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Black Dahlia: Dalia Negra Comix
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...
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James Ellroy and ‘Perfidia’: A First Look
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,...
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‘Laura’— The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 31
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...
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‘Laura’— The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 33
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,...
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Daily Mirror Reader Survey
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....
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Daily Mirror Reader Survey — Georgette Bauerdorf
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...
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Georgette Bauerdorf: An Unsolved Murder, Part 1
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...
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The Black Dahlia and Halloween
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,...
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Georgette Bauerdorf: An Unsolved Murder, Part 4
Jan. 23, 1947: The Herald-Express publishes an article headlined “Werewolves Leave Trail of Women Murders in L.A.” (The obnoxious watermark is so that people who see this image after it has been...
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Georgette Bauerdorf: An Unsolved Murder, Part 5
Oct. 3, 1942: Abbott and Costello outside the Hollywood Canteen at the opening ceremony, in a Times photo. Cahuenga Boulevard south of Sunset Boulevard, former location of the Hollywood Canteen, via...
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Georgette Bauerdorf: An Unsolved Murder, Part 7
Georgette Bauerdorf found dead, Oct. 13, 1944, Los Angeles Times. Oct. 13, 1944 This account has been assembled from newspaper stories that generally agree, but contradict one another on some...
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Black Dahlia: Don’t Dress Up Like This for Halloween
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
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Black Dahlia Murder House and Dr. George Hodel: Another Good Story Ruined
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...
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Black Dahlia: Sorry, Houston Chronicle, Nobody Killed in the Sowden House
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...
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Black Dahlia: The Cecil Hotel and Halloween — Another Good Story Ruined
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...
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Black Dahlia: Ronald Reagan and the Dead Milkmen
Wow. Just when I thought I had seen everything — and I mean everything — about the Black Dahlia case.
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Georgette Bauerdorf, an Unsolved Murder, Part 31
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...
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Coming Attractions: Hollywood Time Machine
I will be among the guests on Saturday’s broadcast of “Hollywood Time Machine” with Alicia Mayer. The program will air live at www.LATalkRadio.com (channel 2) at 6 p.m. EST and will available later as...
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Taking a Sabbatical in 2015
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...
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Al Martinez —‘Jigsaw John’
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...
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