Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Great Grandmother and the Black Dahlia

So, I am psyched for the movie version of the Black Dahlia that is coming out. When I saw the preview on TV the other day I was so shocked I stopped what I was doing and just stared with my mouth open.

For those of you who haven't read it, The Black Dahlia by James Ellroy is one of my favorite novels. James Ellroy is also the author of L.A. Confidential and several other great 1950's detective stories. Ellroy is a fascinating author, not only because of his sparse writing style, but also because a lot of his novels were influenced by his own mother's murder in 1958. If you haven't read Black Dahlia, please, please, please read it BEFORE you see the movie!

And what does all of this have to do with Vintage Bug? Well, today I was looking through an old newspaper for bits to save and noticed that it was a paper from 1947 that contained the obituary of my Great Grandmother Margaret.

In German? Yup. It is from the January 27, 1947 edition of the Abendpost, Chicago's German newspaper. But what does this have to do with the Black Dahlia?

Well, this article was right next to my great-grandmother's obituary.

Eric isn't as fluent in German as he used to be, but it was pretty obvious that this is an article about the Black Dahlia. Hmmm...pretty weird, huh?

7 Comments:

Blogger Pat and Peggy said...

I hope the movie is a big hit because the whole story of the Black Dahlia is so tragic and scary. Haven't read the book but saw a great TV show based on the book many years ago and a student did her research paper on the Black Dahlia. P.S. Love the postings.

August 30, 2006 3:19 PM  
Blogger Snowman said...

Translation from bablefish.

The murder case black dahlia remains mysterios.

The police did not get ahead with the investigation of the murder at Elizabeth Short meanwhile around only one step, and so far the Verhore with the female acquaintance of the murdered ones has likewise no result resulting in.

**more to follow.

August 30, 2006 4:30 PM  
Blogger Snowman said...

there is all kinds of "keeps in track" today brought, those however not necessarily in the case refers mussen. The police has now in the Bahnhofen, bus stations and travel offices photographs and exact descriptions of person of the murdered ones to fasten leaves in hope that someone will be, which can make more uber the murdered one nahere data.

I like how it didn't translate uber. Or nahere. What's that?

August 30, 2006 6:54 PM  
Blogger Snowman said...

By no means do I spend time looking for stuff. It finds me. This link is to a classic TV commercial for Band-Aid. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6122785873351184363&sourceid=searchfeed

August 30, 2006 7:28 PM  
Blogger Ruth said...

I ran in to that too. I think that vowels that have umlauts over them need to be spelled out; so basically they all get an extra "e".

Uber = Ueber = Over
Nahere = Naehere = Approaches

After all that, the article still doesn't make any sense...

Eric

August 30, 2006 8:46 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Good Grief honey; what a coincedence with the Black Dahlia!!! My goodness, this is great stuff~!! What a wonderful thing you are doing, wait till Dad sees!!! he will be so proud. I loved the picture of Grandpa. Keep it up Meeem

September 19, 2006 1:48 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

What a strong resemblance Jonathan has to his Grandpa! Ruth, when are you publishing your book using these materials. I know you can do it.

September 21, 2006 5:45 AM  

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