You’ve seen the videotapes. . .: Now...

You’ve seen the videotapes. . .: Now catch the re-creation of the Rodney King and Reginald Denny beatings on MTV.

Both incidents appear in an animated short currently running daily on the rock network. The principal characters in the public service feature are depicted by tiny paper-doll figures riding in toy vehicles.

Produced by a Boston animation company, the drama ends with the message:

“Remember: Paper is recyclable; people aren’t.”

The pre-Willie Williams era: It seems like just the other day that Daryl Gates was police chief of L.A., dosn’t it? Rick Grossman of West L.A. spotted a billboard (see photo) on Santa Monica Boulevard, just west of Westwood Boulevard, that stands as a monument of sorts to Gates’ determination to postpone the inevitable.

We hate to say we told you so: Did you hear that the National Assn. of Broadcasters is considering canceling its 1994 convention in L.A. because of concerns about public safety?

Looks like we’re not the only ones concerned about the invasion of English soccer fans for the 1994 World Cup matches here.

List of the Day: Will California be split in half--we’re talking about a negotiated division, not an earthquake? The helpful Sacramento Bee has come up with a list of official symbols and specialties for the great state of South California:

* State insect: Medfly.

* State nickname: “Land of the free . . . way.”

* State fish: Hollywood barracuda.

* State tree: Potted palm.

* Native cuisine: Decaf cappuccino with a twist; fish tacos.

* Major cultural event: Doo Dah Parade.

* Chief recreational activity: Smog alerts.

* State song: “Good Vibrations.”

Thanks for the kind suggestions. But after Sunday’s Twin Temblors, we don’t like any song containing the word “vibrations.”

Anchors away: As if ratings aren’t worrisome enough, TV news anchors face the same troubling dilemma during every earthquake: To duck or not to duck? (Or, more specifically: What would Ed Murrow have done?)

No local TV newsperson has dived for cover since KNBC weekday anchor Kent Shocknek dropped during the 5.9 Whittier quake of 1987.

On Sunday, however, the possibility was discussed on the air, though not on KNBC (the jolts didn’t occur on Shocknek’s shift).

During the 6.5 quake, CNN’s Anne McDermott said: “I’m being told to get under the desk.”

And KABC’s Harold Greene informed viewers that if a third major quake struck, he and his crew might be forced to take cover because of the danger of falling lights.

So far that third quake hasn’t hit. At least, we hope it hasn’t.

Patriotic salute: With the Fourth of July weekend approaching, we’d like to close by quoting from 6-year-old Bobby Freed’s moving recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance to his mother.

”. . .And to the Republic, for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all, please take your seats.”

miscelLAny:

In 1937, a Massachusetts state senator tried unsuccessfully to force motion picture actors to use their given names as a way of ferreting out potentially dangerous “aliens.” His suggestion provided plenty of fodder for such comics as Benjamin Kubelsky (Jack Benny).