Welcome to the eighth session of the Black Dahlia Book Club!

I finally got tired of talking about George Hodel and Steve Hodel (at this point, I know Steve’s monologues from memory) so I decided to spend some time looking at portrayals of the murder and the investigation. I consider myself first and foremost a historian of the Black Dahlia case, and think it’s important to examine the source material in detail to emphasize the challenges of researching the murder of Elizabeth Short.

Next month: Black Dahlia Ask Me Anything, September 1 on YouTube.

Black Dahlia Book Club: The LAPD files in the Black Dahlia case, September 15 on YouTube.

In this session, I focused on the resources in the Los Angeles City Archives.

I also discussed:

–Killer in the Code panel discussion in a benefit for the forensics program at Cal State L.A. (Tickets start at $250 and are sold out).

–Was Elizabeth Short’s killer “inspired” by Man Ray?

–Supposedly “missing” files on Mark Hansen.

–Harold Studholme, Biltmore bell captain.

–Have I ever talked to anyone who knew Elizabeth Short?

–Did Will Fowler write any of the Black Dahlia stories?

–Did city marshals play a role in the Black Dahlia investigation?

–Was Elizabeth Short a “sketchy” person?

–Do police and the court system retain physical copies of documents?

–Why do publications devote coverage to Alex Baber?

Next month:

Black Dahlia Ask Me Anything, September 1 on YouTube. Black Dahlia Book Club: The LAPD files on the Black Dahlia case, September 15, on YouTube.

Links: Police Commission minutes.

Los Angeles County coroner’s annual reports.

FBI Uniform Crime Reports for the United States.

David Oranchak’s new video: • News Update: Zodiac/Dahlia, Kryptos, Colos…