Category Archives: LAPD

Black Dahlia Book Club – Coming February 17, 2026

Posted on February 10, 2026 by lmharnisch

Reminder: The second session of the Black Dahlia Book Club will meet February 17 at 10 a.m. on YouTube. This time I’ll look at the memoirs of four journalists who covered the case. Continue reading →

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February 8, 1920: Police Arrest Men in Girls’ Garb

Posted on February 8, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 1 and continuing: Police arrest 20 men in women’s clothing during a party at the home of former Mayor Arthur Harper. Continue reading →

Posted in #gays and lesbians, Comics, LAPD | 1 Comment

February 8, 1907: Peace Returns to Buena Vista Street

Posted on February 8, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 8, 1907: The death of family matriarch Mrs. James Stewart ends a feud between the Donnatins and the Stewarts over something that Charles Donnatin said to a young woman across the street. Continue reading →

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February 7, 1907: Cop Killer’s Widow Arrested in Liquor Raid

Posted on February 7, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 7, 1907: Charles Babbitt is sentenced to 30 days in jail on charges of domestic violence after the testimony of his 6-year-old son. “Papa hit me with a whip and it cut my head,” the boy said. “Then he hit mama.” “The man blinked his eyes and said that he did it because he was drunk” The Times says. Continue reading →

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February 4, 1907: Architectural Ramblings — South Pasadena

Posted on February 4, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 4, 1907: Architectural rambling with “artistic bungalows.” Continue reading →

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February 3, 1939: Nuestro Pueblo

Posted on February 3, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 3, 1939: Times artist Charles Owens and writer Joe Seewerker visit the San Pedro breakwater. Continue reading →

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Black Dahlia: Ask Me Anything, February 2026

Posted on February 3, 2026 by lmharnisch

This month’s Ask Me Anything on the Black Dahlia case includes a progress report on Heaven Is HERE! and a brief introduction to the Black Dahlia case. Continue reading →

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February 2, 1932: Voices — Christine Collins

Posted on February 2, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 2, 1932: Walter Collins, imprisoned husband of Christine Collins writes that he wants to be put on the road crew but can’t until a parole date is set. Continue reading →

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February 2, 1907: A Trip to the Zoo

Posted on February 2, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 2, 1907: Conditions at Chutes Park are so bad that the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is making a second inspection to see whether operator J.B. Lehigh has made any improvements before his Feb. 20 trial on charges of abuse and neglect. Continue reading →

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January 31, 1959: Paul Coates — Confidential File

Posted on January 31, 2026 by lmharnisch

January 31, 1959: Paul Coates has the story a drug addict who graduates from Synanon and an update on the postmortem drama about the body of Carl “Alfalfa” Switzer, which was stranded at the morgue. Continue reading →

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January 31, 1907: L.A. Health Officials Fight Legislature’s Bid to Repeal Mandatory Smallpox Shots

Posted on January 31, 2026 by lmharnisch

January 31, 1907: L.A. health officials fight a bill that would lift mandatory smallpox vaccinations for schoolchildren. Continue reading →

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January 1, 1907: Alive!

Posted on January 31, 2026 by lmharnisch

January 1, 1907: Lindsay Hicks goes on the stage to discuss his rescue after being trapped for 15 days by a cave-in. The Kentuckian doesn’t care much for show business and says he wants $3 a day, a pick and a shovel — heading back to Bakersfield. Continue reading →

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January 28, 1907: Meet Gen. Homer Lea, L.A.’s Gift to China

Posted on January 28, 2026 by lmharnisch

January 28, 1907: Meet Gen. Homer Lea, whose life was the tale of a poor and badly handicapped boy’s adventures as a leader in an exotic foreign land. Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, 1912, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Education, LAPD, Obituaries, Religion, Streetcars | Comments Off on January 28, 1907: Meet Gen. Homer Lea, L.A.’s Gift to China

January 27, 1928: Voices — Christine Collins

Posted on January 27, 2026 by lmharnisch

January 27, 1928: Christine Collins, whose tragedy inspired the Clint Eastwood film ‘Changeling,’ writes to prison officials seeking the release of her husband, Walter. Continue reading →

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January 27, 1907: L.A. Studies Elevated Trolley Line to Ease Traffic

Posted on January 27, 2026 by lmharnisch

January 27, 1907: Pacific Electric experiments with an elevated railway system to ease traffic. The city is faced with bad traffic, “which causes blockades, loss of time to thousands, loss of business to merchants and discomfort to the public,” The Times says. Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, 1947, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Downtown, Freeways, Hollywood, LAPD, Streetcars | Comments Off on January 27, 1907: L.A. Studies Elevated Trolley Line to Ease Traffic

January 24, 1907: L.A. Church May Ordain Woman!

Posted on January 24, 2026 by lmharnisch

January 24, 1907: Belle L. White devoted her life to helping the poor, needy children of Los Angeles. She built a church and school, left it all and began again when the minister turned out to be a crook, and spent her later years fighting with state authorities to stay open. Continue reading →

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January 23, 1907: Felix Chavarino — Lemon Fiend

Posted on January 23, 2026 by lmharnisch

January 23, 1907: Felix Chavarino is addicted to lemons. He was arrested after begging for food in a small restaurant. All he wanted was a lemon. Continue reading →

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January 22, 1959: ‘Our Gang’ Star Carl ‘Alfalfa’ Switzer Dies in Fight Over $50

Posted on January 22, 2026 by lmharnisch

January 22, 1959: Carl “Alfalfa” Switzer dies in a fight over $50. Continue reading →

Posted in 1959, Baseball, Crime and Courts, Dodgers, Film, Hollywood, Keith Thursby, LAPD, Obituaries | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on January 22, 1959: ‘Our Gang’ Star Carl ‘Alfalfa’ Switzer Dies in Fight Over $50

January 22, 1907: The Bible Explained — for $1,000

Posted on January 22, 2026 by lmharnisch

January 22, 1907: James Lauer, a self-styled Bible authority, needs $1,000 to publish a book that will explain it all. And apparently in his studies of the Bible, he never found a law against extortion. Continue reading →

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January 21, 1907: L.A. Hosts First Car Show on the West Coast

Posted on January 21, 2026 by lmharnisch

January 21, 1907: Los Angeles hosts the first car show in L.A. and the West Coast. The show, at Morley’s Skating Ring on Grand between 9th and 10th, featured 97 gas-powered cars and two electric autos. Dignitaries included Barney Oldfield and Henry Ford, The Times said. Continue reading →

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