Sunday, January 29, 2017

Darren McGavin and The Nightstalker

On tonight's episode on MeTV, Kolschak is stalking a female vampire, and she looks a lot like description of Erzebet, with long black hair and dead white skin.  This was my favorite episode, first seen in primetime when I was 14, and writing a report on Erzebet for health class.  I also did a large collage of her with real black hair from my own vampire Halloween wig, blue silk gown, a lace ruff, and in her hand, a tiny antique apothecary bottle holding red water.  She had long chains and pearls on, too. I'll unearth the poster sometime and show it to you here :)



Sunday, January 15, 2017

RIP: 70th Anniversary of The Black Dahlia Murder, a course on Anne Boleyn and PBS' Queen Victoria

On this date, ElizabBlack Dahlia Avenger, where he reveals belief that his father, Dr. George Hodel killed her, and other women. Hodel's late sister Tamar, was a friend of a friend.   Another alleged victim was the murdered mother of James Elroy, who also wrote The Black Dahlia, a novel based on the murder, and the basis for the 2006 film.
Elizabeth Short, public domain
eth Short, aka, The Black Dahlia was found dead in an onion field off Norton avenue in the Los Angeles area.  For 70 years, her murder remains unsolved. Her bisected, mutilated body was thought at first to be a broken mannequin, or big doll.   Many theories have been proposed for who and why murder, including Steve Hodel's


Our own Max Allan Collins also wrote a novel about Short, who disliked the name Black Dahlia.  Many are also familiar with the 70s TV movie with Lucie Arnaz. 


I have taught for years about this murder, and have my own collection of books, photos, and memorabilia, including some photos that lead to an interesting ebay conversation.


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On another front,  there is an ecourse available on disk about Anne Boleyn that purports to teach the student everything there is to know about her. Anything like this is very interesting to those of us who study the Tudors, especially Anne.  Yet, I can't help but put out there that anyone who wants to know about Anne should ask me, too.  I have done extensive research, and am completely a historical novel about her. I have collected my resources and done graduate work on her, and began to study her at age 8.  There will be more interest in Anne during 20017, 500th anniversary of The Reformation, which involved Anne.   So, ask away.


Public Domain Image





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On PBS tonight begins the series Queen Victoria, breathtaking, rather slow, and a little too much like a soap opera, but on the other hand, I'm glad the series is being made and shown.


Image result for queen victoria public domain
Queen Victoria, Public Domain





Saturday, January 14, 2017

Thursday, January 12, 2017

Dr. E's Doll Museum Blog: Recent Finds

Dr. E's Doll Museum Blog: Recent Finds:  Lately, I've slowed down collecting considerably.  I am involved in moving and finding homes for my other love, a library of book...

Sunday, January 8, 2017

2 Books of Interest; Happy 2017!! After the Funeral and History of Criminal Justice, Third Edition

Here are two books of related interest you will enjoy, and I also urge you to visit our friends at Terror at Skellington Manor:


Murphy, Edwin.  After the Funeral: The Posthumous Adventures of Famous Corpses. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1998.


I just started it, but there are great stories, not gruesome or "icky" about famous people and their after life adventures.  For example, we know for sure what happened to Eva Peron's body, and the tale of the 14th century Portuguese princess exhumed after 5 years to be crowned queen!  Well written narrative, intelligent, but easy to read.


Image result for after the funeral: the posthumous adventures of famous corpses public domain
Public Domain Image


Johnson, Herbert A and Nancy Travis Wolfe: History of Criminal Justice, 3d Edition.  2003 I used to teach this class, and the book is interesting just as a read.   When I taught it, there was reference to Erzebet, and an assumption that she was guilty.  I can't find that reference in this edition.  Hmm?  I'm going to reread the book and keep you all posted.  Could someone have read this blog, or Kim Craft, Tony Thorne, German Murderesses, and other books that seek the truth and delve more closely into the true story?




Image result for the history of criminal justice 3d edition herbert a. johnson nancy travis wolfe
Public Domain