Where Old Hollywood and Old Los Angeles Collide

NBC's old Sunset and Vine facility, circa 1940s. Sadly, long since demolished. Now the site of a bank.

Old Los Angeles and Old TV/Old Hollywood? Sounds straight up my alley.

The non-profit Hollywood Heritage Museum is featuring a lecture and book signing by archivist Marc Wanamaker. The event, to be held on Wednesday, April 14, is in conjunction with the recent release of Wanamaker's "Hollywood 1940 - 2008."

Bison Archives, where Wanamaker is based, is behind the event. Details:

Marc Wanamaker presents a photographic history of Hollywood... Illustrations include parks and recreations, hotels and motels, residences, film studios, business community, restaurants and nightclubs, radio and television, theater and Hollywood redevelopment.

Hollywood transformed after the great depression with the help of the motion picture and radio industries. People were streaming to Los Angeles from around the world looking for work in the entertainment industries, thus fueling development. Housing, entertainment and business services thrived, changing the physical landscape and creating new landmarks.

Hollywood Heritage Museum: Evening at The Barn
2100 N. Highland Avenue (Across from Hollywood Bowl)
Free Parking
Admission: $5.00 for Hollywood Heritage Members; $10.00 for non-members

Some shots from Wanamaker's collection:


An even older pic (from 1937)-- when NBC was at 5515 Melrose -- where Paramount is. This location became the home to KCAL/9, where it resided until a few years ago (when KCAL moved in with KCBS)


Columbia Square -- home to CBS stations for decades, now empty.


Back when ABC was on Vine, in Hollywood


Grauman's Chinese Theater

Celebrating Hollywood's Cowboys

Hollywood cowboys Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Tom Mix and William S. Hart will all be recognized next month via a United States Postal Service stamp.

To commemorate the occasion, the William S. Hart Ranch and Museum in Newhall plans to hold a day of family activities, tours and music on Saturday, April 17 -- the day of the stamp unveiling.

Now, we all still remember Gene Autry and Roy Rogers -- and Tom Mix, vaguely. But who was William S. Hart?

Hart was one of the most popular leading men of the silent film era, unique for his powerful presence and serious approach to early Westerns. His acting skills were honed by years of experience on the New York stage and theaters all over the country, and in his movies, the actor insisted on authentic depictions of the Old West and its people, from their clothes to their lifestyles and complex personalities. He frequently played a stalwart, tough-as-nails cowboy, with a soft spot for his favorite horse — a brown and white pinto named Fritz.

Illustrator Robert Rodriguez, whose work has been featured on more than a dozen previous stamps, is the stamps' artist.

Here's a quick roundup of events on April 17:

10:00 am – Stamp Ceremony
11:00 am through 3:30 pm – Guided Museum Tours
11:30 am and 2:30 pm – Music in the Park with the Silver Screen Cowboy Project
12:30 pm and 1:30 pm – Animal Barnyard Tours
1:00 pm through 4:00 pm – Children’s Activities

Admission for most of these events is free. Wanna learn more about the museum? Laura at L.A. Story visited last year.

A Retro April Fool's Day at the Farmers Market

The L.A. Conservancy's Modern Committee has found a unique way to celebrate April Fool's Day -- and raise some money for the org at the same time.

The ModCom is holding an event this Thursday, April 1, at the Farmers Market's eccentric Shine Gallery. Here are the details:

Owner Bernie Shine is an eclectic and eccentric collector, a treasure hunter of sorts. But he does not seek sunken ships, buried treasures, or archeological ruins. Rather he recovers *genuine* vintage memorabilia* from dusty warehouses, old factories, and closed stores. He searches the world over for quantity finds from bygone eras, all in unused condition.

Shine Gallery is a collector’s paradise for bona fide period items mostly from the 1910s through the 1950s, all guaranteed to be authentic and vintage.

For the event, Shine will showcase "an amusing look at the history of joyful junk, featuring vintage jokes, novelties, tricks, pranks, prizes, trinkets & treasures from the incredible inventory of Shine Gallery."

Shine will donate 30% of gross sales that night to the Modcom. The store also promises a free mystery grab bag for the first 50 guests.

The April Fool's Day event takes place from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Good News for Atwater Village: Neighborhood Lands a Bookstore

LAist, Atwater Village Newbie and the L.A. Times' Jacket Copy all share the big news: A book store is coming to Atwater Village.

As LAist notes, Alias Books, the used-book store on Sawtelle, plans to open an outpost on Glendale Blvd. The book store will focus on film, literary and art books, and will be open seven days a week, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Alias could be open as soon as May 1. Great news -- we're so used to seeing small time book and record stores shut down, it's nothing short of amazing to see a new book store open up.

What's just as great: Alias comes in right when Atwater has lost several independent stores as of late.

MIKE ON TV: Talking "24" and More with G4's "Attack of the Show"

Video Games - E3 2010 - The Loop

From Monday: I chat with "Attack of the Show" guest host Chris Hardwick on a variety of TV topics -- including the end of "24." Do check it out... and at the end, get a little reminder of how old we are. Hardwick points out that it's been 15 years since the heyday of MTV's "Singled Out," which he hosted. FIFTEEN YEARS, people. YIKES. We be old.

The Brutal, Year-Long Campaign for the State Assembly District 43 Chair

"It's A Girl!" the birth announcement read.

"Hey, do we know anyone who just had a baby? I don't know who this is," I asked Maria.

I flipped the card over. Oh. Mike Gatto strikes again.

Mike Gatto is running for California State Assembly in the 43rd district (replacing Paul Krekorian, who was recently elected to Los Angeles City Council).

Since we reside in the district, we've been bombarded for days by Mike Gatto. At least two mailings a day. Phone calls from volunteers. Folks knocking on our door, asking for our vote. Gatto's got some money to spend, and quite a few people helping him as he spends it.

Gatto's from the area, and is now an attorney for Mayer Brown LLP. There's a good chance we'll vote for him on April 13, when the special election is held to fill out the rest of Krekorian's term -- which expires this fall. But we're not committed to anyone just yet.

Besides, this may not be the end of it. Even if he wins on April 13, Gatto will nonetheless have to once again campaign for the seat in mere months. That's a lotta Gatto.

As the Mad Professah notes, the campaign to take the AD-43 chair is brutal:

1) On April 13th, 2010 there will be a special election to fill the seat.
2) If no one gets more than 50% of the vote then there will be a run-off election on June 8, 2010 for the right to serve out the rest of Krekorian's term.
3) However, also on June 8, 2010 will be a primary election for the right to be on the ballot to represent the 43rd district for a full 2-year term.
4) November 2, 2010 will be the statewide general election for 43rd District

Our district leans heavily Democrat, so once Gatto wins that first election, he's a shoo-in to hold on to the seat in the fall. That's why we're now experiencing the brunt of the Gatto machine. (Gatto is facing off against Glendale school boardmember Nayiri Nahabedian and two other, lesser-known candidates.)



But back to that mailer. Let's face it, it was a little odd -- although, hey, kudos to him for finding a way to turn the expense of a typical newborn announcement into a campaign mailer. But it assumed a familiarity that I'm not quite comfortable with just yet. (I also wonder if it rubbed some voters the wrong way -- like, "Hey, you just had a baby -- perhaps you oughta be focusing on that instead of this race!") Mike Gatto, we're just getting to know you.

Rate-A-Restaurant #222: Border Grill Truck

Restaurant: Border Grill Truck

Location: For this review, 5750 Wilshire Blvd. (Miracle Mile) -- but found all over the city

Type of restaurant: Mexican

We stipulated: I not only had a leftover free taco coupon from my Blogger Prom goodie bag, but needed lunch too. While the lines at the Border Grill truck were long, and both Kogi and Bool trucks were close by, I hadn't yet tried the only truck to come straight from the culinary minds of the Too Hot Tamales. (I've always liked both Border Grill and Ciudad, after all.)



They stipulated: From their website: "Presenting the bold flavors of modern Mexican cuisine, Border Grill Truck sets a new standard for mobile gourmet fare. Our menu is always evolving so this is just a sample of our most popular dishes. Be sure to ask about our farmers market specials and watch for secret passwords on Twitter and Facebook to get an exclusive taste of the latest chef creations."

What we ordered: Avocado Taco (chipotle salsa, creamy corn relish, pickled onion); Crispy Baja Fish Taco (chipotle honey, creamy salsa fresca); Cilantro Chicken Taco (tomatillo, creamy salsa fresca). Tacos cost between $2.50 and $3.



High point: I liked the uniqueness of the avocado taco, particularly the black sesame coating -- which gave it a nice crunch. And that tomato/onion/crema sauce that you see on all three tacos ins incredible.

Low point: It's not a long hike between the truck's parking spot on the Miracle Mile (when it's there at all, which is increasingly rare) and my office... but by the time I got back and began to eat, the fish in the fish taco had already gotten cold.



Overall impression: The Border Grill truck tacos are a bit more expensive than most taco trucks... but the gourmet nature of it is well worth the visit. Plus the service was strong: They even spotted me four cents when I was short. And the service was relatively quick.

Chance we'll go back: The BG truck seems to be mostly avoiding the Miracle Mile lately... but if and when they come back, I'll be there.

Ex-KCBS 2 morning anchor Suzanne Rico gives her side

A few days ago I wrote about the newsroom changes at KCBS/KCAL made by the duopoly's new general manager and news director. As part of the shuffles, Channel 2 morning co-anchor Suzanne Rico was let go. (Her co-anchor, Kent Shocknek, remains.)

Suzanne sent this open letter, giving her side of the story:

I write this letter from a beach chair, watching a squadron of brown pelicans dive-bombing the surf in front of me. This fairly deserted stretch of Mexican beach is not a bad place to lick my wounds after getting fired by KCBS-TV (Channel 2), where I have anchored the morning and midday newscasts for the past 7 1/2 years. I write to set the record straight about being "restructured" out of my anchor chair and to provide some context to the story. There was no mention of my own dissatisfaction with the job and the state of local news in the limited news release of my departure. The following is an excerpt from an email I sent in January to my agent, asking him to convey my feelings to the new KCBS management:

"[T]he worst thing about my job is that I don't feel valued at CBS and haven't for many years. I tried… to be more than just a newsreader - but continually got feedback that someone to read the teleprompter was all that was required and indeed, all that was wanted from management. After years of pitching stories, after pitching ways in which I could further contribute to the betterment of the product that elicited no response or support, I let it go. I am secure in my ability to contribute to a great news product if my wings are not clipped, and would welcome the opportunity to do that. But things have to change…Excellence does not happen in a vacuum and without support and collaboration between individuals."

When the management changed at Channel 2 at the end of last year, I believed there was an opportunity for positive change. My desire to be more involved in our news product, coupled with my exhaustion from a grueling 3 a.m. schedule over the last 8 years, led me to ask for a move off of mornings to a role that would allow me to contribute better to both my work and my family, including two small children. I knew that such a request might opt me right out of a job, and indeed, I did end up catching the axe as it made its first wide swing through the CBS-2 newsroom on Friday, March 19th. There would be no positive change for me, at least in terms of my career with KCBS. Instead, I went from news anchor to news nobody in the three minutes it took for new News Director Scott Diener to fire me. But as I walked out of the office for the last time, I felt free: free to get enough sleep, free to play with my kids without feeling exhausted, free to pursue other opportunities in which I can contribute in a more meaningful way.

I am not complaining about being part of "restructuring," but I am saddened by the increasing focus of news on form and ever less on substance—and the increasing marginalization of people like me who want their job to be about more than just making money. The viewers who have watched my news broadcasts for the last 8 years deserve to know that my exit is as much the consequence of my choice as that of KCBS. I want to say goodbye to those who made me a part of their mornings, as well as to the many wonderful and talented people who make up the KCBS family. I will miss them, but I will not miss the job – or the 3 A.M. wake up call.

Retro Friday: Earthquake! Edition

Here's an interesting, dated film about the 1971 Sylmar earthquake in the San Fernando Valley. My favorite part: When the narrator describes the quake's shaking as "like an angry parent shakes a screaming child."

Angrily shaking a child: Cool in 1971.

February Arbitrons: Normalcy Returns to the Los Angeles Market

After an unusual January book -- in which alternative rock KYSR beat the grandaddy of the format, KROQ, while KRTH dominated KOST -- Arbitron's February radio survey showed things returning to their more traditional order.

Top 40 KIIS was first, of course, with 5.6% of the listening audience aged 6 and up. But that was followed by adult contemporary KOST, which shot back up to a 4.8 (from January's 3.9). Classic Hits KRTH "K-Earth" was next (4.5), followed by talker KFI (4.2) and smooth jazz KTWV "The Wave," also experiencing a healthy bump (3.5, from a 2.9) AC KBIG also did a 3.5, as did top 40 KAMP "Amp Radio" -- recovering after seeing a dip in January.

In the alternative rock wars, KROQ (3.2) edged out KYSR "98.7" (3.0). But KYSR had a larger cume audience.

Another nice bump when to adult album alternative KSWD "The Sound," which went from a 2.1 to a 2.8 -- perhaps thanks to its move closer to classic rock.

KPCC and KUSC tied to win the public radio battle (1.8), while KCRW landed a 1.1.

Of course, take all of these numbers with a grain of salt. While nice for bragging rights, the stations sell their ad time by demographics.

FRANKLIN AVENUE CONTEST: The Go-Go's at the Greek

We've got a pair of tix to see the Go-Go's on July 24 at the Greek.

Yup, that's still a few months away... but the contest comes courtesy the Premiere Marquee Club. The promotion lets you create your own summer concert series at the Greek Theatre & Gibson Amphitheatre now through April 13th.

The PMC has three levels to choose from: silver (3-4 shows), gold (5-7 shows) or platinum (more than 8 shows). Members get perks like dedicated VIP concession lines at both venues, dedicated presales and guaranteed seating for all shows year-round. PMC presales run in advance of venue/artist/other presales. More info at PMCLA.com.

OK, so the contest: Tell us your favorite L.A. daytrip. (Go-Go's -- "Vacation" -- get it?) Send your entry to franklin_avenue(at)yahoo(dot)com.

Exit Interview: Former Los Angeles-based ABC News correspondent Brian Rooney

Longtime ABC News correspondent Brian Rooney found out late Monday that he was being let go as part of the news division's massive downsizing.

Since joining ABC News in 1988, Rooney has covered big events such as the Indian Ocean tsunami, the Southern California wildfires, the Oklahoma City bombing, the 1992 Los Angeles riots, the 1991 Persian Gulf War, the 1989 student uprising in Tiananmen Square and the 1989 San Francisco earthquake.

He also covered the recent Late Night Wars -- and I spoke to him several times over those crazy days in January.

But with ABC News cutting as much as 25% of its workforce -- and half of its domestic correspondents -- I asked Rooney to talk a bit about his sadness in leaving ABC, and whether this has soured him on broadcast news:

Q: Did you see this coming? After 22 years at ABC News, how did you take this news?

ROONEY: In some ways I saw it coming. Once the word got out they were cutting as many as a quarter of the employees, I knew I was vulnerable. My contract expired in the middle of all this, and often in these situations they fire the people they are able to fire quickly, regardless of value or skill. I don’t take it personally. They know I’m good at what I do and no one had fun firing me. So when they told me I took it like a man, although in private moments I have not.

Q: What’s the mood in the bureau been like since the ABC News downsizing was announced?

ROONEY: The mood not just here in Los Angeles, but all over ABC News is dark. Friends are disappearing and few people know whether they will have a job or what their job might be at the end of this. Just as an observer, aside from my personal interest, I have never seen a corporate reorganization as drastic and immediate as this. It will have unintended consequences. They will and already have lost people they want to keep. But the amazing thing -- I just love journalists -- these people will do their jobs until they are told to leave the building.

But I want to say I do think, despite how hard this is for me, David Westin is trying to save ABC News from extinction. There are aspects to this that for him, must be devastating.

Check out the rest of this interview here, over at Variety's On the Air blog.

License Plate of the Day: Failure to Communicate Edition

Spotted by Franklin Avenue reader Tallin: It's "Cool Hand Luke"!

Press Release of the Day: Wait, Who Are You?? Edition

File this under, "Nobody asked." Apparently some bit player from "Showgirls" wants you to know that she's not participating in a sequel to "Showgirls." Don't flatter yourself, lady.

Here's her press release:

The following statement from Rena Riffel from original SHOWGIRLS cast member in regards to the SHOWGIRLS sequel films currently being discussed in the media:

"Some media outlets have been reporting and posting about a SHOWGIRLS follow-up feature called SHOWGIRLS 2, which I am not affiliated with, in any way, shape or form. I'll admit, I was contacted by the German SHOWGIRLS fan-turned-“ Hollywood director” to star in his first feature film. However, it was so horrifically graphic and out of the show's original story theme that I needed to withdraw from those talks.

I am officially working on my own SHOWGIRLS follow-up feature film.

My film is titled SHOWGIRL, being that I am the last and only “showgirl” still keeping that flame alive. It's sort of a..."What ever happened to Penny Hope?" - fifteen years later, story. SHOWGIRL is my take on what becomes of a thirty-something year-old stripper who is still obsessed with dancing and fame.

We are planning on shooting this coming summer and are still searching for a few of our leading and supporting characters to round out the cast. SHOWGIRLS’ fans will be pleased to learn that some of the original cast members have agreed to be in SHOWGIRL, and some of my MULHULLAND DRIVE cast members will appear as well. It is my hope to work with my SHOWGIRLS friends Gina Gershon and Elizabeth Berkley again too. And, I am even thinking about giving my former STRIPTEASE co-star friend Demi Moore a call.

You could say I’m pulling a “Barbra Streisand.” SHOWGIRL is my YENTL, because I will be writing, directing and starring!

Yep, telling the world that you're thinking about calling an old co-worker is worthy enough of a press release. And as I doubt she now actually holds the rights to "Showgirls," apparently she's not familiar with copyright infringement.

I do like the slogan "Showgirl Is My Yentl" though. It's the new "Jesus is My Homeboy." Someone print a few thousand T-shirts, stat!

Can Somebody Please Explain The Justin Bieber Phenomenon?

OMG, u guyz. I totally <3 BiEBeR!!!! LOLZZZZ!!!!

(Psst... OK, have the tweenyboppers left the room? Good. Let's discuss.)

Pop culture circa March 2010 has a new leader. He's 16. And he's from Canada. His name is Justin Bieber. And if you're on Twitter, you can't escape him.

This Bieber phenomenon has been brewing for nearly a year -- the kid even sang the opening verse to the recent, ill-advised "We Are The World" remake. But seriously, how did we let this suddenly become a Justin Bieber nation? Even Conan O'Brien is obsessed: his last five Tweets have been all Bieber-centric:



And America's cougar population apparently digs him as well -- at least, I assume that's who's making "Justin Bieber shirt off" among the musician's leading Google searches (people, HE'S 16. STOP.)



David Letterman wants a piece of Bieber: The teen heartthrob was on "Late Show with David Letterman" Tuesday night. And MTV is suddenly into music again, now that Bieber Fever is in full swing. The channel has several Bieber programs in the works.

Bieber's handlers have smartly torn pages from the teen heartthrob playbook: Non-threatening, yet slightly suggestive marketing (which would explain this disturbing album cover, below).



What the hell?

BUT WHO IS THIS KID? WHERE DID HE COME FROM? WHAT'S FUELING THIS?

The jokes, the references, the Tweets? My theory: Justin Bieber is truly one of the first pop culture phenoms that those of us in our 30s and 40s didn't see coming, and still don't have a handle on.

Are we that out of touch with what the kids are listening to or paying attention to that this Bieber fellow crept out of nowhere to absolute pop culture phenom? Have we, gasp, become our parents -- after promising to ourselves that we'll always keep in tune with what's relevant, are we no longer staying relevant?

And most importantly, are we now making fun of the Justin Bieber phenomenon in order to feel like we're still on top of the trends?

Now if you excuse me, I have a few Wikipedia entries to read and You Tube videos to consume. Who is this kid??

Forty Years Later, An Empty Pit Remains Across the Street From City Hall

I was glad to see the L.A. Downtown News include that empty pit across the street from City Hall on its list of Downtown's 10 Worst Eyesores.

It's one of the great mysteries of downtown that has bothered me for a long time: How has Los Angeles allowed the pit across the street from City Hall to crumble, untouched, for FORTY YEARS?!

Employees can see down to that weed-strewn, graffiti-covered chunk of land right outside their windows, for heaven's sake.

A little backstory: The site was once home to the California State Building. The 13-story building, which opened in 1933, served as the southern headquarters of the state's administrative offices. (In the photo above, it's just to the right and in front of City Hall.)

But the 1971 San Fernando earthquake left the building uninhabitable. (Much like the 1933 Long Beach quake ruined many of Los Angeles' beautiful original civic buildings, including the 1891 red sandstone County Courthouse.) The California State Building was torn down, leaving just the foundation.

And then... nothing. The foundation is still there. Which means that the empty pit has now been in existence as long as the California State Building actually existed (exactly 40 years).



The Downtown News investigated why the pit has remained empty for so long -- and the answer is disheartening. Apparently no one is quite sure who has jurisdiction of the land -- and as a result, no one is really aggressively looking to do something about it.

The paper's Evan George wrote in 2007:

In the late '80s, a tentative deal with developer Raffi Cohen portended a commercial office building with retail on the ground floor. But when the office market in Downtown soured, the Cohen deal dissolved.

Making matters murkier, the entire 4.6-acre block had been wrapped in a tri-party ownership between the state, county and city. Basically, the state owned the vacant lot, the county retained the parking lot and the city controlled a thin strip between them, which it eventually gave up. Some observers have blamed this dual partnership for decades of indecision.

Still, the land didn't sit vacant exactly: The Los Angeles Times reported that a massive homeless encampment had arisen on the property, embarrassing officials into exchanging flimsy wooden panels for the current fence...

When I finally reached the state's Department of General Services, they confirmed their stake in the property, but said no plans are in the pipeline.

"At this point we're just putting together how to best move forward," said Paula Gutierres of the DGS real estate division

That's code, I learned, for a lengthy market analysis slated for the site. Gutierres said the study will cost half a million dollars and include "45 or 50 different tasks." Ultimately, the land could become "anything from office to residential to retail." But not a park. And not anytime soon.

Sadly, a typical Los Angeles story. The 1938 Coulter's department store on the Miracle Mile was torn down in 1980 for development... but sat as any empty pit for nearly 30 years, until a new housing development was recently built there. And a parking lot still sits where

Here's how the footprint of the old building looks today, via Google maps:

Celebrities Mug for the Arclight

Charlie Sheen takes his place next to Steve McQueen, Frank Sinatra... and Lenin in a new art exhibit at the Arclight Hollywood.

Artist Rachel Schmeidler is behind "Hollywood Most Wanted + Co.," which remains on display through April 28.

The works consist of mixed media mug shots on paper of various celebrities, musicians, and politicians.

Works include depictions of Charlie Sheen, Paris Hilton, Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix and James Brown, along with politicos such as Sen. Larry Craig, radio host Rush Limbaugh and James Traficant. Lenin, Trotsky, Castro and Stalin are interspersed in the exhibit as well.

"Political pundits cast aspersions on candidates and incumbents by labeling their policies and beliefs 'communist' or 'socialist,'" Schmeidler said. "I have noticed many of these exchanges recently and wanted to bring them to light in a humorous way by placing them here alongside Hollywood celebrities and musicians. We are all ultimately the same before the flash of the mug shot bulb."

More info at HollywoodMostWanted.com. Exhibit is found on all three floors of the Arclight.

Holy Shift: "Nurse Jackie" Consumes the L.A. Times

There's nothing more annoying than clicking on a newspaper website... and suddenly being interrupted by a web ad covering up the entire screen.

Here's a unique one from today's L.A. Times: The screen is blurred out, with the exception of Edie Falco's "Nurse Betty" character. The Showtime ad quickly reverts back to a box on the screen -- but if I'm searching for an immediate headline, I'm kinda annoyed.

This is reminiscent, of course, of the L.A. Times print edition's recent "Alice in Wonderland" ad -- in which Johnny Depp's character appeared to cover up the front page (which turned out to be a mock front).

Changes At KCBS/KCAL: Johnny Mountain Retires, Jim Hill Reups, Others Let Go

CBS' Los Angeles KCBS/KCAL duopoly has handed out pink slips to staffers -- including morning co-anchor Suzanne Rico.

Simultaneously, KCBS weathercaster Johnny Mountain has announced that he will re-retire from TV (having already announced his retirement once, at KABC). And the duopoly has signed longtime sports anchor Jim Hill (now in his 34th year as an L.A. sportscaster) to a new multi-year contract extension.

Moves are among the first made by new KCBS/KCAL prexy/GM Steve Mauldin, as well as recently hired news director Scott Diener.

According to insiders, the decision to let some staffers go came after Maudlin and Diener evaluated the news team and decided to make some changes in several positions. The station plans to re-fill most of those jobs.

That includes Rico's position, which will temporarily be handled by reporter Lisa Sigell. Rico had served as weekday 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. and 11 a.m co-anchor, alongside Kent Shocknek.

As for Mountain, the weathercaster retired in 2005 after 27 years at KABC -- but then was soon swooped up by KCBS as part of its new anchor team.

Mountain has served as KCBS' 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. weather anchor since May 2005.

“I have been blessed to have had such a long and wonderful run on Los Angeles television and I feel fortunate to have been part of a team that includes many dear friends both in front of and behind the cameras," Mountain said.

More here.

Food Network's Looking for L.A.'s Worst Cooks

How's your cooking? If you live in Los Angeles... and your cooking blows, then Food Network wants to meet you.

Food Network's "Worst Cooks in America" is casting its second season, and will be here this Saturday to find potential candidates.

The casting call takes place this Saturday, March 27, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Marriott Burbank Airport Hotel and Convention Center (2500 N. Hollywood Way, Burbank).

Here are the basics:

* This is the opportunity for someone to nominate their spouse, sibling, parent, best friend, or even co-worker who needs MAJOR help in the kitchen.
* We are seeking those with a genuine inability to cook, and major need to improve Nominees will work with the best chefs in the country and finally learn one of the most important life skills - how to cook.
* We’re looking for nominees with lots of charisma, personality that pops and a vast array of kitchen disaster stories

More info at the "Worst Cooks" casting website.

Preserving Los Angeles' 1960s Architecture

Back in November, the Blogger Kid and I took part in the Los Angeles Conservancy's "It's a Mod, Mod, Mod, Mod City" all-day driving tour of some memorable 1960s architecture in L.A.'s South Bay.

The event was part of the Conservancy's The Sixties Turn 50 campaign, a year-long celebration of the modern architectural revolution of the 1960s.

The '60s focus continues this Wednesday with a discussion of the "History & Preservation of 1960s Cultural Landscapes."

The Cultural Landscape Foundation is co-sponsoring the event; reservations here.

Details:

Wednesday, March 24, 7:30 p.m.
The Proud Bird Restaurant
11022 S. Aviation Blvd., Westchester
$5 for students, $15 for L.A. Conservancy members, $20 for the general public (refreshments provided)

Exploring L.A.'s Railway Past in Perris

Driving to Perris, California -- deep inside the Inland Empire -- is a chore. And let's be honest, the town itself isn't that hot. (Indeed, Perris... is no Paris.)

But for Los Angeles history buffs, railroad fanatics and kids who simply enjoy choo-choos, the Orange Empire Railway Museum is worth making the trek at least once.

We hit the museum last year with Blogger Kid in tow for a special "Thomas the Tank Engine"-themed weekend. Evan enjoyed riding the trains -- but I loved climbing aboard old Los Angeles Yellow and Red cars, and examining old L.A. transit maps and memorabilia. I'm a nerd.

Some pics from the museum:

Retro Friday: Disneyland Edition

Above, from 1977, an ad for Disneyland's brand new Space Mountain coaster. And below, the 1979 spot marking the opening of Big Thunder Railroad.



And from 1983, when the "New Fantasyland" opened:

Scenes From An Airport: No, This Isn't Denver

From a few weeks ago, here's the view from the south side of the Los Angeles International Airport tarmac -- standing outside the Flight Path Museum and looking north.

With such a clear view of the snow-capped mountains in the distance, you're excused for thinking this shot was taken at the Denver or Salt Lake City airports. But nope, it's straight from sunny Los Angeles.

Kit-Kat Attack

My favorite part of any Little Tokyo visit? Hitting the markets to find new and unusual Kit-Kat flavors.

I think everyone knows by now that Japan takes the cake in Kit-Kat flavors, manufacturing all sorts of different varieties across the country. (Read about it here.)

I'm not about to spend $20 for a Shoyu-flavored Kit-Kat (although I'm DYING to try it), so a $3 bar at one of the Little Tokyo supermarkets will have to do.

Above, a recent haul from downtown. Chestnut, Strawberry, white chocolate, some sort of coffee flavor, among others. But that's just the surface -- I look at roundup and want to try them all.

Ad Age recently wrote about the Japan Kit Kat phenom as well:

Nestle has upped the ante for the most creative only-in-Japan product by creating 19 unique flavors for Kit Kat, one of the best-selling chocolate candy bars in the world and the No. 1 brand confectionery brand in Japan.

Besides the regular chocolate variety, which must seem mundane to Japanese by now, Nestle has come up with variations that reflect the local produce and palate of each region. There are some staple flavors like miso, soy sauce and green tea, but the list doesn't end there.

Kit Kat varieties now range from yubari melon and baked corn from Hokkaido island to green beans and cherries from Tohoku in northeastern Japan to uzu fruit and red potatoes from Kyushu island at the southern-most tip of the country. The Kanto region, including Tokyo, contributed the sweet potato, blueberry and kinako (soybean) flavors.

The strategy started three years ago with a handful of flavors but has escalated into a national phenomenon. It's also unique to Japan, so Kit Kat lovers in other countries shouldn't expect to see exotic local flavors. (Kit Kat is owned by Nestle, but is produced in the U.S. under license by The Hershey Company).

Each flavor is only sold in the region for which it was created, a distribution strategy that has turned limited edition Kit Kat packages into coveted souvenirs for domestic travelers.

Yes, we've written quite a bit in the past about our Kit-Kat obsession -- including our 2007 haul from Friend of Franklin Avenue, Santos. Roundup here.

FRANKLIN AVENUE CONTEST: 2010 Radio Control Expo

Franklin Avenue once again finds something for you to do this weekend. We've got a pair of tickets to give away to this weekend's 2010 RC EXPO at the Fairplex in Pomona.

Just email us at franklin_avenue(at)yahoo(dot)com and tell us -- in honor of St. Patrick's Day -- your luckiest Los Angeles moment.

The 2010 RC Expo bills itself as "the world's ultimate radio-control expo" and presents "a dynamic, action-packed event featuring the world's latest and fastest radio control products, such as tanks and boats; planes and helicopters as well as trucks and race cars. Attendees have opportunity to test drive some of the best RC rock crawling trucks on the market on a 1,200 square-foot course, as well as see and try out the newest products on the market." (More here.)

Where: Fairplex, Pomona (1101 W. McKinley Ave.; Pomona, CA 91768)

When: March 20-21, 2010 (Sat. 10am - 6pm; Sun. 10am - 5pm)

Cost: One-Day General Admission: $15.00; Children 12 and under are free with a paid adult.

City of Los Angeles to St. Patrick: Your Luck O' The Irish Has Run Out

Fishbowl L.A. found this cold, hard truth on the City of L.A. web site. No St. Patrick's Day Parade for us, given the city's economic crunch.

L.A.'s St. Patrick's Day Parade has always been a small-time affair -- I'm guessing most Angelenos had never heard of it to begin with. But it's still a shame.

Here's a YouTube video of pics from the 2009 St. Patrick's Day Parade in Downtown Los Angeles:



Also, check out this video, from Louis Elovitz, chronicling the 1984 parade downtown.

Shamrock The Shake: Any Los Angeles Sightings?

We're usually on top of the Shamrock Shake news here at Franklin Avenue -- just check out our extensive past coverage.

But I must admit, I haven't been keeping in the loop this year -- having not been to a MickeyD's in years (other than to get, well, a Shamrock Shake). But I haven't seen a banner touting the green treat at any McDonald's I pass by. And the unofficial tally of Shamrock Shake sightings is inconclusive about Southern California -- although it seems like the Bay Area has been blessed.

Then there's the question of how much the winning Shamrock Shake formula has been tampered with. According to Serious Eats, the revived shake is less minty, comes with whipped cream and a cherry, and is poured into a small plastic cup.

New Co-Host and New (Not So Good) Timeslot for KROQ's "Loveline"

(New "Loveline" co-host "Psycho Mike" Catherwood, along with former "Loveline" co-host Adam Carolla and the show's 26-year veteran, Dr. Drew Pinsky)

As KROQ looks to beat down the surging competition -- rival 98.7 KYSR, which beat KROQ in the last Arbitron ratings survey -- the station has now bumped nighttime staple "Loveline" deep into the night.

"Loveline," now nationally syndicated by Westwood One, began as a weekly show on KROQ in 1983 (then hosted by Jim "Poorman" Trenton, who was joined a year later by Dr. Drew Pinsky). KROQ expanded the show to five nights a week -- Sunday through Thursday -- in 1992, and it's run from 10 p.m. to midnight ever since then.

Until now. Under pressure to improve its audience numbers, KROQ has pushed "Loveline" to a much tougher midnight-to-2 a.m. slot. The station now runs music at 10 p.m.

Meanwhile, "Loveline" has also tapped a new co-host to fill the void left by Ted Stryker, who left the show last year (but who recently returned to KROQ as the station's afternoon drive DJ). Longtime KROQ/"Kevin & Bean" staffer "Psycho Mike" Catherwood, who has regularly filled in as Pinsky's co-host on the show, has now been officially given the gig.

"I'm so honored and excited," Catherwood wrote on the KROQ site. "Hopefully my time working with the best morning radio show in the world (The Kevin & Bean Show) and as a recovering addict will have prepared me to take on this job. I grew up here in L.A. so it's down right surreal for me to be a part of two great Southern California institutions."

Besides "Loveline" originator the Poorman, Pinsky's other past co-hosts include Riki Rachtman, and Adam Carolla (who hosted for 10 years).