How does a busy prelate send a...

How does a busy prelate send a message in a hurry?

In the Roman Catholic newspaper, The Tidings, Cardinal-designate Roger Mahony mentioned that when he was elevated to his new position, he “sent the Pope a personal letter of gratitude by fax.”

The TV show “thirtysomething,” recently deep-sixed by ABC, should be remembered for providing one of the season’s oddest moments.

During the Gulf War, ABC newsman Gary Shepard appeared on the screen in L.A. and promised an update just before “thirtysomething.” The network followed with a promo inviting viewers to stay tuned for “Gary Shepherd’s memorial service,” referring to a character who died on “thirtysomething.”

Some confused viewers called KABC to ask if tragedy had struck the real Gary.

But it’s only “thirtysomething” that is really gone. And its passing had L.A. Chamber of Commerce spokeswoman Susan Pasternak wondering if it also meant the end of Yuppiedom. Then she spotted the eye chart (see photo) in the newsletter from her optometrist, Dr. William Alpert of Sherman Oaks.

Our recent mention of Beethoven’s statue in Pershing Square moved Tom Bratter of Palms to recall that the great composer once faced the Philharmonic Auditorium on 5th Street.

Alas, the auditorium, like so many other landmarks in L.A., is now a parking lot. Beethoven is staring downward, as though trying to pick up the sounds of the Philharmonic. The least we could do, suggests Bratter, “is move him to the left a bit so he faces the Music Center.”

Either that or plop him down in front of the grocery store on Beethoven Street in West L.A.--the Beethoven Market.

Today’s quiz:

In our continuing study of the names of the 215,929 dogs licensed with the city of L.A., we’ve pulled out these 12. (The accompanying numbers indicate how many mutts go by that name in L.A.) What do the 12 have in common:

Hal (5)

Joy (78)

Joan (6)

John (24)

Joel (1)

Marvin (11)

Michael (43)

Richard (11)

Nate (3)

Robert (10)

Ruth (10)

Zev (4)

Answer: Those are also the first names of the members of the L.A. City Council. There are 47 named Ernie, but not a single Ernani.

A faithful Laker fan was spotted watching his heroes on a hand-held TV Sunday as he stood in a line. He was at Dodger Stadium--in the men’s room.

miscelLAny:

When President Millard Fillmore signed a bill admitting California into the union in 1850, L.A., which was served by neither a telegraph nor a railroad, didn’t get the news for weeks.