It's National Tequila Day

The day of the year alcoholics live for has finally arrived! It is National Tequila day! Tequila the distilled beverage made from the blue agave has its very own day. When a blue agave plant has reached its 12th year it can be harvested and made into tequila. Tequila like Champagne can only come from one place. True tequila must come from the city of Tequila in the Mexican state of Jalisco. So go off and have a shot with lime and salt or a frozen margarita just enjoy the day! 

Peter Falk Gets A Star

The Hollywood Walk of Fame will get a new star today, its 2,503rd and this one is a posthumous star. Today's star is dedicated to Peter Falk. Falk's star is located at 6654 Hollywood Blvd near Cherokee just steps from the Go-Go's star. Peter Falk best known for his portrayal of the LAPD detective Columbo.
Falk was born in New York in 1927 and started his career in 1956 in Broadway and off Braodway plays. Columbo started in 1968 as the made for TV movie "Prescription: Murder". The role had originally been offered to Bing Crosby who turned it down. Falk played the character of Columbo until 2003. Peter Falk died in 2011.

Chock Full o’Nuts is that Heavenly Coffee

You know the song so sing along!
Chock Full o’Nuts is that heavenly coffee,

Heavenly coffee, heavenly coffee.

Chock Full o’Nuts is that heavenly coffee,

Better coffee a millionaire’s money can’t buy.

The voice of that jingle died today. The singer's name was Page Morton Black.

Page Morton was a cabaret singer who funnily enough married the founder of Chock Full o' Nuts Coffee. The rest is jingle history!

Page Norton Black died at the age of 97 in New York. Not only a jingle queen Ms. Morton Black was a philanthropist. She started her career as a lounge singer in places like the Pierre, The Vanderbilt and The Sherry-Netherland not too shabby. To get some cabaret props she also performed in the West Village. This is where she met her husband. he was looking for a singer to sing his company's jingle.

Page Morton Black worked it!

Who Doen't Love a Bong Throwing Arsonist?

In the exciting new world of crazy celebrities Amanda Bynes has now entered the A-list. She has officially joined the ranks of your Lindsays, Brittneys, Hasslehoffs and your Latoyas. How did she go from kinda crazy to A-lister you may ask. Well today she was picked up for lighting a fire on the driveway of an elderly couple she does not know. Booked on the very fashionable charge of 5150 Ms. Bynes is now locked down in a chic psychiatric hospital. She apparently did not answer questions understandably when grilled by the LAPD.

The couple whose driveway she targeted live on a quiet street in Woodland Hills in the San Fernando Valley. Oddly this is the very area that America's newest firebug grew up in. The next question is what color wig does the 21st century's Frances Farmer wear to a competency hearing?

 

Los Angeles Loses Another Icon

On September 2, 1961 Jay Ward productions installed a large statue in front of their office on Sunset Blvd. The statue was of their animated stars Rocky and Bullwinkle. The statues stood on the property in front of their Sunset Blvd offices until this week when it was removed. Rocky and Bullwinkle were damaged and the current owners of the building were not able to flip the bill for the repairs to the 15 foot tall statue of the Moose and Squirrel. Dreamworks, who owns the rights to the Rocky and Bullwinkle characters now have the statue and plan to restore it. It is not know if it will return to its Sunset Blvd. home when repaired.

They Ran With The Flock Of Seagulls Stuff

The 1980's new wave hair band The Flock of Seagulls have been robbed! The English band on a tour of small cities in the US parked their 1990's white for van in the parking lot of a Comfort Inn in Downey a suburb of Los Angeles where it was pinched. They band went out to the parking lot in the morning after playing a show in nearby Bellflower to head to their next show in Woodland Hills in the San Fernando valley when they discovered their van was gone. In the van was $70,000 worth of equipment and the master tapes for an upcoming solo record by the bands lead singer Mike Score.
The theft was reported to the Downy police and Comfort Inn security tapes were looked at. On the tapes a car is seen pulling up by the van a man hopping out and then driving away in The Flock of Seagull's van.
The band was able to perform the next show in Woodland Hills with rented equipment. In the van was the bands equipment and stage clothing along with the tapes that Score had been working for the past 18 months with to release a solo record. The Flock of Seagulls had a huge hit in the 1980's with the song "I Ran".

She's Always on Call

Dr. Nancy Snyderman is the hardest working doctor around! The woman must be working 24 hours a day. Dr. Nancy is not only chief medical editor for NBC News and a frequent commentator on the Today Show and Nightly News she also has a private practice. Dr. Snyderman specializes in head and neck cancer.

The doctor was born in St. Louis Missouri and was raised in Indiana. Her undergraduate degree was in microbiology and she received her medical degree from University of Nebraska. Dr. Nancy started off her career in Little Rock Arkansas. It was in Little Rock she started doing television for the local ABC station. From there she moved to San Francisco practicing at University of California Medical Center. She also was back on the air waves with KPIX. From there Dr. Nancy went big time! She headed off to New York and NBC. Catch her anytime of the day or night discussing medicine she is always at work!

Was Disneyland a disaster?

It was 57 years ago today Disneyland opened its gate.  The opening day was considered a disaster. It was such a disaster Walt Disney and his cronies referred to it as “Black Sunday” for many years and on the books they claim it opened the next day. Imagine that Walt Disney lied!

The opening problems were many. There was a huge traffic jam, a gas leak, some malfunctioning rides and attractions all happening on an extremely hot Sunday afternoon.  Disneyland was a very costly venture and it took years for it to pay itself off.  So on July 17, 1955 Disney’s dream was not the happiest place on earth.

Damnit Maybe Moving Soon

I was notified yesterday by Google that I had done something that broke their rules. What it is I do not know and they won't tell me. I have had problems with them before so I am looking into moving Damnit to another blog spot like Wordpress or making it a "real" website. Until then I will continue to post here. When my mind gets made up I will make an announcement.

Sharknado!?

Let's play a game where you think up really stupid movie titles and then make up a plot. The winner of this game has to be the people who came up with Sharknado. Yes Sharknado is a real movie and it was on Syfy. To make it even better it stars Ian Ziering from Beverly Hills 90210! The shall we say plot is a storm in the pacific morphs into tornados and turns into water spouts that suck up and shoot great white sharks into the city of Los Angeles. The city of course floods and the sharks are able to terrorize the populous. Sounds plausible no? This was made by the same people that made Sharktopus. What will the come up with next perhaps Sharkquake?

A Curse is a Curse of Course of Course

What is the world coming to when you can't even trust your local psychic? Klarissa Castro from North Hollywood, California has sued psychic Jennifer Williams for fraud and negligent infliction of emotional distress. Castro claims she went to Westside Psychic Readings by Jana and was told during her initial reading that she was cursed and would need more sessions to lift the curse. Williams the psychic (aka Jana) told Castro she would need to buy some "special" candles. Castro spent over $4,000 on sessions with the psychic over two years. Castro also bought $1,400 worth of gift cards for Williams to buy items that would help lift the curse. The straw that broke the camel's back was when Castro paid $5,020 for a painting that would really help lift the curse. Well the curse lifting painting never was delivered and none of the promised changes in Castro's life happened. That's when Castro clued in that she'd been duped! Call in the lawyers because they are there to help you too.

Who Wants Another Reason to Hate Justin Bieber?

The one time cute boy turned weasel Justin Bieber has given the world another reason to find him repulsive. It has been reported by TMZ, and you know they are never wrong, that Miss Bieber was at a New York restaurant with some of his equally horrid friends and when leaving they decided to exit through the kitchen. It was here in the kitchen that Justin decided he needed to pee. The next thing you know he is whipping out his little junk and starts urinating into a mop bucket used to wash the restaurant floors. So now some poor kitchen worker has to empty his urine from the bucket. Wild Boyz! as they call themselves have proven themselves to be boys in need of a spanking.

Idiot of the Week

Arrogance gets you no where and this was proved once again by idiot and fugitive Wanda Lee Ann Podgurski. Wanda Lee Ann was convicted in absentia for the charge of insurance fraud. Good old Wanda Lee Ann was sentence to 20 years but was on the lam and tweeted on her twitter account. "Catch me if you can!" Well you guess it the new face of arrogance was caught! She was nabbed in Rosarita, Mexico and now faces yet an additional 30 years in prison. As she is already 60 she will be enjoying her golden years in the slammer. Wanda Lee Ann you are no Leonardo DiCaprio and even he was captured.

Black Sabbitch

This weekend I was able to see a band I have been wanting to see for a while. The band I finally saw and became of fan of is Black Sabbitch. Yup they are an all woman Black Sabbath cover, or is it tribute, band. Frankly if Black Sabbath played as well as Black Sabbitch I may have liked Black Sabbath more. Yeah yeah yeah I just insulted Black Sabbath but they were never one of my favorite bands sorry. I don't hate Black Sabbath but normally after about 4 Black Sabbath songs I'm done. Not so with Black Sabbitch. I loved the whole set.
The band is made up of Blair N. Bitch on guitar, Melanie Makaiwi, bass,  Angie Scarpa on drums and Bloody Mary Powers on vocals. These women all rock. As the band is an LA based band I really hope that someone has told Ozzie about these broads! Why isn't Sharon producing them? If Black Sabbath and Black Sabbitch were in a bar fight I think I put my money Black Sabbitch as winner.
Do yourself a favor if they are playing near you GO SEE THEM! There are a few videos on YouTube but so far they are better live. I can however recommend the "War Pigs" live at LA's El Cid available on their website.  

The Off Sunset Festival

Sunday July 7th was the first Off Sunset Festival in the Silverlake neighborhood Los Angeles. The festival took place on Santa Monica Blvd just off of Sunset Blvd. running for two blocks. The festival consisted of booths of local businesses and organizations running down both sides of Santa Monica with a DJ stage at one end and a music stage at the other. The attendees were an interesting mix of punk rockers and the gay S&M scene.  These crowds co-exist as there are a lot of similarities. Black leather seems to be the great equalizer.
The S&M crowd tended to stay nearer the DJ stage that was set up outside of the Eagle a local leather bar. The music stage was attended by mainly the punk rock crowd. I spent the majority of my time at the music stage as I was friends with members of a couple of the bands. The line up for this Los Angeles event had a distinct San Francisco flavor. Four of the six bands are based in San Francisco or formed there.

The line up started with LA based Black Sabbitch an woman Black Sabbath cover band. They were so rocking that if Black Sabbath played as well as Black Sabbitch I may have liked them more. Next up was San Francisco's Hunx and his Punx. They have a sort goofy surf-y, campy sound. My favorite song of the set was the super short "Don't Call me Fabulous".

The next band was the legendary San Francisco all punk rock woman band Frightwig. Frightwig has been on a hiatus but are back at work playing shows and recording new music. The next up was Prima Donna an LA based band. Prima Donna had the most stag antics of all of the bands and are a lot of fun to watch. Next was queercore sweethearts Pansy Division. Fast and funny Pansy Division are always fun to see and never disappoint. The Headliners of the show was Imperial Teen. Imperial Teen reformed after a shorty hiatus and are releasing new material. The show consisted of new songs and their past hits.

Being a show that was sponsored by among others The Eagle and Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence Frightwig in a nod to the sponsors had to jock strap and harness wearing Go Go boys shaking it during their set. The crowd all enjoyed the show and this was a tough crowd. There were a lot of very well known punk names in the audience.
This was the fist Off Sunset Festival and it hopefully won't be the last. If they are able to produce it again next year it would be smart to hire another great line up of bands like they did this festival.

He Was Alfalfa

Carl Switzer was the actor best known for playing Alfalfa in the Our Gang series in the 1930's. Switzer was born in Illinois and when on a family vacation in Los Angeles Carl and his brother Harold were discovered by Hal Roach while they were performing at the Our Gang Café across the street from the Hal Roach studios. Both brothers were signed to contracts and went to work immediately in the Our Gang shorts. Harold eventually was used a mainly an extra but Carl was cast as Alfalfa the kid with the cowlick and off key singing voice.
During the run of the series Carl Switzer was his families main source of income. He was also the most troublesome of the Our Gang kids. Switzer was often the cause of trouble on the set and was considered a mean kid by many of the other cast members and despised by the crew. In 1938 MGM bought the series from Hal Roach and production was moved to the MGM lot. The series focus became much more centered on the Alfalfa character for the next two years. Switzer left the series in 1940 when he was 12 years old. His career never really took hold after this time he played mainly bit parts in B movies. He did have some small roles in bigger films but he never achieved the status he once had as a child.
In the early 1950's Switzer appeared on television in guest star roles and supplemented his income with raising and training hunting dogs as well as bartending. In 1954 he was set up on a blind date with a woman named Dian Collingwood the heiress from Kansas. They were married three months later in Las Vegas. They were running low on money as Switzer's family had used up most of his earnings from Our Gang. He and his wife had a child (Justin) and little to no income so they accepted the gift of a farm in Kansas. Switzer tried to be a farmer but wasn't cut out for it and the marriage suffered. He and his wife were divorced in 1957. Switzer then moved back to Los Angeles and was more actively involved in the breeding of hunting dogs.
In the late 50's Switzer had a couple of problems with the law. He was arrested in the Sequoia National Forrest in December of 1958 for cutting down pine trees. One of his hunting dog clients Bud Stilz, lost his dog on a hunting trip and Switzer set about finding the dog offering a $50 reward for the return of the dog. Several days later a man contacted Switzer and agreed to come to the bar in Studio City where Switzer was working at the time. Several days later on January 12,1959 Switzer and a friend were drinking and decided that Stilz "owed" Switzer the $50. They drove to the house where Stilz was living in Mission Hills and pounded on the door demanding the money. A fight ensued and Stilz pulled out a revolver. Switzer then pulled out a switchblade and lunged at Stilz who shot him. Carl Switzer was shot in the groin and bled to death on the way to the hospital. He was 31 years old.

Wine Infused Popcorn

Populence a gourmet popcorn store in Manhattan joined forces with a New Zealand winery to make a new treat wine infused popcorn. There are two "flavors" there is a pinot noir and a sauvignon blanc. The popcorn is meant to be eaten with the wine it is infused with. One can't get drunk from eating the popcorn you have to drink the wine. Popcorn and wine? Ick.

Kay Beachy LA Treasure

Kay Beachy was a San Fernando Valley rancher's wife when the San Fernando Valley still had ranches. She was a bit more than that; she was an LA hero. It was because of Kay Beachy that Los Angeles has Cultural Heritage Sites. Kay Beachy's work saved the Leonis Adobe in Calabasas now also known as Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Site Number 1.
The Leonis Adobe dates back to 1844, California wasn't even a state then! Well 1962 a developer in Calabasas wanted to tear the building down to make a parking lot for a nearby restaurant. This didn't seem right to Kay and she set about saving the building and surrounding 5 acres of land. Kay was active in the community but this was not something she had ever done before.  Kay did succeed and not only did she save the Adobe she got the city to start the Cultural Heritage Commission.
The Adobe is now a n interactive museum and farm. The Leonis Adobe is now very popular with elementary schools.
Kay Beachy died in 1974 right after she was finally appointed to a seat on the board of the LA Cultural Heritage Commission.

Transformations with James St. James

The folks at World of Wonder Productions have struck gold once again with another web series. This series is called "Transformations" and it stars ex-club kid James St. James. "Transformations" is all about St. James' face and makeup artists transforming it into various fantasy creations. James St. James is a writer and art curator who made his name in the New York Club scene in the 1990's. He wrote a book called "Disco Bloodbath" which was made into the movie "Party Monster".
Transformations episodes start with St. James head shaved and no make up an blank canvas for the make up designer of the week. Then they go to work transforming St. James into their vision. Sometimes their vision is a drag queen sometimes day of the dead, sometimes it is a complete fantasy. St James is very funny during the transformations. While he is being made up he interviews the makeup artists questioning them about their work and what it is exactly they are doing.
Transformations is new each Tuesday so log on and check it out!

The Zip Code Turns 50

It was fifty years ago today that the US Postal Service introduced the mandatory Zip Code. The term Zip Code really in and acronym for Zone Improvement Plan. It was masterminded by Robert Moon who worked as a postal inspector in Philadelphia. Moon came up with the plan in the late 1940's and it was under study for many years until in 1963 it was made mandatory. The first number identifies an area of the county the next numbers are cities and the last numbers indicate an area within a city.
In the 1980's another four digits were added to the number but these honestly mean almost nothing to the average user.

Floyd The Barber

Howard McNear was a character actor born in Los Angeles in 1905. His life and his career was almost entirely spent in Los Angeles. McNear did for a time work in a San Diego theater but he was soon back to his hometown. He worked steadily after World War II on radio, in films and television. McNear was on the radio version of "Gunsmoke" he originated the character of Doc Adams playing it for 9 years. He is most know for the nervous and vague character Floyd the barber on the Andy Griffith Show. He played the character for many years stopping briefly after he had a stroke. He was off the show for almost a year recovering. When he returned to the series he was partially paralyzed and could not stand or walk well. He disability was hidden with camera tricks and props.
Howard McNear also appeared in dozens of movies. He was always cast as a goofy or nervous man often as a barber oddly enough. Some of the films he was in are classics like "Bell Book and Candle","Irma La Douce" and "Kiss Me, Stupid".
It was Floyd that made him a recognized face though. The cast of the Andy Griffith show claimed that he wasn't acting that he was just being himself.
Howard McNear died in 1969 from pneumonia after having another stroke. He was 63.

Now Howard the Duck and Mr Stress Both Stayed

Thirty-five years ago Chrissie Hynde, Pete Farndon, John Honeyman-Scott and Martin Chambers got together and formed The Pretenders. First playing together in 1978 The Pretenders got their name from The Platters song "The Great Pretender".
The Band has gone through many changes with the deaths of Farndon and Honeyman-Scott and Chambers leaving briefly but Chrissie Hynde has kept it together for thirty-five years releasing 10 full length albums and several EP's.
Their first three records were huge sellers but the band had a dry spell for about twenty years. Their last record Break "Up the Concrete" was their first record to break into the top forty since the 1984 record "Learning to Crawl".
The current line up does still tour often playing shows with bands of the eighties like Blondie and The B52's. The Pretenders now mainly play one off shows.