Jewish History & Culture
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Making L.A. Real (Developer Larry Fields and architect Frank Gehry)
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 […]
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Reality of Their Own (Reality TV Producers)
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 […]
Budapest in L.A.
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 […]
Summer Reading (Sandor Marai's "Embers," Gunter Grass' "The Crab")
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 […]
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Maahj Cracks Fashionistas (The Maah-jong craze)
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 […]
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A Guilty Pleasure Swings With Style ("Mr. S. My life with Frank Sinatra by George Jacobs with William Stadiem")
“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, […]