Not much of a spittin’ image:Harbor City...

Not much of a spittin’ image:

Harbor City native David O’Dell could be the most obscure world record holder in Southern California. Of course, his sport is tobacco spitting.

Using his distinctive two-finger pucker stance, O’Dell expectorated a half-inch wad 49 feet 5 1/2 inches at the Calico Ghost Town world championships in 1994 to gain a place in the hallowed Guinness Book of Records.

“The two-finger pucker narrows the opening and helps him direct the force of the wad,” explained Don Tucker, a spokesman for this year’s event, which will be held March 22-23 at Calico, north of Barstow.

Don’t think the competition isn’t conducted seriously.

“The wads are inspected to make sure they’re not loaded down with anything, like rocks,” Tucker said. “And the distance marks can’t count as records if there’s a tail wind.”

O’Dell, a nephew of Roy Rogers, not only won in the wad category last year but finished first in the tobacco juice spit for distance (25 feet, 4 inches) and tobacco juice spit for accuracy (hitting a stake 10 feet away nine straight times).

These competitors are a special breed. “Some guys spit the wad, go pick it up, brush it off and put it back into their mouth,” Tucker said. “I didn’t say it was a clean event. It can be sort of disgusting. But that’s the fun of the thing.”

THE LOSS OF LOS: In answer to our query, “Less Angeles” seems to be the readers’ choice for a new name for L.A. should the San Fernando Valley, San Pedro and Venice defect.

But we had another thought--as did some city sign-makers, evidently. On 4th Street near the L.A. River, the city’s name has already been shortened.

LIKE WINNING THE LOTTERY: Taking care of a house can be an expensive proposition. But Glenn Meyer of Redlands may have discovered a new trend--a gardener whose flier offers customers a “prize.” He clipped and sent the ad.

LIST OF THE DAY: Admission prices for a behind-the-scenes look at Universal Studios over the years:

1915--25 cents

1964--$2.50

1997--$34 ($26 for kids)

SOME NAMES TO CHEW ON: Our photo of the “Dr. Gumm, Dentist” sign the other day prompted Ed Schlossman of Thousand Oaks to recall some interesting professionals he has come across.

“We have the Chew Dental group in town, staffed by four Drs. Chew,” Schlossman said. “When I lived in L.A., I had my dental work done by Dr. Kruell. Dr. Kind is a veterinarian here. When we lived in Torrance, a vet clinic was staffed by Drs. Hurt and Kilpack.”

ACTORS, ALL: Last month, Gov. Pete Wilson and his wife Gayle performed the two-person, A.R. Gurney play “Love Letters” to help raise funds for the Sacramento Theatre Company.

On Friday, Long Beach Mayor Beverly O’Neill will appear in a cameo role on opening night of D. L. Coburns’ “The Gin Game” in that city’s Center Theater.

O’Neill will play the part of a maid. Well, aren’t officeholders supposed to be public servants?

miscelLAny

Talk about a revolutionary approach to mental health--Schlotzky’s Deli of West L.A. is listed in the “psychologists” section of the United Yellow Pages phone directory.