Category Archives: Black Dahlia

Black Dahlia: The Non-Smoking Gun – George Hodel Files

Posted on February 3, 2013 by lmharnisch

Much has been written about the transcripts of the law enforcement bugging of Dr. George “Evil Genius” Hodel’s house, but the material is actually pretty dull. Here are some sample pages, chosen at random, published in their entirety. There’s more. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1950, Black Dahlia, Hollywood, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Black Dahlia: Can’t Anybody Get This Story Right?

Posted on February 3, 2013 by lmharnisch

Writers who are unfamiliar with the Black Dahlia case have a terrible time keeping the facts straight, as shown in the latest coverage by Christine Pelisek in the Daily Beast. There are the common mistakes and one can almost track … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Black Dahlia – Another Good Story Ruined (Updated)

Posted on February 2, 2013 by lmharnisch

Let me say this again. This photo is a fake. The actual Daily News front page for Jan. 15, 1947,  looks like this.

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

George ‘Evil Genius’ Hodel and the Black Dahlia – Another Good Story Ruined

Posted on February 2, 2013 by lmharnisch

Look who fell for the fake Daily News front page. Yes, it’s a fake. There are about a thousand things I would prefer to do besides shoot holes in the latest installment of the Dr. George “Evil Genius” Hodel franchise. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Another Good Story Ruined, Architecture, Black Dahlia, Hollywood, LAPD | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

It’s Jan. 15. Trim your roses

Posted on January 15, 2013 by lmharnisch

Yes it’s Jan. 15. I remember it very quietly by trimming my roses.

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

Pray for Me, I’m Going to See ‘Gangster Squad’

Posted on January 11, 2013 by lmharnisch

I am heading  off to see “Gangster Squad” this morning, not because I expect it to be good, but because I expect it to be very, very bad, as already reflected by the first reviews and the trailers. I have … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Black Dahlia, City Hall, Downtown, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , | 11 Comments

The Black Dahlia: Another Good Story Ruined

Posted on January 9, 2013 by lmharnisch

Black Dahlia: 5 Songs for a Famous Murder Victim by “Jef With One F.” The anniversary of Elizabeth Short’s 1947 disappearance from the Biltmore has provoked the usual outpouring of mistakes and nonsense, much of it swiped from Wikipedia (see: … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Another Good Story Ruined, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, Downtown, Film, Hollywood, LAPD | 6 Comments

Found on EBay – The Florentine Gardens

Posted on January 1, 2013 by lmharnisch

A Sept. 16, 1944, photo from the Florentine Gardens – with souvenir lipstick prints – has been listed on EBay at Buy It Now for $25. The lot includes souvenir photos from Ace Cain’s, 1369 N. Western Ave., and the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Black Dahlia, Found on EBay, Hollywood, Nightclubs, Photography | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Found on EBay – The Florentine Gardens

Found on EBay – The Florentine Gardens

Posted on December 27, 2012 by lmharnisch

A photo of a group of happy people at the Florentine Gardens on Sept. 18, 1943, has been listed on EBay. It’s listed as Buy It Now for $8.99. The Florentine Gardens has a connection to the Black Dahlia case … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, Black Dahlia, Found on EBay, Hollywood, Nightclubs, World War II | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Found on EBay – Another Good Story Ruined

Posted on November 16, 2012 by lmharnisch

A vendor on EBay has listed this AP photo from New York as showing Ralph von Hiltz, the “murderer of Black Dahlia.” (Price: $25.44). This is just another crackpot confession. The Times reported in 1956 that then-Chief of Detectives Thad … Continue reading →

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Found on EBay – A 1947 Visit to the Biltmore

Posted on November 12, 2012 by lmharnisch

A lot of items from the Biltmore Hotel, including a bill for two days in August 1947, seven months after the Black Dahlia killing, has been listed on EBay. This map appears with a booklet titled “Guide to Biltmore Services.” … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Architecture, Black Dahlia, Downtown | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Found on EBay – A 1947 Visit to the Biltmore

Black Dahlia – Another Good Story Ruined

Posted on October 30, 2012 by lmharnisch

Curbed L.A. has posted a list of some “haunted” locations in L.A., including the Biltmore, where Elizabeth Short was left by Red Manley in January 1947, never to be seen again. The photo, alas, shows the current lobby, which didn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Another Good Story Ruined, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts | Tagged , , , , , | 12 Comments

Another Good Story Ruined: The Black Dahlia

Posted on September 27, 2012 by lmharnisch

Photo: <<Le Dahlia Noir>>  Once again, Elizabeth Short’s bogus middle name appears in a story about the Black Dahlia – proof that mistakes take on a life of their own. In reality, she had no middle name. She was erroneously … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Another Good Story Ruined, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, Homicide, LAPD | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Remembering Elizabeth Short on Her Birthday

Posted on July 29, 2012 by lmharnisch

July 29 is the birthday of Elizabeth Short. She would have been 88. I prefer to honor this day rather than the date she was found, Jan. 15, 1947.

Posted in 1924, 1947, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, LAPD | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Young Author Ray Bradbury Publishes ‘Dark Carnival,’ 1947

Posted on June 6, 2012 by lmharnisch

June 27, 1947: Young Ray Bradbury publishes a book of short stories titled “Dark Carnival.” Notice that he used to sell newspapers at Norton Avenue and Olympic Boulevard. Yes, that’s the same Norton Avenue where the Black Dahlia was found, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Coming Attractions – Vintage Crime, May 24

Posted on May 19, 2012 by lmharnisch

I’m going to be appearing in next week’s Thursdays @ The Globe gathering at The Times at noon on May 24. Jessica Gelt and Julie Makinen are going to talk about the downtown hipster renaissance. I will be on hand … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Dahlia, Coming Attractions, LAPD | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Black Dahlia Exhibit – Leslie Dillon

Posted on May 1, 2012 by lmharnisch

This is one of the 1949 photos of Leslie Dillon displayed in the Black Dahlia exhibit at the Los Angeles Police Historical Society. In case you don’t recall, Dillon is the fellow who contacted LAPD psychiatrist J. Paul DeRiver after … Continue reading →

Posted in 1949, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, LAPD, Museums | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Black Dahlia – Los Angeles Police Historical Society

Posted on April 25, 2012 by lmharnisch

The Daily Mirror visited the Los Angeles Police Historical Society on Saturday and stopped in at the Black Dahlia exhibit.

Posted in 1946, Black Dahlia, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Museums | Tagged , , | 17 Comments

‘Full Service’: Fun With Fact-Checking, MIA Edition

Posted on March 30, 2012 by lmharnisch

You might be wondering: Where’s the next post on Scotty Bowers’ “Full Service?” I have been busy with other tasks. I was asked to write a column for The Times and was happy to profile Ed Fuentes. Here’s the story: … Continue reading →

Posted in 1946, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

The Black Dahlia and Downtown L.A. at Night, 1946

Posted on March 29, 2012 by lmharnisch

Photo: Man with a slate in footage shot for “Down to Earth.” My friends over at the 1947project have found some process footage that was filmed about April 1946 for the Columbia feature “Down to Earth.” It’s unfortunate that they … Continue reading →

Posted in Another Good Story Ruined, Architecture, Black Dahlia, Downtown, Film, Hollywood, Preservation, Theaters | Tagged , , | 11 Comments