Category Archives: 1947

L.A. Celebrates the Fourth of July 1889 – 1960

Posted on July 4, 2026 by lmharnisch

The Fourth of July in Los Angeles:
1863: Pic-Nics and fireworks!
1889: Coursing (dogs chasing a live rabbit)!
1907: Cricket matches and a bagpipe contest!
1910: Speeches in Spanish and Italian, race riots over the ‘fight of the century’ between Jack Johnson and Jim Jeffries. Continue reading →

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July 3, 1947: Flying Saucers Over Beverly Hills!

Posted on July 3, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 3, 1947: Flying Saucers Over Beverly Hills! Continue reading →

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July 2, 1947: Man Held in Strangling of Mary Tate

Posted on July 2, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 2, 1947: Oscar Hallgren is held in the killing of Mary Tate at 107 Weller Street, now Onizuka Street in Little Tokyo. Continue reading →

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July 1, 1947: ‘Mom and Dad’ — Elliot Forbes and Sexploitation in the 1940s

Posted on July 1, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 1, 1947: Elliot Forbes and the notorious sexploitation film “Mom and Dad.” Continue reading →

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Reminder: My Next Ask Me Anything on the Black Dahlia Case Is July 7

Posted on June 30, 2026 by lmharnisch

Reminder: I will be doing a live Ask Me Anything on the Black Dahlia case, next Tuesday, July 7, at 10 a.m. Pacific time at YouTube.com/LMHarnisch Continue reading →

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

June 30, 1947: Albert Goldberg Becomes L.A. Times Music Critic

Posted on June 30, 2026 by lmharnisch

June 30, 1947: Albert Goldberg is named music critic for the Los Angeles Times, a post he would hold until 1965. Continue reading →

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June 27, 1947: Ray the Newspaper Boy Publishes First Book, ‘Dark Carnival’

Posted on June 27, 2026 by lmharnisch

June 27, 1947: Ray the newsboy, who once sold papers at Olympic at Norton, has published his first book: “Dark Carnival.” You might know him as Ray Bradbury. Continue reading →

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June 26, 1947: ‘White’ or ‘Negro?’ LAPD Holds Sentinel Columnist for Having Two Driver’s Licenses

Posted on June 26, 2026 by lmharnisch

June 26, 1947: Los Angeles Sentinel columnist Edward Robinson is held by the LAPD because he has two driver’s licenses, one identifying him as “white” and the other as “Negro.” Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, African Americans, Columnists | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

June 26, 1947: Helicopter Hovers Over Clipper Ship

Posted on June 26, 2026 by lmharnisch

June 26, 1947: A new helicopter, nicknamed “the flying eggbeater” or “the whirlybird,” carrying passengers around Long Beach Harbor, overs over the Pacific Queen, built in 1886, Continue reading →

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June 25, 1947: L.A. Times Praises Gangland Slaying of Bugsy Siegel

Posted on June 25, 2026 by lmharnisch

June 25, 1947: The L.A. Times praises the gangland slaying of Bugsy Siegel: ‘The assassination of a crook is of no particular importance to a community, and grief at his passing is restricted to a minor and unselect circle.’ Continue reading →

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June 24, 1947: Death in the Ring — Sugar Ray Robinson and Jimmy Doyle

Posted on June 24, 2026 by lmharnisch

June 24, 1947: Sugar Ray Robinson and the fatal fight in Cleveland with Jimmy Doyle. Continue reading →

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June 23, 1947: Jim Tully, Hobo Novelist and Prizefighter, Dies at 56

Posted on June 23, 2026 by lmharnisch

June 23, 1947: Jim Tully, hobo author of “Shanty Irish” and “Beggars of Life” dies at 56. Continue reading →

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Black Dahlia: Mamie Van Doren Is Hallucinating About Knowing the Black Dahlia

Posted on June 20, 2026 by lmharnisch

Mamie Van Doren, age 95, is hallucinating about knowing Elizabeth Short, the Black Dahlia. Continue reading →

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

Black Dahlia: Mamie Van Doren’s Invented Memories of Elizabeth Short

Posted on June 19, 2026 by lmharnisch

It’s a bit sad when a superannuated actor writes a memoir about what they think they “remember” about old Hollywood. There’s no truth to Mamie Van Doren’s claim that she knew Elizabeth Short, the Black Dahlia. It’s all imagined. Continue reading →

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June 18, 1947: Actor Jon Hall Says Tale of Being Shot Down in Plane Was a Hoax

Posted on June 18, 2026 by lmharnisch

June 18, 1947: Actor Jon Hall admits he was lying with a story that a bullet tore into the propeller of his plane as he and his wife, Frances Langford, were taking off from Clover Field for Tulare. Continue reading →

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June 17, 1947: Bank Robber Shot in Head During Gunfight With LAPD Officers

Posted on June 17, 2026 by lmharnisch

June 17, 1947: Police shoot a bank robber in the head. Jesse Houston survives and becomes the shuffleboard champion at San Quentin and a noted gardener. Continue reading →

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Black Dahlia Book Club for June 2026

Posted on June 16, 2026 by lmharnisch

In this episode of the Black Dahlia Book Club, I discussed Elizabeth Short’s FBI file, Michael Connelly’s Killer in the Code podcast, a James Ellroy sighting and more. Continue reading →

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June 16, 1947: LAPD Officers Hidden in Bar Kill Watchman Stealing Liquor

Posted on June 16, 2026 by lmharnisch

June 16, 1947: Two LAPD officers staked out at a bar kill night watchman Wanzy Patterson, who crawled through a transom to steal liquor. Officers said they shot Patterson 11 times after he made a move toward his pistol. Continue reading →

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June 10, 1947: Artist John Decker Speaks at His Funeral Via Recording

Posted on June 10, 2026 by lmharnisch

June 10, 1947: Artist John Decker leaves a recording to be played for mourners at his funeral. He recited a speech from Rostand’s “Cyrano de Bergerac.” Continue reading →

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Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on June 8, 2026 by lmharnisch

For Monday, we have some very mysterious guests! Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Film, Hollywood, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , | 19 Comments