Crimes of the Times – "The Black Dahlia"

Podcast: Crimes of the Times (L.A. Times Studios)
Host: Christopher Goffard
Date: March 11, 2025

Overview

In this episode, Christopher Goffard investigates the infamous Black Dahlia case—the 1947 murder of Elizabeth Short—dissecting the myths, media frenzy, and the historically shifting narratives that have cemented it as one of America’s most enduring true crime mysteries. With insights from experts like Larry Harnish and Anne Redding, the episode explores Elizabeth Short’s real life amid Depression-era America, the misogyny of post-war L.A., and why the case remains unsolved and endlessly captivating.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Origins and Myth of the "Black Dahlia"

• [00:00] Elizabeth Short’s Life & Name:

  • Elizabeth Short, often spotted at a Long Beach drugstore with black hair and clothing, was dubbed “the Black Dahlia”—a nickname riffing on "The Blue Dahlia" film, not something she originated herself.
  • The moniker, fueled by police and reporters, helped mythologize Short as a femme fatale, overshadowing her real life.
  • Quote:

    “The Black Dahlia made her sound like some kind of rare, poisonous bloom, a nightcrawler on intimate terms with death.”
    – Christopher Goffard [00:39]

• [01:53] Debunking the Aspiring Actress Myth:

  • Despite reports, Short did not come to L.A. to pursue movie stardom, but followed a man after a failed relationship.
  • Shared stories as her own, complicating the investigation.
  • Quote:

    “If you met Elizabeth Short and you told her that something happened, she would incorporate that as if it had happened to her.”
    – Larry Harnish [02:58]

2. Elizabeth Short’s Life & Vulnerabilities

• Poverty and Survival:

  • Short was born during the Great Depression, abandoned by her father, plagued by health issues and poverty (self-treated dental issues) [01:53–03:32].
  • She often relied on others—dating men for meals, fabricating stories of tragedy (war widow, lost child)—to gain sympathy and help.
  • Quote:

    “She would get dressed and leave the house in the morning as if she was going to work… But it was totally fictional.”
    – Larry Harnish [03:14]

• Marginalization:

  • She had no permanent address and slept in theaters or wherever she could find shelter.
  • Quote:

    “She doesn't fit in a normal template and people have a hard time with that… I think she kind of wanted to believe some of that stuff.”
    – Larry Harnish [03:52]

3. The Murder and Media Frenzy

• [04:30] Discovery and Investigation:

  • Last seen at the Biltmore Hotel after lying about meeting her sister; body found in Leimert Park, mutilated and posed.
  • Notably, body bisected with surgical skill; early suspicion fell on a doctor or surgeon.
  • Newspapers, especially the L.A. Examiner, competed fiercely, sometimes employing unethical tactics (tricking Short’s mother for a scoop).

• Victim-Shaming & Media Tropes:

  • The press, notably Jack Webb in The Badge, painted Short as immoral or lazy, integrating widespread misogynistic attitudes of the era.
  • Quote:

    “She was a lazy girl and irresponsible. At 21… she was already obsolescent… her tortured, severed body is an eerie blend of Poe and Freud.”
    – Jack Webb, via Christopher Goffard [07:30]

• Reality Versus Myth:

  • Police found no evidence she was promiscuous or a prostitute—most men’s encounters with her were nonsexual.
  • Quote:

    “I like to say that she, rather than having a lot of dates, she had one date over and over again.”
    – Larry Harnish [07:15]

4. Gender, Society and Blame

• [08:59] Postwar Misogyny and the Hollywood Narrative:

  • Prof. Anne Redding explains the backlash against women’s autonomy after WWII—women were pressured to abandon independence and return to domesticity, fueling cultural condemnation of women like Short.

  • Quote:

    “There was definitely an uptick in misogyny, a strong societal push for women to stop working…”
    – Anne Redding [09:38]

  • Redding interprets Short’s rose tattoo as a private act of rebellion and adventure for a woman in the 1940s [10:20].

  • Her teaching frames Short as a high-risk victim made especially vulnerable by social circumstances and personal losses (her father’s abandonment, a fiancé’s death in 1945).

  • Quote:

    “She was absolutely devastated…”
    – Anne Redding [11:33]

5. Theories, Suspects & Enduring Mystery

• [14:13] High-Risk Victim in a High-Risk Place:

  • Short’s final movements: possibly returning to the bus station, likely took a dangerous route through Pershing Square, infamous for vice and crime.
  • Quote:

    “She was alone, it was late at night… literally homeless… yet she's an attractive, well-dressed young woman…”
    – Anne Redding [14:24]

• [15:20] Unique Forsaking of the Victim’s Identity:

  • Redding observes the “Black Dahlia” case is rare in that the moniker emphasizes the victim, not the killer, contributing to the case's allure.

• [16:16] Nature of the Murder:

  • Both Redding and Harnish reject theories tying the case to serial killers or other LA crimes of the era; view it as a one-off “lust murder” by someone undergoing mental collapse.
  • Quote:

    “He never killed before, he never killed again.”
    – Larry Harnish [17:00]

• [17:23] Battle Against Myths:

  • Harnish, now a leading Black Dahlia expert, expresses frustration with sensationalistic, inaccurate theories proliferating in books, movies, and online.
  • Quote:

    “The case is interesting enough. You don't need to embellish it with all this goofy stuff.”
    – Larry Harnish [17:37]

• [18:37] Critique of “Hollywood Dream Gone Wrong” Trope:

  • Harnish debunks the idea that Short was burning for fame and chasing Hollywood success.
  • Quote:

    “People want this grab bag of film noir tropes about the femme fatale… achieving in death the fame that she had wanted all her life.”
    – Larry Harnish [18:37]

  • Emphasizes Short’s marginalization:

    “She is somebody who could disappear for almost a week and nobody noticed.”
    – Larry Harnish [19:14]

• [19:25] Unreliable Literature:

  • Harnish criticizes every major book on the case for perpetuating myths, wild theories, or outright fabrications:

    “No, the best thing you can do is not read any of them because you'll have to unlearn everything.”
    – Larry Harnish [20:17]

6. The Walter Bailey Suspect Theory

• [22:52] The Neighborhood Connection:
  • FBI profiler John Douglas suggested the killer must have local ties since Short’s body was left in a residential area rather than dumped remotely.
  • Harnish’s research uncovered that Dr. Walter Bailey, a now-overlooked surgeon who lived nearby and was acquainted with the Short family, ticks more “boxes” than other suspects.
    • Bailey’s brain lesion, surgical expertise, and proximity stand out.
  • Quote:

    “Of all the people who've been put forward, Walter Bailey actually had the skill to do what was done to her.”
    – Larry Harnish [24:19]

  • Redding and Harnish both see this theory as plausible though remain cautious, noting no single suspect checks every box.
    • Quote:

      “He checks some boxes. He doesn't check all the boxes.”
      – Larry Harnish [25:38]

7. Why the Case is Still Unsolved

• [26:04] Cold Case Perspective:

  • Retired LAPD Detective David Lamkin, cold case unit chief, notes that most evidence is now gone and the case was low priority given the practical impossibility of prosecution after so many years.
  • Quote:

    “Pretty much all the physical evidence was gone from that case.”
    – David Lamkin [26:28]

• [27:11] Hollywood Still a Lure and a Danger:

  • Lamkin reflects on the dangers and disillusionment faced by hopeful transplants, especially women, noting this narrative’s real-life persistence.

• [27:44] Skepticism About Solutions:

  • Lamkin believes the chances of solving the case are nearly nil barring extraordinary new evidence, echoing Harnish’s methodical skepticism.
  • Quote:

    “That case will never get solved, barring some weird thing happening, like someone's cleaning out a basement or attic and they find some journal…”
    – David Lamkin [27:44]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “There is no proof she even knew of the name. It derived from noir fantasy and helped transform her into noir.”
  – Christopher Goffard [00:39]

• “If you met Elizabeth Short and you told her that something happened, she would incorporate that as if it had happened to her.”
  – Larry Harnish [02:58]

• “One afternoon, you know, buy dinner, buy lunch, and then she would get rid of them.”
  – Larry Harnish [07:15]

• “She was right in the thick of it when she disappeared. And her perceived lifestyle was used to vilify her…”
  – Anne Redding [10:31]

• “He never killed before, he never killed again.”
  – Larry Harnish [17:00]

• “No, the best thing you can do is not read any of them because you'll have to unlearn everything.”
  – Larry Harnish [20:17]

• “Whoever killed her wanted to put the fear of God in that neighborhood.”
  – John Douglas, as paraphrased by Larry Harnish [23:14]

Key Timestamps

• 00:00–01:53: Goffard introduces the Elizabeth Short case, origins of the “Black Dahlia” name, and early mythmaking
• 01:53–03:32: Short’s background: poverty, abandonment, survival strategies
• 04:30–07:15: Details of the murder, initial investigation, and debunking character myths
• 08:59–11:45: Anne Redding discusses postwar L.A., misogyny, Short’s vulnerabilities
• 14:13–15:20: Short’s final night, risk factors, and societal context
• 16:16–17:23: Uniqueness of the Black Dahlia case, rejection of serial killer angle
• 17:23–18:37: Harnish critiques popular myths and discusses media’s role in shaping the legend
• 19:25–20:17: Inaccuracies in Black Dahlia literature
• 22:52–25:56: FBI profiler’s advice leads to Dr. Walter Bailey suspect theory
• 26:04–27:44: Detective Lamkin summarizes cold case challenges and the fundamental unsolvability
• 27:44–28:28: Closing thoughts, reiteration that the Black Dahlia’s power is in its enduring mystery

Conclusion

Goffard’s episode on the Black Dahlia underscores how Elizabeth Short’s real life—marked by struggle, independence, and tragedy—was transformed by the press and pop culture into a noir archetype. Experts like Harnish and Redding argue that much about Short has been lost or distorted, and while tantalizing leads like Dr. Walter Bailey exist, the case is most notable for its persistent ambiguity and the cultural anxieties it reveals. The episode calls for skepticism toward easy answers and encourages a more empathetic reading of Elizabeth Short’s life and death.