Clearly, Smogdance Film Festival in Pomona Throws the Doors Open to All

Through the years, Smogdance has established itself as the most celebrated film festival in all of Pomona (not to mention Ontario).

Oddly enough it doesn’t quite have the draw for filmmakers of, say, Cannes, even though entries for Smogdance are free and auteurs get complimentary popcorn (as long as the machine doesn’t break down, as it did one year).

Categories for the Nov. 3-5 event include Inland California, Highways and Byways, U.S.-Made Spanish Language, and Experimental/Open. Which I think means anything (information: https://www.geocities.com/smogdance).

Talk about tradition. Founder Dan Dobrin quipped:

“Animator Don Hertzfeld entered. His film, ‘Rejected,’ was nominated for an Academy Award! Lu Iacuzzo entered and got a $10 rebate when she changed long-distance companies!

“Who knows what will happen to you when you send in that VHS of your labor of love. You just might win that $25 grand prize.”

I think I’d bring my own popcorn, though, just in case.

Mind if I smoke, Evil Stepmother? On author Don Barrett’s laradio.com Web site, Jeff Gehringer of the Astor Broadcast Group recalled the summer he worked at Disneyland--and the shock he felt in the employee restaurant at “seeing Snow White in full costume smoking a Marlboro.”

I believe the Handsome Prince later talked her into getting a patch.

On the road: In Nova Scotia, Bob Elliott of Granada Hills found an attorney with an eye-catching name (see photo).

Could it still float? Mike Hatchimonji of La Palma was kind enough to send along a notice for people with web-footed creatures that need a checkup (see accompanying).

Great culinary contributions: Paris gave the world filet mignon, Vienna contributed Wiener schnitzel, and Kiev is associated with a famous chicken plate. But don’t think L.A. is without accomplishments in this area, as a snapshot taken by Michael Bird of Calabasas proves (see photo).

Horsing around: The time is coming when Brent Dahlgren of USC will be drawing thunderous cheers at Trojan football games.

Dahlgren, a freshman business major, doesn’t possess unusual skills when it comes to throwing or catching passes or making tackles. He rides horses and, starting next year, he’ll be the official jockey of the school mascot, Traveler V.

Dahlgren, the first undergrad to get the job, competed in the World Vaulting Championships last year.

He has been working out with Traveler at a ranch whose location has been “kept secret,” the Daily Trojan reported, “ever since a group of UCLA fans tried to douse the horse in blue paint while it was in its stable a few years ago.”

miscelLAny:

The late Richard Saukko, the rider of the first Traveler, made his debut in 1960 in a leather vest and helmet worn by Charlton Heston in the movie, “Ben Hur.” Traveler I had other show biz connections. He was the brother of the Lone Ranger’s Silver, though neither horse liked to talk about it.

Steve Harvey can be reached at (800) LA-TIMES, Ext. 77083, by fax at (213) 237-4712, by mail at Metro, L.A. Times, 202 W. 1st St., L.A., 90012 and by e-mail at steve.harvey@latimes.com.