Black Dahlia Interview with “Truth Be Told” Host Tony Sweet
April 4, 2023
Birch Bay, Washington
Here is a live interview I did in the studio with Tony Sweet for his show, “Truth Be Told” about 18 months ago. I think the in-person nature always adds a little more oomph and energy to the final product than say a “Zoom” talk. This interview runs about eighty minutes and I think gives a good summary of “the truth being told.” Thanks Tony.
October 8, 2021
Los Angeles, California
For those who were not able to watch the interview live here’s a link to see the full show. Runs for about 90 minutes. Enjoyed my conversation with Tony Sweet at his Burbank Studio. Also, got to announce the pending publication of my new two-book-set “The Early Years” presenting my father’s crimes from the 1920s and 1930s. Book covers first released and shown in the below YouTube video. Thanks Tony!
Note: The introduction volume is a bit low, but, increases at the start of the interview.
Tony Sweet and Steve Hodel “Black Dahlia Avenger” Interview
Great interview Steve !
Dr. T: Thanks. Great to do in-studio which allows for a more personal feel to the interview over Zoom.
Steve, I’m wondering when your father first met Salvador Dali. Also, was Dali in Los Angels at the time of Elizabeth’s murder? And do you know who the 12 members of Dali’s Zodiac Group that was formed in 1932 were?
I can only find the Marquis George de Cuevas who was married to Mary Rockefeller Strong.
Thanks, Steve
Steven U:
Don’t know if they met or not in person? Have to think there was a good chance they did because of the close connections and friendship between Man Ray and Dalia back then and the fact both worked on SPELLBOUND, the movie and Dali’s Dream Sequence in the mid Forties in Hollywood. Sorry, no don’t recall seeing the actual names of the original Dali Zodiac Group supporters back in the early 30s.
Steve, I contacted the Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida and they gave me the names of Dali’s original 1932 Zodiac Group. The names were found on page 362 of the book by Ian Gibson THE SHAMEFUL LIFE OF SALVADOR DALI. One member was the granddaughter of John D. Rockefeller and another is Caresse Cosby. Cosby had a publishing company called Black Sun Press. Nazi Heinrich Himmler had a cult called the Black Su,b,, integral to Nazi inner circle beliefs.
I’m wondering if your father had any connections to the Murphy Ranch in Rustic Canyon, in LA. In the 1930’s it was a Nazi “end of the world” type compound owned by a husband and wife who were into the occult. Lloyd Wright was architect for some of the 1930’s buildings, including a large meeting house/dormitory that was never built. In the 1950’s and 60’s it was an artists colony. Some of the people who had been involved with John Whiteside Parsons and L. Ron Hubbard lived there in the 50’s and 60’s. At that time it was owned by Hunting Hartford, heir to the A&P grocery store fortune. It is known that Dali was an admirer of Franco and was fascinated with Hitler. Lee Miller was photographed in Hitler’s bathtub in Germany. What were you father’s political beliefs? Was he into the occult? Did he go to the Murphy Ranch in the 1930’s.
Steve
Steven U:
No known connections to the Murphy Ranch? He and my mother were good friends with artist/film director Dudley Murphy and his wife Virginia who owned and operated “Holiday House” in Malibu. (Built by famed architect Neutra.) But, don’t believe there was any connection to the other Murphy to my knowledge? GHH was a nihilist and never mentioned any occult beliefs and was not a “joiner” so don’t think he was a member of any cults? He was a surrealist and did believe that there was no real difference between the dream state and the physical, so in a sense, one could say he had his own metaphysical beliefs. This I believe was part of his personal madness, that allowed him to “do what thou whilt.”
Steven U:
I have removed your last email from this comment section and would ask you to send that type of communication to be direct at my email: steve@stevehodel.com More appropriate there than here where I try to focus on the actual blog per se. I will respond to you there rather than taking up space here. Thanks, Steve
Fascinating, informative and a very interesting interview. Am looking forward to your next two books. In ’47, I resided only blocks away from the Franklin House in Hollywood, and I recall the articles in the L.A. newspapers. A shocking memory.
Jess Waid (Ret. Lt., RHD, LAPD)
Hi Jess:
Thanks for the kind words. Much appreciated.
And, thanks for your many years of service to the citizens of Los Angeles with LAPD.
Yes, “The Early Years” will be as shocking as what has come before, but it all fits together.
Shooting for a November 6th release. Best, Steve
Hi Steve,
It’s been awhile. I knew you were busy with The Early Years & the mini-series, so I haven’t kept quite as close in touch. I’m certainly looking forward to the 2 vol. The Early Years. I have been curious for awhile, about GHH’s teen years & 20’s. (childhood as well). I have seen the photos of his childhood home, & it does have almost fantasy or fairy-tale touch. The fireplace has a Hansel & Gretel feel. The little Lord Fauntleroy, or royal prince growing up in S. Pasadena. His parents adored him apparently, but obviously did him a disservice by treating him as an elite. — I noticed this morning that it was GHH’s birthday and that prompted me to check in and to see updates. Best Regards, Dan
Hi Dan:
Good to hear from you. Hope all is well with you and yours.
Yes, finally at the end of the road with “The Early Years.”
Thought it would be one book, but just too much crime.
George started as a teen and never stopped. It Will be as shocking as
what came later, but I leave it for the reader to decide. As I said on
the interview, what is so amazing is his past proves his future and his
future verifies his past. Shooting for Nov 6th, my birthday.
Stay tuned, lot more to come.
Best, Steve
Hi. Steve,
Happy Birthday in advance
My birthday is Nov. 27, 61, 20 years & 21 days difference. I will be reaching 60. Just 2 years older than you were when the investigation of GHH began. It’s ironic that you had a better relationship with George, than many of your siblings, yet it has fallen on you to investigate his crimes. A good point was made in the interview. Since you can pass for 65, George could have easily passed for 45. He wasn’t much older than me in 1969. He mentioned in his taunts to the police, that he was in disguise when he did his thing, so he did something to take a few years off. He didn’t have to do much, since he didn’t look his age, at that time anyway.
Hi Dan:
Yes, as relates to Zodiac, the age thing is the most difficult for most people to accept. Without knowing the details and most being unaware of the second and third composites they simple rule out any possibility that GHH could be Zodiac on physical appearance alone. They say, “No Way.” But, then when the best witness, SFPD officer Donald Fouke reluctantly comes forward and assists with the original composite and states in an interview “age 35-45, but more like the high end(45).” And we see the second and third composites which are pretty much “picture perfect” to GHH and how he looked in 1969, then that opens the door and all the rest of the evidence/linkage followed. All best to your and yours and Happy 60th Birthday in a few weeks.
Steve, just finished & enjoyed your interview! One unknown (to me) fact you related jumped out at me and has my imagination spinning! GHH & William Parker quite possibly knew each other as young men as cab drivers in LA.?! Did they pal around on off hours, going to bars, meeting young women etc. as is normal for young men & women? That possibility opens up a whole new spectrum on your father’s relationship to the LAPD! This could have far deeper roots t.o the crimes committed than realized! I also had a strong reaction to one of your statements when people criticized you for exposing your suspicions & (IMO) some strong evidence against your father…..your statement: “How could you not?”…..(expose him). And there is the “crux” of your personality versus your father’s. You probably were always one who spoke his mind, and perhaps suffered some social consequences for it. GHH, smart dude that he was, realized this about you and “kept you close to his heart” because basically he feared you!😱 Good to see 2 volumes coming in the “Early Years”👍. Do hope you will do a similar presentation on the Zodiac killings!! You’re killin’ Steve💪!
Patricia O:
Thanks for kind words as always Patricia.
Don’t know specifically about any additional GHH/Bill Parker “connections” through the years.
But, I can promise you other “connections” to LAPD officers will become boldly apparent in “The Early Years” for sure. Had to totally reevaluate what he “had on them” after these latest findings. Stay tuned, pretty wild ride for sure. Best, Steve
Steve
Our Healing CIRCLE sends a cleansing, centering breath and powerful VIBRATIONS for ancestral healing. Ancestral healing heals the wounds of the past! It banishes negative thoughts! Ancestral healing connects us to our forefathers and foremothers. The message of ancestral healing never gets old. It is timeless.
Peace this week and always to you, Brother Kel, FaunaElizabeth, and Angel!
Yolie 💎
Correction: Your killin’ it Steve💪!