OVERHEARD

The William Morris Agency may rule the world, but it’s a small one indeed. And very clearly defined. An agent with the Beverly Hills theatrical agency wanted a copy of this magazine--right away. “Sure,” said a copy editor, giving the agent’s assistant The Times’ address. “Well,” the assistant hesitated, “maybe you could mail it. Our messengers don’t go downtown.”

It seems that William Morris’ in-house messengers “break up the town into five runs, and not one goes into that area,” he said. That area? That area is downtown Los Angeles! “I think 5000 Wilshire is the closest they get.”

Six million stories in this naked city--none of them downtown.