Taking term limits a step further: If...
Taking term limits a step further: If elected in November, Bob New of Glendale vows to try his best to be nothing more than a one-term lieutenant governor--or, even better, a one-quarter-term lieutenant governor. New, a member of the Libertarian Party, has pledged to work to abolish the office he is seeking. He dismisses the lieutenant governorship as a waste of taxpayers money merely filled by “an official who waits around for the governor to die.”
Now just a minute. That oversimplification is an insult to the current lieutenant governor--uh, you know, what’s-his-name.
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Time for your close-up, Mr. De Mille: Frank Cooper of the Art Deco Society of L.A. writes that in our recent piece on important dates in October, we omitted Oct. 29, the date of that group’s “Hollywood Cemetery Walking Tour.” It’s a celebration of the one set of celebs who are now safe from paparazzi and autograph-hunters.
The Deco Society tours, which cost $7 per person, begin at 10 a.m. at the cemetery, at 6000 Santa Monica Boulevard. (The society is a nonprofit organization, so no one’s making a killing on this event.)
The tour spotlights not only the stars, pioneers and businessmen who are permanently featured there, but also the “the many monumental forms of art and architecture, including Egyptian Revival, Moderne, Victorian and Greek Revival.”
Cooper also sent along the Deco Society’s 1994 calendar, which salutes such milestones as the April 6, 1931, debut of those twin pillars of sugar--Hostess Twinkies.
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The return of Chicken Boy: Universal CityWalk and the Smithsonian Institution weren’t interested in giving him shelter. But L.A.’s ARCO Plaza has agreed to put up Chicken Boy, a 22-foot-tall fiberglass figure, for six weeks.
C.B., who once sat atop a chicken restaurant, has dwelt in a storage yard in Monterey Park with his head between his legs ever since the eatery folded in 1984. Graphic designer Amy Inouye, his current owner, had tried for years to find a home for the big guy.
Finally, Chicken Boy will gain a measure of respect Thursday morning when he’s unveiled during ceremonies at the plaza.
C.B. owes his temporary freedom to plaza manager Charlene Bu, several companies who donated their services and listeners of radio station KZLA-FM, who contributed funds. Disc jockeys John Murphy and John Garabo, touched by C.B.’s plight, had told listeners of the 500-pound boy/clucker’s sorry circumstances.
“I hope we can find him a permanent home afterward,” said Murphy. “He’s weird, which is why we feel he’s such an important part of L.A.’s heritage.”
miscelLAny Hoover Street, Mt. Wilson and the city of Burbank all carry the names of notable Americans--but not the ones you might assume.
Hoover was named for Dr. Leonce Hoover, a pioneer who came to L.A. after serving in the French army. Wilson was named for early settler Benjamin Wilson, grandfather of Gen. George S. Patton, the World War II hero. And Burbank was named for Dr. David Burbank, a dentist.
