Readers react: Why the Olympics opening ceremony did matter
Rio Olympics Opening Ceremony hits home
Regarding: “Why Opening Ceremony Matters” [Aug. 8]. Thank you for a very wellwritten article. I read it twice and enjoyed it even more. You captured the true heartfelt meaning of “doing the very best with what you have.” Anyone can do techno-stuff if money is no object.
Lillian Aylesworth
Fullerton
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What I saw during the Opening Ceremony were people who put on a meaningful ceremony with joy and pride. The children who participated were proud and happy. The little boy who walked in with our contingent of athletes looked like he had hit the jackpot!
Leslie Gregg
Redondo Beach
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Beijing was show-off, London a boring history of a former empire, but Rio got it right. Maybe not having an open checkbook forces some additional, thought-provoking theater. Thanks for your spot-on review.
Mike Johansen
Fullerton
The madness of Jack Davis
Thank you so much for the lovely article on Jack Davis [“An Appreciation: Illustrator’s Brand — Gags, Action and Information,” Aug. 1]. I have always felt that the artists of MAD Magazine never received the credit and accolades that they deserved. The “madness” Jack Davis captured in his work was truly wonderful. I will save and treasure your articulate, informative and gracious article on one of my favorite artists.
Kathleen McCord
Encinitas
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“What, me worry?” I still laugh when looking at that face (Alfred E. Neuman).
Warren Cereghino
Pacific Palisades
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Throughout my career as an Illustrator, people would say, “you draw like Jack Davis.” I took that as a big compliment. Thanks for the nice article on one of my all-time favorites.
Nob Yamashita
Manhattan Beach
LACMA plan fails to impress
If you believe in the old adage about Los Angeles that there is “no there, there,” then the proposal for the new smaller LACMA [“Architecture: A Better Look at Museum Plans Emerges”, Aug. 5] is perfect for Los Angeles because there is certainly “no architecture there.” It looks like “stucco angled boxes” under a freeway overpass. Where is the concept and where is the art in its design?
Tom Roberts
Beverly Hills
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Christopher Hawthorne’s glimpse of the proposed new LACMA building is disheartening at best. Images I have seen of the dark gray mass flooding over Wilshire Blvd seem a nod to being engulfed by the tar pits. Apocalyptic architecture, indeed.
Roger Allers
Santa Monica
It’s not the legality, it’s the irony
I find it interesting that the controversy surrounding Donald Trump’s use of “We Are the Champions” by Queen [“It’s Not Music to Their Ears: Artists Decry Pols’ Use of Their Songs”, Aug. 4], has to do with whether Trump needed to receive permission from Queen to use the song. What the media seems to have overlooked is what I see as the absolute irony of Trump even using the song. The group was named by its leader, Freddie Mercury. He knew the name had homosexual overtones and that was part of the reason he chose that name. Freddie died of complications due to AIDS in 1991 at age 45. He is remembered as the first major rock star to die of AIDS.
David Carleton
Burbank
Where to find entertaining movies
Regarding “Too Close to Home: Movies Used to Entertain, Now It’s CNN Writ Large” [Aug. 6]. All I can say is “Where are Fred and Ginger when you need them?” Oh, yes, they are on TCM.
Elaine Livesey-Fassel
Los Angeles
Film fell flat
“Home Theater: Thoughtful, Little Seen ‘Hologram’” [Aug. 7] I truly cannot believe that you are promoting “Hologram for a King.” The reason it was “little seen” is because it was a terrible film. There are so many good films. Why promote the clear, epic losers ?
Rick Rickertsen
Washington, D.C.
Fun to see the funicular
It’s always great to see Angels Flight getting a closeup at the movies, and in The Times [“Illuminating Noir’s Shadows,” Aug. 7]. The funicular, at its original location on West 3rd Street, appeared in dozens of films going back as far as “Their Ups and Downs” in 1914, but film noir directors especially appreciated its usefulness.
Jim Dawson
Hollywood
Too crude for Calendar section
Regarding “Attention, Shoppers: Raunch in Aisle 23” [Aug. 9]. Why does The Times glorify these two degenerate scumbags and their products with Calendar’s front page? They contribute to the degradation of character and lack of moral fiber that has so taken over our once-great, diversified culture. An industry that used to mostly produce artful or humorous and entertaining products has lowered itself to producing this type of trash and degradation to the detriment of this society.
Frank Diani
Goleta
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Another example of the “Me Generation.” How far can the envelope be pushed? Prediction: box-office flop.
Patrick Kelley
Los Angeles
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I am ashamed to live in a time and place where the likes of Rogen are considered stars, get rich producing filth and shape the fabric of society.
Michael E. White
Burbank
No review for Gladys Knight
On Aug. 3, my husband and I attended a concert at the Hollywood Bowl. Gladys Knight, even at 72 years of age, presented a nonstop musical extravaganza exquisitely choreographed for more than 1½ hours. Both my husband and I were “blown away” and could not wait to turn to the Calendar section on Thursday and read what we knew would be a glowing review of her exemplary performance. Instead, much to our amazement, there was not one word about the concert, but a whole front page article dedicated to Barbra Streisand. All we could think of was that white privilege is alive and well in our beloved local newspaper.
Roberta Benjamin-Edwards
Los Angeles
Earlier groundbreakers
The article about CBS and diversity [“CBS Takes a Step Back,” Aug. 8] says: “Laverne Cox will be the first transgender performer to have a regular role on a broadcast network series.” I took issue with this because in “Dirty, Sexy, Money” on ABC in 2007, Candis Cayne played Carmelita, Billy Baldwin’s love interest, in 11 episodes. Cayne is transgender. It was explained that Ms. Cox will be a series regular and Ms. Cayne’s was a featured role. I felt by not mentioning Candis Cayne she was somehow given short shrift. It seemed groundbreaking to me at the time, long before Caitlyn Jenner, and before “Transparent.” Kudos to the producers of “Dirty Sexy Money” and ABC.
Donna Brown Guillaume
Studio City
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