Category Archives: Crime and Courts

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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Another Good Story Ruined – The Black Dahlia

Posted on January 10, 2011 by lmharnisch

It is deceptively difficult to write with any degree of accuracy about the Black Dahlia case. Here’s a recent example of a mangled account by Scott McCabe of the Washington Examiner: On this day, Jan. 9, 1947, Elizabeth Short, anaspiring … Continue reading →

Posted in Another Good Story Ruined, Crime and Courts, Homicide, LAPD | Comments Off

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Jan. 9, 1941

Posted on January 9, 2011 by lmharnisch

Jan. 9, 1941: Sailor Pedro V. Rodriguez met Eva J. Sandstrum at a San Pedro cafe and after being invited to her home, had several drinks. However Rodriguez got tired of her repeated questions about … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood | 1 Comment

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

Huntington Beach Jane Doe, 1968

Posted on January 5, 2011 by lmharnisch

My Google alert for “Black Dahlia” sent me to Tori Richards’ piece on an unsolved 1968 homicide being reopened by the Huntington Beach Police Department. Taking the case to the Internet has already dispelled decades of speculation that … Continue reading →

Posted in 1968, Crime and Courts, Homicide | Comments Off

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

Man Poses as Woman Golfer

Posted on January 4, 2011 by lmharnisch

Jan. 4, 1921: Well isn’t this an awkward moment on the golf course! Miss Eleanor Fox, a tall and dashing brunette, drives a ball 200 yards and loses her tam – and her luxurious tresses – revealing … Continue reading →

Posted in 1921, Crime and Courts, Fashion, Sports | Comments Off

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 →

Posted in #courts, 1961, Columnists, Crime and Courts, From the Vaults, Paul Coates | Comments Off

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, Jan. 2 1961

Posted on January 2, 2011 by lmharnisch

Jan. 2, 1961: Paul Coates (yes, he’s a native New Yorker) compiles a list of civic sins – Bloody Christmas and the county grand jury, included – but declares for the new year that he actually … Continue reading →

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Major Crimes Increase in L.A., 1960

Posted on December 31, 2010 by lmharnisch

Dec. 31, 1960: Most crime, except for drunk driving, increased in 1960, according to Police Chief William H. Parker. The 4.2% decrease in DUI was probably due to longer jail sentences, Parker said. "In other … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Comics, Crime and Courts, LAPD | Comments Off

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 →

Posted in #courts, Crime and Courts, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Paul Coates | Comments Off

Grim Sleeper Photos – Another Look

Posted on December 30, 2010 by lmharnisch

I thought it would be interesting to visit the LAPD’s website to see how many images had been removed from the Grim Sleeper photos, presumably because the women were identified. I discovered that Nos. 164, 165, 169 and … Continue reading →

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Paul Coates, Dec. 29, 1960

Posted on December 29, 2010 by lmharnisch

Dec. 29, 1960: Paul Coates has the goods on a couple of fast-buck artists who weren’t quite fast enough. The crooked shoeshine man and the gents who let sailors take out payday loans on wallets have vanished, so … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Crime and Courts, Front Pages, Paul Coates | 1 Comment

Amazing Predictions for 1961!

Posted on December 28, 2010 by lmharnisch

hile the rest of the news business spends the final days of December looking back at the major events of the year, the Daily Mirror is peering forward, and for us at least, the future is … Continue reading →

Posted in 1930, 1960, 1980, Another Good Story Ruined, Countdown to Watts, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Matt Weinstock, Paul Coates, Thelma Todd, Tom Treanor, Weblogs | 6 Comments

L.A. Crime Rises in 1967

Posted on December 27, 2010 by lmharnisch

Jan. 7, 1968: Joel Rubin and Robert Faturechi are reporting that homicides in Los Angeles have fallen to the lowest level since 1967. Interestingly enough, at that time the LAPD reported homicides were up 27.5%. over 1966. The … 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

Paul Coates, Dec. 22, 1960

Posted on December 22, 2010 by lmharnisch

Dec. 22, 1960: Police are hunting a “werewolf” and Paul Coates has more on the notorious Brink family, in which William Brink talks about changing his name to avoid the stigma. ALSO Paul Coates on the Brink family … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Crime and Courts, Front Pages, Paul Coates | Comments Off