Memories of Columbia Square

With KNX already out of Columbia Square -- and KCBS-TV and KCAL-TV leaving the legendary broadcast facility next year -- LARadio.com has been printing various rememberances about working in the building.

Here's one from former KNX anchor Gail Eichenthal:

A recent unsettling memory of the place: it happened maybe five years ago. My distinguished co-anchor at the time Frank Mottek and I were on the air one weekend morning when a scruffy-looking guy in an oversized down jacket (it was a warm day) sauntered into the booth. His hands were stuffed into his pockets, pointing straight outward in a manner that seemed for all the world to say, "I have a gun here, people. Maybe two."

The intruder then uttered an infamous phrase that became a standing joke for us weekenders for years to come: "How do I get on?"

Frank and I exchanged terrified glances; there was no way to exit the studio without passing this guy in the process. No way out. We were sitting (well, anchoring) ducks.

But our cheery sportscaster Geoff Nathanson didn't see it that way at all. Nope. Geoff responded in a friendly, outgoing manner, "You want to get on? Oh, you must mean Channel Two. That's downstairs!"

The stranger turned around and headed down to the KCBS Studios. He was finally taken into custody after sneaking into Columbia Square several more times that same day, as I recall.

(Photo via fybush.com)