Larry Harnisch

The leading Black Dahlia expert and a collaborator in the 1947project, Harnisch has been a copy editor at The Times since 1988. He has appeared on many TV shows discussing the Dahlia case, notably "James Ellroy's Feast of Death."

Join him for a spin through old Los Angeles in the Mirror's radio car. Keep your eyes open for Mickey Cohen and Tempest Storm. It's quite a ride.

The reporter's badge at left belonged to Sid Hughes (1908-1958), legendary reporter who worked at nearly every newspaper in Los Angeles.

Comments

[howad decker]

Whattya got? A new look? I hate it. I recall a phone conversation I had with Marion Davies about the look-ain't-we-grand new page design of the El Lay Examiner (this was over 50 years ago) and she hated it. Things have not changed much. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Now your blog has all the character of a paper cup (to steal from R. Chandler).

[Rogét-L.A.]

This is my guess for this week's Movie Star Mystery Photo. I was unable to post my comment on that page.

Renzo Cesana! He looked so familiar, but I just couldn't place him. I knew he was Italian, and then I remembered I recognized him from episodes of "Bewitched" and "That Girl".

[Terry Graham]

I was wondering if you had any newspaper archive of the old Big Pines Park (Los Angeles County Recreation Park) from 1924-1940

Respectfully, T. graham

[Gloria Pall]

I just typed up a whole story about Mickey Cohen, Liz Renay, Johnny Stompanato, Tempest Storm, Dixie Evans and Bettie page and it disappeared.

What happened to it?
I pressed prewview...then post...so where is it?

[Don]

A while back you were discussing the location(s) of the Hippodrome Theater. Take a look at http://www.flickr.com/photos/vokoban/491725037/in/set-72157622242836636/ which mashes up an old street plan and a recent aerial photo. The site has other downtown images as well.

[Maryte]

Hey, I just saw the Black Dahlia episode on "Cold Case Files." Great job!

[Jim H]

Samuel Henry Luitweiler, born July 31, 1905. Died Dec 9, 1981 San Luis Obispo. Mother's maiden name checks.
California Death Index.

[Wilson Smith]

Have you changed your policy regarding revealing the identity of each week's mystery photo subject? I enjoy the feature daily and if I don't guess correctly, I have in the past always enjoyed finding out who it is and following up with research. Now it seems that sometimes I can find out the identity by clicking on various links on your blog, but lately that has proved nonproductive.
Is there a consistent place where I can click at the end of the week to find out who it is?

[El]

What happened to the columnists feature? I read Paul Coates and Matt Weinstock every day, and I really enjoyed the Dear Abby columns as well. Will these features be back at some point?

[lrh]

@El: The matter of Paul Coates and Matt Weinstock is a short question with a long answer, but can be summed up as: "So many stories, only one Larry Harnisch."

Unlike The Times, which is available online via ProQuest, the Mirror-News only exists on microfilm, which I must scan myself if I want to run Coates, Weinstock or the Mirror-News front pages. Scanning the pages is labor-intensive and involves multiple attempts to get anything readable.

In addition, the copy desk has been moved to another floor while the newsroom is being renovated, putting me farther from the library. A quick trip downstairs has become a long trek through the maze of corridors, ramps, stairways and elevators that is The Times Building. It's like working in an M.C. Escher drawing.

All of which forced me to decide between Coates and Weinstock or Jim Murray. And frankly, Murray writes a better column, one that is easily accessible on ProQuest.

Otis Chandler killed the Mirror-News in January 1962, so there's not much left. Coates and Weinstock came to The Times and their columns will resume when I can pick up their work from ProQuest.

Thanks for reading!

[Bill Hillburg]

Sorry you are being pruned. I've enjoyed every one of your carefully chosen and well-written delvings into the past. I now plan to prune latimes.com from my bookmarks.