No Halloween column would be complete without a scary story — and in this one, I’ll share some little-known local history behind one of Los Angeles’ longest and most notorious cold cases.
The brutal murder of 22-year-old Elizabeth Short, now better known as the Black Dahlia, was found dead on the morning of January 15, 1947. The murder’s gruesome details, like the fact her body was found severed into two pieces in a vacant lot in the Leimert Park area of Los Angeles, shocked the nation.
And though there are many theories about who may have committed the crime all those years back, the case is still unsolved to this day.
Esotouric’s Richard Schave talks during a stop on the “Echo Park Book of the Dead” tour. (Photo by Kim Cooper).
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Esotouric’s Richard Schave talks during a stop on the “Echo Park Book of the Dead” tour. (Photo by Kim Cooper).
Though you may be familiar with the main details of the Black Dahlia case, you may not know that it was the Long Beach Press-Telegram — and other local papers — who first published and popularized the nickname.
“The Long Beach community shaped the murder legend — it was Short’s Long Beach friends that shared details (about her),” said Kim Cooper of Esotouric Tours in an interview.
During a recent outing with Esotouric Tours, I learned Elizabeth Short was nicknamed the Black Dahlia by her neighbors when she lived in Long Beach.
She arrived in the Long Beach area by bus in late July 1946 and stayed until December 1946, when she went to San Diego, returning in early January 1947.
While in Long Beach, Short stayed at two locations. The first, At-water Apartments at 65 Linden Ave., is now known as Holly House. Short also lived at The Washington Hotel, 53 Linden Ave., according to various sources.
Cooper explained that the movie “The Blue Dahlia,” a 1946 film with the original screenplay written by Raymond Chandler, may have inspired Short’s posthumous nickname — her jet black hair prompting the color change.
Esotouric, which was awarded the The Anne Friedberg Award at NoirCon 2025, hosts many tours delving into Los Angeles’ hidden history. To learn more, go to esotouric.com.
Cemetery Tour
The 39th annual Historical Cemetery Tour, hosted by the Historical Society of Long Beach, got underway last Saturday, Oct. 25.
In the morning, I volunteered to emcee the story of Walter and Ethel Case — performednby Rick Reischman and Madison Mooney — and in the afternoon, I told the story of John and Lulu Munholland, played by Sean Wellengard and Lisa Salas.
“The Munhollands were realtors, attorneys, and City boosters who found quirky and memorable ways to bring visitors and attention to the city,” the Historical Society said in a 2019 social media post.
John Munholland, center, poses with two actors who told his family history during the Historical Society of Long Beach’s 39th annual Historical Cemetery Tour. (Photo courtesy of John Munholland).
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John Munholland, center, poses with two actors who told his family history during the Historical Society of Long Beach’s 39th annual Historical Cemetery Tour. (Photo courtesy of John Munholland).
The grandson of the Munhollands, Dr. John Munholland, a retired orthodontist in Denver, contacted HSLB officials to let them know that family members planned to attend the Cemetery Tour.
Even Munholland learned some new things about his own family during the Cemetery Tour, he said in a phone interview.
One thing the family is known for, for example, is that they convinced 15,000 Shriners to visit Long Beach in 1906 for a convention.
Munholland donated his father’s own fez from when he was potentate of the Long Beach El Bekal to the Historical Society. Back in 1961 when his father held that position, his theme was “Fun with Mun in 61.”
John might just take inspiration from that slogan for his own for his 60 year high school reunion (he’s a 1971 Wilson High grad) — “Fun with Mun in 31.”
Videos of past Cemetery Tour performances can be found on YouTube.
Alley Cat
The former Grunion Gazette office on Second Street in Belmont Shore will soon play host to yoga classes — and a new clothing store — at least for now.
The building’s leaseholder Elliot Lewis, owner of Catalyst Cannabis, said in an interview that yoga classes will soon be taught in the former newsroom. In addition, Lewis has a clothing shop signed on to sub-lease until December.
After that, he plans to completely demo the interior. No word on his plans from there yet.
Right now, Lewis is tidying the building up, shampooing the carpets and removing any remaining items from the Grunion Gazette’s former headquarters.
As I drove by the office, I spotted the inside news rack looking lonely outside the door. After checking with decision makers, I got the go ahead to take the box home. I just needed someone strong to fetch it.
Robb Smith of Alley Cat Deliveries poses with an old Grunion Gazette newsstand, which he helped deliver to Columnist Jo Murray’s home over the weekend. (Photo by Jo Murray).
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Robb Smith of Alley Cat Deliveries poses with an old Grunion Gazette newsstand, which he helped deliver to Columnist Jo Murray’s home over the weekend. (Photo by Jo Murray).
I texted Robb Smith of Alley Cat Deliveries — the go-to guy when it comes to moving a couch, a Costco run, getting flowers delivered, or for a ride to the airport or anywhere else.
Before I could say “All the news that fit to fry” (the paper’s former tagline) the chief meow man was carrying the newsstand into my patio.
You can text him at 310-525-2894 or find him on Instagram at @alley_cat_deliveries.