Category Archives: 1947

September 5, 1947: L.A. Turns 166, Becomes Third-Largest City in America

September 5, 1947: As Los Angeles celebrates its birthday, Mayor Fletcher Bowron says it’s now the third-largest city in the U.S., passing Detroit. Continue reading

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September 4, 1947: Red Influences in Hollywood!

September 4, 1947: Hedda Hopper lists movies with Red influences: “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” “Meet John Doe,” “The Farmer’s Daughter” and “A Song to Remember.” “What recent picture can you recall in which a member of Congress has been presented as an honorable, intelligent, patriotic public servant? In what picture has an industrialist been shown as a straightforward, decent human being?” she asks. Continue reading

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Black Dahlia: Ask Me Anything, September 2025

This month’s Ask Me Anything on the Black Dahlia case, including a progress report on Heaven Is HERE! and look at the “Black Dahlia” edition of “Clue” based on the infamous list of 22 suspects. Continue reading

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September 2, 1947: Miss Muscle Beach of 1947

September 2, 1947: Vivian Crockett is chosen as Miss Muscle Beach of 1947 in the annual Labor Day contest in Santa Monica. Continue reading

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September 1, 1947: 1,000 World War II Veterans Now in LAPD Uniforms

September 1, 1947: More than 1,000 new LAPD officers are World War II veterans. “We’re going to have a young and strong Police Department,” Assistant Chief Joe Reed says. Continue reading

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August 31, 1947: Herbert Kline Shoots ‘Palestine’s First Feature Film Drama’

August 31, 1947: A little more than a year ago Herbert Kline and Meyer Levin decided Palestine would be headline news for some time to come and would furnish excellent material for an exciting film. Their film was released as “Beit Avi” (“My Father’s House.”) Continue reading

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August 29, 1947: Headless Skeleton Found in Burlap Sack in Chantry Flats

August 29, 1947: A camper finds the headless skeleton of a woman in a burlap sack in Chantry Flats at the head of Santa Anita Canyon. Examination reveals that she had been embalmed, excluding the possibility of murder. Continue reading

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August 28, 1947: Diamond Street Gang Member Takes Murder Rap ‘for the Gang’

August 28, 1947: Earl Bush, 19, member of the Diamond Street gang says he’s taking a killing rap for the gang. Continue reading

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August 28, 1947: Margaret Harris Debuts in Piano Recital at Age 3

August 28, 1947: Margaret Harris, making her debut as a pianist at age 3, is splashed across the cover of the Los Angeles Sentinel. Harris was the musical director for “Hair” and the first Black woman to conduct the L.A. Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony Orchestra and many other major orchestras. Continue reading

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Reminder – My Next ‘Ask Me Anything’ on the Black Dahlia Case Is September 2

Reminder: I will be doing a live Ask Me Anything on the Black Dahlia case on YouTube next Tuesday, September 2, at 10 a.m. Pacific time. Have questions? Leave them in the comments. Continue reading

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August 25, 1947: Police Investigate Death of Doctor’s Wife

August 25, 1947: Susanne Castillo is found dead in a bathtub and her husband, Dr. Manuel de J. Castillo, is suspected. Continue reading

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August 24, 1947: Golfers Play Through as Fire Destroys Clubhouse at Inglewood

August 24, 1947: Golfers play through as fire destroys the clubhouse at Inglewood Country Club. Continue reading

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Aug. 22, 1947: 5 L.A. Women Doctors Honored at Medical Convention

August 22, 1947: Girls aspiring to careers should follow women physicians’ example—many have both satisfactory home and professional lives, Dr. E. Mae McCarroll says. Continue reading

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Black L.A. 1947: Heavyweight Fighter George Godfrey, ‘The Black Shadow of Leiperville,’ Dies at 50

August 21, 1947: George Godfrey, a fighter known as the Black Shadow of Leiperville, dies in poverty in Los Angeles at the age of 50. Continue reading

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August 21, 1947: Times Columnist Tim Turner on Women Who Wear Pants

August 21, 1947: Columnist Tim Turner does not approve of women in slacks. Continue reading

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August 18, 1947: John Steven McGroarty, California Poet Laureate, Honored in Memorial Tribute

August 18, 1947: John Steven McGroarty, California’s poet laureate, is remembered with poems and stories. Continue reading

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Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

For Monday, we have a mysterious pianist. Continue reading

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

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 16, 1947: L.A. Widow Says Louisiana Sheriff Failed to Protect Husband From Lynch Mob

August 16, 1947: Carrie Lee Jones, now of Los Angeles, sues Sheriff Oscar Haynes, alleging that Haynes failed to protect her late husband, John C. Jones, from a Minden, La., lynch mob. Continue reading

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August 15, 1947: India Formally Partitioned Into Two Nations

August 15, 1947: “The proud British Empire if India died last night. Two independent nations were born at the moment of its death.” Continue reading

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