Wah Chang was a Chinese-American artist and prop designer. Today he’s most recognized for his iconic designs on the television series Star Trek. He was born on this day in 1917 and with that in mind, it being Asian-Pacific Heritage Month, me planning on going to see the Star Trek Into Darkness tonight, and The Wrath … Continue reading Wah Ming Chang
California Fool’s Gold — A South Orange County Primer
INTRODUCTION Most of us know the stereotypes and are familiar with the frequent characterizations of Orange County. It’s supposedly culture-less and even somehow history-less. Anyone who’s spent any time in Los Angeles has no doubt heard the same hollow, bafflingly ignorant observations made of about that richly cultured city yet sadly, many Angelenos (who ought … Continue reading California Fool’s Gold — A South Orange County Primer
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California Fool’s Gold — Exploring East Pasadena
TO SEE MY HOME IN EAST PASADENA This neighborhood exploration is about tiny East Pasadena. Despite its name, East Pasadena is an independent community and no more a part of the city of Pasadena than are South Pasadena or Altadena. Historically, it was a much larger community but through many annexations it has shrunk to … Continue reading California Fool’s Gold — Exploring East Pasadena
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California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Laguna Beach
A WEARY ROVER'S DREAM INTRODUCTION Laguna Beach is a quirky, affluent community in South Orange County. The city is the third oldest in Orange County, after San Juan Capistrano and Anaheim. It is widely known for its vibrant arts scene and environmental treasures. It's long seemed to me that dated and inaccurate stereotypes of Los Angeles … Continue reading California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Laguna Beach
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No Enclave — Exploring the Remains of Los Angeles’s Little Italy
Los Angeles and Orange counties are home to many official and unofficial (but widely recognized) ethnic enclaves, including Cambodia Town, Chinatown, Filipinotown, Koreatown, Little Armenia, Little Arabia, Little Bangladesh, Little Brazil, Little Ethiopia, Little India, Little Osaka, Little Russia, Little Saigon, Little Seoul, Little Tokyo, Oaxacatown, Tehrangeles, and Thai Town. Attempting to gain official recognition are … Continue reading No Enclave — Exploring the Remains of Los Angeles’s Little Italy
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Tales of the Texas Rangers — Police Procedural with a Lone Star Twist
It took me a while to discover the brilliant radio drama, Tales of the Texas Rangers. I inferred from its name that it was a juvenile Western -- possibly a derivative of The Lone Ranger. Even though The Lone Ranger provided my childhood introduction I have never been a fan of white hat vs. black hat … Continue reading Tales of the Texas Rangers — Police Procedural with a Lone Star Twist
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Somebody Knows and Wanted — Golden Age Radio’s Great Unsolved Mysteries
In the wake of Dragnet's success for NBC (after having been rejected by CBS), radio audiences more and more craved authenticity from their crime dramas. Programs like Gang Busters (1936-1957) and This is Your FBI (1945-1953) claimed to be based on authentic cases, but were less realistic and adult in tone than the true crime … Continue reading Somebody Knows and Wanted — Golden Age Radio’s Great Unsolved Mysteries
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California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Santa Catalina Island and Avalon
Two weeks ago I made my first visit to one of California’s Channel Islands, Santa Catalina Island. For those that don’t know, Southern California is home to an archipelago of small, rugged islands off its coast. My 2012 New Year’s resolution was to visit one or more of the Channel Islands. Having failed to realize … Continue reading California Fool’s Gold — Exploring Santa Catalina Island and Avalon
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Nobody Drives in LA — Exploring Downtown’s Calvin S. Hamilton Pedway (and the Unbuilt Los Angeles Downtown People Mover)
With bicycles, buses, ferries, planes, rideshares, sidewalks, subways, taxis, and trains at Angelenos’ disposal, why would any sane person choose car-dependency? Nobody Drives in LA celebrates sense and sensibility in transportation. If you've been downtown there's a good chance that you've noticed the concrete overpasses above the streets, but probably never thought much about them. My curiosity was only sufficiently … Continue reading Nobody Drives in LA — Exploring Downtown’s Calvin S. Hamilton Pedway (and the Unbuilt Los Angeles Downtown People Mover)
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The Cooper’s Doughnuts Uprising
The Cooper's Doughnuts Uprising - LGBT Heritage Month at the Amoeblog. Although it's usually overshadowed by New York's Stonewall Riots, ten years earlier Los Angeles was home to what's often considered to be the first gay uprising in modern time. Happy LGBT Heritage Month!
Eric Brightwell 