Almost L.A.

Alexander Pantages and Vaudeville

In 1929, theatre mogul Alexander Pantages was accused of rape by 15 year old vaudeville dancer Eunice Pringle. When the Hollywood Pantages Theatre opened on June 4, 1930, Pantages was listening to the news coverage of the opening from his jail cell. This week we discuss the rise and demise of Alexander Pantages and The Hollywood Pantages Theatre, the last theatre he built for the vaudeville Pantages Theatre Circuit.  

The L.A. Mafia

L.A. has its own sordid mob history. From its humble beginnings as Italian street gangs called Black Hands to Mickey Cohen’s “Sunset Wars” with Jack Dragna, L.A.’s  Mafia grew to have immense power during the Prohibition Era. The Sunset Strip became the mobster’s playground with its black tie supper clubs, like Cafe  Trocadero and Ciro’s, which had plenty of bootlegging, illegal gambling and many mob hits thanks to the rise of hometown mobster Cohen and transplant Ben “Bugsy” Siegel. 

The 27 Club

The 27 Club -- The most unfortunate club in the music business. This week we discuss the untimely and tragic deaths of musicians, who all died at age 27. Robert Johnson, Jesse Belvin, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain, Mia Zapata, Amy Winehouse......

UFO's and the 7.1 Earthquake

On February 25, 1942, American military units unleashed a barrage of anti-aircraft fire into the L.A. skies at multiple unidentifiable aircraft during the Battle of Los Angeles. Was it another Japanese threat, a weather balloon or a UFO? This week, we discuss LA's UFO history, Tom DeLonge, and experience the 7.1 earthquake in real time. 

 

Happy LA Pride!

50 years ago this month the Stonewall riots ignited LGBTQ movements across the country. This week we discuss Los Angeles's own violent past between the police and the LGBTQ community and the history behind the first Christopher Street West pride parade in 1970. Happy Pride Month!

Elton John and the Troubadour

For 6 nights in August of 1970, Elton John made his American debut at the legendary Troubadour club in Los Angeles. He became an overnight sensation and his career skyrocketed. For more than 60 years, the Troubadour has been THE "hang" for musicians, comedians and industry suits looking for that overnight  Hollywood success story like Elton John's. 

Guns N' Roses

This week we cover the "The Most Dangerous Band in the World," one of L.A.’s most legendary rock bands. Canter’s, The Troubadour, Slash's top hat, Axl's snake dance and of course booze, drugs and riots!  

Ritchie Valens and The Day the Music Died

This week, we cover the first rock and roll Latin star, Ritchie Valens, and the plane crash that cut his life tragically short on The Day The Music Died. 

Watts and Charles Mingus

This week, we cover the history of Watts, a neighborhood in South Central L.A. and one of its most famous musicians, Charles Mingus. Mingus grew  up in the shadow of the  Watts  Towers and played at some of Central Avenue's most notorious Jazz clubs. We discuss how Watts went from a ranch community in the early 1900's, to a working class African-American neighborhood in the  40's and how this  community ended up rioting or revolting depending on which side of the trenches you were on in August of 1965. 

Carpenters

Richard and Karen Carpenter were the brother/sister music duo known simply as the Carpenters from 1969 until Karen's death in 1983 from cardiac arrest due to anorexia nervosa. The Carpenters were the epitome of American wholesomeness until the stress and pressure of perfect fame gave way to quaalude use and an eating disorder. We are joined again by Ellie this week as we also discuss body image in L.A., Aidan being broke and the fast food empire of Downey, CA.