Category Archives: 1947

Black Dahlia Book Club for August 2026

Posted on August 18, 2026 by lmharnisch

The Black Dahlia Book Club for August 2026, focusing on the Los Angeles City Archives. Continue reading →

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August 17, 1947: At UCLA’s Gayleyville , Tough Times for Married Veterans

Posted on August 17, 2026 by lmharnisch

August 17, 1947: Married veterans find that it’s impossible to live on their G.I. Bill of Rights, The Times says, visiting UCLA’s Gayleyville housing project. Continue reading →

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August 12, 1947: Distinguished UCLA English Instructor Dies in Plunge from S.F. Building; ‘He Was Not Married’

Posted on August 12, 2026 by lmharnisch

August 12, 1947: Stanley Dean Johnson, Phi Beta Kappa with a doctorate from Yale, is a popular English instructor at UCLA, a scholar on John Donne spending the summer doing research at the Huntington Library. Then on an August night, he falls from the 15th floor of San Francisco’s Russ Building. The Times notes: “He was not married.” Continue reading →

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Black Dahlia Book Club – Coming August 18, 2026

Posted on August 11, 2026 by lmharnisch

Reminder: The next session of the Black Dahlia book club is next Tuesday, August 18, at 10 a.m. Pacific time at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDPnehmoI4eLqSyfkMxw8FvXBpXHL54I4 I will discuss research resources at the L.A. city archives and elsewhere. Continue reading →

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August 10, 1947: North Broadway Tunnel, Doomed Downtown Landmark

Posted on August 10, 2026 by lmharnisch

August 10, 1947: The North Broadway Tunnel is doomed. Continue reading →

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August 10, 1947: North Broadway Tunnel, Doomed Downtown Landmark

Posted on August 10, 2026 by lmharnisch

August 10, 1947: The North Broadway Tunnel is doomed. Continue reading →

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Black Dahlia: Ask Me Anything, August 2026

Posted on August 4, 2026 by lmharnisch

This is the Ask Me Anything on the Black Dahlia case for August 2026. Continue reading →

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Aug. 4, 1947: Patsy, Teenage Polio Patient, Dreams of Going to a Rodeo

Posted on August 4, 2026 by lmharnisch

August 4, 1947: Patsy Pfeifer, 14, has two ambitions: One is to see a rodeo. The other is to walk, having contracted polio around Christmas 1942. Continue reading →

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August 3, 1947: ‘Kingsblood Royal’ by Sinclar Lewis Leads Bestseller List

Posted on August 3, 2026 by lmharnisch

August 3, 1947: Sinclair Lewis’ ‘Kingsblood Royal’ is the bestselling novel in Los Angeles, followed by ‘The Prince of Foxes,’ by Samuel Shellabarger, and ‘Gentleman’s Agreement,’ by Laura Hobson. John Gunther’s ‘Inside U.S.A.’ is the bestselling nonfiction book. Continue reading →

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August 2, 1947: Los Angeles County Clerk Refuses Marriage License for Interracial Couple

Posted on August 2, 2026 by lmharnisch

August 2, 1947: Los Angeles County clerk refuses marriage license for interracial couple. Continue reading →

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Black L.A., 1947: Kiwanis Refuses to Give Lottery Winner a New Cadillac Because He’s Black

Posted on July 31, 2026 by lmharnisch

On June 19, 1947, the Kiwanis Club of Ahoskie, N.C., refuses to award lottery winner Harvey Jones a new Cadillac because he is Black. Continue reading →

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July 30, 1947: Peaches Strange at the Follies Burlesque

Posted on July 30, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 30, 1947: Peaches Strange, an ‘artistic’ stripper at the Follies Burlesque, is a modest woman who used to teach Sunday School. Continue reading →

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Reminder: My Next Ask Me Anything on the Black Dahlia Case Is August 4

Posted on July 28, 2026 by lmharnisch

Reminder: Boxie and I will be doing a live Ask Me Anything on the Black Dahlia case next Tuesday, August 4, at 10 a.m. Pacific time at YouTube.com/LMHarnisch. Have questions? Leave them in the comments. Continue reading →

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July 28, 1947: Free Horoscope for Your DOG!

Posted on July 28, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 28, 1947: Free horoscope for your DOG! Continue reading →

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July 27, 1947: Chinese Author Visits Dr. George Hodel

Posted on July 27, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 27, 1947: Chinese author Helena Kuo visits Dr. George Hodel. Continue reading →

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July 26, 1947: Son Cleared of Killing Father During Attack on Mother

Posted on July 26, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 26, 1947: Son cleared of killing father during attack on mother. Continue reading →

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July 24, 1947: Honor Student Vesta Belle Sapenter, 17, Strangled

Posted on July 24, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 24, 1947: Vesta Belle Sapenter, an honor student at Jefferson High, is found partially undressed and strangled. Continue reading →

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July 22, 1947: TV, Jet Engine, Tucker Car on Display at World Inventors Expo

Posted on July 22, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 22, 1947: The Tucker is on display at the Pan-Pacific Auditorium as part of an inventors’ exposition. Continue reading →

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Black Dahlia Book Club for July 2026

Posted on July 21, 2026 by lmharnisch

The Black Dahlia Book Club for July 2026: an examination of the Los Angeles County district attorney’s files on the murder of Elizabeth Short. Continue reading →

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July 21, 1947: Julie London Marries Jack Webb

Posted on July 21, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 21, 1947: Julie London marries Jack Webb. They divorce seven years later in one of the biggest settlements in local history. Someone asked her: “If you had your choice between half a million dollars and a happy home, which would you take?” She said: “A happy home.” Continue reading →

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