Los Angeles Archives - Author Tony Piazza

Tom Logan Speaks!

July 1, 2015 By tonypiazza 2 Comments

WANT TO LISTEN TO A GREAT MYSTERY TONIGHT?

“Anything Short of Murder” read by Broadway actor James Romick has been released on Audible. In the days to come it will be available on Amazon and i-tunes.

IF IT’S ANYTHING SHORT OF MURDER, LOGAN’S INTERESTED!

The minute the dame walked up to Logan, he smelt trouble. A real looker, with tons of money and a daddy who liked to spoil her. She asked him to investigate a threatening note whose message was clear, keep your mouth shut or die. The first day on the job its fatal warning comes true, and the woman is murdered, or so it seems. Very shortly he discovers that it wasn’t the woman at all, but someone who looked very much like her .Twists and turns abound as Logan’s investigation leads him through a labyrinth of blackmail, mobs, and of course murder!

Anything Short of Murder is a mystery written in the style of the pulp detective thrillers of the 1930s. It follows the investigation of a former LAPD cop who sets up shop in Hollywood during its golden era, when movies began to talk and studio heads were kings.

Link to a sample of the audio book:

http://www.audible.com/search/ref=a_mn_mt_ano_tseft__galileo?advsearchKeywords=Tony+Piazza&x=14&y=17

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tony Piazza is a mystery writer, film historian, and veteran storyteller renowned for his passion for writing and movies. He is the author of three mystery novels and a non-fiction work. Actor and stand-in for movies and television, Piazza has appeared in such notable films as Magnum Force and The Streets of San Francisco. From Clint Eastwood to Steve McQueen, Piazza’s stories read like a who’s who of Hollywood. He is also a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America and SLO Nightwriters.

ABOUT THE PERFORMER

Born in Warren, Ohio, Jim earned his Bachelor of Music Degree from the Dana School of Music at Youngstown State University. While attending college, he appeared in numerous university productions as well as on stage at the Youngstown Playhouse.

Some of the many roles Jim has taken on include that of the title character in Lil Abner (his first high school production); Jesus in Godspell; Curley, Will Parker and Judge Fry inOklahoma!; Edward Rutledge and Thomas Jefferson in 1776; Lancelot in Camelot; Lt. Cable in South Pacific; El Gallo in The Fantastiks and Perchick in Fiddler on the Roof. He has performed in various productions for regional, stock and dinner theatres.

The most prominent aspect of Jim’s career thus far has been his Broadway debut in February of 1990. He joined the New York cast of The Phantom of the Opera as a swing/understudy and has since performed the roles of The Phantom, Raoul, Andre, Firmin and the rest of the male ensemble.

As a swing, Jim must be prepared to take on any character at any given moment, often with little or no advance notice. He steps into whatever character necessary without hesitation and has continued to be an integral part of the cast, delighting audiences in New York City.

Jim has been seen as The Phantom in the ‘I Love New York Theatre’ commercial, filmed in Times Square on September 28, 2001, as well as on the Rosie O’Donnell Show finale. He has also performed at Giants Stadium as part of the half time entertainment.

Locations of Film, Television, and Soon, My Novel- Part 5. By Tony Piazza

November 7, 2012 By tonypiazza 6 Comments

PART FIVE

A continuation of my visit to film and television locations in the Los Angeles area as a means to “walk the walk” of my novel’s characters and bring realism to my storytelling. This week, The Los Angeles City Hall.

Poster from “The War of the Worlds” courtesy Paramount Pictures

The Los Angeles City Hall building although not featured as a focal point in my new novel, is nevertheless mentioned, and therefore worthy of inclusion in this series of articles. Completed in 1928, it is the center of government for the city of Los Angeles, California. The mayor’s office and city council chambers and offices are located here. Its official address is 200 North Spring Street in the Civic Center of downtown Los Angeles. Once a dominating structure, it is now dwarfed by taller, newer skyscrapers.

L.A. City Hall (Photo by Piazza)

City Hall was designed by the architects, John Parkinson, Albert Martin, and John Austin. Its construction was started in 1926 and was dedicated two years later in April of 1928. Its’ tower stands 454 feet high and contains 32 floors. In design, the tower’s shape is based on the Mausoleum of Mausolus located in present day Turkey.

Another view of L.A. City Hall (Photo by Piazza)

On March 24, 1976 it was designated a Los Angeles Cultural Monument.

From George Pal’s “The War of the Worlds” (1953) courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Model of City Hall before destruction (Courtesy of Paramount)

Model of City Hall destroyed by (martian heat ray) special effects (Courtesy of Paramount)

To me, having grown up in the 1950s, it will always be the Daily Planet building of the Adventures of Superman– the early TV series which starred George Reeves as the Man of Steel.

Adventures of Superman (George Reeves)

Of course this building has also been seen in other film and television productions.

For example:

Dragnet-feature (1987)

Feature Films:

War of the Worlds (1953) starring Gene Barry and Ann Robinson
The Bad News Bears (1976) starring Walter Matthau and Tatum O’Neal
Dragnet (1987) starring Dan Aykroyd and Tom Hanks
Atlas Shrugged: Part 1 (2011) starring Taylor Schilling and Grant Bowler

Jack Webb as Joe Friday- Dragnet (TV)

Television:

Dragnet (1951-1970) starring Jack Webb.
Perry Mason (1957-1995) starring Raymond Burr and Barbara Hale
Adam-12 (1968-1975) starring Martin Milner and Kent McCord

These are just a sampling of films and television shows in which it appeared. It is indeed a landmark of Los Angeles, almost identifiable to the city as the Golden Gate Bridge is to San Francisco. I couldn’t write of 1930s downtown Los Angeles without a mention of this cultural monument.

——————————————

Look for the sequel to Anything Short of Murder coming in 2013

————————————————

Tony Piazza is author of the 1930s Hollywood murder mystery novel, “Anything Short of Murder,” which had its roots on the TCM fan website. His next novel, “The Curse of the Crimson Dragon” was released early 2012 and is now available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble websites. He was an actor/extra during the 1970s and worked with such legends as Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, and Karl Malden. His non-fiction e-book “Bullitt Points” is an in depth look at the making of “Bullitt” from a person who was there. Look for it where fine books are sold, or at the link posted below. All profits go to the Boys Republic charity: www.bullittpoints.com.

Locations of Film, Television, and Soon, My Novel- Part 2. By Tony Piazza

October 18, 2012 By tonypiazza 4 Comments

PART TWO

A continuation of my visit to film and television locations in the Los Angeles area as a means to “walk the walk” of my novel’s characters and bring realism to my storytelling.

Hill Street Station

What is Angel’s Flight? The title of a church hymn? A love poem by Byron? Or a roller coaster ride at Six Flags. Of the three, the latter perhaps comes the closest. It is a mode of transportation that Angelinos have taken since the early part of the last century- 1901 to be precise. I guess you could best compare it to the cable cars of San Francisco, except instead of climbing many hills it climbs only one- Bunker Hill.

Angel’s Flight at original location

This funicular now connects Hill Street with California Plaza, it has since 1996, but prior to that it was located nearby to the north running from Hill Street to Olive. This was the location when my detective Tom Logan rode it regularly to reach his apartment atop Bunker Hill in Anything Short of Murder (2010).

Another view from Hill Street

Completed in 1901 with funding by Colonel J.W. Eddy, the Los Angeles Incline Railway consisted of two cars the Sinai and Olivet, which were transported by cables driven by a powerful engine situated at the upper station. There were two terminus the one above on Olive Street and the lower at the west corner of Hill Street at Third. As one car ascended, the other using gravity descended. It continued this service to passengers at the original location for 68 years.

California Plaza station

It had a fairly good safety record, although a fatal accident did occur at its original location in 1943. A sailor trying to walk up the track was run over by one of the cars. Then later (2001) in its new location, an 83 year old man was killed and several others injured as the car Sinai suddenly reversed directions and accelerated downhill hitting the second car. After an investigation by the National Safety Transportation Board, the problem was identified and re-engineered, and the newly restored funicular re-opened approximately nine years later in 2010.

Angel’s Flight from Hill Street (original location)

Angel’s Flight appeared in films; The Turning Point (1952) crime drama starring William Holden and Edmond O’Brien, the remake of M (1951) starring David Wayne, and Robert Aldrich’s, unusual take on the Mickey Spillane Mike Hammer potboiler, Kiss Me, Deadly (1955) with Ralph Meeker. With these crime noir films, and many others not listed, no wonder this historical railway found its way onto the pages of my novel Anything Short of Murder and its soon to be released sequel!

The Turning Point (1952)

Kiss Me, Deadly (1955)

Television crime dramas also featured this L.A.attraction. Perry Mason (1966) with Raymond Burr, Dragnet with Jack Webb, and The City of Angels (1976) just to name a few.

Perry Mason (1966)

I enjoyed visiting and riding on this historical landmark (as designated in 1962 and October of 2000) and knowing its association to film and television crime dramas, noir, and a mention in two Raymond Chandler novels- of which his detective Philip Marlowe is figuratively, Logan’s godfather- it shouldn’t be a surprise to my readers why I’d included it in my books.

BONUS: Click on LINK below for my video ride on Angel’s Flight

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDoytSahkck&feature=youtu.be VIDEO trip on Angel’s Flight

Look for the new Tom Logan mystery coming in 2013

————————————————