L.A. Meekly: A Los Angeles History Podcast: Recent Episodes
Daniel Zafran & Greg Gonzalez & the history of Los Angeles
L.A. Meekly is a monthly comedy podcast about Los Angeles history put out by comedians Greg Gonzalez and Daniel Zafran that battles the idea that LA has no history by delving in the weird, unbelievable and, occasionally, haunted details from the past of their native city.
The long and winding road has led us to this moment: our final episode. 13 long years will be discussed, dissected and deliberated on this our double stuffed goodbye. Come for the musical numbers, stay for the tears.
In this, our final research based episode, we're covering the last few topics we've always wanted to cover before it's too late and we're sealed up in our retirement pyramid. We'll be discussing pie maker Monroe Boston Strause (22:42), the court case of Perez v Sharp (35:27), Joan Didion (53:29) and things that were planned but never built around LA (1:27:04).
For the next couple months: Everything. Must. Go. Leading up to our emotional final episoe we'll be covering all the topics we've always wanted to while we still can. This month we'll be talking about the Man From Mars Bandit (24:39), Van de Kamp's Bakery (31:25), Drive-In movie theaters (1:03:08) and Hollywood Bloody Friday (1:38:23).
It's that time of year when the junk in your drawer ends up the junk on the curb. Spring is here so we're cleaning out the L.A. Meekly Junk Drawer and covering some stories that didn't quite fit into other episodes. We'll be doing the Rattlesnake Killer (20:30), Pedro Gonzalez (50:20) and Lawn Chair Larry (1:09:18).
Viva la Revoluti...pod?! This month we're going to be covering some big names in activisim and revolution from the annals of Los Angeles history. We'll be covering the anarchist Ricardo Flores Magon (19:00), the Brown Beret Gloria Arellanes (44:43) and the socialist Upton Sinclair (1:18:48).
This month make sure to NEVER go against the family because we are covering a few of Los Angeles' most notable family run businesses. We'll be stepping into an Andy Gump (20:22), stepping through some stained glass at Judson Studios (34:39) and stepping into line at Porto's (1:06:31).
It's the most wonderful time of the year or, should we say, the most punderful crime of the scare...ear. No, I suppose we shouldn't. Welcome in to our 13th annual telling of creepy and chaunted tales from Los Angeles. This year we're covering Igor's Alley in Long Beach (19:15), the Buried Man of Burbank (27:03), the haunted Cobb Estate (38:17) and the alien encounters in Big Tujunga Canyon (57:29). This episode best enjoyed at night.
This month we're giving thanks and taking names. For the time of Thanksgiving and returning to hometowns, we are delving into the histories of our hometown neighborhoods of Los Angeles. Greg with his precious Elysian Heights (15:39) and Daniel with his beloved Granada Hills (53:11).
The Halloween season is here so that means we're getting eerie and disturbing but NOT creepy and haunted (TM). We'll be covering the cases of a celebrity who was murdered (allegedly) in Thelma Todda (16:48) and a celebrity who was a murderer (allegedly) in Robert Blake (1:03:50).
In this, our longest episode ever, we are diving, if not deep then at least long into two major LA music scenes: punk (16:26) and rap (1:47:53). And, yes, our new friend Aux Cable is sitting in so you can listen to the music along with us.
Room for two? Shared bed? An extra cot? You got it because this month we're checking into some of the most iconic hotels in Los Angeles. We get the bed, you get the cot. We'll be going over the history of the Sportsmen's Lodge (21:48), the Hollywood Roosevelt (41:22) and the Chateau Marmont (1:12:15).
Look! What's that up in the sky? It's a bird? It's a plane? It's a plane. This month we're diving into one of the foundational industries in Los Angeles history: aerospace. We'll be covering the companies and the men behind them of Douglas (27:32) and Hughes (1:00:22).
Surfs up, glasses down. To kick of summer we're diving into two pillars of the hot months of the year: Tiki culture (17:00) and surfing (58:27).
Hey Mr. DJ (Daniel and Jreg) put a record on. This month we're going to be talking about AND listening to a smattering of some of the most iconic songs about Los Angeles. We'll discuss some of their backstory and what they say about the city. Come for the ones you expect; be angry at the ones we missed.
Spring is here and our drawers are loaded. That means it's time to empty them out in another junk drawer episode of topics that never found a home in other episodes. We'll be covering the Los Angeles Pigeon Farm (20:24), the geographic center of Los Angeles (34:09) and the Bella Union Hotel shootout (46:55).
For Women's History Month we're covering some notable women who made an impact on Los Angeles. We've got the first woman there was: the La Brea Woman (14:24), mental health pioneer Agnes Richards (23:20) and suffragette Caroline Severance (43:33).
This ValenTINE's Day we're doing the most romantic thing we can think of and going to a couple houses of ill repute. This month we'll be covering the history of Jumbo's Clown Room (29:52) and Chippendale's (45:59).
In light of bad people trying to destroy the very fabric of our country, this month we're highlighting that which they want to destroy. We'll be covering some of our favorite ethnic enclaves of Los Angeles including Little Ethiopia (16:22), Historic Filipinotown (32:55) and Koreatown (51:25).
At long last it's here: our annual Creepy Christmas/Chaunted Channukah. Hide the children. Hide the elf on the shelf. Hide the afikoman (wrong Jewish holiday but still). This year we'll be covering the haunted Wolf's Lair (15:17), the Dog Woman of Watts (30:13), the Hollymont Hauntings (39:24) and the dreaded Lamb Mortuary (47:07). This episode best enjoyed after dark.
This holiday season we're putting the yu back in yultide as we asked YU, dear listener, your favorite LA holiday time traditions. We'll be going over all of those as well as our own and a some historic old holiday traditions from Los Angeles of yesteryear.
What's the secret word? That's ok, we don't remember either so just come in. This month, to throw you into spooky season, we'll be covering the history of some of Los Angeles' secret societies. We'll be covering the Amalgamated Flying Saucer Clubs of America (17:06), the Philosophical Research Society (26:25) and the Magic Castle (52:37).
This month we're juicing Hollywood and getting into the two matrons of juicy Hollywood gossip. We'll be covering Louella Parsons (17:26) and Hedda Hopper (45:07) and their legendary feud.
Make sure you're hungry for this one, or not so that you don't faint from hunger. That's because we're talking about a few sitdown food chains that started in Los Angeles. We'll be covering The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (16:19), Bob's Big Boy (35:02) and IHOP (58:54).
This month we're fighting the law and the outcome of who won? Yet to be determined. We're going over the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department including their early history (18:00) and the recent scandals surrounding former sheriff Alex Villanueva (53:23).
This month we're celebrating those of us not from here. Those of us...not of this world. We're covering two famous transplants whose main stories don't happen in Los Angeles but come to a conclusion here. We'll be covering notorious cereal killer Belle Gunness (15:55) and daughter of someone else notorious Maria Rasputin (45:17).
It seems as if someone got Candy is Dandy in your L.A. Meekly. That's because we are bringing to you an episode of our other podcast Candy is Dandy on a topic close to the heart of Meeklings: Sunkist Fruit Gems. We get into the LA based history of these beloved gummy candies and then get to tasting. Listen in and, if you haven't already, jump aboard the Candy is Dandy train to get more Greg and Daniel!
Hop in. We just stole this podcast and we're going for a spin. This month we're getting into the car culture and history of Los Angeles. We'll be covering the very first cars and car factories that came to the city (14:27), the emergence of low rider culture (41:45) and how it all unraveled (1:03:06).
Spring is here and junk is going in the trash. By junk we mean topics that never found a home and by trash we mean your ears. It's time for our annual junk drawer episode where we go over a hodgepodge of topics that didn't quite fit into other episodes. This time we'll be covering Captain "Mad" Jack Morgan (16:53), the Rubel Castle in Glendora (36:30) and the Siege of Fort Anthony (57:13).
As March arrives and madness descends upon us all, so too does a new episode of L.A. Meekly. This month we're talking docs and going over a handful of documentaries about Los Angeles that we feel captures something about the city be it donuts, music, gangs or, perhaps...madness.
The love month is here and what better way to celebrate (we guess?) than covering a few of Los Angeles' worst kidnappings. And that's worst in the sense of: these kidnappers had no idea what they were doing. Tune in to hear the stories of Mary Skeele (18:10) and Frank Sinatra Jr (45:39).
Welcome to 2024! The year that L.A. Meekly turns deeply religious! This month we're covering a few hidden and not so hidden religious locations and movements from around Los Angeles. We're covering the Jewish eruv (19:06), the Mormon Los Angeles California Temple (31:35), the Pentecostal Azusa Street Revival (45:54) and the Koyasan Buddhist Temple (1:16:55).
Seasons screamings, everyone. Tis the season to be...unholly? That's because it's time once again for our annual haunted episode. This year we'll be covering the tales of the Alexandria Hotel (18:50) and a haunted tour through UCLA (1:00:56).
Thanksgiving has come early, turkeys, so strap in for a discussion about food in LA with Katherine Spiers! We'll be covering her Los Angeles food website How to Eat LA, what sorts of food define the city and Daniel's least favorite Mexican restaurant. Check out Katherine's website How to Eat LA and her food podcast Smart Mouth as well!
Sound the alarms! It's L.A. Meekly's 10th anniversary episode! And sound the alarms again because they just shoplifted from the places they're covering in this episode: malls. Just in time for your holiday shopping spree, we'll be covering the Glendale Galleria (25:49), the Sherman Oaks Galleria (39:09), Crossroads of the World (51:49) and Rodeo Drive (1:23:35).
This Halloween we've got a passion for fashion and that means we're going to be talking about two of the biggest fashion moguls in Los Angeles history. We'll be covering the movie styles of Edith Head (17:44) and the outrageous cowboy fashion of Nudie Cohn (58:09).
Plug in the old headphones, my liege, because the Meekly Music Box is back! Tune in this month while we learn all about Valley Queen and listen to their songs "Falling" and "Nobody Ever."
We're getting lost in the city. Lost in the city tonight (or day; whenever you listen to this, really). We're covering a couple failed cities within Los Angeles that are now lost to time. We have the oceanside paradise of Surfridge (15:41) and the desert socialist utopia of Llano del Rio (34:49).
We've got no strings to hold us down because we're back with a signature LA Meekly field trip! This time we are thrilled to visit with Alex Evans: head puppeteer at the Bob Baker Marionette Theater. Learn all about him and the inner workings of the theater today!
For it's one! Two! Three recommendations at the old pod game! We asked, dear listeners, and you answered. You all sent in categories of things you wanted to hear us rank our top 3s of from around Los Angeles and here it is! We'll be covering everything from our top 3 bean and cheese burritos to our top 3 freeway interchanges so strap in!
It's a live (show)! It's a live (show)! As a special bonus this month here is the audio from our live show with the L.A. Not So Confidential podcast and the Hollyweird Paranormal podcast at the Heritage Square Museum. We'll be talking all things Doheny from man to mansion to murder to macabre!
The gang's all here. And that's what scares us. This month we'll be covering a handful of Los Angeles' biggest gangs: MS-13 (25:19) and the Crips and the Bloods (1:03:25). Warning: There are some graphic depictions of violence in this episode.
It's time to get Spooky. It's also time to get Tavi. The Meekly Music Box is back and we are thrilled to feature the music of Spooky Tavi this month. Tune in as we hear all about him and listen to his songs "Hyperdrive" and "Time Is A Sword."
Oil! Is! The! Topic! Of! This! Episode! This month we'll be discussing Los Angeles' history with the ooey gooey stuff from the earliest discoveries (14:10) to the rise of Edward Doheny (27:11) and a few of the most influential oil fields in town including Fairfax (1:12:20), Signal Hill (1:20:02) and Long Beach (1:24:33).
An episode of L.A. Meekly that's NOT L.A. Meekly?! Yes, listener. Your dream come true. Today we're releasing an episode of the Hollyweird Paranormal podcast in your feed to give you a taste of what you'll get at our upcoming live show at the Heritage Square Museum on May 20. Go to linktree.com/candyisdandypod to get your tickets today!
We're taking a trip back into old Hollywood to spend a night in two of the most legendary celebrity hangouts the city has ever known. We'll be serving food at the Hollywood Canteen (14:57) and spending the night at the salacious Garden of Allah (58:38).
Spring cleaning is here so we're clearing out our junk drawer once again to make room for new junk. We'll be covering a mishmash of topics that didn't quite fit into other episodes including Burmah White the Blonde Rattlesnake (15:50), the Venice Beatnik scene (33:52) and the Korean Bell of Friendship (1:03:40).
The Oscars may be over but movies are here to stay, baby! This month we are excited to feature music from the big and little screen by Skip Heller and Hollywood Film Noirchestra. We'll be listening to "A Touch Of Evil" and "Street Moods In Jazz" and you are gonna wanna hear it!
Put on your dancing shoes and your listening ears because this month we're taking in some shows in musical venues of days long gone! We'll be covering some of the lost influential music venues of Los Angeles including the El Monte Legion Stadium (15:05), the Masque (33:07) and the Palomino (1:06:11).
A San Francisco treat in MY Los Angeles history feed? Put the fists away. It is merely an episode of our new show Candy Is Dandy in the LA Meekly feed! In place of a Music Box this month we are releasing here our newest episode of Candy Is Dandy on Ghirardelli Squares. If you haven't already, subscribe to Candy Is Dandy anywhere you get your podcasts and enjoy more Greg and Daniel every month!
It's time to regress with the Meekly boys because it's playtime! We'll be talking about the two big local Los Angeles toy brands up to and including Wham-O (14:48) and Mattel (48:37).
Crank up the player piano and crank open your ears because it's time for the first Meekly Music Box of 2023. This month we are thrilled to feature the band Strange Hotels and listen to their songs "10PM In Los Feliz" and "Only 18."
Welcome to 2023: the year of the dirtbag! We're starting off the year with a couple of L.A. history's sleaziest characters. We'll be covering Charles Bukowski (21:12) and Miguel Leonis (1:06:20).
To close out 2022 we've got a couple tunes for you. This month we're featuring some Americana-Folk-Rock-Bluegrass straight from the country heart of Los Angeles with Rose's Pawn Shop. Tune in while we take a listen to their songs Ghost Town and Better Now.
A decade of ghost stories. That is what we have given you. Now it's time for you to give it to US. This Creepy Christmas/Chaunted Channukah you sent in your Los Angeles ghost and alien stories and we're reading them here tonight! This episode is best enjoyed at night.
Tis the season...TO SPEND! Our 2023 365 days of Los Angeles history calendars are out now. Listen in on how to buy yours in time for black friday!
Settle in by the turkey roasting fire and pop on the latest Meekly Music Box because, to get you in the mood for the holiday, this week we're featuring the big band jazz of Angela O'Neill and the Outrageous8. Tune in as we learn about the band and listen to their songs "Now and Again" and "New York Minute." And don't miss out on hearing Daniel accidentally call Christmas "Halloween" once again proving he's Jack Skellington.
We're all lost in this episode about supermarkets because it's the holiday season and it's inside of supermarkets where you'll be spending most of your time for the rest of 2022. In honor of that, we'll be covering the history of a few of the city's biggest supermarkets. We'll be talking Vallarta (14:55), Trader Joe's (29:05) and Ralphs (1:03:00).
Come one, come all. Step right up. We've got a brand new Meekly Music Box to fit the season. We're proud to feature the music of the live organist at the Bob Baker Marionette Theater Edward Torres. While not a traditionally recorded musician, Edward was kind enough to make a recording of the sort of musical medley you will hear at one of their shows including the songs "Paramount On Parade," "September In The Rain," "I Can't Give You Anything But Love" and the beloved "Grim Grinning Ghosts."
Grab some popcorn and a bloody knife because for Halloween this year we're discussing some of the most iconic Los Angeles horror movies. We'll be talking about everything from Night of the Comet and Nope to Chopping Mall and Tales From the Hood.
Grab some popcorn and a bloody knife because for Halloween this year we're discussing some of the most iconic Los Angeles horror movies. We'll be talking about everything from Night of the Comet and Nope to Chopping Mall and Tales From the Hood.
Stop, hey, what's that sound? It's the Meekly Music Box so shut up and listen. This month we are pleased to feature the music of Sad Girlz Club. Settle in as we talk about the two sides of punk and listen to their songs "Problems" and "I Think I'm Ready."
Crank up that dial (volume button) on your receiver (phone) and tune in to our newest broadcast (episode). This month we'll be talking about the radio history of Los Angeles. We'll cover the very early days (16:44), KHJ (29:55), Power 106 (52:36) and KDAY (1:19:07).
If you're hearing music that must mean it's Meekly Music Box Monday. A phrase we've never used before. This month we are thrilled to feature Mariachi Arcoiris de Los Angeles. They are the world's first LGBTQ+ mariachi band and we'll tell you all about them as we listen to "Popurri Rocio Durcal" and their cover of "My Way."
If you're hearing music that must mean it's Meekly Music Box Monday. A phrase we've never used before. This month we are thrilled to feature Mariachi Arcoiris de Los Angeles. They are the world's first LGBTQ+ mariachi band and we'll tell you all about them as we listen to "Popurri Rocio Durcal" and their cover of "My Way."
Just when you thought you were out, we pull you back in to another episode of L.A. Meekly. This month we're diving into two of the titans of the classic mob era of Los Angeles: Jack Dragna (16:09) and Mickey Cohen (42:30).
Pack your headphones, we're taking a trip to Magic Baby Island. Courtesy of this month's featured band: A Horse A Spoon A Bucket. We'll tell you everything you need to know about one of the most unique bands in Los Angeles as we listen to Party Baby and Gopher Jamboree.
A second podcast hosted by the Meekly boys right here in my feed? It better be about candy you say? Well you're in luck. We are proud to introduce our new show Candy Is Dandy: The Candy Review Podcast. Listen in to this backdoor pilot and hear our first episode on Snickers and please subscribe to the show anywhere you get your podcasts!
It took 103 tries but we're finally doing the episode we've always dreamed of: the donut history of Los Angeles. And the best part: we try a donut from every place we cover. We'll be discussing (eating) Yum Yum (14:58), Winchell's (29:28), Randy's (46:30) and the Cambodian American history of the modern day mom and pop donut shop (1:05:13). Grab a dozen and eat along with us!
You're in for a treat this time, meeklings, because on this month's music box we've got the Valley's own Raised On TV. Settle in to get a taste of the Valley sound with their songs "Mess I Made" and "Caroline."
We're going on a trip and you're coming with us whether you have the time off or not. This month we're getting loose and offering up the best day trips surrounding Los Angeles and how L.A. has shaped these places and vice versa from Solvang to Knott's Berry Farm.
We did it. We got him. We are thrilled to present to you an interview we had the privilege of doing with L.A. history icon Charles Phoenix. Listen in as we discuss the mid century allure of southern California, what it means to L.A. to lose our cultural treasures and the best affordable pizza in town.
Has it been a year of the Meekly Music Box already? We started 12 months ago so it must be. This month we're featuring the music of Lamar Woods and Juancho Ca$h. For this very special anniversary episode we have Juancho Ca$h himself (aka Carl Tart) to talk about their music and the specific flavor Los Angeles gives to "lifestyle rap."
Listening to L.A. Meekly has always been a gamble but this month that's a good thing. That's because we'll be discussing the history of gambling in Los Angeles. From the early wild west days (10:51) to the offshore gambling boats (21:12) to the heyday of Gardena (55:56). This episode is brought to you by People's Choice Beef Jerky. Use promo code LAMEEKLY15 to get 15% off your order today.
An L.A. Meekly episode in your feed this late in the month? Why, Easter must have come late and Passover and Ramadan right on time! Tune in for this virtual field trip with Laura Tejeda of L.A. Taco Live. We'll discuss the ins and outs of L.A. Taco, her food based activism in East Los Angeles and how Daniel can stop gentrifying things.
Crank up the old crank powered radio and settle in to listen to our featured band this month: Townland. We'll be getting into their origin and current incarnation as we listen to The Solid State and Gin Atomic.
100 episodes. Could you ever have believed it? Could you ever have wanted it? To celebrate, we're going deep into the life and work of the patron saint of Los Angeles and L.A. Meekly: Mary Pickford. We'll cover her life (11:46), United Artists (49:24) and Pickfair (1:28:03). Plus we get sappy thanking all you smelly fans. This episode brought to you by the Hometown History podcast found anywhere you get podcasts. And by Q for Quinn. Use promo code LAMEEKLY for 15% off today.
The ides of March may be coming tomorrow but if I were you ide listen to this: our 10th episode of the Meekly Music Box! This month we are thrilled to feature the incredible Ginger Root. Hear all about the man and learn what "aggressive elevator soul" sounds like as we sit down and listen to "Juban District" and "Mahjong Room."
This month we're pulling back the curtain for two stories of the people behind the scenes of the movies and music you know and love. The people who helped make things run smoothly outside of the public eye. One will horrify you. One will delight you. Both will ruin popular entertainment for you forever. We'll be covering the debauchery and crimes that were covered up by the notorious Eddie Mannix (15:07) and the musical geniuses that were The Wrecking Crew (1:08:15).
Love is in the air and barf is in the mouth. That's why this month's featured band on the Meekly Music Box is the one, the only: Fartbarf. Tune in while we listen to "Simple Planet" and "Master of the 5 Count" and hear about the band's mission of making perfoming as hard for themselves as possible.
Is there any better way to spend Valentine's Day than in a public park? Probably not because it's free. If you could not care less about Valentine's Day then you'll still love this episode on a few of the city's public parks because it's also free. We'll be covering the hilly beauty of Elysian Park (12:18), the architectural glory of the Barnsdall Art Park (47:13), the concrete "charm" of Pershing Square (1:25:55) and the man made tragedy that led to the Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area (1:57:17).
Sit back, plug in the old podcast turntable and bask in the glory of this month's Meekly Music Box. This go round we are featuring the "souldies" of Los Yesterdays including "Time" and "Nobody's Clown." You're going to love them as much as Daniel loves claiming his car is a low rider.
Step right up and welcome to 2022. Where history reigns supreme and also repeats itself. This month we're covering a few of the city's old and old timey attractions including the Pasadena Veloway (13:31), the Moonlight Rollerway (46:59) and the Cawston Ostrich Farm (1:08:08). Happy New Year!
Just press play. We dare you. It's not much of a dare because we know you'll love what you hear. This month our featured musician is the legendary Eban Schletter. Learn about his career spanning from the Gilman Street Warehouse in Berkeley to Spongebob while we listen to his songs "In The Future" and "Super Small" while Daniel keeps bringing up ancient Egypt for some reason. This episode brought to you by Heart Soul Heat. Use promo code LA at checkout to save 50% off your first order today.
The shared universe you've been waiting for is finally here: L.A. Meekly and The Hidden History of Los Angeles are finally together in one meta podcast episode. We sat down with fellow Los Angeles history podcast host Robert Petersen to talk about his show (The Hidden History of Los Angeles) and our show (well, you know the one) and we answer his 5 L.A. questions. Take a listen and also listen to The Hidden History of Los Angeles to get even more L.A. history in your diet
Channukah came early this year and it swears this has never happened before. Settle in for a night by the artificial fireplace with us as we get into a couple haunted tales of Los Angeles in this: what we declare to be your favorite holiday tradition. This year we will cover the Colorado Street aka "Suicide" Bridge (14:42) and the Beverly Hills Bermuda Triangle including the stories of Howard Hughes' plane crash (57:16), the whacking of Bugsy Siegel (1:11:09), the crash of Jan Berry (1:25:52) and the murder of Ronni Chasen (1:47:34). This episode brought to you by Glaze Hair. Use promo code LAHISTORY15 for 15% off today. This episode also brought to you by Heart Soul Heat. Use promo code LA to get 50% off today.
It's the middle of the month and you know what that means: The Meekly Music Box is back and it demands you to dance. To help with that, this month we are featuring the music of Hannah Rooth. Listen in to her songs "Dust" and "Do Me Like That" and be wowed by her vocal range and Greg and Daniel are ok too. This episode brought to you by SmileBrilliant.com. Use promo code LAMEEKLY to get a special discount today!
We asked and you answered. Then we asked again repeatedly for months all leading up to this episode. Today we tackle the question of "Why L.A.?" What is it that keeps us all here? You'll hear answers from us and from you the listeners as we come to a general consensus that isn't just "tacos." This episode brought to you by Heart Soul Heat hot honey. Use promo code LA to receive 50% off your first order. And also by Smile Brilliant. Use promo code LAMEEKLY for an exclusive discount today.
Just in time for Halloween we've got a couple songs that really howl from a band that also really howls. This month we are thrilled to feature Marquis & the Rhythm Howlers as they treat us to their songs "Destruction" and "New Orleans Bump." Tune in to learn more about this band and hear some songs that will put you in the spirit of the season; not to mention your place. This episode brought to you by Smile Brilliant. Head on over to smilebrilliant.com and use promocode LAMEEKLY to save on your teeth whitening today.
It's Halloween and you're gonna wear THAT?! No, no. Let us take you down to the history salon to show you how it's really done by some of the best who ever did. We'll cover some of the biggest names in makeup and special effects behind the scenes of the classic monster movies including Milicent Patrick (19:44), Jack Pierce (48:24) and Ray Harryhausen (1:32:53). Thank you to Podcorn for sponsoring this episode. Check out podcorn.com to get started doing ads for your podcast today. Thank you also to Smile Brilliant. Go to smilebrilliant.com and use promo code LAMEEKLY to save on teeth whitening today.
Hope you selected chicken on the dinner invitations we sent out because this month we are featuring the wonderful Radioactive Chicken Heads. Get fowl with us while we learn more about the band and take a listen to "Tales From the Coop" and "Cluck at the Moon."
There's no better way to cool down on a hot day than with a nice hot bottle of hot sauce. That's why this month we're covering a few local hot sauce brands that have sweated it out for years. We'll be talking La Victoria (17:41), El Pato (23:56), hot tamales (38:16), Tapatio (1:04:59) and Huy Fong (1:26:29). This episode brought to you by ocelotmarket.com and also smilebrilliant.com and make sure to use promo code LAMEEKLY
Warm up your Zunes, we've got a brand new Meekly Music Box for you. This month we are thrilled to feature The Sloppy Boys (Mike Hanford, Jeff Dutton and Tim Kalpakis). Daniel will gush endlessly about their comedy credentials and Greg will tap his toes to the beat while we listen to "Here for the Beer" and "Tha Mastah Bong Rippah."
This summer. There's only one podcast dedicated entirely to talking about action movies that took place in Los Angeles. And if there is more than one, ignore the rest. This month we're covering a few of the classic L.A. action movies from the Terminator to Speed delving into filming locations and what role the city plays in them (if any).
Put the needle on the record for our second edition of The Meekly Music Box. This month we are highlighting Tres Souls! Rooted deeply in trio romantico/Bolero music, Tres Souls brings a modern twist to a deeply romantic, traditional Mexican style of music. Check them out on Instagram @tressouls to hear more from them.
Summer is in full swing so sit back, crack open an ice cold iPhone and an even colder soda to hear all about the stories of a few local sodas and soda related buildings. We've got a lineup that'll make your mouth water: Orange Bang (16:21), the Coca-Cola Building (39:49), Hansen's (52:55), Galco's (1:15:04) and the Shirley Temple (1:35:28).
Welcome, followers, to the inaugural episode of the Meekly Music Box! In this brand new segment to the show you love and follow we will be highlighting local musicians by playing a couple of their songs and telling you about their story and connection to Los Angeles. This month's featured musician is Jessica Fichot! The child of a Chinese mother and French father, Jessica blends the styles of French chanson, Shanghai jazz, gypsy swing and international folk into something that is uniquely her that embodies the spirit of L.A. perfectly. Today you'll be hearing her songs "La Spectatrice" and "Daydream." You can find her at facebook.com/jessicafichotmusic or youtube.com/jessicafichotmusic. Also on Instagram @jessicafichotmusic and check out her upcoming shows at jessicasongs.com/shows
In honor of Pride month we are digging deep into a handful of LGBTQ trailblazers from right here in town. We've got the legendary Mattachine Society (14:43), the complicated Virginia Prince (45:32), the valiant Morris Kight and the Gay Liberation Front (1:20:09) and the unstoppable Troy Perry and the Metropolitan Community Church(1:35:21). This episode brought to you by Smile Brilliant. Use promo code LAMEEKLY to get 30% off today.
To kick off Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month, it's time to celebrate a few people and organizations from Los Angeles that made their mark on the city and the world. We'll cover architect Helen Liu Fong (16:22), Gidra magazine (30:31) and Anna May Wong (57:07).
If you haven't already read "Stealing Home: Los Angeles, the Dodgers and the Lives Caught In Between" by Eric Nusbaum then you're about to want to after hearing our interview with the author himself. The book covers the political intrigue and social injustice involved in the razing of the Chavez Ravine communities on the path towards the construction of Dodger Stadium. We'll cover the book, the author's process and the time he watched Daniel sneak french fries into Staples Center in his pocket. This episode is brought to you by Podcorn. If you have a podcast and want help monetizing check out podcorn.com for more information.
Soak in some culture this month while we cover a few of Los Angeles' greatest contributions to the world of art. We'll cover Mike Mollett and the L.A. Mudpeople (16:58), Frank Romero (33:11) and Sister Corita Kent (1:00:45).
For this very special bonus we have a very special interview with Max Miller of "Tasting History." Today Max gives us a rundown on his show, his time being the voice of Iago for Disney and the history of tamales in Los Angeles. If you want to check out Max's episode of his own show about tamales you can watch it right here and we highly recommend you do:
Stop where you're driving right now and look at the street sign. Ever wonder why it's named that? Well get back in your car and buckle up for this month's episode where we delve into the names of a few of the streets around town. We'll cover Chevy Chase Drive (18:56), Sepulveda Boulevard (28:32), James M. Wood Boulevard (44:23), Rosecrans Avenue (56:26), General Thaddeus Kosciuszko Way (1:16:02) and Roscoe Boulevard (1:25:32). This episode is sponsored by Podcorn! Get started finding ads for your own podcast today at Podcorn.com!
It's been a year since COVID first showed up on our turf and we've been pining for the old days when museums weren't just places we pined for so this month we're going to give the histories of three that we miss in particular. We've got the Natural History Museum (23:01), the Southwest Museum (1:07:45) and the Autry (1:44:48). We want to thank Podcorn for sponsoring this episode! Get started finding ads for your own podcast at podcorn.com today!
Covid has hit the city hard and since the government has abandoned us maybe we can at least try to save a few historic businesses that are at risk of going away for good. In this month's episode we'll give you the jam packed history of just a handful of these places. We'll cover the El Segundo Old Town Music Hall (18:11), the Pacific Dining Car (44:27), the Bob Baker Marionette Theater (1:04:01) and Vroman's Bookstore (1:46:45). Happy New Year!
It's the most punderful time of the year, indeed. This December we're back at it with some more creepy/haunted stories for you from around the city. This year we cover the Monster of Elizabeth Lake (34:42), the Bat Man of Echo Park (53:27), the dark secret of a J.M. Barrie (1:14:28), the Mummy of the Pike (1:24:49) and the curse of Rudolph Valentino's Ring (1:38:59).
We asked you, dear listener, what annoyed you most in Los Angeles and after we got past the snarky remarks putting us down we have our answers. This month we go off the cuff to air the grievances we and our listeners have with the city from what parts of town are considered suburbs to parking in Century City.
Happy Cancelled Halloween! This month we learned how many p's are in the word "disappearances" to bring you this decidedly un-spooky episode on some of the biggest unsolved mysteries in Los Angeles history. We'll cover Jean Spangler (22:24), Gertrude Tompkins Silver (42:16), Jonathan Aujay (1:10:59) and the Salomon family (1:26:59).
Regular episode of L.A. Meekly this is not! Your beloved Greg has made a special recording on the history of displacement in Los Angeles for the Glendale Public Library's lead up to a virtual author discussion with Eric Nusbaum author of "Stealing Home: Los Angeles, the Dodgers and the Live Caught in Between" and we wanted to share it with you. Be sure to tune in to the discussion! Details inside. Produced with support from Glendale Arts & Culture Commission
Fade in on a sleepy pueblo street. This month we are diving into the early, lawless party days of the Sunset Strip and a few of its biggest night clubs. We'll cover the creation of Sunset Boulevard itself (22:49), the Trocadero (36:18), Ciro's (1:01:50) and Mocambo (1:25:48).
I'll get it out of the way early and invite you to get your kicks right now. Take a cruise down LA's stretch of route 66 with us as long as you're in a completely different car with a mask on and nowhere near us. We'll cover the convoluted history of the road itself in LA (29:12), the Fair Oaks Pharmacy (38:59), the Aztec Hotel (51:22), the Formosa Cafe (1:12:59), the Rialto Theater (1:29:18) and, of course, Chicken Boy (1:45:26).
Listeners sick of our voices rejoice: an entire episode made up of you the listener! We reached out to all of you who took part in the Black Lives Matter protests to send in recordings of your experiences and you came through. What you're about to hear are a few different stories from the streets of the marches from the people who were there. We want to again thank everyone who helped out and also everyone who has been out there making their voices heard. We're proud of you.
Another month of 2020, another episode of L.A. Meekly. In viewing what has been going on in our city the past month and looking towards the future we decided to take a look back at two parallels from the city's past: the 1965 Watts Uprising (21:09) and the 1992 Riots following the beating of Rodney King (1:04:31). ATTENTION! We mention in this episode we will be including recordings from people who attended the protests this past month. We got more than expected so we will be releasing that as it's own dedicated episode TOMORROW.
Summer is here and it's nothing like any of us expected. In this very summer vacation style loose episode we'll be covering what summer in LA means to us and a few of our favorite traditions we like to take part in under better circumstances. DISCLAIMER: This episode was recorded well before the current situation in the city unfolded which makes our laments sound even more trivial. More important history is in the making but if you need something light just to help you fall asleep at night, this is for you. Stay safe everybody.
Hold onto your wallets; this month we're covering some of the city's most notorious con artists. We'll be talking about the town of Girard (19:52), the Bling Ring (35:13), the Julian Pete Scandal (1:09:52), Michael Romanoff (1:30:03) and the Billionaire Boys Club (1:53:22).
Pack a lunch or just catch what you eat out of the always fresh L.A. River as we sit down with author Paul Haddad to discuss his book "10,000 Steps A Day in LA." We'll cover some of the best walks in the city and how great his book is at being a jumping off point to explore new parts of the city. (Never fear: this episode was recorded pre-quarantine)
Stuck in the house all day and night? Scared to go outside and would rather get lost safely in a book? If this unique situation applies to you and you alone then this is the episode for you. This month we cover a few of LA's prized local pulp writers. Travel to Mars with Edgar Rice Burroughs (14:57), travel to Mars with Leigh Brackett (53:37), travel to Mars with Ray Bradbury (1:20:49) and travel to only LA with Raymond Chandler (1:51:01).
Strap down your porcelain butts and get ready for "the big one." Our episode on earthquakes. Relive the horror and aftermath of Longbeach '33 (16:42), Sylmar '71 (36:43) and Northridge '94 (47:46).
Now that the '20s are roaring forward, we thought we'd take a look back on the previous decade to reflect on the buildings and businesses we lost during the 2010s. Relive the memories that are too soon to relive from places like the Buggy Whip, the LA Sports Arena and Meltdown Comics.
Put the needle on the podcast and ring in a whole new decade with a whole new episode on your favorite local record stores. We've got the granddaddy Wallichs Music City (:17), the young punk Rockaway Records (:41), the scrappy Tower Records (:55) and the mighty Amoeba (1:06).
Crack open the eggnog and fry up the latkes because it's time to get creepy and haunted. This year we tackle the Queen Mary in all her luxury lining, world war serving, ghost pool glory. Both the straight history (:14) and the ghouls (1:08).
You asked for it so we asked it right back. This month we tackle two listener submitted questions: What do you like most about Angelenos? and What should someone not from here be aware of to make their stay as agreeable as possible? Listen to our bumbling answers and the much better answers of you, the listener, who submitted your own takes. You know who you are. And those of you who didn't? Consider yourselves uninvited from LA Meekly Thanksgiving.
Pack your sack lunches for the nicest museum you've ever visited inside a cemetery: the Forest Lawn Museum. We talk with the museum's curator James Fishburne about the museum's role in shaping the art scene of Los Angeles, pigeon photography and the biggest painting of Jesus you've ever seen.
Halloween is here and what better way to spend it than with your two favorite grave robbers? To get you in the...spirit...of the season we'll be covering the stories of a few of the biggest graveyards in the city: Valhalla Memorial Park (:14), Hollywood Forever (:32) and Forest Lawn (1:03).
Pack a picnic for this one as we sit down with Executive Director of the L.A. Philharmonic Gail Samuel (Yes, you read that correct) to talk about everything Hollywood Bowl related from decrepit band shells to Cab Calloway.
Ever wondered where you put that old screwdriver you can't find? How about your mint condition copy of Action Comics #1? Or that old Hope Diamond you used to have lying around? Check the junk drawer! L.A. Meekly's got one too filled with topics that didn't quite fit anywhere else so from that drawer we submit to you: the Spike Jones grocery story of La Crescenta (:13), inspiration for Indiana Jones Antonia Futterer (:28), the roller derby Thunderbirds (:49) and the Alphabet Bomber (1:06).
School may be back in session today but it's already time for a field trip. Join us on our trip to La Plaza de Cultura y Artes as we discuss the museum's mission and importance as the keeper of the history of the early days of this city with Associate Curator Mariah Berlanga-Shevchuk and Assistant Curator Esperanza Sanchez.
What's that sound? The Entertainer by Scott Joplin? That must mean it's the podcast truck with its barely regulated freezer full of treats! This month we go into the stories of everyone but Greg's favorite summer treats: ice cream. We'll dive deep into the history of Fosters Freeze (:14), Baskin-Robbins (:25), Fosselman's (:47) and, of course, Thrifty (:59).
- June 22 Judy Garland dies. July 14 Easy Rider comes out. August 9 Sharon Tate is murdered. Summer of love this was not. This month we're going to look at the downfall of the old Hollywood studio system by way of the rise and fall of Judy Garland (:16) and the birth of the New Hollywood movement through the story of Roger Corman (1:09).
Put on your weekend finest and zip on over to listen to the story of the zoot. Join us as we trace one of the saddest, most disappointing low points in Los Angeles history from the murder and unfair trial at Sleepy Lagoon (:15) to the brutal and just as unfair Zoot Suit Riots (:57). Get ready to be ashamed of your city.
Wax on your podcast device but don't wax it off because it's time for a field trip with Madame Tussaud's Hollywood's very own Helen Larimore. Join us as she discusses the laborious and somewhat disturbing process of creating each wax model and the even more disturbing experience of having to walk through the empty exhibits at the end of the night.
Strap on your sturdiest hiking boots and sit on the couch and listen to our newest episode on a couple of the city's forests! We'll be covering the exploitation and criminal population of the Angeles National Forest (:12) and the Hollywood glory of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (1:04).
Activate your spellcheck because we are at the harder-than-you-think to-spell Coliseum! We are joined by the hilarious comedian/Los Angeles history connoisseur Carl Tart as we discuss this place's meaning to himself and to the city at large.
Vroom-vroom goes the car and brake-cry goes the traffic. It took us this long to cover freeways because we've been stuck on the 405 for 6 years trying to get here. We'll cover the creation of the city's freeways (:22) and the flipside of all that creation as it destroyed neighborhoods all over town (1:04).
Dive into the world of public access TV, billboards and customized cars in our evening with some of LA's most notable local celebrities. Take a ride with Angelyne (:19), take another ride with Dennis Woodruff (:37), take a look into a future that never happened with the Amazing Criswell (:56), get healed by William Money (1:12) and sing a song of aliens with David Liebe Hart (1:32). Don't forget to use promo code MEEKLY on the Forkspot app to get $15 off your first order.
What's black and white and read all over? This description for our episode about a newspaper. This month we cover the Los Angeles Times and the major players behind it from the warlike Harrison Gray Otis (:16), the conservative Harry Chandler (:54), the moderate Norman Chandler (1:23) and the surfing Otis Chandler (1:31). This episode brought to you by Forkspot. Use promo code MEEKLY to get $15 off your first order.
We found an old pirate's treasure map and we're hunting hidden gems all over this city! We'll be looking up at Yamashiro Hollywood (:20), over to Travel Town (:35), sneaking into St. Vincent Court (:49), visiting the Venice Mosaic Tile House (:54), disappearing into the Max Factor Hollywood Museum (1:00) and seeking out the Great Wall of Los Angeles (1:24). If you want to learn about more hidden gems in the city follow LifeHacks LA on Instagram and Facebook! This episode also brought to you by Forkspot! Use promo code MEEKLY and get $15 towards a meal today!
Pull up your scariest chair under the hiss-letoe and get ready to spin your dread-le; it's Creepy Christmas/Chaunted Channukah! This year we'll cover the scariest tales from the San Pedro/Palos Verdes peninsula including and limited to the Point Vicente and Fermin lighthouses (:20), the Warner Theater (:40), Clemente Clem (:55), the Hernandez house haunting (1:05) and the Vanderlip mansion (1:23).
Take the 101, 405 or the 118 straight to the 818 for our latest field trip to the Valley Relics Museum! We talk with museum founder and driving force Tommy Gelinas as he guides us on his journey from valley enthusiast and ash tray collector to full fledged museum owner and giant neon sign collector. Fall in love with the valley all over again or for the first time right here.
Forget the turkey and make your extended family angry with some cheap, fast food for Thanksgiving! In this supersized episode we'll be covering the crunch shells of Taco Bell (:18), the garlic aromas of Zankou Chicken (:50), the chewy freshness of Western Bagel (1:11), the timeless perfection of In-N-Out (1:17) and the orange flavored goodness of Panda Express (1:56). Come hungry and leave hungrier.
Don't run away, it's only Meek. Put on your favorite Pagan harvest character costume and get ready for our door to door journey through LA Halloween parties across the decades and the candy that went along with them. We'll start with the story of the local creation the Abba Zaba bar (:22), trek through the parties themselves (:26), then on to get some candy in bulk at Jack's Wholesale (1:00), some world famous toffee at Littlejohn's (1:02), a taste of the finest Swiss chocolates at Edelweiss (1:04), a few balls of mochi at Fugetsu-do (1:10) and, everybody's favorite, See's Candies (1:20) to close out the night. Just remember we won't be driving you home and BYO pumpkin.
This is episode 57 but you might know it better as the old "Heinz Variety." That's because this month we're talking about some of the most famous nicknames of people in Los Angeles history. We'll go from the confrontational "Fighting Bob" Shuler (:17), "Slapsy" Maxie (:32) and "Greek" George Caralambo (:49) to the criminal "Two Gun" Davis (:58) and "Machine Gun" Walker (1:20).
It's the first of the month and you know what that means: It's time to listen to a brand new episode while you write out your excessively long rent check! Tune in as we dive into a thoroughly researched yet still unqualified discussion on LA's housing crisis and the who, what, where, when and why of it. Our answer? We have no idea
Hot town! Summer in the city is here! Cool down with this month's episode on the harnessing of the LA River as the city's water source in the early days (:15) and the creation of the Owens Valley aqueduct and the ensuing water wars in the slightly less early days (:55). Chinatown references need not apply.
Welcome to the island! Once your seasickness subsides take a load off and listen to the millennia spanning story of Catalina Island. We'll cover everything from the pre-Spanish era of the Pimuvit (:20) to the gum chewing resort fun of the Wrigley era (:54) and literally everything in between.
Here we go on another field trip in search of health, wellness and nice tiling at the Rockhaven Sanitarium in Montrose. Listen in as we interview the President of the Friends of Rockhaven Joanna Linkchorst about her efforts to preserve this vital part of LA history started by women to help women in need.
Now boarding all indirect flights to knowledge! Settle in with a bag of airplane peanut references while we cover three of the most important airports in the city's history from Burbank (:19) to Grand Central Airport in Glendale (:25) to LAX itself (:58). There will be no refunds and we've already been delayed until after whenever your connecting flight is.
Put on your pod-ing glasses and settle in for this book discussion with author Craig Owens of "Haunted by History Vol. 1"moderated by your very own LA Meekly boys live from the Mystic Museum in Burbank. We delve into the history and lore of some of Southern California's most haunted locations all while spooky speakeasy music plays faintly in the background.
Stop what you're doing and take a couple minutes to hear (handsome) us explain how we want you (loyal) listener to be part of a new segment on LA Meekly!
Sit. Stay. Download. Good audience. Lend us a floppy ear as we spend this month celebrating National Pet Day with some of LA's most famous citizens that haven't yet developed complex language. We'll be covering the MGM lion (12:28), the absurd lion obsession of Tippi Hedren (28:03), Toto (42:35), Room 8 the cat (51:26) and, unfortunately, the LA Pet Memorial Park (1:05:35). Plus we unleash a new segment on the show! Most species welcome.
We've already disabled your snooze button so it's time to get up and listen to our trip to one of the strangest, most indescribable "secret" societies in the city: the Los Angeles Breakfast Club. We talk with the wizards behind the curtain of it all Lily Holleman and Phil Leirness about the inclusive positivity of the place and which of your favorite stars from yesteryear were once members.
Kick off Women's History Month right right here with two men telling you the stories of Brenda Allen (Madame to the Stars) (5:24), Alice Stebbins Wells (Officer with a Star) (20:11), Aggie Underwood (Reporter of the Dead Stars) (34:43) and Amelia Earhart (Pilot that almost reached the Stars) (1:03:27).
Grab the nearest planchette and ask your local ouija board if it's time to listen to our newest field trip episode and the answer will be most definitely probably! Tune in as we talk to two of the owners of the Bearded Lady's Mystic Museum and stay tuned afterwards to hear about Mystic Dylan's experience with a haunted lamb!
50 episodes! Could ya ever believe it? Could ya ever have even wanted it? To celebrate, we've compiled all 50 of our episode intros into one long episode that you just keep wanting to start, but it never will. We want to thank all of you for listening these past 50 episodes and for reading this far into the episode description.
It's February and we're here to celebrate Black History Month like it's none of your business; unless your business is one of the businesses we're talking about. That's right, this month we are covering a few of the most famous LA businesses started by African-Americans. We'll be covering KJLH (6:24), Fatburger (20:42), Roscoe's (32:01), the Lincoln Picture Company (42:14) and Famous Amos (58:56). This is our 50th episode so tune back in in a few days for our big, unnecessary 50th extravaganza!
NAZI PUNKS FUDGE OFF! Listen to our first episode of the new year as we discuss the various homegrown local Nazi groups operating in the city pre-WW2 (7:58) and the efforts of Leon Lewis and his network of spies to bring them down (44:36) as they learn the hard way that two wrongs don't make a Reich.
It's December and you know what that means: Murder! Demons! Plagues! Dreidels! This time live! Light your menorah under the mistletoe and tune in to this year's haunted episode live from the Comedy Central Stage yet again as we discuss this year's helping of ghosts, ghouls and...g-ack Parsons. We cover Myra Hess the White Vampire of Malibu (12:59), haunted Hollywood Boulevard (16:20), the plague outbreak of 1924 (25:23) and Jack Parsons (37:02).
Thanksgiving comes early in this, a very special episode of LA Meekly. Join us as we give a rundown on the places and things in this city that we are most thankful for and mean the most to us. Sincerity reigns supreme while sarcasm silently stages a coup.
Hop on the LA Meekly school bus and take a trip with us into the cabinet of curiosities that is MorYork. Part art gallery, part immersive experience, part motherload of human molars. We talk with the man behind it all, Clare Graham, to get some insight into what it all means and where the nearest bagel shop is.
Feeling empty? Afraid? Alone? Then turn over all your personal possessions and click download! Join us as we take a journey of self discovery through a few of LA's cults from the Blackburns to Synanon. "The Man" and police involvement need not apply. We cover Aimee Semple McPherson (10:07), the Source Family (47:26), the Blackburns (1:19:38) and Synanon (1:33:23).
Pull up a demolished chair and join us for our field trip interview with author Anne Louise Bannon at the site of the old Ambassador Hotel as we discuss her novels, the Cocoanut Grove and just how drunk the old stars of the silver screen got at this place.
Break out your annual passes and welcome to the wonderful world of LA's old amusement parks! In this blockbuster episode we tackle the stories of places like Pacific Ocean Park, Busch Gardens and the never realized Disney plans in both Burbank and Long Beach. Come for the amusements, stay for the end credits. We cover Busch Gardens (6:36), Chutes Park (24:05), Marineland (42:52), Agricultural Park (1:06:32), the original plans for Disneyland (1:24:35) and Pacific Ocean Park (1:42:07).
File this episode under "filed" because the archive has already done its job. Tag along with us as we head to the Los Angeles City Archives where we visit the City Archivist for Los Angeles Michael Holland as he tells us about all the decades of information available there to any citizen of the city, the tremendously large rooms all that information's held in and the horrific fire suppression system in place just in case.
Put on your airiest clothes and brave the valley heat for a LIVE discussion from the Andres Pico Adobe of some of the weirdest, strangest and downright did-we-already-say-weirdest things in the San Fernando Valley from the former Graceland imitation Melodyland to the ridiculous Monkey Island. We cover Melodyland (10:01), Monkey Island (21:10), the Old Trapper Lodge (32:22), the hidden Cold War missiles (41:18), Mother's Grave (48:14) and the haunted Andres Pico Adobe (52:45).
Buy a ticket for this very special episode where Greg and Daniel go through a slew of some of their favorite "LA" movies and their real life filming locations on their quest to understand what makes an "LA" movie "LA"..."movie." We cover Up In Smoke (9:18), the Big Lebowski (16:15), Heat (21:08), Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs (24:15), Boogie Nights (32:21), Back to the Future (36:32), Chinatown and LA noir (43:48), Boyz n the Hood and Friday (48:47), ET (51:46) and Mi Vida Loca (55:50).
Your monthly meekly has arrived! Flip through the pages of this month's episode where we discuss the stories of some of the biggest and most influential magazines from LA history from Land of Sunshine to Slash to the weekly one whose vaguely familiar name we can't remember. Ad free and just as little gloss as ever! We'll cover Land of Sunshine (8:54), Variety (30:21), the Hollywood Reporter (46:20), Slash Magazine (1:00:07), Los Angeles Magazine (1:11:16) and LA Weekly (1:21:30).
Head east, young audience. This month we're covering the story of Boyle Heights and its transition from a predominantly Jewish community (5:44) to a predominantly Latino community (38:33). Join us to hear about the area's multicultural/politically active/alligator loving journey from blintzes to burritos.
Pack a peanut butter and Lemmy sandwich and join us at the legendary Rainbow Bar and Grill for a talk with Staci Layne Wilson, author of the book "So L.A.: A Hollywood Memoir," about this place's rock and roll history and when best to go to see Ron Jeremy.
They once were lost but now they still are. Step back in time with us as we tell the tales of six of LA's once prominent but now gone forever landmarks from the beautiful Richfield Tower and Pan Pacific Auditorium to the ominous Deadman's Island. Listen now before they become somehow even more gone! We'll cover Arcade Station (8:16), Dead Man's Island (29:31), Pan Pacific Auditorium (37:13), the Old Courthouse and Hall of Records (50:28), the Coconut Grove (1:04:07) and the Richfield Oil Building (1:17:37).
This episode recorded in front of a live studio audience. Jealous?! Join us for our very first live episode as we discuss a few local commercials and the mad cowboy mattress manic geniuses behind them from Crazy Gideon to Cal Worthington. Since we showed video clips in the show be sure to follow along with the cheat sheet of links on our tumblr page so you too can see the glory that is these videos. And don't you forget our video intro which will also be on that page! We'll cover Mad Man Muntz (7:10), Sit n Sleep (17:09), Crazy Gideon (29:00), Cal Worthington (39:06) and Larry H. Parker (57:27).
It's gonna feel like the first time all over again in this month's episode where, in honor of Black History Month, we discuss some trail blazing African-Americans from Los Angeles. From the city's first African-American mayor to the first African-American surfer, this just may be the first time you actually enjoy one of our episodes. We'll cover Peter Biggs (7:07), Samuel Marlowe (12:41), Nick Gabaldon (16:44), Miriam Matthews (39:58), Stepin Fetchit (50:15), Tom Bradley (1:06:33) and Paul R. Williams (1:22:26).
Here it is at long last! Our very first field trip episode! Just play along and say you've been waiting as anxiously for it as we assume you were! Join us on our excursion to the Petersen Automotive Museum with the one and only Ada Ruiz and hear what the most exciting and controversial cars they have are and where to eat once you're sick of seeing them. We apologize for the audio quality but we hope you'll forgive us as it is our first time using this equipment. We wouldn't hold it against YOU so show some mercy.
Embezzlement. Bloated pensions. Voter fraud. Hog guts. What do all these have in common other than being beautiful names for your children? They're all part of the dirty corruption stories we're about to cover from two cities in southeast LA: Bell (7:02) and Vernon (50:38). Settle in and be glad you have a conscience. If you don't have a conscience, we're sure you can steal one from one of our good little listeners.
Take a festively eerie drive through the many canyons of Los Angeles with us as we talk about the strangest/spookiest stories that have taken place in them from Superman's ghost to a barrage of alien encounters. As the experts we are, we recommend you listen to this at night. Preferably walking alone through one of these canyons. We are not responsible for any lost items, respect or life if you choose to do so. (Keen eared listeners alert! The curse of our haunted episodes lives on! Listen out for strange flapping noises that are in this recording for no explainable reason!) We'll cover the Wonderland Murders (8:47), the Beverly Glen Tavern (19:09), the Ramon Navarro murder (31:44), the Houdini Mansion (43:30), the death of George Reeves (1:11:54) and the aliens of Topanga Canyon (1:28:50).
Peel away the skin, take that gross white stuff off, section it up and extract the seeds and what you've got left is our long awaited (and dreaded) episode on oranges! Bite into the story of LA's mythological cash crop all the way from the first orange tree to come to the city (9:10) all the way through the rise of a little local business known as Sunkist (41:47). Some sugar added.
Eye of nerd. Pod of cast. Leave a review or this show won't last! And with that incantation comes our Halloween special on some of the witchiest women in LA history...and a house. Crack open a cauldron as we pod-cast a spell on your ears of the stories of Louise Huebner (6:53), Vampira (23:50), Elvira (53:29) and the Beverly Hills Witch House (1:10:37). Be there or be there. It's not a choice.
You must be 21 or older (in dog years) to listen to this episode on the long, cursed, prohibited, corrupt and tasty history of alcohol in this city from the very first grape vine to the very last boot legged. Fake IDs welcome. We'll cover the city's love affair with wine (6:43) including the San Antonio winery (24:35), the torrid romance with beer (28:25) including Eastside brewery (31:53) and the chilly non-romance of prohibition (48:21).
We declare this the XXXIInd episode of LA Meekly listenable! Settle in to hear about LA's two trysts with the Olympics in 1932 (7:29) and 1984 (37:12) and about our chances to make the third time the charm in 2024. It's a gold medal episode brought to you by two bronze gods.
March along with us to the beat of the stories of a few of LA's biggest parades! Including and limited to the PRIDE Parade (6:10), the Hollywood Christmas Parade (20:46), the Festival of the Chariots (36:51), La Fiesta de Los Angeles(42:53), the Rose Parade (1:03:50) and the Doo Dah Parade (1:20:23). No we do not have a permit for this episode.
In telling the stories of the two worst man made disasters in Los Angeles history, the St. Francis Dam (6:23) and the Porter Ranch gas leak (43:20), the LA Meekly boys inadvertently create the third worst man made disaster in Los Angeles history.
Here is our long overdue tourist guide on the city's most famous and recognizable landmarks. Whichever ones you're thinking of, they're in here. But not that one. Think of a better one. We'll cover the Hollywood Sign (4:45), the Walk of Fame (24:50), the Capitol Records building (42:15), the Hollywood Bowl (56:10), the Santa Monica Pier (1:16:14) and the Watts Towers (1:33:18).
Take a drive down Wilshire with us this month as we explore the two biggest assassinations in LA history; those of Robert F. Kennedy (5:57) and the Notorious B.I.G (38:09). One of these men were almost president when they died. You'd be surprised which one though. Unless you know who Robert F. Kennedy is.
What do we want? An episode about the biggest marches, protests and walkouts in the city's history! When do we want it? When we click download now! We'll cover the Garment Workers Strike of 1933 (5:06), the Chicano Movement and the Brown Berets (16:59), the LBJ protest in Century City (33:54), Ruben Salazar (49:14), the Black Cat (59:53) and the Immigration Reform Act protests of 2006 (1:15:01).
In this episode we are seeing Red and naming names as we tell you the story of the Hollywood 10 and the shameful Hollywood Blacklist of the 40s and 50s. How does a thing like that happen you ask? Well, just take a community built on pleasing the general public, add rumors of Communist ties and watch a city devour itself. We'll cover the Hollywood Blacklist round 1 (4:06) and round 2 (36:45).
Let us paint you the story of USC's Fisher museum (4:07). Let us sculpt you the history of the ever changing LACMA (16:01). Let us performance art you the saga of Norton Simon and his museum (1:01:39). Let us multimedia presentation you the struggle of MOCA (1:19:24). Let us art reference you the controversy of the Broad (1:36:10)! (Psst! This episode is about a few of the city's biggest art museums)
Ya better not pout, ya better not cry because we can't take any more suffering. Join us for our annual holiday episode as we check in to the Cecil Hotel to explore its horrific history and four of its most notorious guests. As always, it wouldn't be a haunted episode without paranormal audio issues so be warned. Your soul will be spared if you can spot the (very clear) mark in the episode when the audio starts to fail. We cover the history of the hotel itself (7:12), Richard Ramirez (21:36), Jack Unterweger (1:06:54), the pigeon lady of Pershing Square (1:23:37) and Elisa Lam (1:26:02).
Open wide for duck stuffed inside a turkey stuffed inside a podcast! Join us in giving thanks for the founding of Los Angeles as we explore the very beginnings of the city from the founding during the Spanish era (5:54), into the Mexican era and ending with the (almost) climactic battle against the American army as they took control...for now. (40:25)
Be not afraid. This episode will only scare the real estate developer inside of you. In this bonus we'll give you a brief rundown on one of the best kept Halloween secrets in town: Carroll Avenue.
We've got an inter-league double header for you folks tonight with a full history of the Dodgers all the way from Brooklyn to LA (3:41) followed immediately by the full history of the Kings (1:01:20) all the way from LA to slightly more north in LA. Play puck!
Buy me some peanuts and cracker jacks and we'll tell you the story of Los Angeles' baseball history before the boys in blue showed up including the upheaval in Chavez Ravine to make room for said boys in blue. We cover pre-Dodger baseball in LA (3:44) and the tragedy of Chavez Ravine (57:35).
Hop aboard for the twisting, turning, overcrowded story of the Los Angeles Railway yellow cars (LARy) (4:39) and the Pacific Electric red cars (PE) (40:23). All fares are non-refundable (NR). We are not joking (NJK).
Summer's here and you know what that means: History lessons about hot dogs! Listen up to the stories of a few of the most famous hot dog purveyors in the city. Ask for extra relish and see what happens. We cover Art's Chili Dog (5:21), Tail O' the Pup (12:31), Hot Dog On A Stick (19:43), Wienershnitzel (30:28), Carney's (38:13) and Pinks (43:50).
Put your hands and feet up and relax while we tell you the story of two of the most corrupt cops in LAPD history: Rafael Perez and the Rampart scandal (3:28) and Christopher Dorner (45:41).
Pull up a cantilevered stool and order a malt while we delve into the architectural style with the irritating name that defined the look of Los Angeles. We'll touch on the architects and establishments that made it possible from the eponymous Googie's itself to the legendary Armet and Davis. No substitutions. We'll cover a brief history of Googie as a style (5:01), Coffee Dan's and Googie's (27:28), Ships Coffee Shop (37:58), Denny's (48:56), Pann's (54:38) and Norm's (1:13:12).
TV's wackiest lady does it again. Don't be a Mertz, come listen to the tall tale of Lucille Ball's inadvertent involvement in World War II.
We're gonna jazz on down to Central Avenue to go over the story of LA's local Jazz scene of the early 20th century and the history of the people and culture that made it all possible. Feel free to scat along with us. We'll cover the trailblazing black community of the city from the Central Avenue neighborhood to Bronzeville (4:05), the rich Central Avenue jazz scene (56:16) and the eventual downfall of the Central Avenue neighborhood (1:45:40).
All great writers are capable of great endings. Here's the story of how F. Scott Fitzgerald met his own.
Chinatown episode leftovers are even better than the first time around. Here's the origin of another native Los Angeles dish: the Chinese chicken salad.
It’s Chinatown. Take a non-offensive because they actually had them rickshaw ride through the atrocious history of old Chinatown and the Chinese community of Los Angeles all the way up to the present day new Chinatown or, as you know it, Chinatown. We go over the bad days of Old Chinatown, the unforgivable Chinese massacre, the dueling New Chinatown and China City, the many laws set to keep the Chinese community down, which spawned the endlessly internal support that the community used to flourish. Listen to the early days of Chinese immigrants to the city (3:27) and the creation of China City and then Chinatown (42:02).
This month we explore two of your favorite American authors, one of your favorite heroes from the Old West and one of your favorite Beatles who all spent brief but memorable (and drunken) stays in Los Angeles. Hint: It’s not Stephen King, John Ringo, Johnny Ringo or Ringo Starr. We've got William Faulkner (2:44), Wyatt Earp (27:06), F. Scott Fitzgerald (54:35) and John Lennon (1:31:45)
In this brief bonus episode we draw out our announcement of our new episode release schedule for the new year and share a few words about some new occurences around town.
Another year another fear. Our seasonally creepy and haunted look at LA’s sordid history is back to take on ghostly hospitals, culty parks, lizardy people and more. Pray to baby Jesus and hold on to your yarmulke. We discuss the Galster Park Butcher in West Covina (1:00:12), the Gates of Hell known as Turnbull Canyon in Whittier (1:07:12), the ghost orderly at Linda Vista Communtiy Hospital in Boyle Heights (36:00), the murder and hauntings at the Greystone/Doheny Mansion in Beverly Hills (45:36), the underground secret tunnels of the Los Angeles Lizard People (19:50), and Greg talks about his field trip to the funeral for the unclaimed bodies at the L.A County morgue.
In honor of what we now know as "Thanksgiving," we’ll be talking about the native people who lived in what we now know as "Los Angeles" and what happened to them once what we now know as "the Spanish" came to take their land and put them in what we now know as "the Missions." This description is now known as "over." We cover the pre-historic and Native days of the city (3:06) and the Spanish and mission days as well (28:25).
Miss learning about LA's golden age of animation? Hear us delve even deeper into it on the This is Rad! podcast hosted by Kyle Clark and Matt Burnside. Take a listen to find out how.
Ever wonder what goes thump in the night? A new episode of L.A. Meekly downloading. This month we celebrate Halloween with the story of the golden age of Universal monster movies and the tortured men that played them (2:51) in addition to the endearingly obsessive efforts of hometown hero Forrest J Ackerman to keep their memory alive (51:10). Bonus credit to anybody who can keep count of how many wives these people had.
Nazis? The plague? Union bombings? Aliens? Crimes against civil rights? What do all these have in common you ask? We forgot. Join us this month as we shine a light on some Los(t) Angeles history that most history books and Nazi sympathizers would rather not talk about. We cover the LA Times bombing (2:35), the plague outbreak of 1924 (17:46), Murphy Ranch (37:24), the Battle of LA (48:02) and the Japanese internment (59:42).
DRAW up a chair as we ILLUSTRATE to you folks the ANIMATED story of Los Angeles’ cartoon history. We’ll TRACE it’s roots all the way from when Walt Disney first set up shop in his uncle’s Los Feliz garage (7:18), through the COLORFUL cast of characters that populated Termite Terrace (23:10), Hanna/Barbera (53:56), Jay Ward (1:02:17) up to the SYNCHRONIZED mayhem of he cartoon renaissance of the ‘90s and beyond!…INKING DEPARTMENT!
This month we talk about the extreme forms of weather Los Angeles has been subjected to throughout history. Join us as we watch the thermometer go from hot and dry to hot and wet to hot and on fire. We’ll also give you tips on what you can do to survive the city’s impending environmental doom. Hint: not much! We cover heatwaves (3:55), the Santa Ana winds (11:13), snow (21:39), tornadoes (25:06), smog (28:53), wildfires (42:14), droughts (51:26), floods (58:12) and the dreaded ARkStorm (1:11:52). (We apologize for the slight loss in audio quality this episode. Tom Bosley was being very uncooperative. (That will make sense shortly)
You must be this tall to hear this extensive history of Venice of America. Join us as we take a gondola ride through the canals, join one of LA's oldest gangs and watch the rivalry of the Venice and Ocean Park piers as their built up and burned down and built up and then burned down again. And again. And again. We cover Abbott Kinney himself (3:05), the amusements (20:08), the canals (58:25), the oil days (1:06:08), the history of Oakwood (1:11:34) and the tragedies (1:17:19). (All heights welcome).
Los Angeles was once the bank robbery capital of the world so put the money in the bag and put your headphones in as we give you a rundown on some of the cities most notorious holdups, heists and bandits from Stanley Mark Rifkin (8:35) to the Yankee Bandit (14:41) to the great Dunbar heist (41:20) to the North Hollywood shootout (49:51) and, from the old days, the legendary Tiburcio Vasquez (1:05:09).
A poisonously vital part of the puzzle from one of last episode’s stories falls into place just a little too late so we present to you our very first bonus episode to fill in one of what promises to be many gaps.
On tonight's menu we have a sampler of our proudest native dishes: the French dip (2:45), the hot fudge sundae (12:39), the chili burger (21:26), the cheeseburger (31:36), the Orange Julius (39:02) and the Cobb salad (48:25). Strap on your bib and get ready for the story of six famous foods invented in LA.
The showdown you never knew you were waiting for. The dueling histories of the Griffith Observatory and the Getty Center.
An historic look at the rise and fall of the country's greatest moving picture theater district: Broadway. After covering the history of the street we delve into a few theaters in particular the Million Dollar (21:12), the Orpheum (27:00) and the United Artists Theater (50:48).
The first of our seasonally haunted episodes from LA's past covering the Sharon Tate murder (2:50), the Menendez Brothers (12:25), the Lincoln Heights Jail (29:23), Rudolph Valentino's ghost (40:30), Rancho Los Amigos (52:38) and the curse of Griffith Park (1:01:34).