in a show from 1951 that featured Jeanette MacDonald. Long before Barbara Walters, Oprah Winfrey, or Ellen DeGeneres came on the scene, former silent film star Carmel Myers premiered the celebrity talk show with her self-titled “The Carmel … Continue reading →

Posted in 1951, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Television | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on November 23, 2020 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery program was “Queen of the Orange Bowl,” which aired Jan. 13, 1960,  on the CBS anthology show “U.S. Steel Hour.” With Anne Francis, Johnny Carson, Glenda Farrell, Frank McHugh, Elizabeth Wilson and Robert Elston. Adapted for television … Continue reading →

Posted in 1960, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Preservation, Television | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 43 Comments

Feb. 14, 1959: Matt Weinstock (Almost) All Bets Are Off at Raided Bookie Joint

Posted on February 14, 2019 by lmharnisch

Feb. 14, 1959: Matt Weinstock ends his week with an assortment of amusing stories, a poem and a bit of literature. Weinstock had an impressive number and variety of people feeding items to him. He made it look easy. Weinstock’s … Continue reading →

Posted in 1959, Books and Authors, Columnists, Matt Weinstock | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

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

Feb. 6, 1959: Matt Weinstock – Looking for the Real ‘77 Sunset Strip’

Posted on February 7, 2019 by lmharnisch

Feb. 6, 1959: The wildly popular Warner Bros. TV show “77 Sunset Strip” has people visiting the location at 8532 Sunset Blvd., next to Dino’s, and writing letters. Lots of letters. Kookie, man. Weinstock’s column was originally published in the … Continue reading →

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February 1959: Television Recorder! TV Set as Flat as a Picture! Amazing Predictions for the Future!

Posted on February 4, 2019 by lmharnisch

Note: This post originally appeared on latimes.com in 2009 and is available via Archive.org. February 1959: Speaking of the future, RCA’s David Sarnoff describes an astounding “television recorder!” “Westinghouse’s Gwilym Price expects [recorded] tapes to reproduce shows in three dimensions … Continue reading →

Posted in 1959, Education, Futurism, Television | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Jan. 11, 1959: ‘Who Shot Duke Snider?’

Posted on January 11, 2019 by lmharnisch

Jan. 11, 1959: Keith Thursby looks at the fledgling acting career of Duke Snider. If it worked for Chuck Connors…. The entire piece appeared on latimes.com in 2009 and is available at Archive.org..

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Jan. 3, 1949: Tom Harmon on the Future of Televised Sports

Posted on January 3, 2019 by lmharnisch

Here’s a nice piece from Keith Thursby, now of ESPN. The complete post from the Daily Mirror, Jan. 3, 2009, is at Archive.org.. Story, Part 1 | Story, Part 2

Posted in 1949, Baseball, Sports, Television | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Black Dahlia: 6 Reasons Dr. George Hodel Didn’t Kill Elizabeth Short — No. 6 No Connection

Posted on December 23, 2018 by lmharnisch

Elizabeth Short contrasted with the unidentified woman found in George Hodel’s photo album. Not at all the same. Here are six reasons Dr. George Hodel did not kill Elizabeth Short that you will need to know before watching the TNT … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Homicide, LAPD, Television | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Black Dahlia: 6 Reasons Dr. George Hodel Didn’t Kill Elizabeth Short — No. 4 Clinic Served Poor Blacks of Bronzeville

Posted on December 22, 2018 by lmharnisch

Los Angeles, May 25, 1944: At a Shinto shrine near City Hall, Los Angeles Mayor Fletcher Bowron, second from left, Dr. George M. Uhl and Nicola Giulli of the city housing authority talk to black residents of Bronzeville. Courtesy of the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Downtown, Homicide, LAPD, Medicine, Television, World War II | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Black Dahlia: 6 Reasons Dr. George Hodel Didn’t Kill Elizabeth Short — No. 3 Not Pals With Man Ray

Posted on December 21, 2018 by lmharnisch

The “minotaur love/death cult of Hollywood” is apparently getting a big play in “I Am the Night.” Oh dear. Here are six reasons Dr. George Hodel did not kill Elizabeth Short that you will need to know before watching the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Art & Artists, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, Homicide, LAPD, Libraries, Television | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments