10/28/02

LC021028

VAL ZAVALA>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

JESS MARLOW>> THEY DON’T CALL THEM SWEATSHOPS FOR NOTHING, BUT L.A.’S GARMENT INDUSTRY MAY BE READY TO TRY A NEW PATTERN.

ALMA AMYA>> I SEE JUST A SIMPLE T-SHIRT, JUST A SIMPLE ONE. $50 OR $80 DOLLARS? IT MAKES ME WANT TO CRY BECAUSE OUT OF THOSE $80, MAYBE SOME WORKER BACK IN MY COUNTRY OR EVEN HERE IN L.A. JUST GOT A FEW PENNIES OUT OF IT.

VAL>> WANT TO TRACK DOWN THE ROOTS OF YOUR FAMILY TREE? GET READY. A GENEALOGICAL TREASURE HAS GONE ONLINE. THE 1880 U.S. CENSUS HAS JUST BEEN MADE AVAILABLE BY THE MORMON CHURCH AND NOW IT’S ONLY A MOUSE CLICK AWAY. TONIGHT WE’LL SHOW YOU WHAT’S WAITING ON THE WEB.

JESS>> SHE HAS ONE OF THOSE VOICES YOU’LL RECOGNIZE IN AN INSTANT.

[FILM CLIP]

JESS>> ACTRESS CAROL CHANNING HAS JUST WRITTEN A TELL-ALL STORY AND IT’S ALL ABOUT HER. TONIGHT SHE’S HERE TO TELL US ALL ABOUT IT.

VAL>> IT’S ALL STRAIGHT AHEAD ON TONIGHT’S LIFE AND TIMES.

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

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.

AND THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT
THE STATE'S LARGEST HEALTH FOUNDATION SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS THAT DIRECTLY IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF CALIFORNIA'S DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT, A PARTNER FOR HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES.

VAL>> GOOD EVENING, I’M VAL ZAVALA.

JESS>> AND I’M JESS MARLOW. L.A.’S GARMENT INDUSTRY IS A MAJOR FORCE IN THE WORLD OF FASHION, BUT THERE’S LITTLE GLAMOUR FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY DO THE WORK. IN MOST CASES, THE HOURS ARE LONG AND THE WAGES ARE LOW.

VAL>> BUT SOME LOCAL MANUFACTURERS ARE BREAKING THE SWEATSHOP TRADITION BY OFFERING GOOD PAY AND UNHEARD OF BENEFITS LIKE INSURANCE. AS JEFFREY KAYE REPORTS, THE ONLY QUESTION IS WHETHER THESE ENLIGHTENED COMPANIES CAN SURVIVE.

JEFFREY KAYE>> GORGEOUS, GLAMOROUS AND CUTTING EDGE. THIS IS THE PUBLIC FACE OF THE NINE BILLION DOLLAR A YEAR LOS ANGELES FASHION BUSINESS, A CROSSROADS OF THE AMERICAN APPAREL INDUSTRY. BUT THE PARADE OF GLOSS AND GLITTER IS PRODUCED BY THE SWEAT AND SKILL OF A LARGELY UNDERGROUND WORKFORCE. SOME 120,000, MOSTLY IMMIGRANT GARMENT WORKERS, LABOR IN THE SHADOWS OF THE L.A. FASHION WORLD.

KIMI LEE>> WE CALL IT THE SWEATSHOP CAPITAL OF THE U.S. AND THE REASON IS BECAUSE ALL THESE FACTORIES ARE SWEATSHOPS.

JEFFREY KAYE>> KIMI LEE IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE GARMENT WORKERS CENTER. THE ORGANIZATION FIGHTS FOR THE RIGHTS OF APPAREL WORKERS. LEE SAYS MANY OF L.A.’S FIVE THOUSAND GARMENT FACTORIES OFTEN LOCATED IN DECAYING DOWNTOWN OFFICE BUILDINGS ARE WORKPLACE NIGHTMARES.

KIMI LEE>> THESE WORKERS ALL FACE WHAT WE CALL SWEATSHOPS WHERE IT’S DIRTY, DUSTY, RATS, COCKROACHES, NO BREAKS. THEY CAN’T GO TO THE BATHROOM SOMETIMES. YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE END OF THE DAY OR THEIR PAY IS DOCKED. THEY WORK FIFTEEN OR SIXTEEN HOURS A DAY. THEIR TIMECARDS ARE FALSIFIED, YOU KNOW, WHERE IT GETS PUNCHED OUT AT FIVE O’CLOCK, BUT THEY STAY UNTIL EIGHT OR NINE.

DOV CHARNEY>> YOU’RE TIGHT. RELAX. RELAX, IT’S CALIFORNIA.

JEFFREY KAYE>> ENTER DOV CHARNEY, A FLAMBOYANT CANADIAN-BORN L.A. CLOTHING ENTREPRENEUR. CHARNEY SAYS HE’S ON A CRUSADE TO SMASH THE GARMENT INDUSTRY’S CULTURE OF WORKER EXPLOITATION FROM WITHIN.

DOV CHARNEY>> WE’VE UNDERVALUED THIS JOB IN THE LAST THIRTY YEARS. THIS IS A HARD DAMNED JOB. I BET YOU THAT YOU OR YOUR CHILDREN OR MANY OF THE PEOPLE WITHIN YOUR SOCIOECONOMIC GROUP WOULDN’T BE ABLE TO DO THAT. IT’S A SKILLED JOB AT THIS POINT. THESE ARE PROFESSIONAL SEAMSTERS.

JEFFREY KAYE>> CAN YOU DO IT?

DOV CHARNEY>> NO.

JEFFREY KAYE>> CHARNEY IS THE CO-FOUNDER OF AMERICAN APPAREL, A THREE-YEAR-OLD CLOTHING COMPANY THAT SPECIALIZES IN MANUFACTURING HIP AND HIGH-END T-SHIRTS AND UNDERWEAR. IT’S CLOTHING MADE AND MARKETED AS BOTH SEXY AND SWEATSHOP-FREE.

DOV CHARNEY>> THIS IS BASICALLY THE PITCH. IT’S T-SHIRTS THAT LOOK GOOD, T-SHIRTS THAT FEEL GOOD AND T-SHIRTS THAT ARE MADE IN A NON-EXPLOITIVE SETTING. EXPLOITATION IS NOT EVEN AN OPTION. IT’S A THIRD RAIL FOR US. WE DON’T GO THERE.

JEFFREY KAYE>> CHARNEY’S EIGHT HUNDRED EMPLOYEES CUT AND SEW CLOTHES ON NEW EQUIPMENT, WORKING ON A MAMMOTH FACTORY FLOOR THAT’S CLEAN, WELL-LIT AND AIR CONDITIONED. THE FACTORY’S MEDIAN WAGE IS $9.24, BUT FAST SEWERS WORKING IN TEAMS INSTEAD OF AS INDIVIDUALS ON ASSEMBLY LINES CAN MAKE MORE, DEPENDING ON HOW MANY GARMENTS THEY SEW.

DOV CHARNEY>> WE SET IT UP SO WE KNOW THAT EVEN AN AVERAGE PERSON WORKING IN THE SETTING COULD MAKE A HUNDRED DOLLARS A DAY IN EIGHT HOURS. SO WE KIND OF KNOW ALREADY BECAUSE WE’VE MADE THESE PRODUCTS FOR SO LONG THAT WE KNOW YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE SO MANY T-SHIRTS AND YOU CAN MAKE APPROXIMATELY A HUNDRED DOLLARS. NOW IF THEY COOPERATE BETTER AND WORK TOGETHER BETTER, THEY CAN MAKE UP TO A HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS A DAY.

JEFFREY KAYE>> AS A GROUP?

DOV CHARNEY>> AS A GROUP. MAYBE MORE.

JEFFREY KAYE>> OTHER ON-THE-JOB BENEFITS INCLUDE FREE PHONES, AFTER-HOURS ENGLISH CLASSES, EVEN A PART-TIME MASSEUR WHO’S ON CALL TO TRY TO RUB AWAY SOME OF THE ACHES AND PAINS OF THE JOB.

DOV CHARNEY>> SHE WORKS AT AMERICAN APPAREL, SHE LOVES WEARING AMERICAN APPAREL.

JEFFREY KAYE>> WORKERS WITH THE RIGHT LOOK CAN ALSO BE SELECTED AS MODELS IN AMERICAN APPAREL’S CATALOGS AND AD CAMPAIGNS.

DOV CHARNEY>> THERE’S HER AD.

JEFFREY KAYE>> LOOKING AHEAD, CHARNEY IS PLANNING ON PROVIDING HIS EMPLOYEES WITH PAID VACATIONS, HEALTHCARE AND AN ONSITE CHILDCARE CENTER. HE SAYS IT’S ALL PART OF HIS AMBITION TO CREATE A COMPANY WHERE PROFITS AND PRINCIPLES CAN CO-EXIST.

ALMA AMYA>> WHEN I MET DOV, HE ALWAYS WALKED AROUND “HELLO, PEOPLE. HOW ARE YOU DOING?”

JEFFREY KAYE>> ALMA AMYA, A SALVADORAN IMMIGRANT AND SINGLE MOTHER, SAW HER AMBITIONS FLOWER AFTER COMING TO WORK AT AMERICAN APPAREL. WITHIN THREE MONTHS, SHE MOVED FROM A SEWING JOB TO A FRONT OFFICE POSITION.

ALMA AMYA>> I TALKED TO DOV AND I SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, I NEED SOMETHING ELSE BECAUSE I JUST DON’T WANT TO BE JUST A WORKER FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.

JEFFREY KAYE>> BUT NOT EVERYONE IS CONVINCED THAT CHARNEY IS THE UNBLEMISHED CHAMPION OF WORKERS’ RIGHTS. ORGANIZED LABOR, ESPECIALLY, CRITICIZES THE T-SHIRT MOGUL FOR HIS NON-UNION WORKPLACE, ARGUING THAT WORKER TREATMENT THERE DEPENDS SOLELY ON CHARNEY’S GOOD WILL INSTEAD OF A FORMAL CONTRACT. ORGANIZED LABOR IS INSTEAD EMBRACING AN EVEN BOLDER CAMPAIGN TO REFORM THE GARMENT INDUSTRY. IT WAS LAUNCHED LAST APRIL WITH A FANFARE OPENING OF CASUAL CLOTHING MANUFACTURER, TEAM X.

>> AND NOW EVERYBODY PLEASE PARTICIPATE WITH US. FREE T-SHIRTS FOR EVERYBODY!

JEFFREY KAYE>> TEAM X HAS BEEN FINANCED BY A VENTURE CAPITAL FUND CONTROLLED BY BEN COHEN OF BEN AND JERRY’S ICE CREAM FAME. SIXTY EMPLOYEES, MEMBERS OF UNITE, THE GARMENT WORKERS’ UNION, RECEIVE A MEDIAN SALARY OF $10.50 AN HOUR. COMPANY PRESIDENT, DOUG WATERMAN, SAYS THEIR GOAL IS TO TURN THE FIRM INTO A WORKERS’ COOPERATIVE.

DOUG WATERMAN>> THE CONCEPT OF WORKER OWNERSHIP, THE CONCEPT OF PARODY BETWEEN SALARIES AND EARNINGS THAT A MANAGEMENT TEAM EARN AND TAKE VERSUS WHAT THE WORKERS WHO ARE ACTUALLY DOING THE WORK AND MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR EVERYBODY TO MAKE SALARIES, I THINK IS AN IMPORTANT FACT, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF WHAT’S BEEN GOING ON IN CORPORATE AMERICA THESE DAYS.

JEFFREY KAYE>> FOR TEAM X AND ITS BACKERS, THE COMPANY EXISTS AS MUCH TO PROMOTE A CAUSE, LABOR JUSTICE, AS IT DOES TO TURN A PROFIT. UNIONS AND GROUPS THAT PROMOTE WORKERS’ RIGHTS ARE THE BIGGEST CUSTOMERS OF THE CASUAL CLOTHING MADE UNDER THE LABEL OF SWEAT X.

DOUG WATERMAN>> NOW HOPEFULLY, YOUR NEXT STEP IS TO SAY NOT JUST MADE IN AMERICA, BUT MADE IN A UNION SHOP.

ILSE METCHEK>> TRADE SHOWS, AND THIS HAPPENS FIVE TIMES A YEAR.

JEFFREY KAYE>> ILSE METCHEK ISN’T BUYING IT. SHE’S THE DIRECTOR OF THE CALIFORNIA FASHION ASSOCIATION, THE APPAREL INDUSTRY’S TRADE GROUP.

ILSE METCHEK>> WE APPLAUD THEM FOR WHAT THEY DO, BUT IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE REST OF THE INDUSTRY.

JEFFREY KAYE>> SHE SAYS TEAM X AND AMERICAN APPAREL CAN BE SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE THEY’VE CARVED OUT NICHE MARKETS.

ILSE METCHEK>> THEY DON’T HAVE DESIGNERS. THEY DON’T HAVE TO MAKE PRODUCT TEN TIMES A YEAR TO BE DIFFERENT. THEY DON’T HAVE TO FOLLOW THE SEE-THROUGHS, THEY DON’T CHANGE COLOR. THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT CONSUMER. WE’RE PROUD OF THEM. TERRIFIC. BUT THE PRODUCT, THE FABRIC, DOESN’T CHANGE IN TWELVE MONTHS.

JEFFREY KAYE>> METCHEK ACKNOWLEDGES ABUSES IN THE GARMENT INDUSTRY, BUT SHE SAYS U.S. GARMENT CONTRACTORS COULDN’T COMPETE IF THEY HAD TO PAY THEIR WORKERS MUCH MORE THAN THE MINIMUM WAGE.

ILSE METCHEK>> THE WORK WOULD BE DONE OFFSHORE AND ALL OF THE PEOPLE WORKING HERE, ALBEIT FOR PERHAPS MINIMUM WAGE, WOULD BE OUT OF WORK.

JEFFREY KAYE>> BUT THE INDUSTRY DOESN’T GET ENOUGH SCRUTINY, SAYS ALMA AMYA. SHE SAYS ITS EXPLOITATION OF WORKERS IS HEARTBREAKING.

ALMA AMYA>> WHENEVER I GO TO J.C. PENNEY’S, SEARS, AND ALL THOSE BRANDS, YOU KNOW, BIG STORES, I SEE JUST A SIMPLE T-SHIRT, JUST A SIMPLE ONE. $50 OR $80? IT MAKES ME WANT TO CRY BECAUSE OUT OF THOSE $80, MAYBE SOME WORKER BACK IN MY COUNTRY OR EVEN HERE IN L.A. JUST GOT A FEW PENNIES OUT OF IT AND THEY’RE GETTING ALL THE PROFIT. I MEAN, IT MAKES YOU WANT TO CRY FOR REAL. IT DOES.

JEFFREY KAYE>> EMPLOYEES SAY THAT AMERICAN APPAREL AND TEAM X PROVIDE THEM WITH A BENEFIT OFTEN MISSING IN THE GARMENT INDUSTRY: A SENSE OF DIGNITY.

ALMA AMYA>> I HAVE A KID AND I WANT TO BE THIS KID’S HERO, YOU KNOW? I WANT HIM TO BE ABLE TO LOOK UP TO ME FOR WHAT I BECAME SINCE I WAS ON THE SEWING MACHINE.

JESS>> CHARNEY OF AMERICAN APPAREL SAYS IT’S GOOD BUSINESS TO OFFER WORKER BENEFITS. HE EXPECTS EARNINGS TO TOP $60 MILLION DOLLARS NEXT YEAR, TRIPLE WHAT THEY WERE IN 2001.

VAL>> TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, LOS ANGELES FINALLY HAS A NEW POLICE CHIEF IN PLACE. WILLIAM BRATTON IS NO STRANGER TO THE BRIGHT LIGHTS OF THE MEDIA, BUT CAN HE GET RID OF THE DARK CLOUD HANGING OVER THE LAPD? WE’LL LOOK AT BRATTON’S FIRST DAYS IN OFFICE, TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES.

JESS>> IN 1880, AMERICANS WERE RECOVERING FROM THE CIVIL WAR AND EXPERIENCING HARD ECONOMIC TIMES AND THIS NATION WAS ON THE VERGE OF INDUSTRIALIZING. THE 1880 UNITED STATES CENSUS INCLUDED SUCH NAMES AS THOMAS EDISON, JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER AND FREDERICK DOUGLAS.

VAL>> NOW THE 1880 CENSUS IS AVAILABLE ONLINE, THANKS TO THE WORK OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS. THIS DATABASE CONTAINS MORE THAN FIFTY MILLION NAMES. IT INCLUDES INFORMATION SUCH AS AGE, RACE, BIRTHPLACE AND OCCUPATION AND IT'S ALL AVAILABLE WITH A FEW CLICKS OF A MOUSE. JOINING US TO TELL US MORE ARE ELDER TAD CALLISTER OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS, AND MARVIN PERKINS WHO IS THE CHURCH'S LIAISON FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY RELATIONS. WELCOME, BOTH OF YOU, TO LIFE AND TIMES.

MARVIN PERKINS>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.

ELDER TAD CALLISTER>> THANK YOU.

JESS>> YOUR CHURCH HAS LONG BEEN INVOLVED IN GENEALOGY, BUT WHAT PARTICULAR VALUE, WHAT SPECIFIC VALUE, IS THIS NEWLY-EXPANDED DATABASE?

ELDER TAD CALLISTER>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, AS YOU MENTIONED, IT HAS FIFTY MILLION NAMES AND THEY INDICATE THAT ABOUT NINETY-FIVE PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES WERE INCLUDED IN THIS CENSUS. SO IF YOU HAD ANY RELATIVES THAT LIVED IN THE UNITED STATES IN 1880, YOU COULD HOOK INTO THESE PEOPLE. YOU'D FIND OUT ABOUT THEIR OCCUPATION, YOU COULD CLICK AND FIND WHO THEIR NEIGHBORS WERE, THEIR CHILDREN, WHERE THE PARENTS WERE BORN. ALL OF THIS WOULD HELP YOU TO TIE IN AND IDENTIFY WITH THESE ANCESTORS OF YOURS.

VAL>> THAT'S AMAZING, AND THE POPULATION IN 1880 WAS ABOUT FIFTY-FIVE MILLION. YOU HAVE FIFTY MILLION NAMES IN THERE. HOW DID YOU COME TO GET ALL THESE NAMES INTO THE COMPUTER?

MARVIN PERKINS>> WELL, AS YOU KNOW, THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS IS VERY BIG IN FAMILY HISTORY. WE'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH FOR MANY, MANY YEARS AND IT'S A PASSION FOR US BECAUSE OF OUR BELIEFS IN ETERNAL FAMILIES. WE HAVE SPENT ACTUALLY THE LAST SEVENTEEN YEARS COMPILING THIS DATA, READING IT OFF OF DIFFICULT-TO-READ MICROFILM, JUST TO MAKE IT AVAILABLE TO THE WORLD.

VAL>> HOW MANY PEOPLE? HOW MANY HOURS?

MARVIN PERKINS>> THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY -- WAS IT EIGHTY?

ELDER TAD CALLISTER>> 11.5 MILLION HOURS WERE SPENT. IMAGINE IF YOU TRANSLATED THAT INTO MINIMUM WAGE.

JESS>> ALL VOLUNTEER WORK?

MARVIN PERKINS>> ALL VOLUNTEER.

ELDER TAD CALLISTER>> ALL VOLUNTEER OVER THESE SEVENTEEN YEARS. SO IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE LABOR OF LOVE TO PUT THIS ALL TOGETHER SO IT WOULD BE ACCESSIBLE AND IN EASILY READABLE FORM TODAY FOR PEOPLE.

JESS>> JUST GATHERING THE CENSUS IN THOSE YEARS MUST HAVE BEEN AN INCREDIBLE TASK TOO, MUCH OF IT GATHERED, I ASSUME, ON HORSEBACK?

MARVIN PERKINS>> IT WAS. THEY WALKED GREAT DISTANCES COVERING THE THIRTY-EIGHT STATES, I BELIEVE IT WAS, AND EIGHT TERRITORIES AT THE TIME, WALKING INTO DUSTY TOWNS AND FARM ROADS JUST TO GATHER THIS INFORMATION. THE BEAUTY OF IT, "THE PORTRAIT OF AMERICA", AS THE LAYOUT WAS CALLED, IT GIVES A TREMENDOUS PORTRAIT OF AMERICA. NOT ONLY OUR CAUCASIAN AMERICANS, BUT AFRICAN-AMERICANS, ASIAN-AMERICANS, MEXICAN-AMERICANS AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

JESS>> THIS IS THE FIRST CENSUS WHERE AFRICAN-AMERICANS WERE LISTED AS PEOPLE RATHER THAN AS PROPERTY.

MARVIN PERKINS>> AND THAT IS HUGE. AS A MATTER OF FACT, ELDER CALLISTER REFERRED TO IT EARLIER, BUT IN THE 1880 CENSUS, NINETY-FIVE PERCENT OF THE AMERICAN POPULATION WAS ACCOUNTED FOR WHEREAS IN THE EARLIER CENSUS IN 1870, THERE WERE ONLY EIGHTY-EIGHT PERCENT OF THOSE AND FEWER AFRICAN-AMERICANS. SO YOU'VE GOT A GREATER SELECTION OF PEOPLE AND JUST ABOUT EVERY AMERICAN TODAY CAN FIND SOME ROOTS BACK THERE IN THE 1880 CENSUS. IT'S AS EASY AS JUST GOING TO YOUR WEB.

VAL>> AND WHAT MAKES IT SO VALUABLE IS THAT YOU MADE IT VERY, VERY SEARCHABLE BY ALL SORTS OF CATEGORIES, I UNDERSTAND.

ELDER TAD CALLISTER>> YES. YOU CAN GO BY NAME, YOU CAN GO BY -- ONCE YOU GET THE NAME -- YOU CAN GO BY BIRTHPLACE, YOU CAN GO BY COUNTY IF YOU KNOW, BY STATE. ANY OF THESE WILL HELP YOU TO GET STARTED, TO LOCALIZE. THEN YOU CAN START GOING BY CHILDREN'S NAMES, IT WILL GIVE YOU THE BIRTHPLACE FOR THE PARENTS, IT CAN TAKE YOU TO ANOTHER LINK --

VAL>> -- DO YOU NEED A NAME INITIALLY OF SOMEONE WHO ACTUALLY LIVED AT THAT TIME IN ORDER TO GET IN?

MARVIN PERKINS>> YOU CAN ACTUALLY START WITH SEVERAL DIFFERENT PIECES OF CRITERIA. AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE WERE USING IT YESTERDAY AND I WAS SITTING DOWN WATCHING A WOMAN BEING ASSISTED TO LOOK FOR HER FAMILY. THERE WERE TONS OF NAMES THAT HAD COME UP AFTER SHE HAD PLACED WHAT SHE THOUGHT HER GREAT-GRANDFATHER'S NAME WOULD BE. THEN SHE WAS ABLE TO LIMIT IT TO RACE, SO THAT BROUGHT FIFTY MATCHES DOWN TO ABOUT TEN MATCHES WHICH MADE IT A LOT EASIER FOR HER TO HONE IN ON HER FAMILY.

JESS>> AND THIS SERVICE IS AVAILABLE TO ANYONE AND AT NO COST?

MARVIN PERKINS>> THAT'S RIGHT.

ELDER TAD CALLISTER>> TO ANYONE AT NO COST.

VAL>> YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE IS GREAT, IN 1880, AMONG THE PEOPLE THAT WERE INCLUDED IN THE CENSUS, OBVIOUSLY EVERYDAY AMERICANS, BUT THERE WERE SOME VERY FAMOUS AMERICANS WHO SHOWED UP IN THE 1880 CENSUS.

ELDER TAD CALLISTER>> THERE WERE.

VAL>> MARK TWAIN --

ELDER TAD CALLISTER>> -- AND ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL. IN FACT, WHEN YOU LOOK AT HIS OCCUPATION, THEY LIST HIM AS THE PROFESSOR OF ELECTRICIAN. OR ULYSSES S. GRANT, LOUISA MAY ALCOTT --
MARVIN PERKINS>> -- BUFFALO BILL.

VAL>> BUFFALO BILL --

JESS>> -- WE'RE SEEING SOME PHOTOGRAPHS OF PEOPLE IN THAT ERA TOO AND SOME OF THOSE NAMES ARE THERE.

VAL>> ARE PHOTOGRAPHS ON PART OF THE SITE?

MARVIN PERKINS>> THERE ARE SOME PHOTOGRAPHS THAT ARE PART OF THE ENTIRE LIBRARY. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE UP THERE FOR THE 1880 CENSUS YET. THERE IS A PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS YOU TO INCLUDE PHOTOS AND POST THEM UP SO THAT PEOPLE THAT ARE SHARING FILES AND SHARING INFORMATION AS THEY DO THEIR GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH CAN POST THOSE PHOTOS IN THERE SO THAT WHEN SOMEONE ELSE GOES TO DO RESEARCH, THEY CAN FIND NOT ONLY THE INFORMATION, BUT THEY CAN FIND A PICTURE OF THAT RELATIVE AS WELL.

VAL>> OH, REALLY?

JESS>> HOW MANY GENERATIONS DOES THIS GO BACK?

ELDER TAD CALLISTER>> WELL, ONCE YOU GET INTO THIS WWW.FAMILYSEARCH.ORG, NOT ONLY WILL IT GIVE YOU THE CENSUS, BUT IT WILL TAKE YOU INTO A VAST ARRAY OF NAMES. I THINK IT'S ABOUT SEVEN HUNDRED MILLION NAMES THAT YOU CAN GO INTO, SO OBVIOUSLY IT WILL TAKE YOU TO OTHER LINKS. FOR SOME, IT MIGHT BE TEN OR FIFTEEN GENERATIONS. FOR OTHERS, IT MIGHT BE THREE OR FOUR, DEPENDING HOW FAR THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO GO BACK AT THIS POINT IN TIME. IT'S A GOLDMINE FOR ANYONE, NOT ONLY FAMOUS, BUT ANYONE.

VAL>> AND, AGAIN, WHY IS THIS SO IMPORTANT TO THE MORMON CHURCH TO DO THIS?

MARVIN PERKINS>> WE LOVE FAMILY --

JESS>> -- YOU TALKED ETERNAL FAMILIES?

MARVIN PERKINS>> THE ETERNAL FAMILY. THE MORMON CHURCH BELIEVES THAT THE FAMILY CAN BE ETERNAL, SO IN ORDER TO HAVE AN ETERNAL FAMILY, WE NEED TO KNOW WHO THEY ARE. SO WE ACTUALLY GO BACK AND WE DO OUR FAMILY RESEARCH, OUR FAMILY HISTORY, TO TIE OUR FAMILIES TOGETHER, TO UNDERSTAND THE HERITAGE, THE RICH HERITAGE, THAT MIGHT BE THAT FAMILY NAME.

VAL>> WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR WORK AND OFFERING IT TO THE PUBLIC. IT'S A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL GIFT. THANKS AGAIN TO ELDER TAD CALLISTER AND MARVIN PERKINS. AND IF YOU WANT TO SEARCH FOR YOUR ANCESTORS, YOU CAN LOG ONTO THE WEBSITE, AS HE MENTIONED, WWW.FAMILYSEARCH.ORG.

LIFEANDTIMES@KCET.ORG
WWW.KCET.ORG.
LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT
4401 SUNSET BLVD.
LOS ANGELES, CA 90027
(323) 953-5555

VAL>> SOME ACTORS HAVE SO MUCH PERSONALITY AND SUCH A DISTINCTIVE STYLE THAT, ONCE THEY PERFORM A ROLE, IT IS THEIRS FOREVER. OUR NEXT GUEST IS ONE OF THOSE PERFORMERS, MS. CAROL CHANNING.

[FILM CLIP]

VAL>> BESIDES HER ROLE IN MOVIES SUCH AS "THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE", CAROL CHANNING IS FAMOUS FOR PLAYING DOLLY LEVI IN THE BROADWAY VERSION OF "HELLO, DOLLY". PLUS, SHE MADE THE COVER OF TIME MAGAZINE AFTER STARRING IN "GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES".

JESS>> NOW CAROL CHANNING HAS WRITTEN HER AUTOBIOGRAPHY, OR AS THE COVER CALLS IT, A MEMOIR OF SORTS. THE TITLE IS "JUST LUCKY, I GUESS". WE'RE PLEASED TO HAVE THE AUTHOR WITH US TONIGHT. NOW WE'VE BILLED THIS AS A TELL-ALL BOOK. WITH YOUR LIFE, THERE SURELY WERE NO SECRETS, WERE THERE?

CAROL CHANNING>> NO, THERE WERE NO SECRETS AT ALL (LAUGHTER). I DID TELL EVERYTHING. I TOLD ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING ABOUT EVERYBODY AND EVERYTHING, BUT I THOUGHT IT WASN'T UNKIND. DID YOU READ IT?

JESS>> NO. WE HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO READ IT. SOMEBODY JUST BROUGHT IT IN NOW. WE'VE GOTTEN TO SEE THE COVER. THAT'S ALL WE'VE SEEN.

VAL>> AND THIS PRESS MATERIAL, WHICH GIVES US ALL THE TIDBITS. BUT IT SAYS THAT YOU ACTUALLY DON'T SAY MANY NEGATIVE THINGS ABOUT ANYBODY BECAUSE YOU CAN'T REMEMBER ANY NEGATIVE THINGS? IS THAT IT?

CAROL CHANNING>> WELL, MY TROUBLES ARE THIS FAULTY MEMORY GLAND, YOU SEE, AND I ONLY REMEMBER THE GOOD THINGS. I MEAN, I ONLY REMEMBER -- NO, CERTAINLY I REMEMBER THINGS THAT THEY'D JUST AS SOON NOT HAVE ME TELL, I GUESS, IN THE BOOK. I DON'T KNOW. I JUST DIDN'T THINK OF IT. I JUST THOUGHT, TELL THE FACTS AND LET THE READER DECIDE WHETHER IT'S NEGATIVE OR POSITIVE. NO, I ONLY REMEMBER THE EXCITING THINGS, THE PEOPLE THAT I'VE MET AND MOSTLY WHAT I'VE EATEN.

JESS>> HENCE THE TITLE OF "JUST LUCKY, I GUESS", HUH?

CAROL CHANNING>> WELL, THE TITLE IS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT'S THE OLD JOKE OF THE CLIENT TO THE PROSTITUTE, "WHAT'S A NICE GIRL LIKE YOU DOING IN A PLACE LIKE THIS?" WELL, "JUST LUCKY, I GUESS." WELL, I'VE BEEN PROSTITUTING MYSELF SINCE THE FOURTH GRADE IN PUBLIC SCHOOL IN SAN FRANCISCO.

VAL>> WELL, IN FACT, THAT'S HOW YOU DISCOVERED YOU WERE A PERFORMER, RIGHT? YOU WERE RUNNING FOR A SCHOOL ELECTION?

CAROL CHANNING>> YES, YES. OH, YOU DID READ SOME IT.

VAL>> WELL, THE PRESS MATERIAL.

CAROL CHANNING>> OH, IT SAID IN THE PRESS MATERIAL.

VAL>> AND YOU DISCOVERED YOUR ABILITY TO DO IMPERSONATIONS, RIGHT?

CAROL CHANNING>> YES. WELL, I DID THE PRINCIPAL OF THE SCHOOL, MISS BERARD. SHE WAS KIND OF A -- I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I WAS SHAKING, SO BOBBY SCHMALTZ NOMINATED ME. I CALL HIM NOW ALL THE TIME THANKING HIM AND HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT I'M THANKING HIM FOR.

VAL>> BUT YOU WON THE ELECTION?

CAROL CHANNING>> OH, BY A LANDSLIDE. IT WAS WHOLLY CHAOS. IT WAS JUST TERRIBLE. I MEAN, I DID MISS BERARD, WHO WAS -- WELL, SHE WAS PROBABLY THE FORERUNNER OF JULIA CHILDS. SHE'D SAY GO TO THE POLLS AND VOTE FOR CAROL. I FOUND OUT YEARS LATER THAT IT WAS PROBABLY ADENOIDS. BUT IT FASCINATED ME. I USED TO FIND ANY EXCUSE TO GO IN HER OFFICE AND MR. SCHWARTZ, THE CHEMISTRY TEACHER, BLEW UP THE CHEMISTRY CLASS OF ONCE A TERM. THEN MISS WEAVER -- ALL THE DIFFERENT -- I HAD A WONDERFUL TIME.

VAL>> OF COURSE, YOU'VE HAD QUITE A STELLAR ASSOCIATION WITH MANY, MANY STARS. GEORGE BURNS AND MANY OTHERS ALONG THE WAY.

JESS>> THE IRONY IS THAT THE IMPERSONATOR GETS IMPERSONATED.

VAL>> OH, THAT'S RIGHT.

CAROL CHANNING>> ISN'T THAT IRONY? BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHO THEY'RE DOING (LAUGHTER). I REALLY DON'T.

JESS>> YOU DON'T RECOGNIZE IT?

CAROL CHANNING>> WELL, I USED TO DO MARLENE DIETRICH AND TALLULAH BANKHEAD IN LAS VEGAS AND -- ANYWAY, I USED TO DO THEM AND DID TALLULAH FIRST. SHE AND I HAVE THE SAME BIRTHDAY AND WE CELEBRATED BIRTHDAYS AS OFTEN AS WE COULD TOGETHER.

JESS>> SO THE HUSKY VOICE COMES WITH THAT BIRTH DATE THEN, HUH?

CAROL CHANNING>> HAVE I GOT A HUSKY VOICE?

JESS>> I HADN'T NOTICED (LAUGHTER).

CAROL CHANNING>> I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST VERY FEMININE AND SWEET (LAUGHTER).

JESS>> IT IS THAT. SULTRY AND SWEET.

CAROL CHANNING>> OH, THANK YOU. WELL, TALLULAH KEPT SAYING WHAT IN THE HELL IS SHE DOING? (LAUGHTER) SHE HAD NO IDEA. THEN I REALIZED WHEN I SEE BOYS DOING IT, MOSTLY MEN, MAYBE I HAVE A GLANDULAR IMBALANCE AND NOBODY'S TELLING ME ABOUT IT (LAUGHTER). BUT THE FIVE O'CLOCK SHADOW AND ALL THAT. I WAS GLAD WHEN LUCILLE BALL DID ME. SHE'S AN ATTRACTIVE, FEMININE WOMAN.

VAL>> AND TALENTED. IT IS THE ULTIMATE FORM OF FLATTERY TO BE IMITATED.

CAROL CHANNING>> WELL, IT IS, ISN'T IT? YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

JESS>> EVERYBODY ASSOCIATES YOU WITH "HELLO, DOLLY", BUT WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE ROLE?

CAROL CHANNING>> DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT WAS? "SUGAR BABIES". NOW ISN'T THAT CRAZY? MICKEY ROONEY'S FATHER --

JESS>> -- BURLESQUE.

CAROL CHANNING>> BURLESQUE, AND BOY, WE HAD FUN. I HAD A QUICK BLACKOUT SO THEY COULD CHANGE -- IT WAS MICKEY ROONEY'S FATHER, JOE YULE, GAVE HIM -- HE COULDN'T GIVE HIM A MINT OF MONEY, BUT HE GAVE HIM AS HIS HERITAGE THIS MARVELOUS VAUDEVILLE MATERIAL. ANNIE MILLER -- WE OPENED IT IN BOSTON -- AND THEY FORGOT TO ASK MICKEY, IS IT ALL RIGHT WITH YOU? HIS FATHER HAD GONE. NOW YOU KNOW THAT'S USURPING SOMETHING THAT'S DEAR TO MICKEY. MICKEY CAME UP AND TALKED TO ME AND HE SAID, YOU KNOW, THAT'S MY ONLY HERITAGE. THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT. HE SAID, CAROL, THEY DIDN'T DISCUSS IT WITH ME, AND THIS WAS -- AND THE PRODUCER DIDN'T -- SO WE DECIDED TO CLOSE THE SHOW, CLOSE THE SHOW, DON'T DO IT. BUT IT WAS MY FAVORITE SHOW.

VAL>> BUT LISTEN, I'LL TELL YOU, SPEAKING OF HERITAGE, YOU REVEALED SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT ABOUT YOUR OWN FAMILY HERITAGE.

CAROL CHANNING>> AND THE REASON I REVEALED IT WAS BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT MAKES ME ME ANY MORE THAN YOU KNOW WHAT MAKES YOU YOU OR --

VAL>> -- BUT TELL PEOPLE WHAT IT IS.

CAROL CHANNING>> WELL, IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL THING. MY MOTHER -- I WAS PACKING TO GO AWAY FROM HOME FOR THE FIRST TIME TO BENNINGTON COLLEGE -- MY MOTHER SAID TO ME, YOU KNOW, I SHOULD TELL YOU THAT YOU'RE PART NEGRO. IN THOSE DAYS, THEY CALLED IT NEGRO. NOW IT'S AFRO-AMERICAN. YOU KNOW HOW SOME MOTHERS WANT TO HOLD THEIR CHILDREN TO THEM AND SHE DIDN'T WANT ME TO GET AWAY? SHE SAID, YOU COULD POSSIBLY HAVE A BLACK BABY. SO I --

VAL>> -- WHERE IN YOUR FAMILY WAS THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN BLOOD?

CAROL CHANNING>> IN AUGUSTA, GEORGE. SHE TOLD ME ALL ABOUT IT. MY GRANDMOTHER.

VAL>> GRANDMOTHER, OKAY.

CAROL CHANNING>> YES. SO, ANYWAY, DO YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT MY GOSH, THAT'S ONE OF THE GREATEST STRINGS IN SHOW BUSINESS. I'M SO PROUD OF IT THAT I JUST WANT -- I PUT IT IN THE BOOK BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT MAKES ME ME, BUT IF I CAN TELL ALL THE FACTS AS ACCURATELY AS I CAN, LET THE READER DECIDE WHAT MAKES ME ME. THEY BOUGHT THE BOOK FOR AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY. IT'S A MEMOIR OF SORTS. MR. KORDA, MICHAEL KORDA, THE GREAT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF SIMON & SCHUSTER. HE FOUND THIS PICTURE. YES, IN AN ANTIQUE SHOP. DOES THAT MAKE ME AN ANTIQUE? (LAUGHTER) I MEAN, GEE --

VAL>> -- IT'S A CLASSIC PHOTO.

CAROL CHANNING>> YEAH. WELL, ANYWAY, HE FOUND IT AND I DON'T KNOW WHEN IT WAS TAKEN. I DON'T REMEMBER THAT DRESS OR ANYTHING. BUT HE ENCOURAGED ME ALL THE WAY AND I AM SO GRATEFUL. HE'S A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF.

JESS>> WELL, I'M SURE IT'S A GREAT BOOK. YOU'RE CERTAINLY A GREAT GUEST AND WE'VE ENJOYED HAVING CAROL CHANNING.

CAROL CHANNING>> OH, THANK YOU.

JESS>> AGAIN, LET'S TELL YOU THE NAME OF THE BOOK IS "JUST LUCKY, I GUESS: A MEMOIR OF SORTS".

CAROL CHANNING>> WHY IS THAT LEGAL? EVERYWHERE ELSE, IT ISN'T IN PROSTITUTION? (LAUGHTER)

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT. WE'LL HAVE TO STICK AROUND A TALK MORE. IF YOU'D LIKE TO LOG ONTO OUR WEBSITE AT KCET.ORG, YOU WILL FIND PREVIEWS OF UPCOMING STORIES AND INTERVIEWS.

JESS>> NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES, HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

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