LA Times - LAPD Gangster Squad series

[ShoreRoadLady]

Noir L.A. was a time and place where truth was not found in the sunlight, and justice not found in marble courthouses, and where not a single gangland killing was solved, not one, for half a century. Not on paper, anyway.

The Los Angeles Times is running a series of 7 articles, starting yesterday, about the LAPD's Gangster Squad, created in 1946. Both articles are online with photos and some video. I'm sure a few of you would find this interesting.

Crusaders in the underworld (Sunday)
Mickey Cohen is dodging bullets (Monday)

ETA: Thanks to Ugarte, here's a link to the whole series, with photos & video. (Warning for dialup users: video starts playing as soon as the page loads.)

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-gangster-sg,0,5506273.storygallery

 

[StraightEight]

The writer has labored hard to rise to the level of a dime novel Mickey Spillane knockoff (see quote in above post--not a single murder was solved in 50 years in LA? What does it mean that not a single gangland killing was solved on paper? Was it solved on stone tablets? How about vellum?).

I paddled hard against the torrent of overworked metaphors and frequent non sequiturs in the first installment but eventually bailed. Credit to those who make it through.

 

[Guttersnipe]

You're right about the bad writing

What does it mean that not a single gangland killing was solved on paper? Was it solved on stone tablets? How about vellum?).

I'm not sure if you're being sarcastic or not, but...

I think the author is referring, in pretty cliche terms, to the fact that the LAPD and LA County Sheriff's Dept. were both largely on the payroll of organized crime in this era, and sometimes played a more active roll then just turning a blind eye. It was common for no arrests to be made in gangland killings where the parties involved were basically known to all.

 

[Mr. 'H']

Thanks so much for this link.

I had heard a bit about the Ganster Squad through movies and books about that time (Hat Squad in Mulholland Falls, Black Dahlia books, etc.).

Great to see a series about it. I wonder if Larry Harnisch was involved?

 

[Paisley]

I agree with some of the other posts: for a subject as rich and juicy as this, the article is awfully dry reading. Sorry if that's a bad metaphor.

 

[ScionPI2005]

I agree with some of the other posts: for a subject as rich and juicy as this, the article is awfully dry reading. Sorry if that's a bad metaphor.

It almost reads like a textbook...lol. It's a fascinating subject though. Golden Era crime normally gets my attention like chocolate...[huh]

 

[ShoreRoadLady]

I've only read the first article, so I can't say how dry the rest of it is. It didn't seem terribly dry to me, but then, the topic caught my eye. Worth going through for the story about Mickey Cohen paying for his own wiretap. Some things are waayyyy easier to read on paper - I know I don't like slogging through long articles online.

(The quote was added for the proper noir effect. I don't claim to have authenticated its veracity or deeper meaning. )

To Mr. H: I don't know if Larry Harnisch was involved directly, but it looks like he's participating somehow, maybe by blogging? (The LA Times' site is REALLY unclear and uncooperative...) See the sidebar.

 

[Miss Neecerie]

Harnisch has a regular blog about past times on the Times site....called the Daily Mirror.

He was blogging to point out the series, but I don't think he had any hand in it other then that.

 

[Mr. 'H']

To Mr. H: I don't know if Larry Harnisch was involved directly, but it looks like he's participating somehow, maybe by blogging? (The LA Times' site is REALLY unclear and uncooperative...) See the sidebar.

Wow.

You know, I love this subject. I got Ellroy's DVD "Feast of Death" recently and it featured veteran LAPD detectives at the Pacific Dining Car talking about old crimes. Really reminds me of this.

To ShoreRoadLady: thanks for digging this up .

 

[Ugarte]

Interesting series in the LA Times

I hope this is not a dupe and I hope someone here finds this as interesting as I did. It's not much but check it out.

L.A. Noir: Tales from the Gangster Squad

Mark

 

[ShoreRoadLady]

I hope this is not a dupe and I hope someone here finds this as interesting as I did. It's not much but check it out.

L.A. Noir: Tales from the Gangster Squad

Mark

Dupe, yes, but thanks for the link to the complete page. I edited my post with the link so it's handy.

 

[Story]

Hang on to your Fedoras, guys - I stumbled onto these articles, so I went looking for pics. Whatta I find?

'Gangster' article snapped up by Warners
Saturday, November 8 2008, 05:30 GMT

By Simon Reynolds, Entertainment Reporter

Warner Bros. has acquired the movie rights to Paul Lieberman's article Tales From The Gangster Squad, says Variety.

The seven-part Los Angeles Times series, which concluded in Saturday's paper, sheds light on the formation of the LAPD 'Gangster Squad' in 1946. The group used strong-arm tactics to surpress criminals and keep the East Coast Mafia out of the city.

Lieberman began work on the articles 16 years ago when he received a call from a man who claimed that he had worked in the unit when it was formed after World War II.

He later met with the man, retired Sgt. Jack O'Mara, and managed to track down nine other squad members. It took Lieberman more than ten years to convince one man, a surveillance expert, to reveal his side of the story.

The film will reportedly focus on two police officers - one a member of the team, the other made to leave against his will - as they attempt to track down mob boss Mickey Cohen.

 

[ShoreRoadLady]

Hang on to your Fedoras, guys - I stumbled onto this articles, so I went looking for pics. Whatta I find?

'Gangster' article snapped up by Warners
Saturday, November 8 2008, 05:30 GMT

By Simon Reynolds, Entertainment Reporter

Warner Bros. has acquired the movie rights to Paul Lieberman's article Tales From The Gangster Squad, says Variety.

Cool! More vintage costuming! :eusa_clap

 

[funneman]

I had heard a bit about the Ganster Squad through movies and books about that time (Hat Squad in Mulholland Falls).QUOTE]

This movie was on again last night.

They drove a car much like the one in your avatar StraightEight.

The clothes and hats were great.

An impressive cast.

 

[Mr. 'H']

Yes, that was a great movie. I loved the Buick. Remember when Chas's charachter is driving andd they say sarcastically "take it out of low"?

 

[Story]

NYPD homicide squad w. portable lamps, pistol-grip light, and other homicide detection equipment, including rubber gloves, finger printing equipment etc. to process a crime scene.
Location: New York, NY, US
Date taken: 1937

http://images.google.com/hosted/lif...:life&start=80&ndsp=20&hl=en&safe=active&sa=N

Good avatar pics
http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l?q=pistol+source:life&imgurl=02bb59a1cee61b12

http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l?q=pistol+source:life&imgurl=3e8bfac3487f2f19

Wonder if this was a staged photo, or if it was just never published.

NYPD homicide detectives investigating crime scene and body of a woman found murdered.
Location: New York, NY, US
Date taken: 1937
http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l?q=pistol+source:life&imgurl=83ba12aae8abd5eb

 

[ShoreRoadLady]

Wonder if this was a staged photo, or if it was just never published.

NYPD homicide detectives investigating crime scene and body of a woman found murdered.
Location: New York, NY, US
Date taken: 1937
http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l?q=pistol+source:life&imgurl=83ba12aae8abd5eb

Kinda looks staged to me. Either way, it's a beautiful dress! (You can tell where my priorities lie! lol)