July 29, 2024 marked the centenary of Elizabeth Short's birth. Born in Boston, Beth, as she often preferred to be called, was the middle child of Cleo and Phoebe Short. She had four sisters: Virginia, Dorothea, Elnora, and Muriel. In 1930, Cleo's miniature golf course business tanked. He positioned his car close to a bridge to create the appearance of suicide. A houseful of women has its comforts, but Cleo's abandonment appears to have profoundly … [Read more...]
Joan Renner on Jealousy and Gin
I Love Los Angeles Crime! Every city has a unique crime signature. In Los Angeles, crime has a distinctly cinematic feel. In 1910, Hollywood made its first film, In Old California. The silent short ran for 17 thrilling minutes. A western, the characters run the gamut from upstanding citizens to thieves. Hollywood has been obsessed with themes of good vs. evil ever since. In the following tale, Jealousy and Gin, the killer is a real-life B-movie … [Read more...]
Joan Renner’s OF MOBSTERS AND MOVIE STARS: “The Bloody ‘Golden Age’ of Hollywood” Offers 37 Brilliantly Researched True Tales
No Hollywood script can compare to the terror of the 37 true tales in OF MOBSTERS AND MOVIE STARS: The Bloody "Golden Age" of Hollywood! In this gripping historical account, expert crime historian Joan Renner explores the shadowy world of fame and crime during Hollywood's most glamorous era. As Los Angeles transformed into the epicenter of film, it also became a haven for notorious criminals and mobsters, weaving a complex tapestry of allure … [Read more...]
Author Joan Renner On True Crime, Blogging, and Advocacy
Hi! I'm Joan Renner, a multi-talented individual with a passion for all things true crime. As a seasoned author, blogger, historian, archivist, tour guide, and sought-after TV and podcast commentator, I've carved out a unique niche in the world of crime storytelling. Back in 2007, I turned my lifelong fascination with crime into something more tangible by blogging for a local true crime blog. Little did I know this step would lead me down a … [Read more...]
Meet Author Joan Renner, Los Angeles Crime Specialist
Hi. I'm Joan Renner, and I have a passion for true crime. I am an author, social historian, and TV commentator. My interest in true crime began in grammar school. I was 7 years old when I read about the kidnapping and murder of three boys near the Chicago suburb where I lived with my family. I followed the case, and a month after they found the boys, one father died. He had a heart attack, which I read as a broken heart. The story stuck with … [Read more...]
