Black Dahlia: Blogging ‘Black Dahlia Files’ Part 65 — Request Line V

Posted on April 7, 2018 by lmharnisch

Large ImageNote: This is an encore post from 2006.

I have ceased blogging in real time as I read Donald H. Wolfe’s “The Black Dahlia Files: The Mob, the Mogul and the Murder That Transfixed Los Angeles.” Wolfe is using the “Laura” format, in which the anonymous, butchered body is found and the narrative proceeds in flashbacks.

Now I’m taking a few requests before I wrap it up. Yesterday, we looked at Pages 121-122, today, we’ll examine Page 131 at the request of Mary Pacios.

Recall that yesterday we found some particularly nasty, scheming misuse of the district attorney’s material on Ann Toth, one of Elizabeth Short’s roommates. Wolfe actually skipped several pages with the note “Finis quickly changes the subject” and altered a name in the material to make it appear as if Toth were referring to Maurice Clement when she was referring to another man.

Not trivial errors, folks. This is a scheming, calculating, cynical lie intended to prop up a fictitious premise.

Let’s see what Wolfe has in store for us today:

Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, LAPD, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Black L.A., 1947: Famous Flier James O. Plinton Jr. Visits L.A.

Posted on April 6, 2018 by lmharnisch

April 3, 1947, James O. Plinto Jr.
April 3, 1947: James O. Plinton Jr., a pioneering African American aviator, visits Los Angeles to buy two Grumman amphibious planes. At the beginning of World War II, Plinton went to the Tuskegee Institute, where he was a flight instructor, training many of the Tuskegee Airmen. The Grumman aircraft were to be used in Plinton’s franchise to carry mail, passengers and cargo in the Caribbean, headquartered in Port-au-Prince, the Sentinel said.

James Plinton, Jet Magazine

Plinton’s New York Times obituary.

On the jump: Police Officer Charles Stoker –- author of the infamous self-published book “Thicker‘n Thieves” — busts two men “and an attractive blond woman” for smoking opium at 1737 W. 37th Drive.

Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, African Americans, Aviation, Books and Authors, Crime and Courts, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Black L.A., 1947: Famous Flier James O. Plinton Jr. Visits L.A.

Black Dahlia: Blogging ‘Black Dahlia Files’ Part 64 — Request Line IV

Posted on April 6, 2018 by lmharnisch

Large ImageNote: This is an encore post from 2006.

I have ceased blogging in real time as I read Donald H. Wolfe’s “The Black Dahlia Files: The Mob, the Mogul and the Murder That Transfixed Los Angeles.” Wolfe is using the “Laura” format in which the anonymous, butchered body is discovered and the narrative proceeds in flashbacks.

Now I’m taking a few requests before I wrap it up. Yesterday, we looked at Pages 118-119

Today, Pages 121-122 at the request of Mary Pacios.

Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Crime and Courts, LAPD, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Black Dahlia: Blogging ‘Black Dahlia Files’ Part 64 — Request Line IV

Black Dahlia: Blogging ‘Black Dahlia Files’ Part 63 — Request Line III

Posted on April 5, 2018 by lmharnisch

Large ImageNote: This is an encore post from 2006.

I have ceased blogging in real time as I read Donald H. Wolfe’s “The Black Dahlia Files: The Mob, the Mogul and the Murder That Transfixed Los Angeles.” Wolfe is using the “Laura” format in which the anonymous, butchered body is discovered and the narrative proceeds in flashbacks.

Now, I’m taking a few requests before I wrap it up. Last time, we looked at Pages 108-111. Today we are looking at Page 119, at the request of Mary Pacios.

The title of this chapter is “Persons Unknown” and I couldn’t help but notice an unfortunately familiar name on Page 118: Robert Slatzer. For those who are unfamiliar with the story, Will Fowler of “Reporters” fame used to claim that he was the ghostwriter on Slatzer’s “memoir” of being married to Marilyn Monroe for three days until the studios scotched the deal. In conversations, Will used to trash Slatzer every chance he got and worked Slatzer over on Pages 286-288 of “Reporters.”

Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, LAPD, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Black Dahlia: Blogging ‘Black Dahlia Files’ Part 63 — Request Line III

1907: Eugen Sandow, Early Bodybuilder, Suggests Exercises for Women

Posted on April 5, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post I wrote in 2006.

In a 1907 article in the Los Angeles Times, Eugen Sandow offers this advice to women seeking to retain their youthful appearance, noting:

“At first I thought it might seem that for a woman to look only 25 years old when she has actually seen 40 summers was too good to be possible.

Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Film, LAPD, Streetcars | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Black L.A., 1947: Mother Sues Hospital Over Baby Mix-Up

Posted on April 4, 2018 by lmharnisch

April 12, 1947, James Sperling
Jewell Sperling with her son James Sperling Jr., Pittsburgh Courier, April 12, 1947.

April 3, 1947: Jewell Sperling of 714 W. 32nd St., sues Hoover Hospital for $3,500, charging that she suffered mental distress from being sent home with the wrong baby.

Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, African Americans, Crime and Courts | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Black L.A., 1947: Mother Sues Hospital Over Baby Mix-Up

Black Dahlia: Blogging ‘Black Dahlia Files’ Part 62 — Request Line II

Posted on April 4, 2018 by lmharnisch

Large ImageNote: This is an encore post from 2006.

I have ceased blogging in real time as I read “Donald H. Wolfe’s “The Black Dahlia Files: The Mob, the Mogul and the Murder That Transfixed Los Angeles” and am taking requests for particular pages. Wolfe is using the “Laura” format in which the anonymous body is discovered and the narrative proceeds in flashbacks.

Yesterday, we looked at Pages 101-103, today it will be Pages 108-111.

As I continue on this project, I have speculated as to whether Wolfe ever considered the title “Severed: 2006” as it draws so heavily on John Gilmore’s book.

To the haz-mat pile of Dahlia books.

Page 108-111

Wolfe is continuing his portrayal of Elizabeth Short’s purported decline into the world of prostitution. This promises to be rather juicy. Entirely fiction, of course, but juicy.

Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Crime and Courts, LAPD, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Black Dahlia: Blogging ‘Black Dahlia Files’ Part 62 — Request Line II

Black Dahlia: Blogging ‘Black Dahlia Files’ Part 61 — Request Line

Posted on April 3, 2018 by lmharnisch

Large ImageNote: This is an encore post from 2006.

I have stopped blogging in real time as I read Donald H. Wolfe’s “The Black Dahlia Files: The Mob, the Mogul and the Murder That Transfixed Los Angeles. Wolfe is using the “Laura” format, in which the anonymous, butchered body is discovered and the narrative proceeds in flashbacks.

The two-minute executive summary:

As promised, I went through the Wolfe book page by page until I finished with Elizabeth Short’s funeral. As throughout the book, we have found any number of errors, fabrications and instances in which Wolfe cites a source and then contradicts it. For example, he states that Harriette Manley divorced Robert M. “Red” Manley (the last person known to have been seen with Elizabeth Short) a year after the murder.

Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Crime and Courts, LAPD, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Black Dahlia: Blogging ‘Black Dahlia Files’ Part 61 — Request Line

Black L.A., 1947: Reward Offered for Leads in Streetcar Conductor’s Killing

Posted on April 3, 2018 by lmharnisch

1117 E. 58th St., Los Angeles, CA
1117 E. 58th St., where streetcar conductor Harold D. Moon was robbed and killed, March 30, 1947, via Google Street View.

April 3, 1947: Harold D. Moon, a conductor on the “U” streetcar, was shot in the back and robbed of $70 in receipts in a restroom at 1117 E. 58th St., the Sentinel said.

Witnesses said they heard several shots and “saw the presumed murderer, whom they identified as a Negro, make his getaway,” the Sentinel said.

The next day, Louis Patten, 44, a conductor on the “H” line, was hit with a gun butt and a bottle, slashed with a knife and robbed of $35 at 58th and Wall streets, the end of his route. Patten described the robber as a “huge Negro,” the Sentinel said.

Los Angeles Transit Lines report for April 1947.

 

Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, African Americans, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, LAPD, Streetcars | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Black L.A., 1947: Reward Offered for Leads in Streetcar Conductor’s Killing

Black Dahlia: Blogging ‘Black Dahlia Files’ Part 60 — Deuteronomy 33:24

Posted on April 2, 2018 by lmharnisch

Large ImageNote: This is an encore post from 2006.

I’m blogging in real time as I read Donald H. Wolfe’s “The Black Dahlia Files: The Mob, the Mogul and the Murder That Transfixed Los Angeles.” Wolfe is using the “Laura” format in which the anonymous body is discovered and the narrative proceeds in flashbacks. We’re at the point in the story when Elizabeth Short’s body has been identified by her mother, Phoebe, sister Virginia and brother-in-law Adrian. The inquest is next.

Note: Because this project is incredibly time-consuming, I have decided to end my page-by-page blogging of the book once I reach the funeral, which I presume will be soon. After that, I will take requests for specific pages. Mary Pacios and Regular Anonymous Correspondent have already given me enough to keep me busy for a week and I invite anyone else to submit their favorites. I will take them in numerical order to maintain some semblance of chronology.

Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, LAPD, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Black Dahlia: Blogging ‘Black Dahlia Files’ Part 60 — Deuteronomy 33:24

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Hollywoodland Opens

Posted on April 2, 2018 by lmharnisch

Hollywoodland ad

Note: This is an encore post from 2013.

By the early 1920s, real estate development was booming all around Los Angeles. For decades, the city had boldly advertised itself as a mecca in which average citizens could earn their share of the American dream under glorious sunshine and surrounded by beauty.

Los Angeles expanded west and north as the population exploded, and homes evolved from simple bungalows into elegant abodes. Neighborhoods such as Whitley Heights and Windsor Square catered to more prosperous Angelenos: movie stars, bankers and oil men. Streetcar tycoons and real estate moguls Eli P. Clark and Moses H. Sherman seized the moment to begin selling a long-held piece of property above Hollywood.

Continue reading →

Posted in 1923, Architecture, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Hollywoodland Opens

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on April 2, 2018 by lmharnisch

April 7, 2018, Mystery Photo
This week’s mystery movie has been the 1939 Paramount picture “The Cat and the Canary,” and yes, we did the 1927 version as a mystery movie in March. With Bob Hope, Paulette Goddard, John Beal, Douglass Montgomery, Gale Sondergaard, Elizabeth Patterson, George Zucco, Nydia Westman and John Wray. The screenplay was by Walter DeLeon and Lynn Starling from the play by John Willard. Photography was by Charles Lang, art direction by Hans Dreier and Robert Usher, costumes by Edith Head, music by Ernst Toch, Andrea Setaro musical advisor, and interior decorations by A.E. Freudeman. The producer was Arthur Hornblow Jr. and the director was Elliott Nugent.

“The Cat and the Canary” is available on DVD from Amazon.

Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 53 Comments

Black Dahlia: Blogging ‘Black Dahlia Files’ Part 59 — Pleas and Thank-Yous

Posted on April 1, 2018 by lmharnisch

Large Image
Note: This is an encore post from 2006.

I’m blogging in real time as I read Donald H. Wolfe’s “The Black Dahlia Files: The Mob, the Mogul and the Murder That Transfixed Los Angeles. Wolfe is using the “Laura” format in which the anonymous, butchered body is found and the narrative proceeds in flashbacks.

In response to my decision to stop page-by-page coverage once I reach Elizabeth Short’s funeral, several people, including Mary Pacios and Regular Anonymous Correspondent, have urged me to continue this blog. Given the demands on my time—this blog takes several hours every day—it’s impossible for me to do the entire book, so I will take requests. Mary has already filed a long list of pages she’d like me to cover, including:

Pages 119, 121-122, 131, 167, 197-198, 218, 277, 278-281, 284, 296, 311

Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, LAPD | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Black Dahlia: Blogging ‘Black Dahlia Files’ Part 59 — Pleas and Thank-Yous

Black Dahlia: Blogging ‘Black Dahlia Files’ Part 58 —The Countdown Begins

Posted on March 31, 2018 by lmharnisch

Large ImageNote: This is an encore post from 2006.

I’m blogging in real time as I read Donald H. Wolfe’s “The Black Dahlia Files: The Mob, the Mogul and the Murder That Transfixed Los Angeles.” Wolfe is using the “Laura” format in which the anonymous, butchered body is found and the narrative proceeds in flashbacks. We are at the point in the story when police and reporters have discovered Elizabeth Short’s trunk and suitcases, events that occurred on separate days.

Note: I am now on Page 86 and will conclude this exercise whenever we get to Elizabeth Short’s funeral. I am roughly 25% through the book and have made whatever points I am going to make—and believe me, this tome is not going to suddenly mend its ways and become scholarly.

Thereafter, if someone wants to query about specific points in the book, I’ll entertain them.

Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Crime and Courts, LAPD, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Black Dahlia: Blogging ‘Black Dahlia Files’ Part 58 —The Countdown Begins

Black Dahlia: Blogging ‘Black Dahlia Files’ Part 57 — Lines of History

Posted on March 30, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006.

I’m blogging in real time as I read Donald H. Wolfe’s “The Black Dahlia Files: The Mob, the Mogul and the Murder That Transfixed Los Angeles.” Wolfe is using the “Laura” format, in which the anonymous, butchered body is found and the narrative proceeds in flashbacks. We’re at the point in the story when police have questioned Robert M. “ Red” Manley, the last person known to have been with Elizabeth Short.

I took another vacation from the Dahlia to attend a lecture at the Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens by Terrence Roberts, one of the “Little Rock Nine.”

During his presentation, Roberts noted that there is no concrete dividing line between what is the present and what is history; it’s continuous. A lo-fi version of his lecture is here.

Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Crime and Courts, LAPD, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Black Dahlia: Blogging ‘Black Dahlia Files’ Part 57 — Lines of History

Black Dahlia: Blogging ‘Black Dahlia Files’ Part 56 — The Lady in Red

Posted on March 29, 2018 by lmharnisch

Large ImageNote: This is an encore post from 2006.

I’m blogging in real time as I read Donald H. Wolfe’s “The Black Dahlia Files: The Mob, the Mogul and the Murder That Transfixed Los Angeles.” Wolfe is using the “Laura” format, in which the anonymous, butchered body is discovered and the narrative proceeds in flashbacks. We’re at the point in the story when police are questioning Robert M. “Red” Manley, the last person known to have been seen with Elizabeth Short.

I took a holiday from the Dahlia last night to attend a lecture at the Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens by Elliott Gorn on John Dillinger. Given the pouring rain, it was a fairly small crowd, but we were rewarded with an interesting portrait of the famous Depression-era bank robber. Gorn’s lecture was quite a change of pace from the Huntington’s usual fare, especially the long discourse on the myths about what precisely is (and is not) in the Dillinger archives at the Smithsonian.

For those who are interested, here’s a lo-fi version of Gorn’s presentation.

Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, LAPD, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Black Dahlia: Blogging ‘Black Dahlia Files’ Part 56 — The Lady in Red

Black Dahlia: Blogging ‘Black Dahlia Files’ Part 55 — Evil Genius

Posted on March 28, 2018 by lmharnisch

Large ImageNote: This is an encore post from 2006.

I’m blogging in real time as I read Donald H. Wolfe’s “The Black Dahlia Files: The Mob, the Mogul and the Murder That Transfixed Los Angeles.” Wolfe is using the “Laura” format, in which the anonymous, butchered body is found and the narrative proceeds in flashbacks. We are at the point in the story when police have detained Robert M. “Red” Manley, the last person known to have been with Elizabeth Short.

Regular Anonymous Correspondent submitted a comment yesterday about an appearance at the Pompidou Centre by Steve Hodel, author of “Black Dahlia Avenger.” Now really, can’t we all just try to be happy for Steve Hodel? Obviously, his book is junk, but if the French want to spend money to bring him over and listen to his mumbo-jumbo about “flashing red lights” and “thought prints,” more power to him. What do you expect from a nation that considers Jerry Lewis a comic genius?

In truth, I would be far more indulgent of the ridiculous claims of “Black Dahlia Avenger,” “Mogul” and “Severed” to name but a few, if they didn’t inflict uncountable grief on the loved ones of Elizabeth Short—as well as the rest of the Hodel family (“Avenger” was written in total secrecy, remember. Even relatives didn’t know), along with the survivors of George Hodel’s alleged co-conspirators.

Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Crime and Courts, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Black Dahlia: Blogging ‘Black Dahlia Files’ Part 55 — Evil Genius

Princess Rajah

Posted on March 28, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006.

I don’t want to say anything to spoil the surprise. Another snip of film from Edison, c. 1904.

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Black L.A. 1947: Wealthy Coronado Couple Charged With Holding Black Woman in Slavery

Posted on March 27, 2018 by lmharnisch

March 27, 1947, Lounge Suits
March 27, 1947: Alfred W. Ingalls, an attorney and former Massachusetts legislator, and his wife, Elizabeth, of Coronado are indicted on charges of holding Dora L. Jones as a slave.

Testifying before a federal grand jury, Jones said she was living in Alabama in 1905 when she met Elizabeth Kimball as a teacher at Jones’ missionary school. Elizabeth moved to Washington, D.C., and married Walter Harmon. Elizabeth sent for Jones to work as a domestic, news reports said.

Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, African Americans, Crime and Courts | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Black Dahlia: Blogging ‘Black Dahlia Files’ Part 54 — Tell It to the Marines

Posted on March 27, 2018 by lmharnisch

Large ImageNote: This is an encore post from 2006.

I’m blogging in real time as I read Donald H. Wolfe’s “The Black Dahlia Files: The Mob, the Mogul and the Murder That Transfixed Los Angeles.” Wolfe is using the “Laura” format, in which the anonymous, butchered body is discovered and the narrative proceeds in flashbacks. We are at the point in the story when police are questioning Robert M. “Red” Manley, a traveling salesman who gave Elizabeth Short a ride from San Diego to Los Angeles in January 1947.

The two-minute executive summary:

We have seen that although this book is titled “The Black Dahlia Files” half of it is taken from Will Fowler’s “Reporters,” John Gilmore’s “Severed” and the Los Angeles Examiner. The district attorney’s files account for 8% of the book so far. In relying on “Severed,” Wolfe picks up and embellishes Gilmore’s ruthless smear of Elizabeth Short as a lazy tramp. Wolfe also reduces the vast number of detectives working the case to three: Homicide Capt. Jack Donahoe and Detectives Harry Hansen and Finis Brown, forcing them to be supposedly be in San Diego, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Lompoc at the same time. A neat trick, you must agree.

Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Crime and Courts, LAPD, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Black Dahlia: Blogging ‘Black Dahlia Files’ Part 54 — Tell It to the Marines