Blogging the Wolfe Book, A Mystery Solved

I have ceased blogging in real time as I read Donald H. Wolfe’s “The Black Dahlia Files: The Mob, the Mogul and the Murder That Transfixed Los Angeles.” Wolfe is using the “Laura” format, in which the anonymous, butchered body is found and the narrative proceeds in flashbacks. Now I’m taking a few requests before I wrap it up.

On Friday, I raised the issue of Nina Blanchard’s appearance in Wolfe’s book. He doesn’t cite any source, so I couldn’t figure out where he got the material since she’s not listed in the district attorney’s files or any of the original newspaper accounts.

Here’s the quote from Page 130:

“George Bacos, an usher at CBS across the street, stated to police that he had often seen her there, as had Nina Blanchard, who later became a famous modeling agency executive. At that time, Nina Blanchard was a waitress at Brittingham’s, where many of the Columbia Studio executives and employees socialized. According to Blanchard, Elizabeth used to frequent Brittingham’s and was also seen with studio executive Max Arnow, who was in charge of the Talent Department.”

Mary Pacios writes that she spoke with Blanchard and quotes Blanchard as saying:

"People from Columbia and CBS came in all the time. Bigwigs sat in the booths and other movie/radio people would sit at the counter. Beth would come in often. We knew she wasn't a hooker. Not the type. She was a woman of mystery. People always noticed her and wondered about her. Soft, feminine and fragile. Pale face. Always wore black. About 5'5" tall. I spoke to her a few times in the powder room.... Rumors were that Beth was going with someone at Columbia Studios. Someone named Max or Mac."

And according to Mary, Blanchard said nothing about Max Arnow.

And there you have it.

Shout to:

Sympatico of New York (70.51.120.76)

Hurry back!