Tag Archives: #James Ellroy

James Ellroy: Handwritten Copy of ‘White Jazz’ Listed in Auction

Posted on October 14, 2020 by lmharnisch

James Ellroy’s 1992 handwritten draft of “White Jazz” will be auctioned Thursday in a sale of rare books from the collection of Otto Penzler. Current bid (as of Wednesday night) is $975. Penzler is the proprietor of New York’s Mysterious … Continue reading →

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James Ellroy: ‘This Storm’ — Racism and Anti-Semitism Masquerading as History

Posted on June 5, 2019 by lmharnisch

A historical aside to everybody gushing over James Ellroy’s latest, “This Storm,” which opens with a speech from Father Coughlin’s supposed bootleg radio station in Mexico. (Coughlin was a notorious right-wing radio broadcaster of the 1930s who was silenced by … Continue reading →

Posted in 2019, Books and Authors, Radio | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Jan. 23, 1959: Paul Coates — A Plethora of Ceremonial Plaques

Posted on January 23, 2019 by lmharnisch

Jan. 23, 1959: Paul Coates is all (or mostly) in favor of ceremonial honors. On the jump, Bobbie Long is found strangled with a nylon stocking a few feet off a dirt road that runs off Don Julian Road between … Continue reading →

Posted in 1959, Cold Cases, Columnists, Crime and Courts, Homicide, Paul Coates | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Black Dahlia: Sydney Morning Herald Discovers New Elmore Leonard Novel: ‘Get Dahlia’ (Oops)

Posted on October 19, 2018 by lmharnisch

Who needs editors? Certainly not the Sydney Morning Herald and Scott Ellis. ps. This is “sponsored content for Stan,” an Australian streaming video service. Mistakes like this make Mr. Laurel, who will always be the real Stan to us, very … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Another Good Story Ruined, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Black Dahlia: EBay Avenger

Posted on September 10, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. OK, I’ve had my fun with Ellroy’s copies of the “Avenger” books. The hardback stands at $38 and the paperback at $29. Despite my minimum bids, there is always the risk that … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Homicide, LAPD, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

James Ellroy: ‘Don’t Anybody Say the Name Steve Hodel’

Posted on September 7, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. An incredibly curious thing happened yesterday. I’ve been taping segments for an “America’s Most Wanted” episode on the Black Dahlia and the producer called to see if they could get some shots … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Homicide, LAPD, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Black Dahlia: Steve Hodel, James Ellroy and EBay: Outbid!

Posted on September 6, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. Gosh, I upped my bid on James Ellroy’s copies of “Black Dahlia Avenger” (the hardback and paperback) but was outbid. Darn. I’m going to do my best to get them over $25, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Homicide, LAPD, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Black Dahlia: More Steve Hodel, James Ellroy and EBay

Posted on September 5, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. I couldn’t stand the thought of James Ellroy’s copies of “Black Dahlia Avenger” going for so little on EBay. After all, don’t people know the book has been optioned by New Line … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Homicide, LAPD, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Black Dahlia Avenger: From Steve Hodel to James Ellroy to EBay

Posted on September 4, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. My goodness, one never knows what will turn up on Ebay. This morning I found a copy of “Black Dahlia Avenger” inscribed by Steve Hodel to James Ellroy, who wrote the introduction … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Homicide, LAPD, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Writing on 1940s L.A. That’s Worth a Look: Beth Hahn’s ‘A Girl Like You’

Posted on June 21, 2018 by lmharnisch

Is it possible to write fiction about Los Angeles in the 1940s without falling into one of the common traps? I believe Beth Hahn has done it. I have read many works of fiction set in Southern California of the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Black Dahlia: Blogging “Black Dahlia Files” Part 26 — Missing Man Formation

Posted on February 26, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. Our story so far: I am blogging—in real time—as I read Donald H. Wolfe’s “The Black Dahlia Files.” It’s been slow going and this is an especially tedious part because I’m examining … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, Donald Wolfe, LAPD, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

1957 Club Mecca Firebombing in South L.A. Kills 6

Posted on December 4, 2016 by lmharnisch

5841 S. Normandie, the site of the Club Mecca bombing, as photographed in 2007. April 7, 1957, the Los Angeles Times publishes an extra on the Club Mecca firebombing.   The tragic warehouse fire in Oakland, which has killed at … Continue reading →

Posted in 1957, Fires, Food and Drink | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Black Dahlia: A Crime Graphic Novel by James Ellroy, David Fincher, Matz and Miles Hyman

Posted on June 13, 2016 by lmharnisch

Take a close look: “The Black Dahlia ™.” Does that mean the publisher is trying to trademark “The Black Dahlia?”  Good luck with that.   I picked up a copy of the new graphic novel version of James Ellroy’s “The … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Art & Artists, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Cold Cases, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 10 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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Just in Time for Christmas — Amazon Price Checker

Posted on November 15, 2014 by lmharnisch

Here’s a fun toy I just discovered. CamelCamelCamel.com tracks price fluctuations on Amazon (in case you haven’t noticed – and I hadn’t —  the hardcover price of James Ellroy’s “Perfidia” has been dropping slightly every day). Handy for the holidays, … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

James Ellroy: ‘Perfidia’ Online

Posted on September 29, 2014 by lmharnisch

Google Books is offering a extensive preview of James Ellroy’s “Perfidia,” for those who may be curious about it.  Amazon is also offering a preview. I have to say I’m not reassured by the first lines, ostensibly a radio broadcast … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, Books and Authors | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 34

Posted on September 24, 2014 by lmharnisch

The opening lines of Vera Caspary’s “Laura,” as narrated by newspaper columnist Waldo Lydecker. 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 … Continue reading →

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James Ellroy: ‘Perfidia’ Update

Posted on September 23, 2014 by lmharnisch

We’re waiting to buy a used copy for the Daily Mirror library, so I haven’t read James Ellroy’s “Perfidia,” but I thought it would be interesting to see how it’s doing. “Perfidia” has yet to penetrate the New York Times … Continue reading →

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‘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 , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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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