At 14, I had never read a book outside of school assignments — certainly not for pleasure. I was more of a comic book kid. My parents were concerned and even asked one of my friends to talk to me. I just wasn’t interested. But I liked hanging out at Marboro books in Manhattan. Marboro […]
Read More… from Reading Something Into Some Books (Marboro Books, Richard Farina and Daniel Deronda)
This weekend the story of Los Angeles, and its future, is all about one building, the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Critics have already hailed our new symphony hall as a triumph of design, determination and a marriage of form, function and acoustic feng shui. But more significantly, in the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles […]
Read More… from Making L.A. Real (Developer Larry Fields and architect Frank Gehry)
Reality TV is nothing new. Since the dawn of television, there have always been unscripted formats and game shows of one kind or another. However, the current incarnation of reality programming — shows such as “Survivor,” “The Bachelor,” and “Fear Factor” — may be the most durable and successful shows in the history of reality […]
In the coming weeks I will spend many dreamy hours inside Wilshire Boulevard Temple. Two blocks east of Western on Wilshire, the landmark building is an imposing and awe-inspiring architectural gem that belongs to that school of temple architecture that says: We Jews are citizens, and our house of worship is as glorious as any […]
I had planned to spend my summer in Hollywood. I had teed up on my reading list “Maneater” by Gigi Levangie Grazer, “Action!” by Robert Cort and “San Remo Drive” by Leslie Epstein. But, as Primo Levi used to say, life proved otherwise. I had high hopes for “Maneater.” I like Grazier’s scripts and, as […]
Read More… from Summer Reading (Sandor Marai’s “Embers,” Gunter Grass’ “The Crab”)
What, you may be asking yourself, is the next hot trend? The style universe looks to Los Angeles in general, and this column in particular, for those cutting-edge trends that define the culture. No wonder this column has become such a favorite of trendsetters and fashionistas everywhere. (Nonetheless, I continue to deny “sexing up” reports […]
Read More… from Maahj Cracks Fashionistas (The Maah-jong craze)
“Mr. S, My Life With Frank Sinatra” by George Jacobs and William Stadiem is this summer’s guilty pleasure. Jacobs was Frank Sinatra’s valet from 1953 to 1968, and his memoirs are the excuse for a polished backstage tour of Sinatraland, a roller-coaster ride of the high life and the lowdown on almost every scandal, scoop, […]
On Monday, July 7, Comedy Central will premiere the first of a six-part series called, “Heroes of Jewish Comedy.” Unfortunately, the series suffers for being a clip job not up to its subject. Less documentary and more comedy would help. Produced in Britain, the show already seems dated (the series has high hopes for NBC’s […]
Six years have passed since painter R.B. Kitaj moved from London to Los Angeles, following a hail of criticism and counterattacks (more on that later). Recently, I visited the artist at his home and studio on the occasion of “Los Angeles Pictures,” a breathtaking exhibit at Venice’s LA Louver Gallery. Kitaj’s show in Venice includes […]
src=”http://www.s121907096.onlinehome.us/tommywood/articleImages/producers.06.06.03.jpg” width=”200″ height=”222″ align=”right” vspace=”5″ hspace=”10″/>To understand something of the success of “The Producers,” it helps to understand something of its history. There is probably no person on the planet who doesn’t know the story of how this sensation of a musical came to pass, but let me quickly recap: In the early ’60s, Mel […]
Read More… from Delightful Offensiveness Key to ‘Producers’ Genius
Affirmative Actions by Tom Teicholz If you want to talk about education, if you want to discuss affirmative action, you need to take a trip with me down the 10 Freeway. Let’s head east past the 405 and the 110 and exit on Central Avenue, heading south. That’s right — South Central, recently renamed South […]
Read More… from Affirmative Actions (A Place Called Home; The Accelerated School; PS ARTS)
“Masked and Anonymous” is a new movie starring Bob Dylan that premiered at Sundance. Director Larry Charles has described his film as an “apocalyptic spaghetti noir western.” No surprise: The reviews were not kind. Nonetheless, “Masked and Anonymous” is a great title. It seems the perfect phrase to describe Dylan, even as a metaphor for […]