Monthly Archives: February 2018

Billy Graham Brings ‘Canvas Cathedral’ to Los Angeles, 1949

Posted on February 21, 2018 by lmharnisch

Billy Graham brings his “canvas cathedral” to Los Angeles in 1949. Via YouTube. .

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Black Dahlia: Blogging “Black Dahlia Files” Part 20 —The FBI Story

Posted on February 21, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. There is an individual on ebay who sells copies of Elizabeth Short’s FBI file for $22 and some bidders drive the price even higher. The fact that the files are available online … Continue reading →

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Feb. 21, 1907: Mystery Killer Poisons Dogs and Cats in Angeleno Heights

Posted on February 21, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2007. Feb. 21, 1907 Los Angeles Someone who hates animals is at work in Angeleno Heights, having poisoned 10 valuable dogs and several cats, The Times says.

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Black Dahlia: Some Rando Stripper, Not Elizabeth Short, in EBay Photos Listed at $3,000

Posted on February 20, 2018 by lmharnisch

A vendor on EBay has listed old pictures of some rando stripper as Elizabeth Short for $3,000. No really. I mean seriously? The description doesn’t hedge a bit – like saying photos that *might* be Elizabeth Short or photos that … Continue reading →

Posted in 1945, 1947, Another Good Story Ruined, Black Dahlia, Found on EBay, LAPD, Photography | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Black L.A., 1947: ‘Milk Bottle Murder’ – Couple’s Fight Ends in Death

Posted on February 20, 2018 by lmharnisch

  Feb. 20, 1947: Lois Ellis, victim of the “Milk Bottle Murder.” The neighborhood of 1207 E. 47th St. via Google Street View. From his bed in the jail ward of county hospital, Sam Ellis told of killing his wife, … Continue reading →

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Black Dahlia: Blogging “Black Dahlia Files” Part 19 — The Houyhnhnms

Posted on February 20, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. Our story so far, the two-minute executive summary: Donald H. Wolfe’s book “The Black Dahlia Files: The Mob, the Mogul and the Murder That Transfixed Los Angeles” has introduced the character of … Continue reading →

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Feb. 20, 1907: How to Dress for Mowing the Lawn

Posted on February 20, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2007. Feb. 20, 1907 Los Angeles Apparently mowing the lawn was a formal occasion.

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, LAPD, Streetcars | 3 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Delight Evans Sells the Movies to Female Fans

Posted on February 19, 2018 by lmharnisch

  Full of charm and personality, Cordelia D. “Delight” Evans fell in love with the movies as a toddler, and basically dedicated the rest of her life to learning about, watching, and telling others about them. She achieved fame as … Continue reading →

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Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on February 19, 2018 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie has been the 1944 RKO film “Government Girl,” with Olivia de Havilland, Sonny Tufts, Anne Shirley, Jess Barker, James Dunn, Paul Stewart, Agnes Moorehead, Harry Davenport, Una O’Connor and Sig Ruman. The screenplay was by Dudley … Continue reading →

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Black Dahlia: Blogging “Black Dahlia Files” Part 18 — Uncle Vern

Posted on February 19, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. Page 24-25 I was breezing along (“breezing” being a relative term in reading a book at the molecular level) when I came across this little bon mot tucked into a sentence: “Angry … Continue reading →

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Feb. 19, 1907: Orange County Accuses L.A. County of Attempted ‘Land Grab’ of Beach Towns

Posted on February 19, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2007. Feb. 19, 1907 Los Angeles A quick trip to the Thomas Bros. will show that Los Angeles County doesn’t look like this, but it’s not for lack of trying. The wealthy men … Continue reading →

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Black Dahlia: Blogging “Black Dahlia Files” Part 17 — The Lookies

Posted on February 18, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. Above, one of the formative publications of my youth, which was included with the purchase of the World Book Encyclopedia. The Lookies had a wonderful motto: “We don’t guess, we look it … Continue reading →

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Feb. 18, 2007: Architectural Ramblings

Posted on February 18, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2007. Feb. 18, 2007 Los Angeles The buildings featured in The Times for this week have been torn down, but in glancing through the listings, I found the sale by the Althouse brothers … Continue reading →

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Black Dahlia: Blogging "Black Dahlia Files" Part 16 — A Moment of Silence

Posted on February 17, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. Wednesday was the 61st anniversary of the kidnapping of 6-year-old Rochelle Gluskoter from the frontyard of a home around the corner from where her parents, Abe and Miriam, were preparing to open … Continue reading →

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Feb. 17, 1907: Before Staples Center — City Straightens 12th Street

Posted on February 17, 2018 by lmharnisch

Above, a vanished landmark: The Schermerhorn Inn, at Potter Park, a street that has disappeared. Note: This is an encore post from 2007. Feb. 17, 1907 Los Angeles West 12th Street between Main and Hoover is maddeningly crooked, but how … Continue reading →

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Black Dahlia: Blogging "Black Dahlia Files" Part 15 — Time for a Reality Check

Posted on February 16, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. I was all set, or so I thought, for today’s entry. And then something fell in my lap that I simply couldn’t ignore. Let’s suppose you are an established author with a … Continue reading →

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Black L.A., 1947: Stylish Men in Harlem Wearing Berets

Posted on February 15, 2018 by lmharnisch

At top, the home at 2443 S. St. Andrews Place is for sale at $16,500 cash or $18,000 “terms.” Above, the 2400 block of South St. Andrews Place via Google Street View. Feb. 13, 1947: Columnist Bill Smallwood says “Richard … Continue reading →

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Black Dahlia: Blogging "Black Dahlia Files" Part 14 — Teutonic Thoroughness

Posted on February 15, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. Several years ago, I was interviewed by a writer for the German magazine Stern about the Black Dahlia case. In explaining what was wrong with the various Dahlia books, I said: “They … Continue reading →

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Black Dahlia: Ritual Sacrifice? Now I Have Heard Everything – And My Hair Is On Fire

Posted on February 14, 2018 by lmharnisch

I thought I had heard every possible crackpot idea about the Black Dahlia case (including comments on the blog that aren’t fit for publication). But ritual sacrifice? As Zippy the Pinhead would say: Yow!

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Black L.A., 1947: ‘Why Do 14-Year-Old Girls Get Drunk and Fall Into Bed With Men?’ Judge Asks

Posted on February 14, 2018 by lmharnisch

The Sentinel runs a publicity photo of Flora Washington, who released “Broken Hearted” and “If I Ever Cry, You’ll Never Know” on the United Artist label in 1946. Flora Washington sings “Broken Hearted” via Archive.org.   Feb. 13, 1947: Municipal … Continue reading →

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