PENNY WISE

In 1974, when the Getty Museum opened in Malibu, I was hired as the director of publications and graphic design (“A Getty Chronicle: The Malibu Years,” by Suzanne Muchnic, July 6).

My first project was an exhibition brochure that--as a test in how cheaply it could be produced--Mr. Getty insisted I have typed and photocopied. Because he wanted to save the expense of using the museum’s paper and toner, I was sent to the Century City headquarters of our hapless Xerox salesman, where I had to run off all 500 copies on the demonstration machine. I was even instructed to “bind” them at the Xerox office so that we could mooch their staples. We then placed the brochures in the bookshops where, lo and behold, visitors actually purchased them for 25 cents apiece.

For my next project, which Mr. Getty agreed could be typeset and professionally printed, I sent him a dummy page of the layout, with the text area roughed out in nonsensical “Greek.” He sent back a note written in his spidery hand that yes, I could proceed with the book, but please, could I do it in English?

LILLI COLTON

Glendale

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Perhaps the best condemnation available of the new Getty Center is your cover photo comparison. The old Getty has grace, style, beauty, and is inviting. The most that can be said of the new Getty is that it looks like a strip mall.

TERRENCE SZOSTEK

Van Nuys