Feedback: Ageism addressed, Justin Chang’s fresh voice and the Walk of Fame

A few old men
Randy Lewis is spot on about ageism being “among the last bastions of socially tolerated discrimination” [“Boo to ‘Rockers With Walkers,’” May 7]. I seriously doubt that the snark is coming from any active, talented musicians, but from people who have unresolved issues with their own parents, grandparents, teachers, etc. Real musicians would hold their predecessors in high regard, and they would acknowledge the influence those leaders (Rolling Stones, Dylan, McCartney, et al.) have had on their own music. They would not be taking anonymous pot shots from behind trash cans.
Joyce Stacy
Long Beach

Unfortunately Mr. Lewis prefers political correctness rather than consult with the seniors he pretends to be protecting. No one makes more fun of seniors and their infirmities than seniors. Please, Mr. Lewis, find another cause. As for me, I am 78, and I’m going to the concert to see the Rolling Bones, I mean Stones.
Don Tonty
Los Angeles

Should there be a mandatory retirement age of 35 for rock frontmen? Probably — particularly for those who cannot act their age. I first saw the Stones in 1969, but by 1972 at the Palladium and 1973 at the Forum they had gone showbiz and were en route to irrelevancy. A quarter-century later the Stones are absurd.
There is nothing authentic about aging rock stars trying to relive their 20s.
Robert Sheahen
Los Angeles

It might be one thing if these millionaire has-beens were doing a benefit show, like they did for Hurricane Sandy. But anybody who watched that show was made painfully aware of the discrepancies between back in the day and now.

Did you HEAR Roger Daltry croak? As a 60-year-old fan, I’m just talking about my generation not getting fooled again.

Again, for charity, God bless their antiquated souls, but for profit, call it what it is: unvarnished hubris and greed.
Charlie Dodson
Long Beach

Welcome to a fresh voice
Kudos to The Times for bringing movie reviewer Justin Chang aboard. A delight to read someone who’s erudite, insightful and entertaining, knows Hollywood and film history, can turn an amusing and pithy phrase and isn’t from the “regurgitate the plot ad nauseam” school of critiquing. Ken Turan reigns, but it’s good to see there’s a prince apparent.

Jack Grimshaw
Lake Forest

Hollywood’s Walk of Shame

Regarding “The Walk of Fame’s Daily Capers” [May 8], the article by Jeffrey Fleishman described exactly how the cartoon-like costumed photo opportunist-solicitors act on the sidewalks in the vicinity of the Dolby Center in Hollywood. I have witnessed arguments that have led to physical altercations that were real and not staged, as a result of one trying to get a gratuity at a photo opportunity when he or she were not actually invited to participate.
Morley J. Helfand
Arcadia

The late Bill Bixby, the star of three hit TV shows, doesn’t have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a ridiculous oversight. Bill’s onscreen “son” from “The Courtship of Eddie’s Father” is trying to raise the money to pay the fee because for some reason the studios that profited from his TV successes haven’t come forth to sponsor the star.
Fred Simmons
Los Angeles

Series finale a slap in the face

Thank you for expressing what so many of the viewers felt after that terribly unsatisfying and artistically irresponsible series finale of “The Good Wife” [“It Was Also a Slap at Viewers,” May 10]. After investing seven years in this often wonderful but also frequently frustrating show, this last episode was literally a slap in our faces. This conclusion seemed to negate almost the whole journey.
Lawrence Stern
Los Angeles

I disagree with the headline for Meredith Blake’s article about the final episode of “Good Wife” [“They Can Explain Almost Everything,” May 10]. One unexplained piece of action puzzled me. Alicia’s face showed no sign of the good hard smack that Diane delivered, not even a tiny bit of redness. That was so unrealistic that it made the slap a piece of unbelievable shtick.
Valerie Fields
Los Angeles