Category Archives: Black Dahlia

Black Dahlia: Can You Identify the Black Dahlia? Part 2

Posted on June 7, 2016 by lmharnisch

Here’s another photo comparison. And be sure to take a good look.

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, LAPD | Tagged , , , | 13 Comments

Black Dahlia: Can You Identify the Black Dahlia? (Updated)

Posted on May 28, 2016 by lmharnisch

OK, let’s have some fun. Does either of these photographs show Elizabeth Short? 1. The woman on the left is Elizabeth Short. 2. The woman on the right is Elizabeth Short. 3. Both women are Elizabeth Short. 4. Neither woman … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, LAPD | Tagged , , , | 22 Comments

Black Dahlia: Dr. George Hodel, Here We Go Again

Posted on May 28, 2016 by lmharnisch

The latest on Steve Hodel’s allegations, in the Guardian. There are several thousand things I would rather do that poke holes in Steve Hodel’s “theories” once again. As long-time readers know, I have been fact-checking Steve Hodel’s “case” against his … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Another Good Story Ruined, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

Black Dahlia: Matthew Mezger, My No. 1 Troll, Is Dead

Posted on May 24, 2016 by lmharnisch

I hadn’t gotten any brickbats from Mr. Mezger in a couple of years and wondered whether I successfully blocked him everywhere or whether something had happened to him. I decided to Google him and found that he died of cancer … Continue reading →

Posted in 2012, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, LAPD, Obituaries | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Black Dahlia: BuzzFeed Goes ‘Drunk History’ on an Unsolved Murder

Posted on April 7, 2016 by lmharnisch

Since “Drunk History” debuted, I have been waiting for the show to do a version of the Black Dahlia case. But BuzzFeed Videos beat them to it. Our hosts Ryan and Brent cruised L.A. and free-associated about the murder of … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, LAPD | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

In Memory of Elizabeth Short

Posted on January 19, 2016 by lmharnisch

Over the years that I have been researching the Black Dahlia case, I have seen Elizabeth Short remembered in all sorts of ways. Some people buy “Justice for Beth” buttons on EBay. Others leave cigarettes and bottles of liquor at … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia | Tagged , | 7 Comments

Black Dahlia: Photo of Not Elizabeth Short Listed on EBay

Posted on January 15, 2016 by lmharnisch

Apparently nobody fell for this photo the first time around, so a vendor on EBay has listed it again. For $499.99. Seriously. The vendor (ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE ON EBAY WHO HAS NO IDEA HOW TO TURN OFF THE CAPS … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Found on EBay | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Today is Jan. 15 — Trim Your Roses

Posted on January 15, 2016 by lmharnisch

Today is Jan. 15, and the Daily Mirror marks the anniversary of Elizabeth Short’s death by pruning back the roses.

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Today is Jan. 15 — Trim Your Roses

One Door Closes, Another One Opens

Posted on December 21, 2015 by lmharnisch

Dear friends, I left the Los Angeles Times on Friday as one of the people taking the buyout. It was a generous offer and I plan to use the next year as a sort of paid leave to work on … Continue reading →

Posted in 2015, Black Dahlia | Tagged , | 20 Comments

Black Dahlia: Halloween 2015

Posted on October 31, 2015 by lmharnisch

Judging by Instagram, there are some people in the world who see nothing wrong with dressing up as the victim of a vicious, brutal murder.

Posted in 1947, 2015, Black Dahlia, LAPD | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Black Dahlia Halloween Costume: Just Say No

Posted on October 22, 2015 by lmharnisch

Halloween is drawing closer and that means people are working on their costumes. Let us say again: You can do better than dressing up as the victim of a brutal murder. Really you can. You might consider, for example, Mad … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Dear Steve Hodel Fan 24.125.XXX.XXX

Posted on October 21, 2015 by lmharnisch

You may rant all you want about being “East Hollywood,” but your reverse ISP geolocation shows you to be a Comcast customer in Ashland, VA. Thanks for the crazy post. It was the best one I have seen in a … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Black Dahlia: Halloween Costumes to Die For

Posted on September 25, 2015 by lmharnisch

Halloween is coming next month and somewhere, someone is already planning a Black Dahlia costume and working out the makeup. Just stop yourself. Really, folks, dressing up like the victim of a brutal, gruesome murder is not a good idea. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Fashion | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Black Dahlia: Janice Knowlton Rants

Posted on September 18, 2015 by lmharnisch

As I noted previously, I have been digitizing all my notes, audio cassettes and videos. Today, I came across a recording of a 1997 voicemail message from the late Janice Knowlton, who made increasingly bizarre claims about her father, the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, 1997, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Black Dahlia: Going Digital

Posted on September 11, 2015 by lmharnisch

  I am slowly digitizing all the interviews I have conducted into Los Angeles in the 1940s and it’s so nice to hear them again. This week, I did Fred Okrand (d. 2002) of the ACLU; Betty Rowland, the 1940s … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, City Hall, History | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Historians’ Tools: Archiving Email With MailStore

Posted on September 7, 2015 by lmharnisch

  Much of the research I have done on the Black Dahlia case has been conducted via email, and after almost 20 years, I have quite a lot of it. I have tried to be diligent in backing up my … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Dahlia, History, Libraries | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Historians’ Tools: Archiving Email With MailStore

Black Dahlia: Portrait of ‘Not Elizabeth Short’ for Sale on EBay

Posted on August 18, 2015 by lmharnisch

An EBay vendor has listed this portrait by Eleanor Merriam Lukits, stating that it “looks like Black Dahlia Elizabeth Short.” Actually, no. The work appears to be skillfully done, but it’s not Elizabeth Short and doesn’t look like her. But … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Another Good Story Ruined, Black Dahlia, Found on EBay | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Black Dahlia: Will Fowler on South Norton Avenue, October 1996

Posted on August 3, 2015 by lmharnisch

As I mentioned previously, I am slowly digitizing my Black Dahlia files. Here’s a frame grab from a video I shot of Will Fowler on South Norton Avenue in October 1996. Like many people who have written about the killing … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Another Good Story Ruined, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Black Dahlia: Hack Writing and the Birth of Urban Myths

Posted on July 30, 2015 by lmharnisch

Hollywood Citizen-News, Jan. 15, 1947. I’m slowly digitizing my files on the Elizabeth Short killing for easier access, and yesterday I was going through the Hollywood Citizen-News, which is one of the lesser sources on the case.  And, of course, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, Black Dahlia, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

California Bans Women as Toll Collectors on Bay Bridge – They Are Unstable

Posted on July 22, 2015 by lmharnisch

Feb. 1, 1947: I’m going through my clips on the Black Dahlia case and here’s an unrelated story from the Santa Barbara News-Press. The state personnel board prohibits women from taking the Civil Service exam for Bay Bridge toll collector … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia | Tagged , , | 4 Comments