Mamie Van Doren's 70-Year Black Dahlia Secret

Mamie Van Doren, a legendary figure from Hollywood's Golden Age, has unveiled a deeply personal secret she guarded for over seven decades. In her new memoir, Van Doren discloses her friendship with Elizabeth Short, the victim of the notorious Black Dahlia murder. Van Doren and her mother, Lucille Harriet Bennett, learned of Short's fate on January 15, 1947, after she was identified as the victim splashed across newspapers.

Following this discovery, Van Doren's mother made her promise absolute secrecy. "Keep your mouth shut about all this. Don't mention to anyone that Elizabeth was your friend," she cautioned, fearing police attention. Van Doren adhered to this vow for more than seventy years, but now feels compelled to share the poignant narrative.

Van Doren first met Short at the Florentine Gardens nightclub in Los Angeles, where both women worked. Short, a waitress, was striving to break into the film industry but faced financial hardship. The two quickly bonded over shared experiences, including discussions of Granlund and a director known only as "Henry," and Short's late fiancé, Matthew Gordon.

Short eventually shared her plans to move to Hawaii, expressing resignation about her acting aspirations. She envisioned a future of continued friendship and visits. Tragically, this reunion never occurred. Van Doren recounts the devastating morning of January 15, 1947, when the Los Angeles Daily News headline screamed of a gruesome murder, revealing Short's identity and the brutal nature of her death, a case that remains unsolved to this day.