Category Archives: Books and Authors

1423 S. Van Ness

As promised, here are views of the home of Mrs. E.N. Eskey, featured in The Times in 1907. Note the damaged chimney, presumably the victim of seismic Darwinism. And as a bonus, here’s the home of Igor Stravinsky, which I … Continue reading

Posted in 1907, 1947, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Hollywood, LAPD, Streetcars | Comments Off on 1423 S. Van Ness

Fatal Fury

Nov. 16, 1907Los Angeles Mrs. Amanda Cook (she is also identified as Jennie and Mary) came to Los Angeles from Boston in 1906 with two of her children in search of her husband, Frederick, a union plasterer and bricklayer. She … Continue reading

Posted in 1907, 1908, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Homicide, LAPD, Streetcars, Transportation | Comments Off on Fatal Fury

Imagining the Future

Nov. 15, 1907Los Angeles Architect Charles Mulford Robinson has drafted a proposal for downtown Los Angeles that is stunning in its ambition. One portion calls for broad boulevard leading from a proposed Union Station at Central and 5th Street toward … Continue reading

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, City Hall, Downtown, LAPD, Pasadena, Streetcars | Comments Off on Imagining the Future

Deadlier Than Male

Sept. 19, 1907Los Angeles “Hidden somewhere in Los Angeles is a daredevil Spanish woman who should be standing with the Mexican revolutionaries when they are arraigned here in the United States Court,” The Times says. “Letters recently confiscated show that … Continue reading

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Crime and Courts, LAPD, Streetcars | Comments Off on Deadlier Than Male

Revolutionary Defense Fund

Nov. 13, 1907Los Angeles An uproarious meeting was held last night at Simpson Auditorium to raise money for the four Mexican revolutionaries being held in the Los Angeles County Jail. The hall was packed with “revolutionists, Socialists, labor unionites, atheists … Continue reading

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Education, LAPD, Music, Streetcars | Comments Off on Revolutionary Defense Fund

A Bad Way With Horses

Nov.12, 1907Los Angeles Half a block from his home at 1131 Westlake, John P. Shumway Jr. was badly injured when the carriage he was driving collided with the 11th Street trolley. Shumway was thrown about 20 feet, striking the pavement … Continue reading

Posted in 1907, 1909, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, LAPD, Pasadena, Streetcars, Transportation | Comments Off on A Bad Way With Horses

Not Worthy

Nov. 11, 1907Los Angeles On a trip to Topeka, Kans., to visit relatives, Lena River Packard of Los Angeles met Edgar (or Edwin) Campbell Arnold, a wealthy wholesale druggist who quickly became her constant companion and ardent suitor. Love soon … Continue reading

Posted in 1907, 1908, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, LAPD, Streetcars | Comments Off on Not Worthy

Dislocation, Dislocation, Dislocation

Nov. 10, 1907South Pasadena What sort of monument do we leave for real estate developers? For John B. Althouse, who built hundreds of homes in the Wilshire district, as well as the West Adams district and the San Gabriel Valley, … Continue reading

Posted in 1907, 1914, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, LAPD, Pasadena, Real Estate, Streetcars | Comments Off on Dislocation, Dislocation, Dislocation

We Are Revolutionists!

Nov. 9, 1907Los AngelesLocal sympathizers, anarchists and socialists are organizing a mass meeting to protest the imprisonment of Ricardo Flores Magon, Librado Rivera, Antonio Villareal and L. Gutierrez De Lara, who are being held on charges of trying to overthrow … Continue reading

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, LAPD, Streetcars | Comments Off on We Are Revolutionists!

An EBay Mystery

Nov. 6, 1907Los Angeles Here’s a real mystery, although a minor one, and like all real mysteries, it is incomplete and may have no solution. Exhibit 1: This postcard up for auction on Ebay. Here’s the front, Burmese fortunetellers. And … Continue reading

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Found on EBay, LAPD, Streetcars | Comments Off on An EBay Mystery

Commitment

Nov. 5, 1907Los AngelesJohn Richie led the bass section of the choir at St. Machar’s Cathedral in Aberdeen, Scotland, while Testristina Adams was a contralto. They sang in the choir for about 10 years, and fell in love.Two years ago, … Continue reading

Posted in 1907, 1908, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, LAPD, Pasadena, Streetcars | Comments Off on Commitment

Time to Buy a New One

Nov. 4, 1907Los AngelesAbout a year ago, Eugene Rowe’s little runabout was smashed by a trolley. After some repairs, it won a trophy, but a month later, it was wrecked in the Pasadena hill climb. And then it overturned in … Continue reading

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, LAPD, Pasadena, Streetcars | Comments Off on Time to Buy a New One

Curb Appeal

Nov. 3, 1907Los AngelesMrs. E.N. Eskey is building this 10-room house in Pico Heights, on Van Ness just south of Pico.According to The Times, the two-story house (with basement) has a first floor divided into a reception hall with an … Continue reading

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Education, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Streetcars | Comments Off on Curb Appeal

Roll On, Ugly River

Nov. 2, 1907Los Angeles As part of a new city beautification campaign, Boyle Heights residents have suggested turning the Los Angeles River into a garden spot. The plan calls for “a long, winding strand of posies and greenery—a narrow, picturesque … Continue reading

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, LAPD, Streetcars | Comments Off on Roll On, Ugly River

Danger Point

Oct. 31, 1907Los Angeles John J. Mooney, 23, a Southern Pacific machinist who recently arrived from Butte, Mont., was aboard the West 2nd Street car on his way to be initiated in the Modern Woodmen of America when the brakes … Continue reading

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Crime and Courts, LAPD, Streetcars | Tagged , | Comments Off on Danger Point

Pi Phidelity

Oct. 30, 1907Los AngelesThe young men of Los Angeles High School have issued a direct challenge to the Board of Education, defying its authority by enlisting fraternity members despite a ban issued last year.The chief offenders are the Pi Phis, … Continue reading

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, City Hall, Education, LAPD, Streetcars | Comments Off on Pi Phidelity

Oh, God, That Bassoon!

Oct. 29, 1907Los Angeles Given The Times’ view of unions, it’s a little difficult to determine precisely what went wrong with a production of Ambroise Thomas’ “Mignon” at the Auditorium, but it went very wrong indeed because of a labor … Continue reading

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, LAPD, Music, Streetcars | Comments Off on Oh, God, That Bassoon!

Gilbert and Sullivan Said It Best

Oct. 28, 1907Los AngelesYou know the song even if you’ve never seen “Pirates of Penzance”: A policeman’s lot is not an easy one” and that is doubly true for one anonymous former LAPD chief.The ex-chief has nothing but complaints: “It … Continue reading

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Crime and Courts, LAPD, Streetcars, Transportation | Tagged , | Comments Off on Gilbert and Sullivan Said It Best

On the Comics Page

Oct. 27, 1907Los AngelesAlong with “Little Nemo,” “Buster Brown” was a popular feature of the Sunday comics. Like other cartoons of the era, such as “The Katzenjammer Kids” and “Foxy Grandpa,” that were full of naughty children, Buster Brown was … Continue reading

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Comics, Education, LAPD, Streetcars | Comments Off on On the Comics Page

The Deadly Inferno

Oct. 26, 1907Los Angeles Two women in the West Adams District were badly burned and expected to die after a bowl of gasoline they were using to clean a soiled dress exploded, engulfing their apartment at 42 St. James Park … Continue reading

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, LAPD, Streetcars | Comments Off on The Deadly Inferno