An insult to the band’s followers: Joanna...

An insult to the band’s followers: Joanna and Fred Linkchorst of Montrose note that the IMAX theater in Exposition Park, which is showing a Rolling Stones movie, warns in its ads: “Senior discount not valid for this film.”

Let’s hope the theater makes an exception for the Stones--themselves.

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The cleanest pet: We were chagrined to note that an article on fad products in Inc. magazine omitted the Hula-Hoop, which sent the hips of countless Americans into gyrations in 1958. Its creator, Wham-O of San Gabriel, sold 25 million hoops in three months.

But the magazine did mention another California contribution, the Pet Rock, whose shelf life lasted from October, 1975, to February, 1976, during which about 1.5 million of the chunks were sold. Yes, people paid $4 apiece for this companion and why not? As creator Gary Dahl pointed out, it consumed no food, could be left alone on weekends and, of course, left no messes.

Although Hula-Hoops are still popular--and were featured in the recent movie “The Hudsucker Proxy”--the Pet Rock is pretty much buried in oblivion.

Dahl, who still hears from people trying to market other off-beat items, told Inc.: “I’m not sure I can define a fad, but I know what won’t sell. I received a box of it yesterday: a condom for your floppy disk--to protect against computer viruses.”

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The thoughtless: A disgusted Diana Arnold of Hacienda Heights sent along a copy of the bill that a vet sent her (see extract). “Perhaps now they’d like to bring Patches, my old English sheep dog, back to life?” she asked. “What other service could he require?”

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The merely impersonal: Libby Lent of Pasadena received a piece of junk mail in the form of a pseudo check, which carried the words, “Paid to the order of: RESIDENT.”

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October, glorious October: L.A. milestones this month from “The Amazing Incredible Los Angeles History Calendar” by Paul Glover.

* Oct. 1, 1922: “Yearlong county egg laying contest is completed. Big ovation for White Leghorn: 274 eggs in 365 days.”

* Oct. 19, 1893: “Happily-ever-after day. No one divorces, no one files for divorce.”

* Oct. 24, 1966: “Ceramic reflector dots replace painted stripes on Hollywood Freeway from Magnolia to Victory.”

* Oct. 28, 1939: “Adolph Rhein, age 73, lifts 175-pound barbell with his teeth. Long Beach.”

* Oct. 30, 1955: “A 12-year scientific study of methods to control black widow spiders concludes that the best defense is a fly swatter.”

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And one more important date: The newsletter of the L.A. Cacophony Society recommends this event for Oct. 31: “Don Knotts Overdrive, the only psychedelic punk band fronted by a blue alien, plays a free show Halloween night at Club Lingerie.”

Pet rocks welcome.

miscelLAny In its “Highest Mileage” driving category, the 1994 Guinness Book of World Records lists a 1963 Volkswagen Beetle owned by Albert Klein of Pasadena as the all-time champ. The Bug has traveled more than 1.4 million miles.