Vermin Come in All Shapes and Colors

Author John Morgan Wilson notes that one of the restaurants shut down temporarily by the county Health Department in December was the fabled Kosher Burrito downtown. The stand was cited for “failure to prevent entrance and harboring of vermin.” I wonder if any of the vermin came from nearby City Hall.

*

STOP AND GOGH TRAFFIC: If you’ve had trouble obtaining a ticket to see the exhibit featuring a world-famous artist, things could be worse. Anne Spackman of L.A. sent along a clipping from a Michigan newspaper that said the Van Gogh show was expected to draw “900 million” visitors (see accompanying).

*

MEMORIES: As each Super Bowl approaches, there’s always talk of noteworthy past matchups, coaches and players. Here’s my nomination for worst spelled marquee prior to the 1995 game (see photo).

*

FLIGHTS OF IMAGINATION: For a railway that offers a ride of just two blocks, Angels Flight has received more than its share of literay mentions over the last century.

* In Raymond Chandler’s “The High Window” (1942), gloomy gumshoe Philip Marlowe narrates: “I parked at the end of the street where the funicular railway comes struggling up the yellow clay bank from Hill Street and walked along Court Street to the Florence Apartments.”

* In John Fante’s “Dream from Bunker Hill” (1982), Arturo Bandini does a bit of girl-watching: “Walking across Third and Hill to Angels Flight, I climbed aboard the trolley and sat down. The only other passenger was a girl across the aisle reading a book. She was in a plain dress without stockings. She was rather attractive but not my style.”

* And in Michael Connelly’s new “Angels Flight,” the railway is the scene of a politically sensitive double murder--and a case that falls into the lap of beleaguered L.A. cop Hieronymous “Harry” Bosch:

“Bosch moved down the steps, careful to avoid stepping in the maroon pool that had leaked from Howard Elias’ body. He took a seat on the right side. The others sat on benches further up the train, away from where the bodies had fallen.”

*

PAYWATCH: The “subscription fulfillment manager” of the Hollywood Reporter is named Pamela Anderson.

*

HOME RUNS IN OUTER SPACE L.A. native Chris Carter, the creator of Fox TV’s “X-Files,” says he named the Agent Scully character after Dodger broadcaster Vin Scully. A comparison of the two Scullys:

* One is dealing with an invasion by colonizing space aliens, the other an invasion by Rupert Murdoch.

* One has Agent Mulder for a partner, the other has Ross Porter.

* One sees the Cigarette-Smoking Man, the other sees the Peanut Man.

* One works amid the disappearance of military personnel, the other amid the disappearance of Mike Piazza.

* And, finally, one tries to explain the paranormal, the other the infield fly rule. (The former is easier, by the way).

miscelLAny:

“I’ve found a possible job for the [almost] Naked Cowboy if the singing thing doesn’t pan out,” wrote Tim Melnarik of Burbank. “On my gate this morning was a flier from ‘Exhibitionist Lawn Service.’ ” The Exhibitionist lists his talents as “Mow-Edge-Trim, Etc.” The ambiguous tagline: “Pleased to please you . . . within reason.”

*

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 carrier pigeon at Metro, L.A. Times, Times Mirror Square, L.A. 90053.