In the May 2024 Ask Me Anything on the Black Dahlia case, I talk about the whether the LAPD of the 1940s was as corrupt as some people claim, citing the Police Commission minutes from the 1940s. As a bonus, there’s a link to the Liberty magazine article The Lid Off Los Angeles, which chronicles civic corruption in the 1930s under Mayor Frank Shaw, who was recalled, leading to a reform movement at City Hall.I also gave my monthly progress report on the book and discussed:

–Why the Black Dahlia case is inappropriate for high school students, no matter how advanced they think they are.
–Elizabeth Short’s hairdresser.
–The FBI’s role in the Black Dahlia case.
–Connie Starr’s claim about seeing Elizabeth Short in January 1947 and the challenges of relying on memory in historical research.
–How long was Elizabeth Short dead before her body was found?
–How did Boxie and I meet?
–The August 1947 Police Gazette article on the Black Dahlia case and why one should generally be wary of pulp magazines.
–Was Elizabeth Short a grifter?
–Wasn’t the Norton Avenue crime scene just a convenient place to leave a body?
–Are there any good documentaries on the Black Dahlia case.
–Is it frustrating to see misinformation about Elizabeth Short repeated?
–Was the “Black Dahlia Avenger” postcard from the killer?

Coming up on YouTube: On May 21, at 10 a.m. Pacific time, I’ll do an Ask Me Anything on George Hodel. Can’t make the live session? Email me your questions and I’ll answer them! The video will be posted once the session ends so you can watch it later.