Tag Archives: black dahlia

Black Dahlia: Wikipedia Fail

Posted on January 17, 2015 by lmharnisch

Here is what’s wrong with Wikipedia: “The Black Dahlia” was a nickname given to Elizabeth Short … Short acquired the moniker posthumously by newspapers in the habit of nicknaming crimes they found particularly lurid. FAIL. Elizabeth Short was nicknamed the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, LAPD, Wikipedia | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Black Dahlia: Time Magazine and the Death of Research

Posted on January 16, 2015 by lmharnisch

Time magazine, more than a bit late to the party, jumps on the Dr. George Hodel bandwagon on the anniversary of Elizabeth Short’s death. Time was once famous for having an extensive research department. These days, however, writers  – at least … Continue reading →

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Today Is Jan. 15 — The Daily Mirror Sabbatical Begins (Updated)

Posted on January 15, 2015 by lmharnisch

As I wrote in 2014, this year I’m taking a sabbatical from blogging. The mystery photos will continue and Mary Mallory will be writing Hollywood Heights as usual. But the anniversary of Elizabeth Short’s death seemed to be an appropriate … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, Homicide, LAPD | Tagged , , | 37 Comments

Al Martinez — ‘Jigsaw John’

Posted on January 13, 2015 by lmharnisch

While people are remembering former Times columnist Al Martinez, it’s good to mention his 1975 book “Jigsaw John,” about LAPD Detective John St. John, who was one of the caretakers of the Black Dahlia case at Robbery-Homicide. Copies are available … Continue reading →

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

Taking a Sabbatical in 2015

Posted on December 9, 2014 by lmharnisch

A lesson about time: Laura Hunt’s antique clock has an unfortunate encounter with Waldo Lydecker’s shotgun in “Laura.” As I have said here before: So many stories, only one Larry Harnisch. In September, I put aside a long series of … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, 1947, Black Dahlia, Film, Hollywood, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , , , | 23 Comments

Coming Attractions: Hollywood Time Machine

Posted on December 5, 2014 by lmharnisch

I will be among the guests on Saturday’s broadcast of “Hollywood Time Machine” with Alicia Mayer. The program will air live at http://www.LATalkRadio.com (channel 2) at 6 p.m. EST and will available later as a podcast. I’m one of several … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, LAPD | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Georgette Bauerdorf, an Unsolved Murder, Part 31

Posted on December 4, 2014 by lmharnisch

Georgette Bauerdorf, National Police Gazette, August 1946. At long last, we finish our examination of the Georgette Bauerdorf case with many questions unanswered. Without more information, we can only speculate about many aspects of the killing. For that matter, we … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, 1947, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Hollywood, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Black Dahlia: Ronald Reagan and the Dead Milkmen

Posted on November 7, 2014 by lmharnisch

Wow. Just when I thought I had seen everything — and I mean everything — about the Black Dahlia case.

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, Homicide, LAPD | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Black Dahlia: The Cecil Hotel and Halloween — Another Good Story Ruined

Posted on October 31, 2014 by lmharnisch

LAist is the latest to jump on the “who cares if it’s true, it’s Halloween!” bandwagon. Not with the “Black Dahlia Murder House” legend, but by reviving the old chestnut about Elizabeth Short and the Cecil Hotel. Note the “allegedly,” … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Another Good Story Ruined, Black Dahlia, Downtown | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Black Dahlia: Sorry, Houston Chronicle, Nobody Killed in the Sowden House

Posted on October 29, 2014 by lmharnisch

The Houston Chronicle is the latest to fall for the “Black Dahlia Murder House” nonsense. The Chronicle at least attempts to be skeptical, but oh well, it is Halloween and websites desperately need click bait. This 5,600 square-foot home has … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Another Good Story Ruined, Black Dahlia | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Black Dahlia Murder House and Dr. George Hodel: Another Good Story Ruined

Posted on October 27, 2014 by lmharnisch

Sorry, Ashbury Park Press (a Gannett publication), there is nothing to show that anybody was killed at the Sowden House. There is only nonsense about  Buster the Wonder Dog  reacting to something or other. And, for the record, Elizabeth Short … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Another Good Story Ruined, Architecture, Black Dahlia | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Black Dahlia: Don’t Dress Up Like This for Halloween

Posted on October 25, 2014 by lmharnisch

It really is not cool to dress up like the victim of a brutal murder whose sisters are still alive. Michelle Trachtenberg, please note. From Justjared.com

Posted in Black Dahlia, Cold Cases | Tagged , | 3 Comments

The Black Dahlia and Halloween

Posted on October 1, 2014 by lmharnisch

A Google image search for “Black Dahlia” “Halloween” and “costume.” It is October, which means Halloween is coming up and Instagram is full of cosplayers practicing their Black Dahlia makeup. Really, folks, don’t do this. Dressing up as a murder … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Daily Mirror Reader Survey — Georgette Bauerdorf (Updated)

Posted on September 27, 2014 by lmharnisch

Georgette Bauerdorf, from the New York Sun, Oct. 13, 1944, via Fultonhistory.com. In the readers’ choice between “Laura” and Georgette Bauerdorf, the response has been almost universal in favor of looking into the Bauerdorf killing of October 1944. As longtime … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, Homicide | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Daily Mirror Reader Survey

Posted on September 26, 2014 by lmharnisch

Here’s a quick question as we head into October: I can keep doing the posts on the making of “Laura.” Or I can cover the unsolved killing of Georgette Bauerdorf (Oct. 13, 1944). But I cannot do both. Which would … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Homicide | Tagged , , , , , | 41 Comments

‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 33

Posted on September 23, 2014 by lmharnisch

Waldo Lydecker, played by Clifton Webb in the film version of “Laura.”  In the novel, Waldo is considerably taller and much heavier. In case you just tuned in, I’m using Louella Parsons’ May 15, 1944, item on Rouben Mamoulian being … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on ‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 33

‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 31

Posted on September 17, 2014 by lmharnisch

In case you just tuned in, I’m using Louella Parsons’ May 15, 1944, item on Rouben Mamoulian being replaced as the director of “Laura” to take a meandering look at the making of the film, which was released in Los … Continue reading →

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James Ellroy and ‘Perfidia’: A First Look

Posted on August 29, 2014 by lmharnisch

  Following on its exclusive that James Ellroy was scripting a remake of “Laura,” The Hollywood Reporter posted an excerpt of Chapter 2 from Ellroy’s upcoming novel “Perfidia.” It’s a brief selection, and it may not reflect the entire book, … Continue reading →

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Black Dahlia: Dalia Negra Comix

Posted on August 21, 2014 by lmharnisch

I thought I had seen just about all the Black Dahlia-related items that existed, including the Living Dead Dolls, the Black Dahlia snow globe, etc. But this is a new one on me. Dalia Negra was a series of comic … Continue reading →

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July 29 — Elizabeth Short’s birthday

Posted on July 29, 2014 by lmharnisch

Today is Elizabeth Short’s birthday. She would have been 90.

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, LAPD | Tagged , , | 2 Comments