The morning after Hillary Clinton’s DNC speech, a reader says Calendar’s cover was misogynistic
Regarding Calendar [July 29]. I am one very angry, very enlightened and very happy grandmother. I spent an hour in my sunflower garden this morning, reading The Times over my pot of tea, thinking about how proud I am to be a women citizen in this country. Then I read the Calendar section. One of the most historical events in American history occurred last night with Hillary Clinton’s beautiful speech. Yet, The Times decides on the placement of stories regarding violence toward women on the front page of the Calendar section. One story is about the “art form” of drag queens, which in this 21st century ought to be considered the “black face” of “modern theater. Another story was about a project based on a Batman comic portraying the Joker shooting Batgirl; paralyzing her. Really! Yes, I am angry, and very sad that The Times continues the conscious misogynistic tendencies in our culture in a time of great celebration of the most prepared person, ever, to run for president of the United States. It is past time to stop this hatred of women. Men in American journalism, “Know thy full selves!” Women are bold, loving, caring and equal human beings.
Dr. Cynthia W. Yoshitomi
Oxnard
A fan’s favorite Kirk Douglas film
I really liked the piece on Kirk Douglas [“Head to Toe a Great Actor,” July 31], and you gave some fine examples of his film work through the years. However, I am dismayed at the exclusion of what I thought was one of his finest performances in the Howard Hawks production of “The Big Sky” back in 1952. Unfortunately, the film has never been (to my knowledge) restored, and the showings on TCM and such, through the years, beg for a pristine copy of this wonderful film. It would be nice if UCLA film restoration looked into this and we could again experience a unique revisit of our early Western history.
Gary Mercer
Glendale
Oh, that revolution
Regarding “The Stars After the Revolution” [July 31]. When I first glanced at the headline, I thought: “Those poor Hollywood celebrities. How will they ever cope?” And the headline is presumptive, voters must wait until November before they usher in a Trump presidential victory. I now realize that the article in question actually refers to the Broadway musical “Hamilton.” Oops!
David Tulanian
Los Angeles
Second thoughts about a ground-breaking comedian
As an impressionable teenager, I was engrossed by the comedy of Lenny Bruce. Reading Paul Krassner’s reflections on the 50th anniversary of Bruce’s death [“A Stand-Up Who Didn’t Back Down,” July 31]. As a grumpy old man I am overwhelmed by Bruce’s black-and-white simplistic mentality. Bruce could see no difference between prescription drugs that save and improve billions of lives and recreational drugs, which may be fun but have little, if any, redeeming value and ended up taking Bruce’s life. . Bruce was an iconoclast with an ironic sense of humor. But once the shock value of his act faded, little remains.
David Goodwin
Los Angeles
Why not ‘Good Moms’?
Regarding “Mommies Not So Dearest” [July 31]. With daily dystopian and destructive movies and now raunchy and foolish moms, is that really “what the world needs now?”
Kurt Sipolski
Palm Desert
Reviews by the numbers
Regarding “Dudamel and Wang Deliver a Rhapsodic Performance of Gershwin and Ravel” [July 23]. Mark Swed’s music review:
Choose one of the following performers:
a) Dudamel
b) Yuja Wang
c) L.A. Philharmonic
Choose one of the following adjectives:
a) Spectacular
b) Outstanding
c) Remarkable
d) Sublime
Done. Ergo: This subscriber no longer reads his review anymore.
Melissa Liu
Arroyo Grande
Garry Marshall and education
There are so many remembrances about Garry Marshall after his untimely death [“Feedback,” July 31], but there are many teachers in L.A. County and beyond who will also be remembering Garry as host of the Bravo Awards (an annual ceremony to honor teachers in L.A. County schools for their contributions to arts education, sponsored by the Music Center) for many years.
Lynda Jenner
Pasadena
:::
What all the obits seem to ignore was the global impact Garry Marshall had. How many have learned English as a second language by watching “Happy Days,” “The Odd Couple,” “Laverne & Shirley” and “Mork & Mindy”?
David Reid
Hollywood
Fostering creativity
Regarding “Punk Bible ‘Slash’ Lives Again” [July 28]. Before “Slash,” Steve Samiof published “Stuff,” another newsprint paper showing the work of visual artists. And there was “Wet” magazine, having to do with anything water, and “Picture” magazine, a large format, four-color, creative photography magazine. These magazines gave us a chance to be seen and known. The reason that these magazines cannot exist today is because, in the ’70s there were real artists, many of us trained at one of three of the best art colleges anywhere, Chouinard (my school, now Calarts) and Otis — both schools only blocks apart and bordering Westlake Park —– and Art Center College of Design. Everyone was innovative and talented and if not, there was no pretending.
Lynn Leatart
Sherman Oaks