Retro: Betty White Show, Circa 1954

In 1954, Betty White briefly hosted a daytime talk show for NBC.

Sunday at the L.A. Times Festival of Books

The weather was nice, the crowds were big but manageable, and I managed to get the Blogger Kid and Blogger Toddler 2.0 excited about buying some books. For us, this year's Los Angeles Times Festival of Books was a success.

The parking gods were once again smiling on us, as I managed to somehow score some sweet street parking on Jefferson, right beside the USC campus. And I gotta say, for the second year in a row, the USC location worked out well. The festival was easier to walk through than I remember at UCLA, and it felt like the booths, stages and events were closer together. The food options were also plentiful, including the food court at USC's student union.

As usual, one of my favorite stops is Angel City Press, where it's almost become a yearly tradition to run into LA Observed's Kevin Roderick and our pal Eric Lynxwiler. Also on hand was Charles Phoenix -- and I finally picked up Charles' wonderfully illustrated Southern Californialand: Mid-Century Culture in Kodachrome (and had him sign it, of course).

We also spent a great deal of time at the kids' stage, where we spotted Julie Andrews and also took in several readings and performances. And yes, the duo I love to hate to love, Choo Choo Soul, were back. The only thing more surreal than seeing Choo Choo Soul's Genevieve introducing Julie Andrews? Hearing Julie Andrews reference Genevieve later in her reading.

More shots from Sunday at the Festival of Books:


Betty White vs. Florence Henderson. How to choose?


Choo Choo Soul: For kids who find the Fresh Beat Band not edgy enough.


One of the 30 "Play Me, I'm Yours" pianos located around Los Angeles; this one outside the USC student union.


USC's a capella group performs.


McSweeney's booth.

Take a Bite Out of Betty White

It continues to be a Betty White world. Next up: Famed hot dog purveyor Pink's has created a new hot dog named after the actress.

Pink's will unveil the dog next Monday, timed to the grand opening of its new Universal Citywalk hot dog stand.

As part of the opening event, Pink's will donate all proceeds from the first day sales to LA Animal Services’ East / West Valley Animal Shelters. White, of course, is a well-known animal supporter.

The details: "Universal CityWalk opens the San Fernando Valley’s first ever Pink’s Hot Dogs and unveils the Betty White “Naked” Hot Dog, assisted by two male models (with nice buns). Proceeds from the Pink’s Universal CityWalk Betty White’s “Naked” will benefit LA Animal Services’ East / West Valley Animal Shelters. A “Pooch Ambassador” will join in the festivities.

So what's in a Betty White "naked" hot dog? Turns out it's exactly what you might think: Nothing. Hot dog and bun, that's it. "Betty likes her hot dogs simple," her rep said.