Tag Archives: 1947

Black Dahlia: Ask Me Anything, August 2026

Posted on August 4, 2026 by lmharnisch

This is the Ask Me Anything on the Black Dahlia case for August 2026. Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Black Dahlia Book Club, Cold Cases, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Aug. 4, 1947: Patsy, Teenage Polio Patient, Dreams of Going to a Rodeo

Posted on August 4, 2026 by lmharnisch

August 4, 1947: Patsy Pfeifer, 14, has two ambitions: One is to see a rodeo. The other is to walk, having contracted polio around Christmas 1942. Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Animals, Medicine | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

August 3, 1947: ‘Kingsblood Royal’ by Sinclar Lewis Leads Bestseller List

Posted on August 3, 2026 by lmharnisch

August 3, 1947: Sinclair Lewis’ ‘Kingsblood Royal’ is the bestselling novel in Los Angeles, followed by ‘The Prince of Foxes,’ by Samuel Shellabarger, and ‘Gentleman’s Agreement,’ by Laura Hobson. John Gunther’s ‘Inside U.S.A.’ is the bestselling nonfiction book. Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, African Americans, Books and Authors | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

August 2, 1947: Los Angeles County Clerk Refuses Marriage License for Interracial Couple

Posted on August 2, 2026 by lmharnisch

August 2, 1947: Los Angeles County clerk refuses marriage license for interracial couple. Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, African Americans, Crime and Courts | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Black L.A., 1947: Kiwanis Refuses to Give Lottery Winner a New Cadillac Because He’s Black

Posted on July 31, 2026 by lmharnisch

On June 19, 1947, the Kiwanis Club of Ahoskie, N.C., refuses to award lottery winner Harvey Jones a new Cadillac because he is Black. Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, African Americans, Transportation | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

July 30, 1947: Peaches Strange at the Follies Burlesque

Posted on July 30, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 30, 1947: Peaches Strange, an ‘artistic’ stripper at the Follies Burlesque, is a modest woman who used to teach Sunday School. Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Main Street, Theaters | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Reminder: My Next Ask Me Anything on the Black Dahlia Case Is August 4

Posted on July 28, 2026 by lmharnisch

Reminder: Boxie and I will be doing a live Ask Me Anything on the Black Dahlia case next Tuesday, August 4, at 10 a.m. Pacific time at YouTube.com/LMHarnisch. Have questions? Leave them in the comments. Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Ask Me Anything, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, Homicide, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

July 28, 1947: Free Horoscope for Your DOG!

Posted on July 28, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 28, 1947: Free horoscope for your DOG! Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Animals, Black Dahlia | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

July 27, 1947: Chinese Author Visits Dr. George Hodel

Posted on July 27, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 27, 1947: Chinese author Helena Kuo visits Dr. George Hodel. Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

July 26, 1947: Son Cleared of Killing Father During Attack on Mother

Posted on July 26, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 26, 1947: Son cleared of killing father during attack on mother. Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Crime and Courts, Homicide, LAPD | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

July 24, 1947: Honor Student Vesta Belle Sapenter, 17, Strangled

Posted on July 24, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 24, 1947: Vesta Belle Sapenter, an honor student at Jefferson High, is found partially undressed and strangled. Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, African Americans, Crime and Courts, Homicide, LAPD | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on July 24, 1947: Honor Student Vesta Belle Sapenter, 17, Strangled

July 22, 1947: TV, Jet Engine, Tucker Car on Display at World Inventors Expo

Posted on July 22, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 22, 1947: The Tucker is on display at the Pan-Pacific Auditorium as part of an inventors’ exposition. Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Architecture, Transportation | Tagged , , | Comments Off on July 22, 1947: TV, Jet Engine, Tucker Car on Display at World Inventors Expo

July 21, 1947: Julie London Marries Jack Webb

Posted on July 21, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 21, 1947: Julie London marries Jack Webb. They divorce seven years later in one of the biggest settlements in local history. Someone asked her: “If you had your choice between half a million dollars and a happy home, which would you take?” She said: “A happy home.” Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Music, Television | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on July 21, 1947: Julie London Marries Jack Webb

July 20, 1947: Wealthy Woman Gives Estate – Including Homeless Camp -– to Santa Barbara

Posted on July 20, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 20, 1947: Lillian Child sets up a homeless camp on her 17-acre estate. Upon her death in 1951, the estate is deeded to Santa Barbara, including the homeless camp. The mansion was burned down in 1959 by the Fire Department, the camp was later destroyed and a zoo was built. Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, 1959 | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

July 18, 1947: The Timeless, Subtle Wit of Ernie Bushmiller’s ‘Nancy’

Posted on July 18, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 18, 1947: The timeless humor of Ernie Bushmiller in Nancy. Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Art & Artists, Film | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

July 17, 1947: Arnold Schoenberg Gets Commission for ‘Survivor From Warsaw’

Posted on July 17, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 17, 1947: Arnold Schoenberg is hard at work on a composition that will culminate in ‘Survivor From Warsaw.’ Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Music | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on July 17, 1947: Arnold Schoenberg Gets Commission for ‘Survivor From Warsaw’

July 16, 1947: L.A. County Tired of Paying Welfare, Pays Brink Family to Go Back to Oklahoma

Posted on July 16, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 16, 1947: Los Angeles County fixes the Brink family’s car and pays their expenses to go back to Oklahoma, which officials prefer to paying them $278 a month in relief. Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Immigration | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on July 16, 1947: L.A. County Tired of Paying Welfare, Pays Brink Family to Go Back to Oklahoma

Black Dahlia Book Club – Coming July 21, 2026

Posted on July 14, 2026 by lmharnisch

Reminder: The next installment of the Black Dahlia Book Club is next Tuesday, July 21, at 10 a.m. Pacific time at YouTube.com/LMHarnisch Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Black Dahlia Book Club, Cold Cases | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Black Dahlia Book Club – Coming July 21, 2026

July 9, 1947: Rosenda Mondragon Strangled With Stocking

Posted on July 9, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 9, 1947: Rosenda Mondragon is found murdered. The Times and the Examiner have different accounts of the killing and the actions of her husband, Antonio. Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Crime and Courts, Homicide, LAPD | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on July 9, 1947: Rosenda Mondragon Strangled With Stocking

Black Dahlia: Ask Me Anything, July 2026

Posted on July 7, 2026 by lmharnisch

My Ask Me Anything on the Black Dahlia case for July 2026. Did filmmakers really find the hidden room where Elizabeth Short was killed? (No, they did not). Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Black Dahlia Book Club, Cold Cases, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Black Dahlia: Ask Me Anything, July 2026