Monthly Archives: October 2014

Black Dahlia: The Cecil Hotel and Halloween — Another Good Story Ruined

Posted on October 31, 2014 by

LAist is the latest to jump on the “who cares if it’s true, it’s Halloween!” bandwagon. Not with the “Black Dahlia Murder House” legend, but by reviving the old chestnut about Elizabeth Short and the Cecil Hotel. Note the “allegedly,” … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Another Good Story Ruined, Black Dahlia, Downtown | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

An (In)complete List of TCM Tributes (Updated)

Posted on October 31, 2014 by

Here’s an updated list of TCM tributes. (Nov. 1, 2014: Adds John Cleese on W.C. Fields, Jamie Leigh Curtis on Janet Leigh, Naked and Famous rock video of Joan Crawford; adds writer/editor and production company credits for Guillotine Post) (Nov. … Continue reading →

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

Georgette Bauerdorf, an Unsolved Murder, Part 17

Posted on October 30, 2014 by

The Herald-Express described the neighborhood where the killer abandoned the Bauerdorf car as “a Negro residential district.” (Oct. 13, 1944.) Georgette Bauerdorf, an Unsolved Murder: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

Black Dahlia: Sorry, Houston Chronicle, Nobody Killed in the Sowden House

Posted on October 29, 2014 by

The Houston Chronicle is the latest to fall for the “Black Dahlia Murder House” nonsense. The Chronicle at least attempts to be skeptical, but oh well, it is Halloween and websites desperately need click bait. This 5,600 square-foot home has … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Another Good Story Ruined, Black Dahlia | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Georgette Bauerdorf, an Unsolved Murder, Part 16

Posted on October 29, 2014 by

Deputies Garner Brown, left, and John Schilling examine the Bauerdorf car for fingerprints, Los Angeles Examiner, Oct. 13, 1944. When Georgette Bauerdorf’s body was discovered, investigators were unable to locate her car, a 1936 Oldsmobile coupe belonging to her sister. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Georgette Bauerdorf, an Unsolved Murder, Part 15

Posted on October 28, 2014 by

Sheriff’s investigators examine Connie Bauerdorf’s 1936 Oldsmobile, which was being used by Georgette Bauerdorf and disappeared after the killing, courtesy of the Los Angeles Public Library.   One of the mysteries confronting investigators in the Georgette Bauerdorf case was what … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

Black Dahlia Murder House and Dr. George Hodel: Another Good Story Ruined

Posted on October 27, 2014 by

Sorry, Ashbury Park Press (a Gannett publication), there is nothing to show that anybody was killed at the Sowden House. There is only nonsense about  Buster the Wonder Dog  reacting to something or other. And, for the record, Elizabeth Short … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Another Good Story Ruined, Architecture, Black Dahlia | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Wikipedia Strikes Again: Madison Bumgarner Edition

Posted on October 27, 2014 by

This entry on Madison Bumgarner has been fixed. But that it happened at all illustrates one of the main weaknesses of Wikipedia, which can be edited by anyone. Via Romenesko. The apparent vandal, 70.121.231.64, can be geolocated to either Kansas … Continue reading →

Posted in Sports, Wikipedia | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo ( Updated + + + + )

Posted on October 27, 2014 by

  This week’s mystery movie was the 1945 Monogram film “Allotment Wives” (catchy title, no?) starring Kay Francis, Paul Kelly and Otto Kruger. “Allotment Wives” was written by Harvey Gates and Sidney Sutherland, from a story by Sutherland. It was … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 66 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: El Portal Theatre Entertains San Fernando Valley

Posted on October 27, 2014 by

El Portal Theatre, courtesy of Mary Mallory. For the first couple of decades of the twentieth century, construction of a grand, elaborately decorated motion picture theatre in a small town suggested either that the burg was developing rapidly into an … Continue reading →

Posted in 1926, Architecture, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Theaters | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Black Dahlia: Don’t Dress Up Like This for Halloween

Posted on October 25, 2014 by

It really is not cool to dress up like the victim of a brutal murder whose sisters are still alive. Michelle Trachtenberg, please note. From Justjared.com

Posted in Black Dahlia, Cold Cases | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Georgette Bauerdorf, an Unsolved Murder, Part 14

Posted on October 24, 2014 by

Georgette Bauerdorf in an undated photo, courtesy of the Los Angeles Public Library.   The life of a diligent researcher would be much easier if one of the Los Angeles newspapers had published details from the coroner’s inquest in the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | 11 Comments

MACARTHUR IN PHILIPPINES, Oct. 20, 1944

Posted on October 23, 2014 by

A moment in history from the Los Angeles Examiner.

Posted in 1944, World War II | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Georgette Bauerdorf, an Unsolved Murder, Part 13

Posted on October 23, 2014 by

Georgette Bauerdorf at the wheel of a Jeep at Camp Pendleton in an undated photo, courtesy of the Los Angeles Public Library. The final hours of Georgette Bauerdorf’s life remain something of a mystery. On Oct. 11, 1944, Georgette departed … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Georgette Bauerdorf, an Unsolved Murder, Part 12

Posted on October 22, 2014 by

The Hollywood Canteen as portrayed in the 1944 film “Hollywood Canteen.” And being a movie, this is a set, not the actual canteen. For comparison, here’s an undated snapshot of the actual canteen. Notice that there’s no awning and no … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Antisocial Parking

Posted on October 21, 2014 by

Well-behaved women seldom make history, but they also don’t take two parking spaces.

Posted in Photography | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Georgette Bauerdorf, an Unsolved Murder, Part 11

Posted on October 21, 2014 by

Georgette Bauerdorf, left, George F. Bauerdorf and Constance Ann “Connie” Bauerdorf Dillon in an undated photo, courtesy of the Los Angeles Public Library. Although Georgette Bauerdorf, 20, was living by herself in the apartment at El Palacio, 8493 Fountain Ave., … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Architecture, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Hollywood, World War II | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo — B.J. Merholz Edition (Updated + + + +)

Posted on October 20, 2014 by

  This week’s mystery movie has been the 1942 Paramount film “Lucky Jordan,” starring Alan Ladd, Helen Walker, future TV producer Sheldon Leonard, Mabel Paige, Marie McDonald and Russell Hoyt. Anthony Caruso, better known for Star Trek’s “A Piece of … Continue reading →

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

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Nigel De Brulier — Soothsayer From the East?

Posted on October 20, 2014 by

Nigel de Brulier, courtesy of Mary Mallory. For decades, Hollywood typed actors for their looks, personality, temperament, a shorthand telling audiences what they could expect whenever the actor appeared. Some personalities like Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe, Humphrey Bogart, Joan Crawford, … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Music | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

1944 on the Radio — Kay Kyser’s Kollege of Musical Knowledge

Posted on October 20, 2014 by

Oct. 20, 1944: Kay Kyser’s Kollege of Musical Knowledge. Courtesy of otronmp3.com.

Posted in 1944, Music, Real Estate | Tagged , , | Leave a comment