Greetings, history geek:

Are you fascinated by the forgotten social history of Los Angeles, from low life to high society? Do old buildings make you swoon? Are you a good writer and a careful researcher, able to cite sources and bring old tales to life? Do you have or wish to develop a specialized knowledge of some neglected aspect of Los Angeles lore (for example: Vaudeville performers, streetcar routes, obsolete restaurants, political scandals)? Is time travel your dream date?

If the answer to most of these questions is yes, then you are a good candidate to be part of an ambitious new blog called In SRO Land, and we would like to hear from you. Read on for more information, and instructions on how you can apply to join the blog team.

Gentle reader,

1) If you were born in March we think you're special. That's why we're offering a MARCH HARES PROMOTION all month long: when they come with a fully paid passenger, the March baby pays just $3.33 for their seat, AND receives a pop culture goodie bag to take home. Pre-reservations are essential and space is limited, so contact us to reserve your spot on the last available tour PASADENA CONFIDENTIAL (3/28). And yes, crime buddies, we WILL be checking IDs!

2) SATURDAY, MARCH 28 - Crimebo's back on our popular PASADENA
CONFIDENTIAL crime bus tour, a very proper excursion into all the horrid
tales the white-gloved ladies of the town would rather we not tell. They say
each community gets the crimes it deserves, and Pasadena's have always been
extraordinary. Climb aboard for rough trade, rocket science, monkeys run amok, suicide leaps, devil worship, madmen and assorted evils that will forever change the way you look at Pasadena. (Tour eligible for March Hares promotion, see #1.) More info is at http://esotouric.com/pasadena

Nice addition to the Daily Mirror, without which this city would be much poorer indeed.

Hey, note the double use of the Foss/Heindel.

Gentle reader,

1) JOHN FANTE TURNS 100 next month, and we're celebrating the centennial of our favorite downtown writer with two very special free events. On Tuesday, April 7 at 7pm, Zocolo at the Hammer Museum presents a panel discussion moderated by the NEA's Director of Literature David Kipen. The panel is still unannounced, but will include our own Richard Schave, biographer Stephen Cooper, KCRW's Frances Anderton and John and Joyce Fante's children. Tickets are free but reservations required, so get yours at the link below. Also on April 8 (his actual birthday) we'll be gathering at 8pm to raise a glass at the King Eddy Saloon at 5th & Los Angeles Streets in downtown's old Skid Row.
http://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/lectureseries.php?event_id=244#
   

It’s not an Edwardian octoplex full of grime and grifters. It’s not even on Bunker Hill. But we’re going to tell the tale of the Architects’ Building, and if not to you, faithful OBHer, then to whom?

All and sundry weep for the Richfield. It’s not altogether true that everyone turned a blind eye during its ‘68-9 demo. Even the Government knew enough to come on out with its Instamatic and take lots of snaps.

After the DWP and Dorothy Chandler went up, postcard photographers said whoopee! something to shoot besides City Hall and the Chinese. So they cruised up to the bluff on Huntley, trained their lenses across Second and Beaudry toward First and Flower and fired away. The day view is a Plastichrome by Colourpicture, the night view by Western Publishing & Novelty, both circa 1965.

People land on cars. They just do. It’s how Daredevil and Crank end; it’s how Lethal Weapon begins. Pauly lands on a car in Darkman; Conan O’Brien lands on a car in South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut. And then there’s George Costanza’s suit against the hospital whose mental patient landed on his automobile. Clinicians call it the Evelyn McHale Syndrome, or at least I do.