Category Archives: Black Dahlia

Black Dahlia Book Club for May 2026

In this month’s Black Dahlia Book Club, I discuss Jack Webb’s 1958 book “The Badge” and its portrayal of Elizabeth Short, the Black Dahlia. Continue reading

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Black Dahlia: Teaser for Video Disproving Alleged Dahlia-Zodiac Link and ‘Cracking’ Zodiac’s Z13

YouTube teaser for David Oranchak’s video refuting Alex Baber’s claims that he has “solved” Zodiac’s Z13 cipher, and linked the Black Dahlia and Zodiac cases. Continue reading

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Black Dahlia Book Club – Coming May 19, 2026

Reminder: I will discuss Jack Webb’s 1958 book “The Badge” and the “Dragnet” radio show in the next session of the Black Dahlia Book Club, Tuesday, May 19, at 10 a.m. Pacific time at http://www.youtube.com/@lmharnisch/streams Continue reading

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May 9, 1907: Shriners Present a Colorful Array

May 9, 1907: The Shriners convention in Los Angeles was a huge gathering, it’s why Shrine Auditorium (the original, later destroyed in a fire) was built. Continue reading

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Black Dahlia: Ask Me Anything, May 2026

The Ask Me Anything on the Black Dahlia case for May 2026, focusing on whether the LAPD will release its files on the Black Dahlia case. Continue reading

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May 1, 1907: Runaway Horses and a Fleeing Motorcyclist on the Dangerous Streets of L.A.

May 1, 1907: Miss Gertrude Young, who lives at No. 525 Wall St., was knocked down by a motorcycle yesterday as she stepped from a streetcar at 7th and Hope streets. The rider of the machine hastened away. Miss Young was taken to the Clara Barton Hospital. Continue reading

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April 29, 1907: Blanche Hall Draws Crowds to Burbank Theater in ‘When Knighthood Was in Flower’

April 29, 1907: Blanche Hall’s performance of ‘When Knighthood Was in Flower’ draws a mile-long line of people hoping to buy tickets at the Burbank Theater at Main and 6th Street. Continue reading

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Reminder — My Next ‘Ask Me Anything’ on the Black Dahlia Case Is May 5

Reminder: My Ask Me Anything on the Black Dahlia case will be next Tuesday, May 5, at 10 a.m. at https://www.youtube.com/@lmharnisch/streams Continue reading

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April 27, 1907: Man Badly Injured in Attack by Mule

April 27, 1907: W.S. Stanton was attacked by a vicious mule at the California Truck Company’s stables last night and seriously injured. When he attempted to take the harness off the animal it leaped to one side and kicked him on the thigh, knocking him down, then walked over him, cutting and lacerating the calves of his legs. Continue reading

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Black Dahlia Book Club for April 2026

In the fourth installment of the Black Dahlia Book Club, I looked at the portrayal of Elizabeth Short’s murder in early crime anthologies leading up to Jack Webb’s “The Badge” in 1958. Continue reading

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Black Dahlia: Ask Me Anything, April 2026

In this session of the Black Dahlia Ask Me Anything, I address some of the claims in Michael Connelly’s 10-part podcast “Killer in the Code,” claiming a solution in the Black Dahlia and Zodiac cases. Continue reading

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Reminder – My Next ‘Ask Me Anything’ on the Black Dahlia Case Is April 14

Reminder: The Ask Me Anything on the Black Dahlia case is a week later than usual, April 14, 2026, at YouTube.com/LMHarnisch at 10 a.m. Pacific time. Continue reading

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March 25, 1907: Young Bike Messengers a Key Part of L.A. Drug, Sex Trade

March 25, 1907: Young bike messengers perform an essential service in Los Angeles’ vice trade, providing information on where to buy drugs and where to find women of easy—if any—virtue. Continue reading

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March 20, 1907: St. James Raises a Church — Burned in 1973 as Hate Crime Against Gays

March 20, 1907: St. James Methodist Episcopal Church plans a new building on the site of its current facility. The church was destroyed in 1973 in an apparent hate crime against gays. Continue reading

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March 18, 1907: In L.A. Schools, Young Ivan and Josefina Learn English

March 18, 1907: In this classroom, Onya, Ivan, Josefina and Leah learn to speak English, The Times’ Henrietta B. Freeman reports. Continue reading

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Black Dahlia Book Club for March 2026

In this installment of the Black Dahlia Book Club, I discussed a two-part news feature from 1949 titled “Someone Knows!” and a 1950 radio show titled “Somebody Knows!” Continue reading

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March 15, 1907: In Which We Begin

March 16, 1907: The first post of the 1907 blog that I began March 15, 2006. Twenty years ago! Continue reading

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Black Dahlia Book Club – Coming March 17, 2026

Reminder: The third session of the Black Dahlia Book Club will meet March 17 at 10 a.m. on YouTube. This time I’ll look at a two-part retrospective on the case, published in 1949 in the Los Angeles Mirror in its “Someone Knows! series, and the radio show “Somebody Knows” from 1950. Continue reading

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March 10, 1907: Religious Leader’s Last Words ‘I Will Return in 1,000 Years’

March 10, 1907: The world loses two religious leaders: Mary Baker Eddy and John Alexander Dowie, founder of Zion, Ill. Dowie’s last words were “I will return in a thousand years.” Continue reading

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Black Dahlia: Ask Me Anything, March 2026

This month’s Ask Me Anything on the Black Dahlia case includes a progress report on Heaven Is HERE! and a possible appearance on Michael Connelly’s podcast. Continue reading

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