More bad news on the Arts front: The Pasadena Playhouse, an L.A. landmark and institution, California’s only State Theatre, will be closing its doors, possibly for good, due to financial woes.

With 2 million owed to creditors and no way to pay, the current production of Camelot looks to be its last. Thirty seven employees will be out of work after the final curtain February 7th.

Stephen Eich, executive director of the Pasadena Playhouse, has said he is looking for ways to fulfill his obligation to current subscribers amidst massive financial restructuring and possible bankruptcy.

Attempts to find a donor to name the main auditorium after have thus far proved fruitless, as corporate donations have dwindled.

The company was founded in 1917, and the building itself built in the twenties, this is a huge loss for the arts, and a huge loss for theatre. I truly hope they find a way to re-open their doors soon.

L.A. Rainy

So, yes, it’s raining. Those of you who may have spent, oh, any time at all anywhere with normal weather patterns may wonder what the big deal is. Why do Angelenos freak out so much when it rains?

You are absolutely right to wonder so. As much as I love this city, it’s one of the things I feel is legitimately embarrassing.

First of all, and this is important, all the admonishments to “Drive Safe” when so much as a light sprinkle hits the city aren’t because the roads themselves are any more treacherous than any other city, or that there’s any lack of facility or any drainage problem in a city that doesn’t get much rain, or anything of that nature, at all.

Those warnings, silly as they seem, are because a lot of people in this city have no idea how to drive in the rain. Even those who should know better seem to suddenly forget. Seriously, be careful. People don’t know what the hell they’re doing and there are wrecks. Lots of them. We’re too used to driving on perpetually dry pavement. I’m not saying creep along like a grandma, that just makes things worse, just be aware.

I know Angelenos are world champions at multi-tasking behind the wheel, but now is not the time. Please.

That being said, I Love this weather. If you get the chance, go try out my absolute favorite thing to do in Los Angeles; take a walk on the Venice Boardwalk in the rain. Put on a good jacket, a good hat that’ll keep your head dry and some shoes that’ll keep you from soaking your socks in a puddle and go. (I, personally, have no use for umbrellas, and I grew up in Oregon, but whatever.)

There’ll be almost no one there; just some street kids and the hard core store owners. A neighbor or two, maybe, with their dogs. It’ll be peaceful, yet still urban. The sky will be almost the same color as the ocean. The air will be clean and crisp. Get a coffee or a tea from one of the die hard merchants and stroll. Zen for days. Enjoy.

So, one of the things I love about living in L.A., about having some of my family here in L.A., about spending the Holidays in L.A., is the Soothing Peace of there being an almost complete lack of Traffic over the Christmas Holiday.

Now that the Holidays are behind us, I thought it might be a good time to reflect upon how that was completely fucked up this year and totally not the case. Thanks 2009, there’s another thing you couldn’t get right.

And in keeping with the spirit of the times, in a effort to flow with the popular zeitgeist, much as many of our politicians and mainstream news figures and media outlets do, I fully intend to blame something that pisses me off on the economy.

However, unlike most talking heads and pundits, I not only know that I have no real idea what I’m talking about, but I’m fully copping to it. Right here in front of folks.

I have no formal training in economics. The closest I’ve come to a college education is having driven through Westwood. Most of what I know about String Theory comes from reading XKCD, but I intend to share my theory that Christmas Traffic in L.A. is an indicator of the general economic state of our fine city, as much or more than sales receipts on Black Friday.

If that sounds like fun to you, if that’s your kind of Train Wreck, follow me over the Jump: Read the rest of this entry →

Winter Silence

Tomorrow night is the Longest Night of the Year to snuggle up to someone warm.

The Solstice is exact for us here in Los Angeles at exactly 9:47 AM this Morning. It’ll be the shortest day, and the longest night of the year. And that’s pretty much the story for the whole hemisphere.

But in L.A. it’s at exactly 9:47 AM.

See, my Pagan sensibilities come with a certain amount of anal-retentiveness. My Astrological curiosity comes with a little exactitude, ya dig?

I mean, y’ever wonder exactly when sunrise and sunset happen on a particular day? Maybe exactly when a New or Full Moon is? Ever find yourself trying to do the math from Greenwich Mean Time, and wondering whether you needed to subtract an hour or not?

Okay, probably not. But for all you amateur astrologers out there who aren’t ready to invest in their own telescope, or all you fledgling vampires out there who want to avoid bursting into flames or looking conspicuously sparkly, a few links for current Los Angeles data:

Seasons, Equinoxes and Solstices
Sunrise and Sunset
Moonrises and moonsets (That’s Right.)
Moon Phases
Interestingly enough, (at least, if you read this far, I assume it is) the Griffith Park Observatory has a list of Moon Phases, as well. They differ slightly, by about a minute, on a few of the times. To be fair, the “Time and Date” website claims an accuracy of “within one minute,” so there yeh go. You can make you’re own decision about who has the final word. Personally, the Griffith folks are local, I been there, I’ma go by what the local kids say, but you do as you like.

So, there it is. All the Loony info you need. Now if I’d just tell you something useful, like when it’s okay to park in a green zone. (Never, that’s my space on Sunday!) But that kind of thing only happens once in a Blue Moon.

Which, incidently, occurs this year on New Year’s Eve. (At exactly 11:13 AM)

Who is this dashing RobNoxious fellow?

Time to let go of ’09 and get ready for a New Start.

2009 is almost finished, and while there have been some great things that have happened, been plenty to remember fondly and celebrate, there’s also been a good lot that I’m sure none of us will miss. Some things that we should just put behind us. Some stuff that makes us just want to put paid to ’09  and get on with the New Year. Bring on some 2010.

Like the fact that RobNoxious hasn’t posted on Metblogs at all this year!

I Know! A Whole Year! Longer, really. Horrible, isn’t it? Tragic, one might say.

Well, well, welly well, my Little Droogs, not to worry. And we need not wait until the calendar flips its page into the next Three Sixty Five for my return:
The Noxious One is back, Friends.

All of my old posts can be found here:
(http://la.metblogs.com/author/robnoxious/)

But to narrow things down a bit, I think you should know that:
I like it The Punk Rock,
I like Comic Books and Sci Fi,
I don’t like surruptitious throttling of my internet, tapping of my phone or threats to Net Neutality,
I like Amusement Parks,
I don’t like douche bags,
I love exploring our fine city,
and even enjoy the occasional bit of poetry.

Really, though, I’m just another Artist making his way in L.A., paying the bills at his work-a-day job. But y’know, sometimes the job can really be HELL. (for someone, anyway. heh.)

In any case, it’s really good to be back, and I look forward to venturing into the New Year with everyone.

Thanks guys,
Rob

X – The Original Line Up – is playing The Fonda on April 10th, and I wanna give you tickets!

So here’s how this is gonna work: Back in October, as part of out “Greatest Dead Angelenos” series, I did a post on Darby Crash.

I included the somewhat cryptic statement, “Exene Cervenka’s got a Germs Burn, do you?“

What does that mean?

Post your answer in the comments section, and I’ll pick a winner at random from those. I have at least one pair to give away, maybe two. We’ll see how much esoteric L.A. Punk trivia you kids can handle.

X
April 10, 2008
Music Box at The Fonda
6126 HOLLYWOOD BLVD,
Hollywood, CA 90028
8PM

The BBC recently ran a story about tent villages popping up in our back yard, modern day Hoovervilles.

The big question is why is this news in England and not here? Have I just missed all the coverage on it? If so, I am not alone.

A commenter on the Subliterate Cinephile blog that ran a post about this places the shelter in Ontario at a place named Camp Hope. While said commenter also gives some statistics, I don’t see them backed up by the story he linked to in response.

While I don’t doubt that the “Sub-Prime” angle was played up by the BBC, it’s still disturbing to see tent cities popping up in the Inland Empire. Is this possibly a direct result of the efforts to move the homeless from Downtown? Or is the homeless population booming?

And still, why the BBC and not the local, or at least U.S. Media?

Via Boing Boing and Subliterate Cinephile.

Andrew Bell, one of my favorite artists/web cartoonists, and one of the nicest guys I’ve met, is opening a solo exhibition tonight at Gallery 1988.

Runs through March 27, opening reception tonight at 7PM.

Click the Pic for more detail.

Burning Desire
Gallery 1988
7-10PM
7020 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90038

That’s right, The New York Dolls are coming back, and you know you wanna see ‘em.

Fortunately Metblogs is looking out for yeh. I’ve got two pairs of tickets to give away for the March 7th show at the Henry Fonda Theatre.

So here’s the deal: David Johansen, The Doll’s front man also played one of my favorite characters in one of my favorite Bill Murray movies. Hint: It’s a Holiday Movie and he plays a Taxi Driver. (David Johansen, not Bill Murray.)

No, not Groundhog’s Day. Different Holiday.

Hit up the comments with a quote from Mr. Johansen part in this movie from his Past, and I’ll either pick my favorite quote or select at random, which is basically the same thing ’cause all his lines are hilarious and I can’t choose anyway.

This also means if the quote you wanted to use has already been used you can use it anyway, it won’t hurt your chances of winning. It just has to be a quote of his from the movie in question.

Get It? Got it? Good.

New York Dolls
Henry Fonda Theatre
6126 Hollywood Blvd,
Hollywood, CA 90028

O.K. Seriously, if you’re not hip to The Kids of Widney High, you should be.

They are, in fact, Ten Kinds of Awesome.
(That’s right, Ten.)

Check it:
“The Kids of Widney High are a group of students from Widney High School, a special ed. high school in Los Angeles, who write and perform original songs. The group started in 1988 as a song writing class and changes as the students come and go from Widney. The students perform with a band consisting of Vince Licassi-guitar, Judy Rudin-harmonica, Tony Bollas-drums, Spero Anthony-bass, and Michael Monagan-guitar.”

O.K. Great, buncha handicapped kids, so I’m obviously tryin’ to be a do-gooder and plug the Kids’ Show, ’cause we all know what a nice guy I am, right?

Yeeeaaahhh. Right. You must have me confused with that other RobNoxious.

The Kids of Widney High Kick Ass. Period. I ain’t doin’ charity here. They’re doing you a good deed kickin’ your ass with awesome tunes, that’s what.

Plus, it’s a free gig.

7PM
Tonight
February 28, ’08
Amoeba Music
6400 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90028

(I really am a pretty nice guy, actually. At least that’s what I’m told…. Don’t let it get out though, will yeh?)

How often on your job do you accidentally cause someone’s Eternal Damnation?

Okay, so I’ve had a lot of crazy jobs in my life. This one’s had its moments, to be sure, but I don’t think I’ve ever, so casually, in the midst of a workday just straight out damned somebody.

I mean sure, I’ve probably helped a poor soul or two (hundred) down the path to fiery eternity, but never so inadvertently or with such ease.

I didn’t even have to show the woman my ten inch tongue or breath through my ears!

You owe me one, Scratch! You should know better by now than to think I give freebies!

After the jump I’ll give you the whole story. It’s somewhere between Waiter Rant and The Screwtape Letters.
Read the rest of this entry →

Comics legend, and creator of such gems as Howard the Duck and Thundarr the Barbarian, Steve Gerber passed away Sunday.

Steve was a driving force behind Marvel Comics in the 70′s; just about the time I fell in love with the old “sequential art.” And who doesn’t love Thundarr?

He lived the last of his days in Los Vegas, but claimed Los Angeles as his home for 20 years. More details here, and his blog, with info on some of the things he was still working on here.

R.I.P. Mr Gerber.

AT&T want to Scour the Web for Pirates; Verizon says, “No.”

AT&T, at the behest of Hollywood, is ready to start “Network Filtering.” That is, monitoring the packets of information that sail across their networks, in order to stop distribution of works under copyright.

Y’know, spying.

I frankly think the entire system and thought behind copyright law needs an overhaul, (I invite you to check out the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and their efforts at “Copyfighting”) but whatever your views on it I don’t want my ISP monitoring what goes on in my computer any more than I want my phone company listening to my telephone conversations.

Oh, wait, these are the same bastards that did that for the Bush Administration.

And they’re not alone, Comcast has been bottlenecking Bit Torrent transfers for some time. Doesn’t matter if the content is legal or not, Comcast is throttling Bit Torrent. Have fun waiting for that mandatory game patch on Warcraft!

Once these measures are in place, does anyone really think the policing will stop at copyright violations? I know this is an Industry Town and all, but I am not ready to sacrifice what may prove to be the last bastion of the First Amendment just so little Johnny can’t illegally download Cloverfield.

Fortunately, not all ISPs are on board. Verizon is telling Hollywood to shove it.

(Follow me over the jump where they can’t see us…)
Read the rest of this entry →

Art Auction tonight to support the Angel City Derby Girls roller derby team at Meltdown Comics.

Proceeds go toward their 2008 season and practice space. And hey, who wouldn’t wanna hang out with these gals?

Confirmed Artists:
Jackson Massey
Sphia Pottish
puede1
Augustine Kofie
EXIST
agent b
Liza Danger
SHERM
Stacks Malone
Yelley
Lizz Lopez
Ego
Potna
AWOL1
Nabahe
Agapito Doronio
JAO (Just an Owl)
Palmer
Lisa Moneypenny
Bi Daddy Funds
WyldeFlower

Meltdown Comics & Angel City Derby Girls Present:
Eat Your Art Out
One Night Only!
January 26th, 2008
7Pm
Art Auction

ASIFA-Hollywood has just posted scans of issue number one of “The Adventures of Big Boy” written by Stan Lee and drawn by Bill Everett in 1956.

Published by Timely Comics, which later changed their name to Marvel, (maybe you’ve heard of them) The Adventures of Big Boy is one of the World’s Oldest continuously running comic book lines, still being produced over fifty years later.

Bob Wian opened his first Big Boy restaurant twenty years earlier in Glendale, and turned animator Benny Washam’s caricature of a local boy into a franchise juggernaut.

The whole story, which is pretty damn cool, if you ask me, is on the ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Archive website, along with the comic.
(ASIFA is actually a French acronym:”Association Internationale du Film D’Animation” Who knew?)

Thanks to Boing Boing for hipping me to this.