03/09/00

LC000309

VAL>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

WARREN>> MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ARE COMING TO LIVE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND A LOT OF HOMES NEED TO BE BUILT AND THAT'S WHERE THINGS START TO GET DICEY.

GAY YEE>> AHMANSON RANCH IS TUCKED IN THE HILLS OF SOUTHEASTERN VENTURA COUNTY, A POCKET OF LAND THAT'S AS PRISTINE AS IT GETS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. ROLLING EMERALD HILLS DOTTED WITH OAK TREES AND WILD ANIMALS.

LISA BOYD>> THERE'S 2,000 ACRES OF GRADING THAT WILL GO ON. THAT WILL BE THE REMOVAL OF 40 TO 45 MILLION CUBIC YARDS OF DIRT. THAT'S 50 TIMES THE VOLUME OF THE ROSE BOWL.

VAL>> AND IN TONIGHT'S THINKERS, SHAKERS & NEWSMAKERS, WE MEET THE MILLIONAIRE WHO IS ON A MISSION TO BRING YOU HIS VERSION OF MUST-SEE TV.

LLOYD RIGLER>> OUR VIEWERS TELL US WE'RE THE BEST THING ON TELEVISION AND I SAY WE MAY BE, BUT WE'RE THE BEST KEPT SECRET BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WE'RE THERE AND THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIND US EVEN IF THEY HAVE IT IN THEIR HOME.

WARREN>> PATT MORRISON RELATES THE SAGA OF THE MISSING BALLOTS.

PATT>> WHICH VOTERS REALLY RATE? THE GOPS OR THE SAGS? WHO COUNTS AND WHO'S DOWN FOR THE COUNT, ON TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

VAL>> AND A STORY THAT COULD HAVE BEEN RIPPED FROM THE PAGES OF LA CONFIDENTIAL. WE'LL TELL YOU ABOUT THE REBIRTH OF LA'S SILENT MOVIE THEATRE, A PLACE UNLIKE ANY OTHER IN THE COUNTRY.

WARREN>> THESE STORIES COMING UP NEXT ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT FOR THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2000.

LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING CORPORATIONS AND FOUNDATIONS:

THE JAMES IRVINE FOUNDATION
WHICH IS DEDICATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INFORMED CALIFORNIA CITIZENRY.


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A COMPANY COMMITTED TO TELECOMMUNICATIONS EXCELLENCE AND AN OPEN DIALOGUE AMONG ALL PEOPLE.

AND THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION
DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

WARREN>> GOOD EVENING, I'M WARREN OLNEY.

VAL>> AND I'M VAL ZAVALA.

WARREN>> OUR TOP STORY TONIGHT, DEVELOPMENT VERSUS OPEN SPACE. THE LATEST OUTBREAK OF CONTROVERSY IS OVER THE AHMANSON RANCH DEVELOPMENT IN EASTERN VENTURA COUNTY NEAR HIDDEN HILLS. IT'S THE TARGET OF A BATTLE SO HEATED THAT OPPONENTS ARE RUNNING ADS CALLING THE DEVELOPER AMERICA'S ENVIRONMENTAL ENEMY.

VAL>> NOW OPPONENTS OF THE DEVELOPMENT CLAIM IT WOULD REPLACE ROLLING HILLS WITH URBAN TRAFFIC AND POLLUTION, BUT SUPPORTERS SAY IT WOULD BRING NEW JOBS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN PROPERTY AND SALES TAX REVENUE. GAY YEE HAS THIS REPORT.

GAY>> AHMANSON RANCH IS TUCKED IN THE HILLS OF SOUTHEASTERN VENTURA COUNTY, A POCKET OF LAND THAT'S AS PRISTINE AS IT GETS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. ROLLING EMERALD HILLS DOTTED WITH OAK TREES AND WILD ANIMALS. ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS SUCH AS "SAVE OPEN SPACE" AND "HEAL THE BAY" WANT THE LAND LEFT ALONE. THE AHMANSON LAND COMPANY, A SUBSIDIARY OF WASHINGTON MUTUAL, INC. WANTS TO TURN 2,800 ACRES INTO 3,000 NEW HOMES, A HOTEL, TWO GOLF COURSES, PLUS OFFICE AND RETAIL SPACE. WASHINGTON MUTUAL SAYS THE DEVELOPMENT IS NECESSARY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA'S HOUSING CRISIS.

GUY GNIADEK>> WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW IS GROWTH IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND UNDERSTANDING THAT SIX MILLION PEOPLE WILL BE MOVING HERE OVER THE NEXT 15 TO 20 YEARS IS SOMETHING THAT WE ALL HAVE TO ADDRESS.

GAY>> TO FUEL THE DEBATE EVEN FURTHER, AHMANSON RANCH IS HOME TO SEVERAL ENDANGERED SPECIES, INCLUDING THE RED-LEGGED FROG AND THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY SPINE FLOWER, WHICH EVERYONE THOUGHT WAS EXTINCT BEFORE IT WAS FOUND HERE.

LISA BOYD>> LASKY MESA, WHERE THE ONLY KNOWN POPULATION OF SPINE FLOWER IN THE WORLD IS GROWING, IS ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS. THAT'S WHERE THEY FILMED GONE WITH THE WIND BECAUSE IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL. THERE ARE BEAUTIFUL OAK TREES THAT ARE HUNDREDS OF YEARS OLD GROWING HERE. SO IT'S BEAUTIFUL FOR HOUSING, BUT IT'S ALSO A NATIONAL TREASURE, A NATURAL TREASURE.

GAY>> OPPONENTS OBJECT TO THE MASSIVE GRADING AND FILLING OF TRIBUTARIES ALONG EAST LOS VIRGENES CREEK.

LISA BOYD>> THERE'S 2,000 ACRES OF GRADING THAT WILL GO ON. THAT WILL BE THE REMOVAL OF 40 TO 45 MILLION CUBIC YARDS OF DIRT. THAT'S 50 TIMES THE VOLUME OF THE ROSE BOWL. IN REMOVING ALL THAT AND LEVELING THINGS OFF AND FILLING IN THE WETLANDS AND THE TRIBUTARIES AND THE HEADWATERS OF THE CREEK, THAT'S SUBSTANTIAL ALTERATION OF THE HYDROLOGIC REGIME.

GAY>> "HEAL THE BAY" IS CONCERNED THAT ALTERING THE CREEK COULD HAVE A DOMINO EFFECT ON CONNECTING WATERWAYS, ESPECIALLY IF THE RUNOFF IS POLLUTED.

MARK ABRAMSON>> PESTICIDES, FERTILIZERS WILL ALL EVENTUALLY END UP RIGHT HERE IN MALIBU LAGOON. IT'S FED, LIKE I SAID, BY LOS VIRGENES CREEK WHICH THEN FEEDS DOWN INTO MALIBU CREEK WHICH ENDS UP IN MALIBU LAGOON. THIS IS WHERE THE TIDEWATER GOBI LIVES. THIS IS THE END POINT OF ALL THAT WATER FLOW, SO ANY OF THE POLLUTION THAT ENDS UP HERE IS GOING TO OBVIOUSLY AFFECT THAT ENDANGERED SPECIES.

GUY GNIADEK>> WE'VE ASSURED "HEAL THE BAY" AND OTHERS THAT THE QUANTITY AND QUALITY OF WATER THAT'S GOING TO BE LEAVING THE RANCH IS GOING TO BE THE SAME AFTER THE PROJECT'S CONSTRUCTED AS IT IS BEFORE.

GAY>> GNIADEK SAYS THE RUNOFF WILL BE CONTROLLED USING STATE-OF-THE-ART SEDIMENTATION BASINS, EROSION CONTROLS AND WATER RECOVERY SYSTEMS THAT WILL TRAP ANY POLLUTANTS BEFORE REACHING THE WATERSHED. THE DEVELOPER ALSO DONATED 2,600 ACRES OF THE RANCH FOR OPEN SPACE AND ADDED $30 MILLION DOLLARS THAT WAS COMBINED WITH ANOTHER $26 MILLION TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO CREATE 10,000 ACRES OF PARKLAND NEARBY, A PRESERVE THAT'S NEARLY FOUR TIMES THE SIZE OF THE DEVELOPMENT.

LENORA KIRBY>> AS A RESULT OF THIS DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL, WE REQUIRED THE DEVELOPER TO HELP GET 10,000 ACRES IN OPEN SPACE AND THAT LAND IS PROTECTED FOREVER NOW. ALL THE CREATURES AND THE TREES AND PLANTS AND ANIMALS THAT LIVE ON THOSE 10,000 ACRES WILL NEVER BE THREATENED BY DEVELOPMENT.

GAY>> LENORA KIRBY HEADS THE LOS VIRGENES INSTITUTE, WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED TO SERVE AS A CARETAKER AND ENVIRONMENTAL WATCHDOG OVER AHMANSON RANCH.

MARK ABRAMSON>> WHICH THEY BOUGHT AND PAID FOR. THEY PAID FOR IT, THEY FUNDED IT, THEY ARE NOT INDEPENDENT IN OUR POINT OF VIEW OR, I DON'T THINK, IN ANYONE'S POINT OF VIEW.

[FILM CLIP]

GAY>> OPPONENTS ARE LOOKING TO THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS FOR HELP. THE DEVELOPER NEEDS A PERMIT FROM THE CORPS TO MOVE SOIL FROM PARTS OF LASKY MESA. THE PROBLEM IS, THAT'S WHERE THE ENDANGERED SPINE FLOWER WAS FOUND AND SOME OF THAT SOIL WILL BE USED TO FILL PARTS OF EAST LOS VIRGENES CREEK.

[FILM CLIP]

WASHINGTON MUTUAL SAYS IT WILL NOT HURT THE ENDANGERED FROG OR THE FLOWER.

GUY GNIADEK>> WELL, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THESE SPECIES WERE FOUND BY US AND REPORTED TO THE AGENCIES QUICKLY, WE HAVE BEEN TREATING THEM AS IF THEY ARE ENDANGERED SPECIES OR THREATENED SPECIES AND THAT THE MITIGATION PLANS THAT WOULD TAKE PLACE FOR BOTH OF THEM HAVE BEEN WORKED ON VERY CLOSELY WITH ALL OF THE AGENCIES RELATED TO THE PROJECT.

GAY>> THIS HASN'T BEEN JUST A STRUGGLE BETWEEN ENVIRONMENTALISTS AND A DEVELOPER. IT'S ALSO PITTED COUNTY AGAINST COUNTY. AHMANSON RANCH WILL BE BUILT ON VENTURA COUNTY, YET ALL THE ROADWAYS LEADING OUT OF IT FILTER INTO LA COUNTY WHICH CLAIMS WILL BEAR THE BRUNT OF ITS TRAFFIC. THE CORPS HAS JURISDICTION OVER THE NATION'S WATERWAYS, BUT AT AHMANSON RANCH, IT'S BEING ASKED TO CONSIDER MORE. OPPONENTS ARE CONCERNED THE SMOG AND CONGESTION ON NEARBY VENTURA FREEWAY WILL ONLY GET WORSE.

BRUCE HENDERSON>> THEY'RE PUBLIC INTEREST FACTORS, AS WE CALL THEM. IF A PARTICULAR PROJECT HAS A NUMBER OF SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC INTEREST FACTORS THAT ARE ADVERSE, WE WOULD BE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT AND WOULD PROBABLY REQUIRE PROJECT MODIFICATIONS. IT COULD, IN SOME CASES, DENY A PARTICULAR PROJECT FOR BEING CONTRARY TO THE PUBLIC INTEREST.

GAY>> MUCH HAS CHANGED OVER THE PAST YEAR. OPPONENTS WANT ADDITIONAL REVIEW AND ARMY CORPS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT, WHICH COULD STALL THE PROJECT OR ALTER IT DRAMATICALLY.

LISA BOYD>> IF THEY ARE TRULY CONCERNED ABOUT THE ENDANGERED SPECIES AND ABOUT WATER QUALITY AND ABOUT THE HEALTH OF THIS WATERSHED, THEN THEY WILL GO ALONG WITH PRODUCING THIS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT. ALL IT IS IS THOROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW. IF THEY HAVE NOTHING TO BE AFRAID, THEN THEY WILL LET SCIENTISTS ON TO REVIEW THIS GROUND AND DISCOVER WHAT IS TRULY AT STAKE.

WARREN>> IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PLACE. SO DOES THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, THEN, REALLY HAVE A VETO POWER OVER THIS?

GAY>> WELL, THAT'S JUST IT. THEY'RE AT THE INFORMATION GATHERING POINT AT THIS POINT AND THEY'RE SAYING, HEY, IF WE NEED TO DO AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY, WE WILL. BUT IT COULD THROW A WRENCH INTO THINGS. IT COULD DELAY THINGS OR IT MAY CHANGE THINGS ENTIRELY.

VAL>> AND THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS DOESN'T REALLY LIKE TO GET DRAGGED INTO THESE.

GAY>> NO. NO, THEY MADE IT VERY CLEAR THEY DO NOT LIKE TO GET INTO LAND USE ISSUES. THEY FEEL THAT'S THE LOCAL POLITICS OF THE LOCAL REGION. DON'T BRING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INTO THIS.

WARREN>> BUT THEY'RE IN IT, LIKE IT OR NOT.

GAY>> RIGHT.

VAL>> GET READY FOR THE E-MAILS, GAY.

GAY>> RIGHT.

VAL>> THANK YOU.

NEXT UP, TONIGHT'S THINKERS, SHAKERS & NEWSMAKERS.

IF YOU HAD A MILLION DOLLARS AND WANTED TO INSPIRE A LOVE OF THE ARTS, WHAT WOULD YOU DO? WELL, IN THE CASE OF ONE PHILANTHROPIST, YOU'D SPEND $50 MILLION DOLLARS TO LEASE A SATELLITE TRANSPONDER AND START BEAMING DOWN EVERYTHING FROM OPERA AND BALLET TO CHAMBER MUSIC AND THEATRICAL PERFORMANCES.

WARREN>> AND THE RESULT IS CLASSIC ARTS SHOWCASE, A PROGRAM WHICH AIRS LATE AT NIGHT HERE ON KCET AND ON OTHER STATIONS AS WELL. IT'S BEEN DUBBED THE MTV OF CLASSICAL MUSIC. BUT JUST WHO IS THIS MAN WHO IS SPENDING HIS FORTUNE TO INSPIRE A LOVE OF THE ARTS? HIS NAME IS LLOYD RIGLER AND HE RECENTLY HAD THIS CONVERSATION WITH VAL.

VAL>> YOU HAVE AN AMAZING BACKGROUND. IT'S SO ECLECTIC. YOU'VE SOLD OR MARKETED EVERYTHING FROM RICE BOWLS TO BLENDERS AND, OF COURSE, YOU MADE YOUR FORTUNE ON ADOLPH'S MEAT TENDERIZER. BUT YOUR TRUE LOVE, AFTER ALL OF THAT, IS THE ARTS. HOW DID THAT COME ABOUT?

LLOYD RIGLER>> I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN NORTH DAKOTA. MY MOTHER WAS INTERESTED IN THE ARTS. SHE BOUGHT EDISON RECORDS AND WE HAD A PHONOGRAPH AND WE LEARNED ABOUT -- AND THEN WE HAD ARTS EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS WHERE WE PLAYED RECORDS. SO I WAS EXPOSED TO IT. I WAS ALWAYS INTERESTED IN THE THEATRE. I STUDIED FOR THE THEATRE WHEN I WENT TO COLLEGE.

I WENT TO NEW YORK TO GO IN THE THEATRE AND I DISCOVERED THAT MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN THE THEATRE WEREN'T MAKING A LIVING IN THE THEATRE. THEY WERE SELLING NECKWEAR AT BROOKS BROTHERS AND SO FORTH. SO I DECIDED I HAD TO FIND A WAY TO BE ABLE TO SURVIVE AND ALWAYS BE AHEAD OF THE GAME AND THAT'S WHAT I'VE DONE.

VAL>> BUT WHAT YOU'RE REALLY TRYING TO DO IS GIVE THAT EXPOSURE TO MORE AND MORE PEOPLE.

LLOYD RIGLER>> WHAT WE REALLY TRIED TO DO WAS, BECAUSE WE LOVE THE ARTS, WE WANTED TO SUPPORT THE ARTS. ALL THE ARTS ARE NOT FOR PROFIT UNLESS THEY'RE COMMERCIAL AND THEY NEEDED TO HAVE SUPPORT. SO WE'VE BEEN SUPPORTING THE ARTS SINCE THE EARLY 50'S WHEN WE CREATED OUR FOUNDATION.

WE DISCOVERED THAT MOST OF THE PEOPLE WE WERE DEALING WITH WERE VOLUNTEERS WHO WERE ADMINISTRATORS OF THE ARTS AND DIDN'T REALLY UNDERSTAND BUSINESS. SO WE CREATED THE ARTS MANAGEMENT COURSE AT UCLA WHICH WAS COPIED ALL OVER AMERICA IN EVERY COLLEGE. TODAY, ALL ARTS ORGANIZATIONS ARE RUN BY MASTERS IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION WHO HAVE MBAS IN ARTS.

EVERY YEAR, THERE ARE LESS AND LESS PEOPLE ATTENDING THE ARTS AND THE BOARDS OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS INCREASED THE PRICE OF THE TICKET, WHICH MAKES IT EVEN MORE DIFFICULT TO GO. DURING MY RESEARCH, I DISCOVERED THAT IT'S ALL BASED UPON THE ARTS FROM WESTERN EUROPE. THEY WERE BROUGHT HERE BY THE PEOPLE WHO IMMIGRATED AND THEY'RE THE ONES THAT HAVE THE INTEREST IN THE ARTS FROM HOME IN EUROPE. EUROPE DOESN'T HAVE THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT'S SO MUCH A PART OF THE CULTURE THAT EVERY FAMILY FEELS THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO GO TO THE ARTS AND THE GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS THE ARTS THERE.

VAL>> SO WHAT IS THE SOLUTION HERE?

LLOYD RIGLER>> WELL, IN THE MID-80'S, I WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT IT BASED ON THE INFORMATION I WAS GETTING FROM MY REPORTS FROM THE ORGANIZATIONS I WAS SUPPORTING TO SEE THAT THEY HAVE AN EVER-INCREASING AMOUNT OF EMPTY SEATS EVERY YEAR. I BECAME CONCERNED AND I RESEARCHED IT AND DISCOVERED THAT, SINCE 1978 OR SOMETHING, WE WERE IMMIGRATING ABOUT 235,000 PEOPLE A YEAR. TODAY WE'RE IMMIGRATING A MILLION A YEAR AND HAVE BEEN FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS.

OF THAT MILLION, NONE OF THEM ARE FROM WESTERN EUROPE. THEY ARE USUALLY 50 PERCENT LATINO, 40 PERCENT ARE ASIAN AND 10 PERCENT ARE THIRD WORLD. THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD TO GO TO THE ARTS IN THEIR OWN COUNTRIES, EVEN IF THEY HAD THEM THERE. MY CONCERN WAS, HOW AM I GOING TO EXPOSE THIS NEW INFLUX OF PEOPLE, THIS WONDERFULLY DIVERSE POPULATION IN AMERICA THAT WE HAVE, TO THE ARTS?

VAL>> HOW DID CLASSIC ARTS SHOWCASE BEGIN AND WHAT IS IT'S MISSION?

LLOYD RIGLER>> I CAME OUT HERE AND SAID THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY FOR ME TO EXPOSE THESE PEOPLE TO THE ARTS AND THAT'S TO PUT UP MY OWN SATELLITE, A PROGRAMMER-OWNED SATELLITE.

VAL>> SO, IN A SENSE, BECOME YOUR OWN BROADCASTER, YOUR OWN DISTRIBUTOR, --

LLOYD RIGLER>> YES, I'M A PROGRAMMER.

VAL>> -- BUY SATELLITE TIME AND PROGRAM IT AND SEND OUT ALL THIS MATERIAL FOR ANYBODY WHO HAS A SATELLITE DISH OR ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO SEE IT ON CABLE?

LLOYD RIGLER>> WE WENT ON THE AIR ON MY BIRTHDAY ON MAY 3, 1994. WE DO EIGHT HOURS, THAT'S ABOUT 150 DIFFERENT CLIPS A WEEK, THAT WE REPEAT THREE TIMES A DAY FOR A WEEK AND CHANGE. MY HOPE WAS THAT, IF I GOT INTO THE HOMES AND I EXPOSED AMERICA TO THE ARTS, THEY WOULD --

VAL>> APPRECIATE IT.

LLOYD RIGLER>> -- TURN ON AND BUY TICKETS. VAL, IN SIX YEARS, WE HAVE -- THROUGH THESE NON-COMMERCIAL CHANNELS AND SOME LOCAL PBS STATIONS LIKE KCET WHO CARRY US OVERNIGHT AND USES US AS FILLER AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO THEN PROGRAM, WE'RE IN SOME 56 MILLION HOMES IN AMERICA IN 46 STATES. OUR VIEWERS TELL US WE'RE THE BEST THING ON TELEVISION AND I SAY WE MAY BE, BUT WE'RE THE BEST KEPT SECRET BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WE'RE THERE AND THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIND US EVEN IF THEY HAVE IT IN THEIR HOME.

VAL>> MR. RIGLER, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR STOPPING BY, AND THANK YOU FOR THE GIFT OF CLASSIC ARTS SHOWCASE.

LLOYD RIGLER>> WELL, I'M SO HAPPY TO BE HERE AND I'M HAPPY TO TELL YOUR VIEWERS MORE ABOUT THE SHOWCASE AND I HOPE THEY WATCH.

WARREN>> MAN WITH A MISSION.

PATT MORRISON IS ON THE TRAIL OF SOME ELECTION IRREGULARITIES IN TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

PATT>> SOME BLANK BALLOTS WERE MISSING ON ELECTION DAY. SOME BALLOTS WENT ASTRAY. INVESTIGATORS WERE CALLED. A SEARCH ENSUED. THIS WAS, AFTER ALL, A VERY IMPORTANT ELECTION AND ANY IRREGULARITIES WOULD BE AN OUTRAGE TO THE SANCTITY OF THE VOTE. OH, YES, SOME BALLOTS IN CALIFORNIA'S FIRST MARCH PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY WERE MISPLACED OR PLAIN NOT THERE AT ALL, BUT THAT'S NOT WHY INVESTIGATORS WERE SUMMONED. THE MISSING BALLOTS THAT PUT EVERYONE IN A TIZZY WERE NOT THE BALLOTS CALIFORNIA VOTERS NEEDED TO CHOOSE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEES OR TO ALTER THE DEATH PENALTY OR CHANGE THE STATE CONSTITUTION, BUT THE BALLOTS FOR CHOOSING THE WINNERS OF THE ACADEMY AWARDS.

IN POLLING PLACES IN BURBANK AND PASADENA, REPORTS OF THE WRONG BALLOTS BEING DELIVERED, OF THE RIGHT ONES NOT TO BE FOUND, EVIDENTLY GENERATED A FEW TELEPHONE CALLS, BUT NOT OVERMUCH OFFICIAL CONCERN. CONTRAST THAT WITH THE FULL COURT PRESS MOUNTED TO TRACK DOWN AND RESCUE EIGHT MAIL SACKS OF BALLOTS THAT WERE NEVER RECEIVED BY THE HIGH AND MIGHTY WHO VOTE FOR OSCAR-WINNERS.

THE ACADEMY OF MOTION PICTURE ARTS AND SCIENCES HAD INVITED THE PRESS TO A PHOTO OP ON THE DAY IT HAD THE BAGS OF BALLOTS DELIVERED TO THE BEVERLY HILLS POST OFFICE. WHEN WORD GOT BACK THAT ABOUT 80 PERCENT OF ALL THE BALLOTS HAD STILL NOT BEEN DELIVERED, AN INVESTIGATION WORTHY OF SCOTLAND YARD ENSUED. NOW THIS WAS A CRISIS. SOME OF THE BAGS TURNED UP IN A BULK MAIL DEPOT MANY MILES FROM BEVERLY HILLS AND SOME HAVE NOT BEEN FOUND AT ALL. REPLACEMENT BALLOTS WILL BE SENT POST-HASTE.

THE SAGA OF THE OVERDUE OSCAR BALLOTS GOT FAR MORE AIRTIME THAN THE MISSING ELECTION BALLOTS AND ALMOST AS MUCH AS THE ELECTION ITSELF. THAT SAYS A GREAT DEAL ABOUT A SOCIETY OBSESSED WITH VERY LITTLE, ONE THAT IS ENRAPTURED WITH THE INCONSEQUENTIAL AND INDIFFERENT TO THE EARTH SHAKING. A YEAR FROM NOW, A FEW OF US WILL REMEMBER WHAT WON FOR BEST PICTURE, BUT ALL OF US WILL HAVE NEW LAWS, A NEW LEGISLATURE AND A NEW PRESIDENT. WHICH BALLOTS IN WHICH ELECTION WILL MOST AMERICANS REMEMBER BEST? MAY I HAVE THE ENVELOPE, PLEASE?

VAL>> THANK YOU, PATT.

WELL, WE LIVE IN THE MOVIE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD, AS YOU KNOW, AND FOR THE PAST 70 YEARS OR SO, ALL OF THOSE MOVIES HAVE BEEN TALKIES. BUT THERE IS STILL ONE SHOWCASE FOR THE CLASSIC FILMS OF THE SILENT ERA.

WARREN>> LA'S SILENT MOVIE THEATRE IS THE ONLY ONE OF ITS KIND IN THE COUNTRY AND, AS WE FIRST TOLD YOU LAST NOVEMBER, IT'S RECENT RE-OPENING IS THE HAPPY ENDING OF A STORY WITH ALL THE ELEMENTS OF A GREAT FILM, AS PHILIP BRUCE REPORTS IN TONIGHT'S PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS.

CHARLIE LUSTMAN>> WELL, IT WAS LIKE THIS WHEN I WALKED IN HERE. I WAS, LIKE, "WOW, OKAY."

PHILIP>> CHARLIE LUSTMAN IS A MAN WHO HEARS VOICES, WHISPERS FROM THE GREATS OF HOLLYWOOD'S PAST. IF YOU FIND THAT ODD, CONSIDER THAT THE ONE'S DOING THE TALKING NEVER SPOKE A WORD ON SCREEN.

CHARLIE LUSTMAN>> YOU KNOW, IF I WAS A SILENT MOVIE STAR, I WOULD WANT TO BE HERE. I MEAN, WHERE WOULD YOU GO IF YOUR SPIRIT WAS WANDERING THE GLOBE? I THINK I'D WANT TO BE AT THE SILENT MOVIE THEATRE.

PHILIP>> WHETHER OR NOT THEIR SPIRITS ARE HERE, YOU CAN FIND THEIR FILMS PLAYING ONCE AGAIN AT THE LITTLE THEATRE ON FAIRFAX AVENUE, A PLACE BUILT JUST FOR SILENT MOVIES LONG AFTER THE "TALKIES" HAD PUSHED THEM ASIDE.

CHARLIE LUSTMAN>> I GUESS THIS IS THE BURLESQUE SHOW TYPE OF MUSIC, BUT YOU NEVER KNOW. A SEDUCTRESS MAY COME OUT AND GO, "WELCOME TO THE PICTURE SHOW."

PHILIP>> CHARLIE LUSTMAN, A FORMER MUSICIAN AND SONGWRITER, KNEW NOTHING ABOUT FILM AND EVEN LESS ABOUT RUNNING A THEATRE WHEN HE NOTICED A FOR SALE SIGN ON THE FRONT DOOR.

CHARLIE LUSTMAN>> AND I THOUGHT, "THIS COULD BE A GREAT BUILDING FOR A, LIKE, AN ARTIST COLONY. YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A BUNCH OF SCULPTORS AND PAINTERS AND BUILD A FEW LITTLE RECORDING STUDIOS IN THE BACK AND HAVE A CAFÉ IN THE CENTER.

PHILIP>> BUT THEN CAME THE VOICES, THE LIKES OF HAROLD LLOYD AND CLARA BOW AND "FATTY" ARBUCKLE, FACES THAT HAD LINED THESE WALLS FOR MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY.

CHARLIE LUSTMAN>> SO I WALK IN THE BUILDING, I WALK INTO THE MAIN ROOM HERE, AND ALL THESE PEOPLE WERE LOOKING AT ME. ALL THESE PORTRAITS WERE ON THE WALLS. I SAID, "OH BOY, OKAY." ALL THEY'RE SAYING TO ME, I COULD HEAR THEM, "OPEN UP THE SILENT MOVIE THEATRE." SO THAT ARTIST LOFT THING JUST, POOF, WAS GONE.

PHILIP>> AND SO BEGAN THE UNLIKELY JOURNEY OF AN UNLIKELY HERO WHO RESCUED THE WORLD'S ONLY SILENT MOVIE THEATRE FROM OBLIVION. IT REOPENED LAST WEEK TO RAVE REVIEWS AND HUGE CROWDS, A HOLLYWOOD ENDING TO A TANGLED STORY THAT, AT TIMES, WAS LIKE A MOVIE ITSELF. IT BEGAN TWO YEARS AGO AS A MURDER MYSTERY WHEN THE THEATRE'S PREVIOUS OWNER, LAWRENCE AUSTIN, WAS GUNNED DOWN IN THE LOBBY BY A PAID ASSASSIN.

CHARLIE LUSTMAN>> I WASN'T AWARE OF IT UNTIL I WALKED IN HERE AND THE REAL ESTATE AGENT WAS, LIKE, "WELL, WE HAVE TO TELL YOU RIGHT UP FRONT THAT THERE WAS A MURDER HERE." I WAS, LIKE, "OKAY, SO WHAT? OKAY, GREAT." IT WAS A BIG THING. IT WAS BIG NEWS.

PHILIP>> AUSTIN'S PROJECTIONIST AND COMPANION, JAMES VAN SICKLE, HAD HIRED THE GUNMAN IN WHAT LATER TURNED OUT TO BE A SCHEME TO INHERIT AUSTIN'S MONEY. BOTH VAN SICKLE AND THE HIT MAN WERE SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON BUT, IN THE WAKE OF THE CRIME, THE THEATRE SEEMED DOOMED TO A DEATH SENTENCE. THAT'S WHEN LUSTMAN CAME TO THE RESCUE, BUYING THE BUSINESS AND WITH THE HELP OF SOME INVESTORS, RESTORING THE OLD BUILDING.

CHARLIE LUSTMAN>> JAVIER'S THE HANDYMAN THAT PRETTY MUCH SAVED THIS PLACE IN A LOT OF WAYS. HE'S SUPERMAN. THANKS, JAVIER. ALL RIGHT, GET BACK TO WORK NOW, WILL YOU? WE'RE PAYING YOU BY THE HOUR HERE.

PHILIP>> TODAY, IN MANY WAYS, THE THEATRE IS BETTER THAN IT WAS THE DAY IT WAS BUILT BACK IN 1942.

CHARLIE LUSTMAN>> THROUGH THE ENTIRE PROCESS, THE WHOLE THING ABOUT THE MURDER AND EVERYTHING KIND OF FELL TO THE WAYSIDE COMPLETELY FOR ME WHEN I STARTED FOCUSING ON THE ORIGINAL FOUNDER AND BUILDER AND OWNER AND PIONEER OF FILM RESTORATION, JOHN HAMPTON.

PHILIP>> JOHN HAMPTON MOVED TO LOS ANGELES FROM OKLAHOMA FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF BUILDING AND OPENING A SILENT MOVIE THEATRE. HIS WIFE, DOROTHY, WAS A LIFETIME PARTNER IN THAT EFFORT.

CHARLIE LUSTMAN>> RIGHT HERE'S A PICTURE OF DOROTHY AND LARRY AUSTIN. THAT'S LARRY IN HIS EARLY MID-20'S.

PHILIP>> AUSTIN, THE MAN WHO WAS MURDERED HERE, WAS A LONGTIME FRIEND OF THE HAMPTONS. MANY YEARS LATER, AFTER JOHN HAMPTON HAD DIED, AUTHORITIES CLAIM AUSTIN USED THAT FRIENDSHIP TO PERSUADE THE THEN ELDERLY DOROTHY TO SIGN THE THEATRE OVER TO HIM, FOR NO MONEY AND WITH NO ATTORNEY PRESENT. IT WAS A SUSPICIOUS DEAL, BUT PERFECTLY LEGAL. IRONIC, BECAUSE AUSTIN WAS LATER KILLED BY ANOTHER FRIEND WHO WANTED THE THEATRE FOR HIMSELF.

CHARLIE LUSTMAN>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE WAY JOHN HAMPTON BUILT THINGS. IT WAS VERY TIGHT IN HERE. IN FACT, THESE DOORS ARE 17-1/2 INCHES WIDE.

PHILIP>> LUSTMAN SAYS HE DOESN'T KNOW WHERE LARRY AUSTIN'S SPIRIT IS THESE DAYS, BUT HE BELIEVES JOHN HAMPTON'S IS STILL LINGERING HERE IN THE THEATRE HE BUILT, LINGERING AMONG THE SILENT MOVIES HE REVERED.

CHARLIE LUSTMAN>> TOO MANY THINGS HAVE POPPED UP ABOUT JOHN AND ABOUT THE WAY HE WOULD HAVE DONE THINGS, AND THINGS THAT WERE HIS THAT ENDED UP COMING BACK HERE IN A STRANGE WAY.

PHILIP>> AMONG THOSE ITEMS THAT STRANGELY RESURFACED, A SET OF HAMPTON'S OLD KEYS, INCLUDING ONE THAT WAS VERY SPECIAL.

CHARLIE LUSTMAN>> THIS WAS THE FAMOUS KEY HERE, THE 50-YEAR-OLD KEY THAT OPENED UP THE LOCK. IT WAS THAT ONE KEY I'D PULLED OUT OF 50 OR 60 KEYS. I CAME DOWN HERE AND I OPENED THIS LITTLE LOCK HERE AND WE HAVE OURSELVES A FILM VAULT. THIS WAS WHERE HAMPTON KEPT HIS FILMS IN THE EARLY DAYS.

PHILIP>> BESIDES THE GREAT SILENT FILMS, THE THEATRE HAS SET ASIDE ONE DAY FOR TUESDAY'S TALKIES. THIS WEEK'S CLASSIC, THE JAZZ SINGER.

CHARLIE LUSTMAN>> AHA, THERE YOU ARE. LET'S SEE. YEAH, THAT'S IT. THE JAZZ SINGER. I JUST TOLD MY PUBLICIST, "THE JAZZ SINGER IS HERE." SHE'S LIKE, "I DIDN'T KNOW YOU HIRED A SINGER." COME ON IN, BABY. MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME.

PHILIP>> IF JOHN HAMPTON'S PRESENCE IS HERE SOMEHOW, IT SURELY MUST BE SMILING. LIKE THE GREAT SILENT FILMS, HIS LITTLE THEATRE HAS SURVIVED AND ALL THOSE SILENT SPIRITS NO LONGER HAVE TO WANDER. THEY HAVE A HOME ON FAIRFAX AVENUE. FOR LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT, I'M PHILIP BRUCE.

WARREN>> AND YOU CAN CATCH SOME OF HOLLYWOOD'S SCARIEST MOVIES FROM NOW THROUGH SUNDAY DURING HORROR WEEK AT THE SILENT MOVIE THEATRE.

VAL>> I SAW CHAPLIN THERE. IT WAS WONDERFUL.

THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.

TOMORROW, IMAGINE SURVIVING A BRUTAL RAPE, KNOWING WHO YOUR ATTACKER IS AND YET THE POLICE CAN'T DO A THING ABOUT IT.

>> IT'S A HORRIBLE FEELING. IT'S A HORRIBLE FEELING. YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I'VE BEEN PUNISHED FOR WHAT HE DID. I AM PUNISHED FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE AND HE'LL NEVER BE PUNISHED. YOU DON'T GET OVER THAT.

WARREN>> THAT'S TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

TOMORROW ON WHICH WAY LA, PLUMPNESS WAS ONCE A SIGN OF PRIVILEGE, BUT NOW IT'S ASSOCIATED WITH POVERTY AND POOR HEALTH. IS OBESITY AN ISSUE OF CLASS? THAT'S TOMORROW.

KCRW 89.9 FM, WHICH WAY LA
WEEKDAYS FROM 1-2 P.M.
REBROADCAST AT 7:00 P.M.

VAL>> FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT, HAVE A WONDERFUL EVENING. WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING CORPORATIONS AND FOUNDATIONS:

THE JAMES IRVINE FOUNDATION
WHICH IS DEDICATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INFORMED CALIFORNIA CITIZENRY.

GTE
A COMPANY COMMITTED TO TELECOMMUNICATIONS EXCELLENCE AND AN OPEN DIALOGUE AMONG ALL PEOPLE.

AND THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION
DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

TO REACH US AT LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT, CALL 323-644-4159. SEND US AN E-MAIL TO LIFE AND TIMES@KCET.ORG OR LOG ONTO OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.KCET.ORG TO SEND MESSAGES OR DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPTS OF TONIGHT'S PROGRAM.