Monthly Archives: September 2017

L.A. Philharmonic Opens Season — Glitter and Be Gay, but With Mozart

The Los Angeles Philharmonic’s opening night program with a souvenir bit of golden film, one of thousands of pieces showered on the audience at the end of the performance. Tuesday’s opening night of the Los Angeles Philharmonic 2017-18 season concluded … Continue reading

Posted in 2017, Music | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Black Dahlia: Asshats on South Norton Avenue — No. 3

And in our continuing coverage of people being asshats at the Black Dahlia crime scene, we have today’s entry. Really, folks, does this seem like a good idea? Also: Black Dahlia: Asshats on South Norton Avenue Black Dahlia: Asshats on … Continue reading

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, LAPD | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Black Dahlia: Asshats on South Norton Avenue — No. 2

Sprawling on the ground at the Black Dahlia crime scene has apparently become a thing. Here’s another asshat. People like this are one reason I quit giving Black Dahlia tours. Also: Black Dahlia: Asshats on South Norton Avenue.

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Hollywood, LAPD | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Black Dahlia: Asshats on South North Avenue

Asshats like this are one reason I quit giving tours of the Black Dahlia crime scene. I don’t know which operator was responsible for this tour, but whoever it was, you need to do a better job riding herd on … Continue reading

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, LAPD | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Studio City Goes to the Dogs

  Matchbook courtesy of Mary Mallory. Pets bring happiness to people’s lives, giving unconditional love and support, truly man’s best friend. From the beginning of time, pets have served an integral part of people’s lives, shown off and treated as … Continue reading

Posted in Animals, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, San Fernando Valley | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

This week’s mystery movie has been the 1962 film “Advise and Consent,” starring Henry Fonda, Charles Laughton, Don Murray, Walter Pidgeon, Peter Lawford, Gene Tierney, Franchot Tone, Lew Ayres, Burgess Meredith, Eddie Hodges, Paul Ford, George Grizzard, Inga Swenson “and … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 49 Comments

Another Good Story Ruined: Gen. Otis’ ‘Death Car’ Rides Again

Photo: Times President Gen. Harrison Gray Otis. Credit: Press Reference Library, 1912 Evidently the folks at Esotouric (nee “The Crime Bus”) have neglected their homework when it comes to the bombing of The Times, judging by a recent story. Which … Continue reading

Posted in Another Good Story Ruined, Books and Authors, Downtown, History, Libraries | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Black Dahlia: Leslie Dillon, Paul De River and the LAPD – Part 5

Dr. J. Paul De River analyzes accused killer R. Bernard Finch based on the left and right sides of his face in the Jan. 27, 1960, Herald-Express. In case you just tuned in, we’re exploring some of the topics dealt … Continue reading

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Cold Cases, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

This week’s mystery movie has been the 1931 Fox film “Don’t Bet on Women,” with Edmund Lowe, Jeanette MacDonald, Roland Young, J.M. Kerrigan, Una Merkel and Helene Millard. It was directed by William K. Howard, screenplay and dialogue by Lynn … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 31 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Mack Sennett and Studio City’s Central Motion Picture District

    Note: This is an encore post from 2013. Eighty-five years ago, the Mack Sennett Studio opened at 4024 N. Radford in Studio City. The studio functioned as a magnet in hopes of drawing other film production companies and … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Black Dahlia: Leslie Dillon, Paul De River and the LAPD – Part 4

Feb. 24, 1949: Leslie Dillon files a claim against the city of Los Angeles for the LAPD’s massive screw-up in the Dahlia case. And yes, he collected.   Dear [redacted], a Comcast user from Spokane, Wash. I’ll say it again: … Continue reading

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Cold Cases, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Black Dahlia: Leslie Dillon, Paul De River and the LAPD – Part 3

The Mirror (that would be the other Mirror) jumps on the Dahlia Murder “Solved!” bandwagon. Nobody “enjoys a good murder” as much as the Brits, so we are seeing a wave of publicity for Piu Eatwell’s new book, “Black Dahlia, … Continue reading

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Cold Cases, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Black Dahlia: Leslie Dillon, Paul De River and the LAPD – Part 2

“The Sexual Criminal,” by Dr. Joseph Paul De River, in a revised edition with an introduction by Brian King published in 2000. More about this book later. It will be important. Where does one start in telling the curious story … Continue reading

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Black Dahlia: Leslie Dillon, Paul De River and the LAPD — Part 1

The Paul De River/Leslie Dillon/LAPD coverup conspiracy theory in the 1947 Black Dahlia murder is getting some traction with the upcoming release of Piu Eatwell’s “Black Dahlia, Red Rose,” which purports to “solve” the Dahlia case. Spoiler alert

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Cold Cases, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

This week’s mystery movie has been the 1952 MGM picture “The Prisoner of Zenda” and, as many people pointed out, it is not as good as the Ronald Colman version (1937). This version of “Zenda” stars Stewart Granger and Deborah … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 70 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: 2017 Cinecon Salutes Entertainment

  The entertaining 2017 Cinecon Film Festival offered a little something for everyone this year, showcasing over 50 silent films, talkies, television kinescopes, musical shorts, and even documentaries with lovely vintage prints and live accompaniment adding some extra pizzazz. Several … Continue reading

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

Black Dahlia – Piu Eatwell’s ‘Black Dahlia, Red Rose’ Exhumes Leslie Dillon

Since I learned a few months ago that British writer Piu Eatwell was going to “solve” the Black Dahlia case in the forthcoming book “Black Dahlia, Red Rose,” I have been waiting to see if she would open — Door … Continue reading

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Cold Cases, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

‘Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood’ at the Toronto Film Festival – Oh Dear

Scotty Bowers, author of the b.s.-laden book “Full Service,” is the subject of a “documentary” (cough, cough) by Matt Tyrnauer. Image courtesy of the Vanity Fair, which really ought to know better. This is Scotty Bowers, who wrote a heaping … Continue reading

Posted in 2012, Another Good Story Ruined, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

This week’s silent mystery movie has been the 1925 MGM film “Lady of the Night,” with Norma Shearer, Malcolm MacGregor (McGregor), Dale Fuller, George K. Arthur, Fred Esmelton, Lew Harvey, Gwen Lee and Betty Morrisey (Morrissey). It was directed by … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , | 44 Comments

Mary Mallory: Hollywood Heights – Keye Luke

Image: “Just a Little Longer,” illustrated by Keye Luke for Harold Weeks Melody Shop. Credit: Mary Mallory.   Note: This is an encore post from 2011. Keye Luke, the talented and respected Chinese American actor, is probably best known to … Continue reading

Posted in Art & Artists, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Television | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments