KPCC: Off-Ramp

The Baader Meinhof Complex Returns

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

The Baader Meinhof Complex, nominated for an Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film, returns to the Egyptian Theater for a special limited engagement Nov. 27-29. John Rabe spoke with Stefan Aust, who wrote the screenplay and the definitive history of this West German guerilla group.

The Books: Aquariums, Lost Bets, and Terrible Fathers

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Don't let The Books' folksy name fool you: the two-piece band's use of layers on layers of unconventional "found sound" is way ahead of its time. Spoken word records, crowds cheering, people walking through brush...it's a mesmerizing mix. Off-Ramp contributor Kevin Ferguson spoke with the band as it geared up for its Monday gig at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery (cellist Paul De Jong jokes that it will be the group's largest audience yet). Also, check out a video of one of guitarist Nick Zammuto's visually stunning sound art pieces...

MOCA Turns Thirty, Pulls Out All The Great Art

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Off-Ramp host John Rabe with Sam Hall Kaplan and MOCA chief curator Paul Schimmel on MOCA's new exhibits at MOCA Grand and MOCA's Gefffen Contemporary, which pull some of the best art from the museum's permanent collection. Come inside for John's artsy-fartsy movie of the works at the Geffen Contemporary, and John's guerilla art installation there.

Viggo Mortensen and John Hillcoat's American Cinematheque Q+A on "The Road"

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

"The Road," the post-apocalyptic movie based on the Cormac McCarthy book, is in wide release now. The movie premiered at The American Cinematheque's Egyptian Theatre, and featured a Q+A with director John Hillcoat and Viggo Mortensen. They had high praise for the boy who plays "the boy," Kodi Smit-McPhee. Here's a short excerpt.

Leonard Maltin Tells All ... about the new edition of his Movie Guide

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Off-Ramp host John Rabe talks with Leonard Maltin about his favorite book -- Maltin's annual Movie Guide. The 2010 edition of Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide is out now and if you'll come inside we'll show you how you can buy it and help KPCC.

In the first piece of audio, above, Leonard tells all. In the second, he tells some. The first is for aficianados of the movie guide; the second is the broadcast version, for neophytes.

Ilsa Setziol and Her Neighbors Disagree About Christmas Decorations

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

We got a call this week from enviro-journalist Ilsa Setziol ... her neighbors in San Gabriel are at it again.

How to fix high school drop out rates? Play video games!

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Texting in school? Posting to Facebook for extra credit?
 
Executives can’t imagine meetings without a blackberry. Companies are embracing Facebook to market their goods. And still, computers are scarce in most schools and cell phones aren’t allowed.
 
This week CyberFrequencies talks to educator Robert Torres, who says that schools must be on the cutting edge of technology to engage students. Torres is chief research officer at <a href=“http://q2l.org/">Quest to Learn</a>, a gaming middle-school opened in Manhattan this fall.
 
Go to <a href="http://www.cyberfrequencies.com/">CyberFrequencies.com</a> to find out what's on Robert's browser!

Mary Poppins Opens at the Ahmanson

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

"Mary Poppins," the smash stage musical of the beloved musical film, opened at the Ahmanson this weekend, and Off-Ramp was there to talk with co-director and choreographer Matthew Bourne; song and dance man Gavin Lee, who plays "Bert;" and Carter Thomas, a Glendalian who is one of the "Michael Banks;" and we hear the original and new songwriters -- performing live and spontaneously at the after-party -- tell how they wrote "Jolly Holiday" and "Supercalifragilisticexpealidocious."

The audio is a special web-only edition, only lightly edited for your enjoyment. Come inside to see Dick Van Dyke -- the original Bert -- take a bow and enjoy his ovation.

Off-Ramp Web Special: Foodies on Thanksgiving

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

The great chefs of Los Angeles tell us what's on their Thanksgiving menu this year, plus Pigtails & Sauerkraut, a Wiley Family tradition.

The Ashes of Oakridge: One Year Later, Slow Rebuilding Process Continues

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

A year ago this Saturday, the Sayre fire tore through Oakridge, a quaint mobile home park in the Sylmar foothills. It destroyed almost 500 homes. After a six month mandatory evacuation, residents began to move back into the park in May. But the rebuilding process has been slow. Charred metal and rubble lies amidst the 90-odd newly installed homes. To commemorate the anniversary, the team behind the documentary "The Ashes of Oakridge" returned to the park this week and took in the scene.

Hello Kitty turns 35!

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

This fall marks the 35th birthday of one of Japan's beloved pop icons - Hello Kitty. The Royal/T Cafe in Culver City is throwing her a huge birthday bash complete with Hello Kitty-shaped food, Hello Kitty-themed household items and art work inspired by the tiny white feline.

Californian's Invention Imposes Order on World: Road Stripe

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

So you know what else they invented in the Coachella Valley besides the date shake? The line down the middle of the road. Coachella Valley historian Pat Laflin says an Indio woman named Dr June McCarroll was the hero of this story.

Dinner Party Download: Klosterman, Kidnapping, and Killer Kandy

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Pop savant Chuck Klosterman is sharp as a tiger's whiskers... we lend an ear to the tale of a billionaire kidnapping... and Brendan celebrates Halloween by tasting the worst candy in the world.

Where's the "Emergency!" Star? Actor Randy Mantooth Still Saving Lives

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

You probably know actor Randolph Mantooth as paramedic John Gage from the 70s primetime drama "Emergency!" He hung up his EMT costume years ago, but the interest in emergency services generated by the show - and by his constant public advocacy for paramedics - have saved many lives. John chatted with the TV star about Emergency, working with Jack Webb, and two new movies he's in: Scream of the Bikini and Bold Native.

KCET's "That Could Be Me" -- Middle-Class Homeless Families On the Rise

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Off-Ramp host John Rabe talks with Lisa Ling about her SoCal Connected piece on the growing number of middle-class families who've been made homeless by the financial crisis. Lisa is the sister of Laura Ling, who was held captive by North Korea.

MOCA Turns 30 with Gala, Exhibit from Permanent Collection

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

MOCA is marking its 30th anniversary with a cluster of celebrations, including a gala Saturday that's blocking Grand Avenue and that you probably haven't been invited to. (Send pics if you have.) Off-Ramp host John Rabe looks at 30 years of MOCA with Off-Ramp contributor Sam Hall Kaplan and Eli Broad, the billionaire philanthropist who helped create MOCA 30 years ago, and helped rescue it from near financial ruin last year. Our first piece of audio is Broad's comments at the press opening Thursday morning. The second is the Rabe/Broad/Kaplan q+a.

"Hollywood Chinese," Arthur Dong's documentary, expands into a downtown LA museum

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

A couple years ago, Off-Ramp was on the red carpet when Oscar-nominated filmmaker Arthur Dong unveiled Hollywood Chinese, a devastating, fascinating, eye-opening look at how Hollywood has treated Chinese and Chinese-Americans. Much of the research material Dong collected to make the doc is at the Chinese American Museum through May 30, 2010, which is where Off-Ramp host John Rabe met Dong to talk about it.

The first piece of audio is the long version of John and Arthur's conversation, the second is the short verion, and the third is reporter Doualy Xaykaothao's piece from the premiere of the documentary.

Melrose Larry Green backs Beck pick, volunteers for cell-phone ban duty

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Melrose Larry Green, the thorn in OJ's side and a frequent guest on Howard Stern, opines on the Mayor's pick.

The Bill Bratton Era - A Special Report from KPCC's Frank Stoltze

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

KPCC's Frank Stoltze followed all seven years of former LA Police Chief Bill Bratton's career with the LAPD. This piece is the result of extensive interviews he did looking back on years that may prove to be the most important ones in the department's long and checkered history.

Berlin Wall Project At Wende Museum Marks 20 Years Since the Fall

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

KPCC's Shirley Jahad talks with Justinian Jampol of the Wende Museum, which is marking the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall with pieces of the old wall, and new art.