In 1947, a young woman with Hollywood dreams became the center of one of the most infamous unsolved cases in American history. In Part One of this MACABRE Feature, we focus on who Elizabeth Short really was — beyond the headlines, beyond the sensationalism, before she became the legend. We dig into her life, her search for belonging, the world she fell into, and what set the stage for her final days in Los Angeles.

This is the story of the woman at the center of the mystery — before the crime scene photos and before the world gave her a name she never asked for.

Be sure to follow for next week's shocking conclusion.

Spotify subscribers get ad free content, early access and exclusive bonus episodes .

Paid supporters on Patreon, Join us for Macabre Movie Nights and Game Nights :⁠⁠⁠⁠ Macabre Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠

Send in your stories for a future listener episode!

Email us at [email protected]

Join our private Facebook Group at :⁠⁠⁠⁠ MacabrePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠

Get Macabre Exclusive Merch ⁠⁠ www.gothiccthreads.com⁠

Sources – The Black Dahlia

1. FBI Vault – The Black Dahlia Case File
   https://vault.fbi.gov/The%20Black%20Dahlia

2. George Hodel’s District Attorney Files & FBI Surveillance Transcripts
   http://www.stevehodel.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/dist-atty-files-hodel-black-dahlia-1.pdf

3. Steve Hodel – Black Dahlia Avenger (Official Site & Blog)
   https://www.stevehodel.com/

4. Larry Harnisch – The Daily Mirror (Research Blog)
   https://ladailymirror.com/

5. Los Angeles Times Archives – Black Dahlia Coverage (1947)
   https://www.latimes.com/archives

6. Newspapers.com – Black Dahlia Search (Filtered: 1947)
   https://www.newspapers.com/search/?query=%22black%20dahlia%22&dr_year=1947-1947

7. History.com – “Black Dahlia Murder: The True Story”
   https://www.history.com/news/black-dahlia-murder-true-story

8. Biography.com – “Elizabeth Short – The Black Dahlia”
   https://www.biography.com/crime/elizabeth-short

9. Crime Museum – “The Black Dahlia Murder”
   https://www.crimemuseum.org/crime-library/famous-murders/the-black-dahlia-murder/

10. The Sowden House – Official History (George Hodel Residence)
    https://www.thesowdenhouse.com/history