A SCATTERED LIFE

Damon Runyan, being dead and all, is not on strike. That’s why you can hear actor Spencer Garrett (“Law & Order”) reading Runyan’s boozy yule classic, “Dancing Dan’s Christmas,” for WordTheatre at the M Bar ([310] 915-5150) along with Stephen Tobolowsky (“Heroes”), Julie Warner (“Nip/Tuck”) and others reading holiday tales. . . . As Joe Strummer once said, this is a public service announcement with guitar: Tickets are on sale for John Mayall, the father of British blues, at the Malibu Performing Arts Center ([310] 456-6722) on Dec.14. It’s a benefit for the Midnight Mission, and I can’t wait to hear the 74-year-old Mayall wail. . . . Now here’s a way to get kids to go to church -- the threat of manger danger with spitting dromedaries and ricocheting angels. That’s how I read this press release from the Crystal Cathedral ([714] 544-5679), which promises, “Soloists, dancers, camels, horses and donkeys will converge together to bring the 2007 season of the ‘Glory of Christmas.’ ” There are also “flying angels propelling throughout the cathedral at speeds of 25 mph, 80-feet in the air.” The show at the Garden Grove landmark runs through Jan. 5. . . . This week’s L.A. birthday: Dalton Trumbo of the Hollywood Ten was born 102 years ago this Sunday; to celebrate, let’s go hear the proud protest music of our favorite socialist, the Nightwatchman (a.k.a. Tom Morello) Thursday at Hotel Cafe ([323] 461-2040).

-- Geoff.Boucher@latimes.com