Just When We Thought We’d Gotten Away With That 1911 Typo . . .

First, some old business. Reader Jack Shaughnessy demanded to know how I could “miss a gaffe” in my own paper. He found it in one of the reprinted front pages in the Times’ “Stories That Shaped the Century” millennium series (see accompanying).

Who cares if the typo in the headline--it said “trial” instead of “trail”--occurred in the March 26, 1911, issue of The Times? There’s no statutory limit on such things.

Well, I complained, and the careless copy editor--now 123 years old and still employed here--has been discharged.

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EXPOSING 1999: In terms of public nudity, last year had its moments.

In February, Ralphs employees in Huntington Beach reported a group of streakers running through the store. In May, sheriff’s deputies in Valencia found three naked men playing saxophone on a hill near the California Institute of the Arts.

In June, former Penthouse model Jennie J bared her breasts before the Hermosa Beach City Council, which was considering reversing a ban against public nudity on the city’s beaches. (The stunned council shelved the issue.)

Anyway, after all that exposed skin, I was a bit surprised that I didn’t hear about more people celebrating Y2K in their birthday suits (if only because of computer breakdowns at the dry cleaners).

Fred Merrill of Inglewood did, however, notice a story about four female streakers in Whitefish, Mont., on New Year’s Eve. Three were arrested and one got away. Police said they had “a good description” of the fugitive.

Merrill wonders what the wanted poster will show.

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FLAKY MUSICIANS? I never would have believed it until I saw an ad that Bob Murtha passed along (see accompanying).

Steve Harvey can be reached at (800) LATIMES, Ext. 77083, by fax at (213) 237-4712, by mail at Metro, L.A. Times, Times Mirror Square, L.A. 90053 and by e-mail at steve.harvey@latimes.com