Tag Archives: Black Dahlia

Georgette Bauerdorf: An Unsolved Murder, Part 1

Posted on September 30, 2014 by lmharnisch

The unrecommended reading list. Not shown: Donald Wolfe’s “The Black Dahlia Files,” Scotty Bowers’ “Full Service,” Howard Blum’s “American Lightning,” Wikipedia, etc. These are curious times to be a diligent researcher in Los Angeles history. There is more of Los … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Homicide | Tagged , , , , | 18 Comments

The Black Dahlia and Downtown L.A. at Night, 1946

Posted on March 29, 2012 by lmharnisch

Photo: Man with a slate in footage shot for “Down to Earth.” My friends over at the 1947project have found some process footage that was filmed about April 1946 for the Columbia feature “Down to Earth.” It’s unfortunate that they … Continue reading →

Posted in Another Good Story Ruined, Architecture, Black Dahlia, Downtown, Film, Hollywood, Preservation, Theaters | Tagged , , | 11 Comments

‘Lipstick Killer’ William Heirens Dies at 83

Posted on March 7, 2012 by lmharnisch

The Chicago Tribune is reporting the death of William Heirens, 83, who allegedly wrote “For heaven’s sake catch me before I kill more. I cannot control myself” in lipstick on a mirror at a 1945 crime scene. Heirens was convicted … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, 1945, Black Dahlia, Chicago, Crime and Courts, Obituaries | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

The Black Dahlia at 65

Posted on January 15, 2012 by lmharnisch

Photo: Lobby of the Biltmore Hotel, Jan. 9, 2012, 6:30 p.m. Credit: Larry Harnisch/L.A. Daily Mirror. I wandered over to the Biltmore on Monday night to keep my annual appointment. I’m not compulsive about being there, and I don’t bother … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Another Good Story Ruined, Architecture, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Donald Wolfe, Downtown, Film, History, Hollywood, LAPD | Tagged , | 24 Comments

When Hollywood Goes Wrong — ‘The Black Dahlia’

Posted on November 15, 2011 by lmharnisch

There are so many things that Brian De Palma got wrong in “The Black Dahlia” that a list of mistakes would fill a long book. I had forgotten that the movie starts out with what is purportedly the Zoot Suit … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Dahlia, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, World War II, Zoot Suit | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Found on EBay – ‘For the Life of Me’

Posted on October 24, 2011 by lmharnisch

A copy of Jim Richardson’s flawed autobiography “For the Life of Me” has been listed on EBay. Richardson was the notorious city editor of the Examiner who orchestrated its coverage of the Black Dahlia case. He was legendary for his … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Film, Found on EBay, Hollywood | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Steve Hodel and James Ellroy

Posted on October 19, 2011 by lmharnisch

Images: James Ellroy’s inscribed copies of “Black Dahlia Avenger” are sold on EBay. Classy, no? Several people have written to me about James Ellroy’s onetime support of Steve Hodel and the whole “Black Dahlia Avenger” nonsense. Here’s the story: I … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, LAPD | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Voices: Police Capt. Ed Jokisch, 1914 – 2011, Part 3

Posted on August 23, 2011 by lmharnisch

Image: Ed Jokisch retires, Feb. 18, 1972. Retirement cartoons are an LAPD tradition. This is what they looked like in the 1970s. Credit: Ed Jokisch family. This is Part 3 of my interview with the late Ed Jokisch. Note: Toward … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Homicide, LAPD | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Voices: Police Capt. Ed Jokisch, 1914 – 2011, Part 3

Rave Review on Amazon, Only $5

Posted on August 21, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: Edsel Ford III, left, and Edsel Ford II at the wheel of the Model 40. Credit: Edsel and Eleanor Ford House. David Streitfeld of the New York Times reports on how authors, restaurants and hotels can buy a positive … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Coming Attractions, Music, Religion, Transportation | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Rave Review on Amazon, Only $5

Voices: Police Capt. Ed Jokisch, 1914 – 2011, Part 2

Posted on August 14, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: Capt. Ed Jokisch. Credit: Jokisch family   This is Part 2 of my interview with the late Ed Jokisch.

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Homicide, LAPD, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Obituaries, World War II | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

#architecture, #art, #black dahlia, #history, #religion, 8|9|2011

Posted on August 9, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: 130 W. 30th, via Google maps’ street view. SPOTLIGHT David W. Dunlap, writing in the New York Times’ City Room, tells the story of Congregation Beit Simchat Torah,  sometimes called the “gay synagogue,” which is moving into a building … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Cold Cases, Genealogy, Libraries, Music, New York, Religion, Stage | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Voices: Police Capt. Ed Jokisch, 1914 – 2011

Posted on August 7, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: LAPD homicide detectives in a gag photo, Christmas 1946. Ed is on the left in the back row. Credit: Ed Jokisch   I received word Saturday that my friend, retired Police Capt. Ed Jokisch, has died at the age … Continue reading →

Posted in 1914, Crime and Courts, Downtown, LAPD, Obituaries, World War II | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Lies and consequences

Posted on March 6, 2008 by lmharnisch

Perhaps other folks were shocked by the revelation that "Love and Consequences" by Margaret B. Jones, a.k.a. Margaret Seltzer, was a complete fake. It was old news to me. Here’s my own experience, from Donald H. Wolfe’s 2005 "The Black … Continue reading →

Posted in books | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Found on EBay

Posted on March 5, 2008 by lmharnisch

Regular reader Callbox Sam pointed out this item on EBay: A copy of the Feb. 8, 1947, Herald-Express with the Page 1 story about Joseph Dumais’ confession in the Black Dahlia killing. Dumais conned Army investigators (but not the LAPD) … Continue reading →

Posted in Front Pages, Homicide, LAPD | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Black Dahlia

Posted on January 15, 2008 by lmharnisch

Yes, today is the anniversary of Elizabeth Short’s murder. As is my custom, I will be cutting back my roses today, which is one way I honor her memory. I also make an annual donation in her name to Shelter … Continue reading →

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Black Dahlia

Posted on January 9, 2008 by lmharnisch

  This letter showed up on my desk last week. Note the postmark: August 2007. Apparently "Black Dahlia" and "Los Angeles Times" is almost all it takes to get a letter to me–eventually–although I don’t recommend it. For the record, … Continue reading →

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Ellroy on wheels

Posted on November 14, 2007 by lmharnisch

My friends at the 1947project have announced that demon dog James "I will never again publicly discuss the Black Dahlia murder or my mother’s death" Ellroy will be hosting a bus tour on Dec. 22. For a mere $60 you … Continue reading →

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CSI–2007

Posted on July 24, 2007 by lmharnisch

I had the good fortune to attend the first day of the International Assn. for Identification convention in San Diego yesterday and although most of the sessions are focused on new technologies, I was there to talk about the past, … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, @news, books, Crime and Courts, Current Affairs, Homicide, LAPD, Robberies, Science | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on CSI–2007

No, No, No

Posted on May 2, 2007 by lmharnisch

KCBS-TV Channel 2 reports idiotically that the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department photographed the Black Dahlia crime scene, a neat trick since Elizabeth Short was killed in the city of Los Angeles. Oops! The crime scene on South Norton Avenue … Continue reading →

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