Published inLos Angeles StoriesDon’t Live in a Murder HouseIn the summer of 1988, my friend Kevin was looking for a place to live. His actress girlfriend Leigh wanted to live in the Hollywood Hills…2d ago1.5K162d ago1.5K16
Dick Gregory’s Natural Food JourneyDick Gregory was part of the new generation of 60’s black comedians that included Bill Cosby, Redd Foxx and Nipsey Russell. In one of his…3d ago562103d ago56210
Published inWritingAndTypingJack Kerouac’s Final YearsIn 1967, poets Aram Saroyan and Ted Berrigan traveled to St. Petersburg, Florida for The Paris Review to interview legendary Beat…4d ago1.7K244d ago1.7K24
Published inPicture PalaceThe Making of the French ConnectionThe French Connection is a 1971 police thriller featuring the most famous car chase in movie history. Gene Hackman plays Jimmy ‘Popeye’…Feb 2753312Feb 2753312
Published inPicture PalaceMarlon Brando’s Best Actor Journey for The GodfatherThough it’s hard to imagine anyone else portraying Don Corleone, Marlon Brando was not the first choice for the patriarch in The Godfather…Feb 264715Feb 264715
Classic Songs: Solsbury HillIn 1974, the rock band Genesis released Selling England By the Pound. This was their fifth studio album and it reached #3 on the UK Charts…Feb 2244411Feb 2244411
Stumbling Upon a Past-Life MemoryIn my early twenties I went through a painful breakup. My first great love left me and my world crumbled. I was overcome with depression…Feb 1875211Feb 1875211
Overheard at Senior Homes (Part 4)I teach writing and printmaking classes at senior homes in Los Angeles. Over the years, I’ve kept a journal of the memorable things I’ve…Feb 133.3K45Feb 133.3K45
Kicking Weed Isn’t EasyBuying weed in the ’80s was a risky undertaking. High schools were filled with narcs while undercover cops attended concerts, nightclubs…Feb 61K36Feb 61K36
Published inPicture PalaceThe Making of Singin’ In the RainIn 1949, the writing team of Betty Comden and Adolph Green walked into the MGM offices of Arthur Freed. Freed, a lyricist and renowned film…Feb 24616Feb 24616
Published inBuzzer BeaterI Love BasketballBernard Wright was elegant. Standing 6'3" with long arms, muscular legs and an exquisitely carved physique, he glided over a basketball…Jan 2811Jan 2811
Published inRiverRhythmsWhat is a Van Morrison Moment?In 1984, I worked on a low-budget independent film in New Zealand called Shaker Run. I was a production assistant and traveled with the…Jan 2629Jan 2629
Overheard at Senior Homes (Part 3)I teach writing and printmaking classes at senior homes in Los Angeles. Over the years, I’ve kept a journal of the memorable things I’ve…Jan 2442Jan 2442
Published inPicture PalaceMy Neighbor Was Darth VaderIn 1987, I lived near Melrose & La Brea just south of Hollywood. My neighbor was a 30ish guy named Chris with greasy black hair and a…Jan 2218Jan 2218
Published inPicture PalaceRest in Peace David LynchDuring the 1980s, David Lynch was a ubiquitous presence in Los Angeles. He gave talks at the American Film Institute, his movies Eraserhead…Jan 17101Jan 17101
The Lemonade StandWhen I was a boy, we had three robust lemon trees in the backyard. The lemons were large and ugly with rough bumpy rinds resembling an old…Jan 1233Jan 1233
Published inPicture PalaceBad Jobs: 3 Days on a Zombie Horror FilmLos Angeles, 1997. I’m in a Hancock Park mansion for three marathon days working on a low-budget mafia/vampire/zombie flick starring an…Jan 636Jan 636
Published inLos Angeles StoriesWhen Videotaping Goes BadThe first rule of videotaping a bar mitzvah is learn who the parents are. They’re the ones who pay you and they expect to see themselves on…Jan 224Jan 224
You Know Who You Look Like?In my twenties, there were three celebrities I supposedly resembled. Actor Michael Douglas, comedian Richard Lewis and Bono. I never knew…Dec 31, 202422Dec 31, 202422
Published inWritingAndTypingWriting Lessons From the Beat GenerationThe authors and poets of the 1950s post-war Beat Generation viewed themselves as beaten and out of sync with society. ‘Beat’ also meant…Dec 28, 202435Dec 28, 202435