Note: 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 uses the “Laura” format, in which the anonymous, butchered body is found and the narrative proceeds in flashbacks.
As we discovered yesterday, the alleged memo on Page 198 of Wolfe’s book is a fake, pasted together from two unrelated documents.
Today, let’s see how it was done.
Note: 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 uses the “Laura” format, in which the anonymous, butchered body is found and the narrative proceeds in flashbacks.
Yesterday, we looked at a particularly foul and nasty installment, Page 167, at the request of Mary Pacios. Today we’ll do Pages 197-198 at Mary’s request. I hope you are ready for a shocker. Even for Donald H. Wolfe, this is nasty, nasty work. A ruthless, conniving, calculating and cynical attempt to pull off a fraud.
You are so busted, Donald H. Wolfe.
Charlie Chaplin, as Adenoid Hynkel, performs a balletic routine with a globe in “The Great Dictator.”
John Bengtson, who has performed fabulous detective work in tracking down movie locations in early films, will introduce Charlie Chaplin’s “The Great Dictator” at 7:30 p.m. on April 19 at the Alex Theater, 216 N. Brand Blvd., in Glendale. Bengtson will also have a book signing for “Silent Traces: Discovering Early Hollywood Through the Films of Charlie Chaplin.”
Released before the U.S. entered World War II, “The Great Dictator” is a satire on Adolf Hitler with Chaplin in dual roles as dictator Adenoid Hynkel of “Tomania” and “a Jewish barber.” The cast also features Jack Oakie as Benzini, the head of Bacteria (a burlesque of Benito Mussolini of Italy); Henry Daniell as Herr Garbitsch (propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels); and Billy Gilbert as Herring (Hermann Goering). Paulette Goddard, who plays Hannah, made her debut as a leading lady in “Modern Times” and was Chaplin’s third wife. She separated from him in late February 1940 shortly after production finished on “The Great Dictator” and divorced him the next year.
David Totheroh, the grandson of Roland “Rollie” Totheroh, the cinematographer on many Chaplin films, including “The Gold Rush,” “Modern Times” and “The Great Dictator,” will also attend.
The movie is being presented by the Alex Film Society. Ticket information is available at this link.
April 10, 1947: James O. Plinton Jr., left, and Sentinel Publisher Leon H. Washington with one of the Grumman planes Plinton bought for his air service.
April 10, 1947: Karla Rosel Galarza, 22, is refusing requests by the Washington, D.C., Board of Education to transfer from Margaret Murray Washington Vocational High School because she is the only white at the all-black school, according to a story in the Sentinel from the Associated Negro Press.
Galarza, formerly of Sacramento, said she doesn’t want to transfer to Burdick Vocational High School, which is for white students, because it doesn’t offer the course in dress design that she’s taking at her current school. Galarza promised a legal fight to remain at the school and she was supported by her father, Ernesto Galarza, a former officer of the Pan American Union.
The request for Galarza to change schools came from school Supt. Hobert M. Corning and Garnet C. Wilkinson, first assistant superintendent in charge of Negro schools.
Note: 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 uses the “Laura” format, in which the anonymous, butchered body is found and the narrative proceeds in flashbacks.
Yesterday, I explored the history of “courtesy cards,” which are a key element of Vincent A. Carter’s book: “LAPD’s Rogue Cops Cover Ups and the Cookie Jar.” Today, we’ll look at Page 167 at the request of Mary Pacios.
Holy smokes! Thanks a lot, Mary.
Note: 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 uses the “Laura” format, in which the anonymous, butchered body is found and the narrative proceeds in flashbacks.
I am taking a few requests before wrapping up the project as it’s extremely time-consuming. Yesterday we looked at Will Fowler’s tall tale about Elizabeth Short’s supposed physical abnormality at the request of Regular Anonymous Commenter.
Note: This is an encore post from 2006.
Pity the blind
Note: 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 uses the “Laura” format, in which the anonymous, butchered body is discovered and the narrative proceeds in flashbacks.
The two-minute executive summary:
I am taking a few requests before wrapping things up. We have found the usual reliance on John Gilmore’s “Severed,” (recall that the title of this book is “The Black Dahlia Files,” although “Severed: 2006” would be more appropriate) and extensive manipulation of the scant material that Wolfe actually takes from the district attorney’s materials. Wolfe also engages in a hearty and enthusiastic smear of Capt. Jack Donahoe, based mostly on Vincent Carter’s “Rogue Cops” with a healthy dose of embellishment.
The former La Vada Apartments, site of a stag party in 1947, via Google Street View.
April 10, 1947: Police raided the ballroom of the La Vada Apartments, 249 E. Vernon, arresting 126 men who had paid $1 for admission to a stag party.
The Sentinel reported that a crap game was underway with “approximately 15 women of the ‘preferred complexion’ circulating among the crowd.”
The paper said 126 men were arrested on charges of shooting dice and three women were arrested on charges of selling liquor without a license.
“Observers reported that the beautiful women present were herded into a police car, but the Sentinel could find no record of their being detained at police headquarters.”
The men were fined $5 to $10 and given two-day suspended sentences.
The Sentinel then published the names of all of those who had been arrested:
The North Hollywood Playhouse in 1962, when “Rebel Without a Cause” was being performed, from the Los Angeles Public Library. In her memoir, actress Teri Garr wrote being in the production.
For more than 75 years, North Hollywood has hosted theater companies offering acting opportunities for local residents, as well as presenting trained actors sharpening their skills. The North Hollywood Playhouse, located at 11043 Magnolia Blvd. and the corner of Blakeslee Avenue, perhaps served as the first theater in what is now theater row in North Hollywood, serving all ages as it promoted and extolled the joys of theater.
Little is known about the exact date the Playhouse opened and when it was built, as building records appear not to exist with the City of Los Angeles. City directories show that the address served as the Boy Scouts of America Hall from at least 1926-1930, but neither newspaper accounts nor building records show when this structure would have been erected, or whether it was later adapted into the Playhouse, though the city does list that an alteration permit was pulled in 1938 for the address. Not until February 20, 1941 was a certificate of occupancy issued for the theater.
Mary Mallory’s latest book, “Living With Grace: Life Lessons from America’s Princess,” will be released June 1.
Note: 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.
On Friday, I raised the issue of Nina Blanchard’s appearance in Wolfe’s book. He doesn’t cite any source, so I couldn’t figure out where he got the material since she’s not listed in the district attorney’s files or any of the original newspaper accounts.
This week’s mystery movie was the 1941 RKO picture “Father Takes a Wife,” with Adolph Menjou, Gloria Swanson, John Howard, Desi Arnaz, Helen Broderick, Florence Rice, Neil Hamilton, Grady Sutton, George Meader, Mary Treen and Ruth Dietrich. The screenplay was by Dorothy and Herbert Fields, the musical director was Roy Webb, photography by Robert de Grasse, art direction by Van Nest Polglase and Albert d’Agostino, Miss Swanson’s gowns by Rene Hubert, other wardrobe by Edward Stevenson, set decoration by Darrell Silvera, jewelry designed by Laykin and Co., dialogue director Peter Godfrey. Produced by Lee Marcus and directed by Jack Hively.
This was Swanson’s first movie since she retired from the screen after making “Music in the Air” in 1934. Her next film was “Sunset Boulevard.”
“Father Takes a Wife” is available on a Region 2 DVD from Amazon.
Note: 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 Page 131 at the request of Mary Pacios. Today, we’ll look at Page 162 at the request of Regular Anonymous Commenter.
Page 162
This chapter is titled “A Riddle Wrapped in a Mystery…” paraphrasing former Examiner reporter Will Fowler, author of “Reporters.” As stated previously, “Will Fowler remembers” are three of the most frightening words in the English language, as we have caught Will in any number of false statements. I knew Will for years and treated him as a friend, but he lied his head off to me about the Black Dahlia case. I don’t think it was malicious; he just like to tell a good story.
Note: 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:
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.
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.
Note: 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.
Note: 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.”
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.
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.
Note: 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.
ladailymirror.com 