Black Dahlia Days: Sleuthing out Beth Short’s Southern California

Join Esotouric, L.A.’s most eclectic sightseeing tour company, as we take a time travel trip in the footsteps of Beth Short, the victim in the still unsolved 1947 Black Dahlia murder.

Your hosts Kim Cooper and Richard Schave, and special guest Joan Renner, are the hosts of the long-running The Real Black Dahlia tour, acclaimed by the Los Angeles Times as “an L.A. classic.” During the pandemic lock down when bus tours were paused, we took our the storytelling online, for a different take on Beth Short’s fluid and fascinating life story.

In this webinar, you’ll tag along with three veteran true crime historians as they dig into the case that haunts them. We’ll introduce you to the basic beats of Beth Short’s narrative, dispel some myths about the murder investigation and highlight the heartbreaking confluence of character and history that sealed the 22 year old drifter’s fate and ensured her immortality as a crime victim.

We’ll explore some of the time capsule locations that aren’t on the usual Real Black Dahlia tour route and share fascinating details from the investigation and archives. You’ll learn about Joan Renner’s curatorial work on the groundbreaking 2012 Los Angeles Police Museum exhibition, James Ellroy Presents ‘Elizabeth,’ and see rare material from John Gilmore’s research files in UCLA Special Collections. Plus, Joan will put on her cosmetics historian hat to provide rare insights into the psychology of Beth Short’s unusual make up choices.

This webinar is an illustrated lecture packed with original research, photographs and archival material that will bring the Black Dahlia investigation and Beth Short’s story to life on your digital device. And you’ll find the look of an Esotouric webinar is a little different than your standard dry Zoom session, with lively interactive graphics courtesy of the mmhmm app.

After the presentation, Kim, Richard and Joan answer viewer questions about the case and their work telling the stories of Los Angeles through the lens of true crime and historic preservation.

So, tune in and discover the incredible history of Los Angeles, with the couple whose passion for the city is infectious.

Rights and permissions: By attending an Esotouric webinar, you acknowledge that the entirety of the presentation is copyrighted, and no portion of the video or text may be reproduced in any fashion.