Program for Success at New Arts Center

* In mid-February, several articles pointed out that although Simi Valley’s new Cultural Arts Theater was an architectural success, it was not drawing the crowds hoped for. And, thus, it was suffering some financial setbacks.

I came up with the idea for using the facility on Thursday afternoons for the purpose of watching--in person--a TV show I have produced over the past five years. The program is devoted to a universal, nonpolitical, nondenominational subject; and is a TV version of my newspaper column called “Just Between Us.”

For the past five years it has been seen every Thursday at 4 p.m. on Comcast, Channel 19, in Simi Valley and at various other time periods on Cablevision, United Artists and Continental Cable stations in the San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles areas. It never ceases to amaze me the number of people--from all walks of life--who will comment to me that they have seen the show and enjoyed it.

So I thought, “Why not invite the public to watch the program?” At the very same time I would be there in person to answer questions before and after the actual telecast.

I submitted my suggestion to the manager of the Simi Valley Culture Arts Center, with copies of my proposal for the mayor and members of the City Council. I waited a month--no answer at all from anyone. So I submitted it again on March 31. To this date, I still haven’t had the courtesy of any kind of reply from any individuals involved.

This is not a crackpot idea but an innovative concept which, to my knowledge, has never been done before and would gain considerable attention.

TED HILGENSTUHLER

Simi Valley