Category Archives: #courts

Another Good Story Ruined – The Black Dahlia

Posted on January 19, 2011 by lmharnisch

    I was talking about the Black Dahlia case the other day to someone who pulled up this picture on a cellphone. Looks great, doesn’t it? But it’s a fake.  Here, I’ll show you. ALSO Another Good Story Ruined … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Another Good Story Ruined, books, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Photography | 3 Comments

Death Reveals ‘Burglar’ Is Suspicious Husband in Disguise

Posted on January 18, 2011 by lmharnisch

            Jan. 18, 1911: Jealousy takes a tragic turn in Long Beach as a suspicious husband tries to catch his wife cheating on him with a house guest and is shot to death when the … Continue reading →

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In Remembrance, Elizabeth Short

Posted on January 15, 2011 by lmharnisch

The Daily Mirror is dark today.

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USC Fraternity Pledges Stealing Hotel Spittoons!

Posted on January 13, 2011 by lmharnisch

        Jan. 13, 1911: The population of Los Angeles is 319,198, The Times says. In our bustling city, USC fraternity pledges are caught stealing spittoons from hotels …  a post office official is accused of taking items … Continue reading →

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Philip K. Scheuer, Town Called Hollywood, Jan. 12, 1941

Posted on January 12, 2011 by lmharnisch

        Jan. 12, 1941: Fantasound — by its own name or any other name — is here to stay, and Walt Disney is going right ahead with plans for it. I had a long talk with him … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, LAPD | 1 Comment

L.A. Serial Killer Suspect Kills Himself in Jail

Posted on January 12, 2011 by lmharnisch

        Jan. 12, 1981: Vernon Butts, a suspect with William Bonin in the Freeway Killer case, hangs himself with a towel in his cell at the Los Angeles County Jail. He was 23.  People are struggling to … Continue reading →

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Jimmie Fidler in Europe, Jan. 8, 1941

Posted on January 8, 2011 by lmharnisch

        Jan. 8, 1941: Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier, the “perfect lovers,” had an out-loud row just before sailing for Europe — and almost went in opposite directions, Jimmie Fidler says.  Keeping reading for more on the … Continue reading →

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Hollywood at War

Posted on January 8, 2011 by lmharnisch

        Studio executive Walter Wanger (d. 1968) describes how World War II is affecting the motion picture industry in this Nov. 15, 1942, article. He notes that movie audiences are increasing, and suggests that because of gas … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood | 1 Comment

The Black Dahlia — Another Good Story Ruined

Posted on January 5, 2011 by lmharnisch

he anniversary of Elizabeth Short’s killing is Jan. 15, so I thought I would try to anticipate the annual rehash of fiction and mistakes with a post commenting on potential sources on the 1947 case.  People often ask me which … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1947, Another Good Story Ruined, books, Crime and Courts, Homicide, LAPD | 6 Comments

Paul Coates, Jan. 3, 1961

Posted on January 3, 2011 by lmharnisch

       Jan. 3, 1961: The Los Angeles-Long Beach metropolitan area surpasses Chicago as the second-largest urban area, although Chicago is still ranked the second city, census figures show.  … and Paul Coates writes about his “jail mail,” including … Continue reading →

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On the Frontiers of Fashion

Posted on January 3, 2011 by lmharnisch

        Jan. 3, 1936: Los Angeles County Superior Court judges begin wearing robes  at the suggestion of California Supreme Court Chief Justice William H. Waste. Not all judges like wearing robes and some continue to appear on … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1936, Crime and Courts, Fashion | 1 Comment

Paul Coates, Dec. 30, 1960

Posted on December 30, 2010 by lmharnisch

    Dec. 30, 1960: Academy Award winners Gale Sondergaard, Albert Maltz and Nedrick Young are among 12 Hollywood figures suing the studios over being blacklisted. The suit was brought by A.L. Wirin under the Sherman Antitrust Act. And Paul … Continue reading →

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Matt Weinstock, Dec. 23, 1960

Posted on December 23, 2010 by lmharnisch

       Deck us all with Boston Charlie,Walla Walla, Washan' Kalamazoo… Nora's freezin' on the trolleySwaller dollar cauliflowerAlleygaroo! Dec. 23, 1960: One of the ugliest moments in the annals of the LAPD — the "Bloody Christmas" of 1951 — … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Crime and Courts, LAPD, Matt Weinstock | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo — Updated

Posted on December 12, 2010 by lmharnisch

      Los Angeles Times file photo   Update: This is Thelma Todd and Inez Courtney in a photo stamped Nov. 7, 1932.     Jan. 4-11, 1936: If you’re sick of the Thelma Todd case by now, you … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Thelma Todd | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo — Updated II

Posted on December 7, 2010 by lmharnisch

      Photograph by the Los Angeles Times   Update: And here’s a mystery photo!  Update II: This is Zasu Pitts and John E. Woodall. Please congratulate Mary Mallory, Karen and Dennis Gilliam for identifying our mystery couple and … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography, Thelma Todd | 9 Comments

Paul Coates on Adolf Eichmann, Nov. 30, 1960

Posted on November 30, 2010 by lmharnisch

         Nov. 3,  1960: Israel's Atty. Gen. Gideon Hausner tells Paul Coates: "Revenge is not the motive of this trial. What we want to do is, once and for all, set before the world the fully documented … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Columnists, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Paul Coates | 2 Comments

Paul Coates on Adolf Eichmann’s Prison, Nov. 28, 1960

Posted on November 28, 2010 by lmharnisch

       Nov. 28, 1960: Paul Coates reports from Tel Aviv on the secret prison where Adolf Eichmann is being held. “Adolf Eichmann, the Gestapo butcher who engineered the coolly scientific slaughter of 6 million Jews, will be tried … Continue reading →

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November 23, 1960: Eichmann Tells Mass Murders

Posted on November 23, 2010 by lmharnisch

November 23, 1960: After reporting from the Soviet Union, Paul Coates is traveling to his next assignment: going to Israel to cover preparations for the upcoming Adolf Eichmann trial. Stay tuned…. On the jump, Maurice Zolotow has the story of … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood | 2 Comments

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Nov. 23, 1940

Posted on November 23, 2010 by lmharnisch

    Nov. 23, 1940: This is one of the more interesting L.A. corruption stories of the 1940s. Bugsy Siegel was getting out of jail, where he was in custody in the killing of Harry Greenberg, thanks to Dr. Benjamin … Continue reading →

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Dr. Crippen Is Hanged

Posted on November 23, 2010 by lmharnisch

    Nov. 23, 1910: Dr. Hawley Crippen is executed in London for killing his wife. “Only a small group of officials attended, and every effort had been made to prevent morbid crowds from gathering in the neighborhood,” The Times … Continue reading →

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