A Car That’s Had a Brush With Fame
Donations of used cars to charities are nothing new, but the St. Vincent de Paul Society of L.A. was stunned recently to receive one particular 1978 model.
Oh, did I say, it was a 1978 Rolls-Royce?
“I’ve been here six years and I can’t remember ever getting anything quite so spectacular,” said Gina Moreno, secretary to the director of operations. “It is beautiful.”
The Silver Shadow model--probably worth between $25,000 and $50,000--is on display at the charity’s retail store at 210 N. Avenue 21. But don’t run down there to buy it yet.
“We’re trying to get more information before we accept any bids,” Moreno said.
The donor wishes to remain anonymous but divulged a bit of folklore about the car. “He said he thought it was once owned by Vidal Sassoon,” Moreno said.
WAY OUT: A blurb here on the numerous first-name streets of Cypress--including Fred Drive, Gene Street and Karen Avenue--brought a note from Glenn Donofrio of Downey.
“I was reminded of the time I got lost in Silverado Canyon in Orange County,” Donofrio said.
He directed my attention to page 832, grid E-2, of the Thomas Bros. Orange County guide.
“Streets there,” he continued, “are Whila Way, Uppa Way, Thisa Way, Bytha Way, Thata Way and Hidea Way. Try giving directions for a place there.”
HOUSE WITH A SWOOSH STRIPE? Terri Lau of North Hollywood was intrigued by a store ad that sounds like an updated version of “The Old Lady Who Lived in a Shoe” (see accompanying).
UNCLEAR ON THE CONCEPT: A newsletter for the Howard Hughes Center listed prizes given to employees/tenants of the Westside office complex who carpool or take public transportation. Among them was this goodie for a regular bus rider--”a month’s VIP parking.”
UNCLEAR ON THE CONCEPT II: Robert Margolis of L.A. came upon a flier from a gardener who has an unusual definition of the meaning of “24 hours” (see accompanying).
EAT THE HAND THAT FEEDS IT? Janet O. of Santa Monica noticed a fish with a scary reputation that’s for sale (see accompanying).
IT’S COME TO THIS: Dede Stokes thinks it’s a sad state of affairs when a Web site for the Greek Theater has to list, among the items that spectators cannot bring inside, “weapons.”
A TALE OF HOLLYWOOD: This column quoted humorist Phil Proctor, who spotted a license plate that said I M NO 1 and observed, “Isn’t that the story of Hollywood? First, you’re ‘Number One, and then, you’re ‘No One.’ ”
Which inspired the following from Bob Green: “You want a Hollywood story? I’ll give you a Hollywood story.”
Green said he was once driving on Vermont Avenue, near the Hollywood Freeway exit, when he happened upon a traffic accident. He got out to help.
As a uniformed officer jotted notes about the mishap, a driver slowed down, poked his head out and said, “Hey, man, which way is Hollywood?”
The officer, Green said, took out his flashlight, shined it in the inquiring motorist’s eyes and saw that he appeared drunk.
“Step out of the car,” the officer said. The driver was arrested.
The answer, incidentally, is Thata Way.
miscelLAny
Traffic on the Riverside Freeway in Corona was slowed by a morning spill of avocados on Thursday.
Yep, a case of CHiPs and dip.
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Steve Harvey can be reached by phone at (213) 237-7083, by fax at (213) 237-4712, by e-mail at steve.harvey@latimes.com and by mail at Metro, L.A. Times, Times Mirror Square, L.A. 90053.
