4/23/03

LC030423

VAL ZAVALA>> TONIGHT ON LIFE AND TIMES --

JESS MARLOW>> IT’S NO PICNIC LIVING IN PARADISE. JUST ASK THE PEOPLE BEING BULLDOZED OUT OF HOUSE AND HOME IN TOPANGA CANYON.

JAMES MATHERS>> WE’VE BEEN PAYING VERY LITTLE RENT FOR A LONG, LONG TIME. WE’RE POOR PEOPLE. WE’RE ARTISTS, YOU KNOW? IT’S FANTASTIC, AND WHO WANTS TO LEAVE THAT FOR SOME, YOU KNOW, $1,600 ARTIST SPACE IN WEST LOS ANGELES?

VAL>> AND THEN SOME THOUGHTS ON WAR MOVIES. THE OLD ONES MAY HAVE HELPED SHAPE OUR ATTITUDES ABOUT THE WORLD, BUT FILM CRITIC RICHARD SCHICKEL SAYS THEY DIDN’T TELL THE WHOLE STORY.

JESS>> PLUS, MAKING DREAMS COME TRUE ONE CHILD AT A TIME.

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

LIFE AND TIMES 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>> CHEAP RENT AND SOME OF THE BEST VIEWS IN TOWN.

JESS>> BUT IT’S ALL COMING TO AN END IN TOPANGA CANYON. THE STATE WANTS ITS LAND AND THE RENTERS ARE BEING FORCED OUT. THEY LIVE IN A SMALL COMMUNITY ADJACENT TO TOPANGA STATE PARK AND, AS PHILIP BRUCE TELLS US, IT’S ABOUT TO BECOME A PARADISE LOST.

PHILIP BRUCE>> JAMES MATHERS IS AN ARTIST AND A WRITER AND A NATIVE OF TOPANGA CANYON. HE’S LIVED AROUND THE WORLD, BUT HE CONSIDERS THIS SPOT HOME. IT’S A SMALL COMMUNITY KNOWN AS LOWER TOPANGA. BESIDES HIS STUDIO, MATHERS’ COMPOUND HAS ANOTHER SMALL BUILDING WITH A KITCHEN, AS WELL AS A TRAILER HE USES AS AN OFFICE AND A PLACE TO SLEEP.

JAMES MATHERS>> THIS IS A 1964 LAND YACHT, SO IT’S EXACTLY AS OLD AS I AM.

PHILIP BRUCE>> BUT MATHERS’ VERSION OF THE GOOD LIFE HERE SEEMS ON THE VERGE OF COMING TO AN ABRUPT END. THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA HAS ACQUIRED THE LAND AND OFFICIALS WANT HIM AND THE OTHER RENTERS IN THE AREA GONE. IN ALL, THERE HAVE BEEN OVER SEVENTY HOUSEHOLDS ON THE PROPERTY HIDDEN AWAY JUST OFF TOPANGA CANYON BOULEVARD AND PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY.

JAMES MATHERS>> THE RENTS ARE ROCK BOTTOM. WE’VE BEEN PAYING VERY LITTLE RENT FOR A LONG, LONG TIME. WE’RE POOR PEOPLE. WE’RE ARTISTS, YOU KNOW? IT’S FANTASTIC, AND WHO WANTS TO LEAVE THAT FOR SOME, YOU KNOW, SOME $1,600 ARTIST SPACE IN WEST LOS ANGELES, YOU KNOW, WHERE THERE’S NO NATURE AND THERE’S NO COMMUNITY?

PHILIP BRUCE>> THE STATE HAS BIG PLANS FOR THIS LAND. PARKS OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN EYEING IT FOR YEARS AND NOW, THANKS TO MONEY FROM VOTER-APPROVED BONDS, THEY’VE GOT THE CASH TO BUY IT. THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT THEY’VE DONE WITH THIS SIXTEEN HUNDRED ACRE SITE.

THEODORE JACKSON>> THIS IS A TREMENDOUS PIECE OF PROPERTY. IT ENCOMPASSES TOPANGA CREEK. THAT IS ONE OF THE FEW REMAINING NATURAL COASTAL CREEK SYSTEMS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. THEY’RE EXTREMELY RARE. IT SUPPORTS A SMALL POPULATION OF STEELHEAD THAT ARE ENDANGERED.

PHILIP BRUCE>> THEODORE JACKSON HEADS THE SOUTHERN OFFICE OF CALIFORNIA’S PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT. HE UNDERSTANDS WHY THE TENANTS DON’T WANT TO LEAVE, BUT JACKSON BELIEVES MOVING THEM OUT IS A GOOD THING FOR THE STATE.

THEODORE JACKSON>> WE’RE GOING TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO REHABILITATE THIS AREA TO MAKE IT NATURAL, TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR RECREATION, FOR PEOPLE TO ENJOY OPEN SPACE, TO PICNIC, TO BRING THEIR FAMILIES, TO GET UP ON SOME OF THE HIGH SLOPES AND AREAS AND HAVE TREMENDOUS VIEWS OF THE OCEAN.

PHILIP BRUCE>> JAMES MATHERS SAYS NO ONE HERE IS TRYING TO KEEP THE PUBLIC OUT.

JAMES MATHERS>> THEY CAN COME ANYWAY AND, WHEN THEY WANT TO, THEY DO. WE HAVE PEOPLE COMING HERE ALL THE TIME CHECKING IT OUT, TAKING PICTURES, GOING UP INTO THE HILLS.

PHILIP BRUCE>> THE STATE DOES RAISE OTHER ISSUES AND THE ENVIRONMENT IS ONE. THEODORE JACKSON WORRIES ABOUT ALL THE NON-NATIVE PLANTS IN THE AREA. AND THEN THERE’S THE MATTER OF WATER QUALITY, ESPECIALLY AFTER HEAVY RAINS.

THEODORE JACKSON>> OUR GOAL WOULD BE TO REMOVE THE EXOTICS AND THE NON-NATIVES, TO REHABILITATE THIS AREA TO A MORE NATURAL AREA, TO ASSIST IN CLEANING UP THE CREEK AND CREATING A MORE PRISTINE, YOU KNOW, HABITAT.

JAMES MATHERS>> THIS IS A VERY, VERY ECO-FRIENDLY COMMUNITY. THIS IS REALLY THE WAY IT SHOULD BE AT LEAST LOOKED AT AND OBSERVED AS A MODEL FOR DEVELOPMENT BEFORE IT DISAPPEARS.

PHILIP BRUCE>> MANY OF THE TENANTS HAVE ALREADY LEFT AFTER RECEIVING RELOCATION ASSISTANCE, CASH PAYMENTS RANGING FROM $13,000 TO OVER $200,000. THE STATE SET ASIDE CLOSE TO $7 MILLION DOLLARS AS PART OF THE PURCHASE TO HELP THE TENANTS MOVE. ABOUT $4 MILLION HAS ALREADY BEEN PAID OUT.

THEODORE JACKSON>> THE VAST MAJORITY, AT LEAST TWO-THIRDS OF THOSE FOLKS, WERE WILLING TO GO WILLINGLY.

PHILIP BRUCE>> BUT THE OTHER THIRD ARE IN NO HURRY TO LEAVE.

JAMES MATHERS>> IT’S A STANDOFF. YOU CAN FEEL THE CONFLICT IN THE EXCHANGES, YOU KNOW. THEY THINK THIS OF US AND WE THINK THAT OF THEM AND WE’RE LIKE --

PHILIP BRUCE>> THE RESIDENTS AREN’T THE ONLY ONES WHO MAY BE PUSHED OUT. A NUMBER OF BUSINESSES ALONG THE HIGHWAY ALSO ARE THREATENED. THE OPERATORS OF THIS RESTAURANT HAVE BEEN TOLD THEY MAY BE ABLE TO STAY, BUT OTHERS NEARBY ARE EXPECTED TO LEAVE. THE MALIBU FEED BIN HAS BEEN A TOPANGA LANDMARK FOR DECADES.

LINDSAY ZOOK>> A LOT OF PEOPLE CALL IT THE GATEWAY TO TOPANGA. LIKE ALL THE CUSTOMERS SAID THAT WHEN I FIRST STARTED AND THEY CAN’T IMAGINE IT NOT HERE.

PHILIP BRUCE>> THE OASIS FURNITURE BUSINESS SAYS VISIBILITY ALONG THE COAST HIGHWAY IS THE KEY TO ITS SURVIVAL.

JOHN STOREY>> THIS ENTIRE BUSINESS IS PREDICATED ON THE FACT THAT WE’VE BEEN ON THIS CORNER. IT’S GROWN INTO THE SIZE IT HAS BECAUSE THIS CORNER OFFERS EVERYTHING THAT YOU WOULD WANT.

PHILIP BRUCE>> JOHN STOREY SAYS HE’S AMAZED THAT, AT A TIME OF A MAJOR BUDGET CRISIS, THE STATE WOULD WANT TO GIVE UP THE ROUGHLY HALF A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR IT GETS IN TAXES FROM THE OASIS, BUT THEODORE JACKSON DOESN’T SEE IT THAT WAY.

THEODORE JACKSON>> YOU DON’T GO INTO MANY STATE PARKS AND FIND FURNITURE STORES AT THE PORTAL OR AT THE ENTRY OF THE PARK OR EVEN IN THE PARK, SO IT IS INCONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE’RE TRYING TO DO.

PHILIP BRUCE>> JACKSON BELIEVES IT’S IMPORTANT TO PHYSICALLY JOIN THIS LAND WITH THE EXISTING STATE PARK IN TOPANGA AND, WITH THE NEW ENTRANCE ON THE COAST HIGHWAY, HE BELIEVES MORE PEOPLE SHOULD BE ATTRACTED TO THE PARK.

THEODORE JACKSON>> IT WILL BE THE PLACE WHERE JUST ON IMPULSE PEOPLE WILL TURN OR THEY’LL DRIVE AND GO, WOW, I WANT TO COME BACK THERE AND SEE THAT PLACE AND BRING MY FAMILY OR FRIENDS BACK. I DIDN’T KNOW THERE WAS A STATE PARK THERE. SO HAVING IT IN SUCH A PROMINENT LOCATION IS REALLY GOING TO INCREASE THE VISIBILITY OF THE PARK AND THE VISITATION.

PHILIP BRUCE>> BUT THE STATE’S BIG PLANS OFFER NO CONSOLATION FOR THE FEW WHO’VE HAD THEIR OWN LITTLE PIECE OF PARADISE HERE IN TOPANGA CANYON.

JAMES MATHERS>> THIS IS A GREAT SCENE. IT HAS BEEN FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND YOU WANT IT TO LAST AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.

JESS>> PHILIP TOLD YOU ABOUT THE RELOCATION MONEY THE CANYON RESIDENTS ARE GETTING FROM THE STATE. THE TOP PAYOUT HAS BEEN A QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS. WE’RE TOLD MANY OF THE TENANTS ARE MOVING TO NEW QUARTERS IN MALIBU AND PACIFIC PALISADES.

VAL>> TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, WE’LL MEET THE WOMAN WHO’S ONE OF MEXICO’S MOST IMPORTANT VOICES IN AMERICA. SHE’S THE FACE OF THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT IN LOS ANGELES AND SHE’S GOT SOME POWERFUL FRIENDS. HER STORY TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES.

PHILIP BRUCE>> HERE’S TONIGHT’S LIFE AND TIMES “WHAT DO YOU THINK?” POLL. LOG ONTO OUR WEBSITE AT KCET.ORG AND WEIGH IN ON THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: WHAT DOES SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NEED MORE? HOUSING OR OPEN SPACE/PARKS. WE’LL COUNT YOUR RESPONSES AND REPORT THE RESULTS ON TOMORROW NIGHT’S LIFE AND TIMES.

JESS>> OUR NEXT STORY IS ALL ABOUT DREAMS AND A VERY SPECIAL WAY OF MAKING THEM COME TRUE. IT’S ALSO ABOUT A LUCKY GROUP OF YOUNGSTERS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

VAL>> THEY ARE THE RECIPIENTS OF “I HAVE A DREAM” SCHOLARSHIPS. THE AWARDS GO TO NEEDY STUDENTS, BUT THIS PROGRAM IS VERY SPECIAL BECAUSE IT ALSO PROVIDES CRUCIAL EARLY SUPPORT STARTING IN GRADE SCHOOL. THE GOAL IS TO HELP KIDS QUALIFY FOR COLLEGE IN THE FIRST PLACE. I WENT TO AN EAST LOS ANGELES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO SEE HOW IT WORKS.

VAL>> IN THIS EAST LOS ANGELES NEIGHBORHOOD NEAR COUNTY USC, INCOMES ARE LOW, CRIME IS HIGH AND A CHILD’S CHANCE OF GETTING A FOUR-YEAR DEGREE IS ABOUT ONE IN TWENTY. BUT AT MURCHISON ELEMENTARY, ONE PROGRAM IS IMPROVING THOSE ODDS. IT’S CALLED “I HAVE A DREAM”.

THESE SECOND GRADERS ARE PART OF THE “I HAVE A DREAM” PROGRAM. IF ANY OF THEM OR THEIR 140 CLASSMATES GETS ADMITTED TO COLLEGE, THEY’LL HAVE AN AUTOMATIC $8,000 SCHOLARSHIP WAITING FOR THEM. BUT THE CHALLENGE WILL BE GETTING THEM QUALIFIED FOR COLLEGE AND, TO DO THAT, “I HAVE A DREAM” PLACES FULL-TIME PROJECT COORDINATORS AT THE SCHOOL TO HELP THE CHILDREN’S DREAMS MATERIALIZE.

>> I WANT TO BE AN ARCHAEOLOGIST SO I CAN FIND DINOSAURS.

VAL>> ELDA VALLECILLOS IS THE PROJECT COORDINATOR ASSIGNED TO MURCHISON. SHE’LL COME TO KNOW THESE CHILDREN VERY WELL OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS.

ELDA VALLECILLOS>> WE’RE DEFINITELY PROMOTING COLLEGE. EVEN NOW IN THE SECOND GRADE, WE’RE PROMOTING COLLEGE. YOU KNOW, INSTEAD OF SAYING CHEESE, WE SAY COLLEGE (LAUGHTER).

VAL>> PROJECT COORDINATOR IS A MISNOMER. SHE’S REALLY MUCH MORE THAN THAT.

ELDA VALLECILLOS>> WE DO A LOT OF SOCIAL WORK TYPE OF JOBS. WE WEAR A LOT OF HATS EVERY DAY. WE HAVE TO BE FRIENDS, WE HAVE TO BE SURROGATE PARENTS, WE HAVE TO GO OUT INTO THE HOMES. WE MIGHT GET A PHONE CALL AT THREE O’CLOCK IN THE MORNING BECAUSE MAYBE A FAMILY GOT KICKED OUT OF THEIR HOME FOR WHATEVER REASON. WE DEAL WITH A LOT OF OTHER DYNAMICS.

VAL>> ONE OF ELDA’S BIGGEST CONCERNS IS THE HEAVY INFLUENCE OF GANGS FROM A NEARBY HOUSING PROJECT.

ELDA VALLECILLOS>> A LOT OF OUR KIDS PROBABLY COME FROM SECOND AND THIRD GENERATION OF GANG INVOLVEMENT AND, ALTHOUGH YOU CAN’T REALLY SEE IT BECAUSE THEY’RE CHILDREN, BUT HALF OF THE TIME WHEN THEY GO HOME, THEY’RE BEING EXPOSED TO THAT.

VAL>> IF YOU ASK THESE CHILDREN WHAT THE DREAM PROGRAM MEANS TO THEM, THEY’LL TELL YOU ABOUT THE HELP THEY GET WITH THEIR HOMEWORK OR THE FIELD TRIPS THEY GET TO GO ON. THEY ARE ONLY BEGINNING TO GRASP THE LARGER GOAL.

DAISY BARRIOS>> THEY CAN HELP YOU THERE. THEY CAN GIVE YOU THE MONEY SO YOU CAN GO TO COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY --

VAL>> -- DO YOU GUYS KNOW WHAT COLLEGE IS?

NANCY RUIZ>> IT’S ABOUT LEARNING. IF YOU WANT TO BE A SCIENTIST, THEY COULD SHOW YOU HOW TO BE A SCIENTIST. IF YOU WANT TO BE AN ARCHAEOLOGIST, THEY COULD SHOW YOU HOW TO BE AN ARCHAEOLOGIST. IF YOU WANT TO BE A TEACHER, THEY COULD SHOW YOU HOW TO BE A TEACHER. IF YOU WANT TO BE --

VAL>> -- WELL, SHE GETS THE IDEA. AND THEY’RE ALSO BEGINNING TO UNDERSTAND THAT COLLEGE IS EXPENSIVE.

VAL>> BUT IT COSTS A LOT TO GO TO COLLEGE, DOESN’T IT?

>> LIKE $1,000 DOLLARS.

VAL>> HOW MUCH?

>> LIKE $1,000.

>> LIKE $100.

VAL>> HOW MUCH?

>> $800.

VAL>> HAVE ANY OF YOU EVER VISITED A COLLEGE? IT’S BIG. IT’S LIKE A LITTLE TINY CITY.

NANCY RUIZ>> MY COUSIN SHE WENT TO COLLEGE WITH MY DAD AND SHE SAW COLLEGE AND SHE TOLD ME IT WAS VERY HUGE. I TOLD HER HOW MUCH DO YOU NEED TO PAY AND SHE SAY STUFF LIKE MORE MONEY THAN A DOLLAR AND THEN --

VAL>> -- WELL, SHE GETS THE IDEA. A RECENT STUDY REVEALS THAT ONE OF THE BIGGEST BARRIERS TO LATINOS GOING TO COLLEGE IS THEIR PARENTS’ LACK OF KNOWLEDGE. THE TOMAS RIVERA INSTITUTE FOUND THAT SIXTY-TWO PERCENT OF LATINO PARENTS LACK COLLEGE KNOWLEDGE, BASIC FACTS ON SAT TESTS, FINANCIAL AID, APPLICATIONS AND THE LIKE.

ELDA VALLECILLOS>> ONE OF OUR MAIN GOALS AS A PROJECT IS TO EDUCATE THE PARENTS HOW TO FILL OUT ALL THESE APPLICATIONS, COLLEGE APS, VISIT COLLEGES WITH THE STUDENTS, TAKE THEM ON CAMPUS ON FIELD TRIPS WITH THESE STUDENTS.

VAL>> BUT DOES THE DREAM PROGRAM WORK? DOMINIC ROBINSON AND ANTHONY ADAMS WERE THIRD GRADERS AT GROVER CLEVELAND ELEMENTARY IN PASADENA WHEN THEIR CLASS WAS ADOPTED BY “I HAVE A DREAM”. TODAY THESE COUSINS ARE SOPHOMORES AT CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE.

ANTHONY ADAMS>> I REMEMBER WHEN THEY WERE HAVING THIS BIG OLD CEREMONY FOR US AND THEY SENT LETTERS TO ALL OF OUR PARENTS AND WE WEREN’T SUPPOSED TO KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS BIG OLD SECRET. YOU KNOW, WE HEARD THIS RUMOR THAT, YOU KNOW, WE’RE SUPPOSED TO BE GETTING ALL THIS MONEY FOR COLLEGE OR WHATNOT.

VAL>> ANTHONY SAYS HE WAS VERY STRESSED IN HIS SENIOR YEAR AND WAS GOING TO SETTLE FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGE, BUT HIS PROJECT COORDINATOR PRESSED HIM TO APPLY TO CSUN. IT’S THE PROJECT COORDINATORS THAT KEEP THESE KIDS ON TRACK.

ANTHONY ADAMS>> THEY WERE IN OUR CLASSES. YOU KNOW, THEY CHECKED UP ON EVERY GRADING PERIOD. THEY CHECKED UP ON US. I MEAN, THEY WERE CALLING HOME, CONFERENCES. I MEAN, IT WAS TEACHER, PROJECT COORDINATOR, PARENTS.

DOMINIC ROBINSON>> IF ANY OF US GOT INTO TROUBLE OR ANY PHYSICAL ALTERCATIONS, THEY’D BE THERE TO HELP US OUT AND SHOW US THE RIGHT WAY AND TEACH US WHAT’S RIGHT AND WRONG.

VAL>> DOMINIC AND ANTHONY ARE ON THEIR WAY. DOMINIC IS INTERESTED IN ARTS, MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS. ANTHONY WOULD LIKE TO WORK IN THE MUSIC BUSINESS OR JOURNALISM.

IDEALLY, THESE CHILDREN WILL BE SUCCESS STORIES AS WELL. THERE IS CERTAINLY NO SHORTAGE OF AMBITION. NANCY’S DREAM IS TO BE A SCIENTIST.

NANCY RUIZ>> YOU LOOK IN THE SKY IN THE NIGHT WITH A MICROSCOPE AND YOU CAN DISCOVER WHAT’S OVER THERE AND YOU COULD SEE STARS AND YOU COULD SEE THE MOON AND YOU COULD SEE THE SUN AND YOU COULD SEE THE --

VAL>> ELDA HAS HIGH HOPES FOR THESE CHILDREN AND WITH GOOD REASON. SHE HERSELF WAS A DREAMER.

ELDA VALLECILLOS>> I DEFINITELY BELIEVE IN IT AND THAT’S WHY I’M HERE WITH THESE KIDS BECAUSE, IF IT WORKED FOR ME, I DEFINITELY KNOW THAT IT CAN WORK FOR THEM.

JESS>> IT’S A PROGRAM THAT’S WELL PROVEN THOUGH, ISN’T IT?

VAL>> IT IS. IT’S BEEN AROUND FOR FIFTEEN YEARS. THEY’VE HAD AS MANY AS EIGHT HUNDRED STUDENTS GO THROUGH IT. ABOUT, MORE OR LESS, I MEAN, IT DEPENDS ON THE PARTICULAR CLASS, BUT AS MANY AS FORTY PERCENT OF THE STUDENTS WHO GO THROUGH THE “I HAVE A DREAM” PROGRAM END UP IN EITHER A TWO-YEAR COLLEGE OR A FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE, WHICH IS WELL BEYOND THE PERCENTAGE OF JUST KIDS WHO DON’T HAVE THIS KIND OF SUPPORT.

JESS>> AND THERE WOULD BE EVEN MORE OF THEM IF THE PARENTS WERE MORE FULLY INFORMED ABOUT THE PROGRAM?

VAL>> ACTUALLY, THERE WOULD BE MORE OF THEM IF THERE WAS MORE MONEY. WHAT THEY LIKE TO DO IS HAVE EACH “I HAVE A DREAM” PROGRAM AT A PARTICULAR SCHOOL ADOPTED BY OR PAID FOR BY A PARTICULAR SINGLE PHILANTHROPIST. SO AS MANY PHILANTHROPISTS THAT ARE OUT THERE, THEY CAN START MORE PROGRAMS. I SHOULD MENTION THAT ONE OF THE SUPPORTERS OF THIS IS THE WHITTIER FOUNDATION, WHICH ALSO SUPPORTS LIFE AND TIMES.

JESS>> AND WE’RE GRATEFUL.

VAL>> VERY GOOD.

JESS>> WE ALWAYS ASK YOU TO TELL US WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND AND MANY OF YOU RECENTLY HAVE HAPPILY OBLIGED BY SENDING US LOTS OF LETTERS AND E-MAILS.

VAL>> ONE TOPIC THAT HIT A NERVE WAS TELEMARKETERS AND THE STATE’S NEW “DO NOT CALL” LIST. A LOCAL ATTORNEY TOLD US IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS THAT TELEMARKETERS HAVE NO CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO CALL HIM AT DINNER TIME:

“THERE’S NO MORE FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO SUCH GARBAGE THAN THERE IS TO BREAK DOWN MY FRONT DOOR AND EMOTE TO ME IN MY LIVING ROOM.”

VAL>> ANOTHER VIEWER WAS UNHAPPY WITH OUR INTERVIEW WITH POLITICAL AUTHOR, TAMMY BRUCE:

“IT FELT AS THOUGH SHE HAD PRACTICED HER ISSUES AND WAS READY TO GO WITH THEM. AN APPALLING PUFF-PIECE OF AN INDIVIDUAL WHO OBVIOUSLY HAS A TRASHING AGENDA.”

VAL>> AN E-MAIL ASKED PATT MORRISON HOW SHE WANTED U.S. TROOPS TO KEEP LOOTERS AWAY FROM THE MUSEUM IN BAGHDAD:

“WHAT WOULD SHE AND OTHERS HAVE SAID IF SOLDIERS USED THE ONLY METHOD AVAILABLE, THAT IS, USE THE AK-47S TO STOP THEM?”

VAL>> AND ONE VIEWER WAS PUZZLED BY OUR INTERVIEW WITH WRITER-MUSICIAN KINKY FRIEDMAN:

“DURING THE INTERVIEW, THE IDIOM ‘HAVE YOUR HIP CARD PUNCHED’ WAS USED. WHAT DOES IT MEAN?”

VAL>> IF YOU HAVE TO ASK, YOU DON’T EVEN HAVE A HIP CARD.

TO SEND A COMMENT OR A QUESTION TO OUR PROGRAM, YOU CAN REACH US BY MAIL AT THIS ADDRESS:

LIFE AND TIMES
4401 SUNSET BLVD.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90027

YOU CAN ALSO CALL OUR VIEWER COMMENT LINE (323) 953-5555) OR CONTACT US THE FAST WAY BY E-MAIL AT KCET.ORG.

JESS>> LATELY WE’VE ALL HAD GOOD REASON TO THINK ABOUT THE REALITIES OF WAR AND, THANKS TO SOME OF THOSE IMBEDDED REPORTERS, WE GOT A GLIMPSE OF WHAT COMBAT IS REALLY LIKE.

VAL>> BUT THERE WAS A TIME WHEN THE MOVIES WERE AMERICA’S MAIN WINDOW ON THE BATTLEFIELD AND, IN THOSE EARLY FILMS, COMBAT DEFINITELY WAS SANITIZED.

[FILM CLIP]

VAL>> IN THE DAYS OF WORLD WAR TWO, WAR MOVIES WERE BLOODLESS AND THE ENEMY WAS NEVER IN DOUBT, BUT AS TIME MOVED ON, SO DID THE MOVIES. IN TODAY’S FILMS, THE DEPICTION OF COMBAT IS ALL TOO REAL, BUT EVEN NOW, WITH THE GRISLY COMBAT SCENES, ARE WE GETTING THE WHOLE STORY?

JESS>> TIME MAGAZINE FILM CRITIC, RICHARD SCHICKEL, EXPLORES THOSE QUESTIONS IN HIS NEWEST BOOK. IT’S CALLED “GOOD MORNING, MR. ZIP ZIP ZIP: MOVIES, MEMORY AND WORLD WAR TWO”. WE’RE PLEASED TO HAVE RICHARD SCHICKEL WITH US NOW.

RICHARD SCHICKEL>> IT’S GOOD TO BE HERE AGAIN.

JESS>> THE TITLE IS INTRIGUING. “MR. ZIP ZIP ZIP”?

RICHARD SCHICKEL>> WELL, IT’S A SONG MY FATHER USED TO SING TO ME. IT’S A WORLD WAR ONE ERA SONG.

VAL>> IT MEANT GOING AND GETTING YOUR HAIR CLIPPED IN THE ARMY?

RICHARD SCHICKEL>> YEAH, IT’S ABOUT HAIR CLIPPING. IT’S ALSO ABOUT -- IT’S KIND OF AN ANTI-SMOKING ANTHEM. IT’S GOT A LINE IN THERE ABOUT IF THE CAMELS DON’T GET YOU, THE FATIMAS WILL (LAUGHTER).

JESS>> (LAUGHTER) ONLY THE PEOPLE OF A CERTAIN AGE WILL REMEMBER. WE CALLED THEM THE FATIMAS, YEAH, THAT’S RIGHT.

VAL>> BUT YOU DID AN INTERESTING THING. YOU AS AN EXPERT INSIGHTFUL FILM CRITIC AS AN ADULT WENT BACK AND WATCHED THE MOVIES THAT YOU SAW GROWING UP AS A CHILD IN THE FORTIES.

RICHARD SCHICKEL>> THAT’S TRUE.

VAL>> DID THEY LOOK REAL DIFFERENTLY TO YOU?

RICHARD SCHICKEL>> OH, SURE, THEY LOOKED DIFFERENT. I THINK THAT PROBABLY AS A KID, YOU KNOW, YOU RESPOND IN A KIND OF A BOUNCY WAY TO COMBAT. SINCE COMBAT ALWAYS ENTAILED US REALLY KICKING BUTT AGAINST WHOEVER IT WAS, THE GERMANS OR THE JAPANESE, WE DIDN’T REALLY SEE THE CONSEQUENCE OF IT. THERE WERE VERY FEW PACIFIST MOVIES, BELIEVE ME, IN WORLD WAR TWO. YOU GO BACK AND LOOK AT THEM AND, JUST LIKE THE CLIP YOU JUST PLAYED, I MEAN, I DON’T THINK ANYBODY IN COMBAT EVER TALKED LIKE ROBERT TAYLOR IN “BATAAN”, YOU KNOW (LAUGHTER). I MEAN, MOST SOLDIERS IN ALL WARS JUST WANT TO SURVIVE AND, YOU KNOW, THOSE HIGH PRINCIPLES THAT THE MOVIES WERE ALWAYS PROPAGATING REALLY DIDN’T COME UP AN AWFUL LOT WHEN YOU WERE IN A FOXHOLE.

JESS>> YOU REMARKED ON ONE THING THAT RATHER SURPRISED ME. YOU SAID THAT THE HOLOCAUST WAS NEVER MENTIONED IN ANY OF THOSE WAR MOVIES --

RICHARD SCHICKEL>> -- ABSOLUTELY TRUE.

VAL>> -- AND NOW I HEAR PEOPLE SAYING, AFTER “THE PIANIST”, DO WE HAVE TO SEE ANOTHER HOLOCAUST MOVIE?

RICHARD SCHICKEL>> OH, I DON’T THINK WE CAN SEE TOO MANY HOLOCAUST MOVIES.

JESS>> PARTICULARLY A GOOD ONE LIKE THAT.

RICHARD SCHICKEL>> I MEAN, THAT WAS A GOVERNMENT DECISION. YOU KNOW, IT WAS A WAR INDUSTRY IN THE MOVIES AND THE OFFICE OF WAR INFORMATION HAD SOME SURVEYS THAT SHOWED THAT ABOUT FIFTY PERCENT OF AMERICA WAS ACTUALLY ANTI-SEMITIC AT THE TIME. SO THAT WAS NOT A GOOD WAR AIM TO PROPAGATE IN THE MOVIES.

JESS>> BUT THERE WAS ALSO THE NOTION, IF NOT THE MYTH, THAT HOLLYWOOD WAS CONTROLLED BY JEWS.

RICHARD SCHICKEL>> ISN’T THAT AN IRONY? BUT THEY WENT WITH IT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY WE FOUGHT THAT WAR FOR LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC CAUSES, ESPECIALLY IN TERMS OF FIGHTING THE GERMANS. IT WAS A HIDDEN WAR. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IF YOU’RE LOOKING AT THESE FICTIONS, THEY ARE UTTERLY UNTRUE (LAUGHTER) WHAT CAN I SAY? I MEAN, THEY’RE DESIGNED MERELY TO INSPIRE YOU.

THERE ARE ONE OR TWO WAR MOVIES, SPECIFICALLY WAR MOVIES, JOHN FORD’S “THEY WERE EXPENDABLE” WAS AN AWFULLY GOOD ONE. IT’S ABOUT AMERICAN DUTIFULNESS. THE STORY OF G.I. JOE IS GOOD IN THAT WAY. BUT MOST OF THE GOOD WARTIME MOVIES WERE METAPHOR MOVIES. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, “LASSIE COME HOME” WAS REALLY A WAR MOVIE. IT’S ABOUT SOMEBODY WHO’S GONE ON AN ADVENTURE AND SOMEHOW MAKES IT BACK AND THAT’S VERY INSPIRATIONAL TO PEOPLE.

VAL>> BUT YOU POINT OUT THAT EVEN DEATH AS PORTRAYED IN THESE MOVIES IS DONE IN A RATHER NOBLE CAUSE. THEY NEVER REALLY DIE. THEY GO ON --

RICHARD SCHICKEL>> -- NOBODY DIES JUST BECAUSE THEY’RE IN THE WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME --

VAL>> -- NEVER DIE BY FRIENDLY FIRE.

RICHARD SCHICKEL>> THEY DIE FOR THE CAUSE, THEY DIE FOR SOMETHING BIGGER AND BETTER THAN THEMSELVES AND THAT WAS REGARDED AS INSPIRATIONAL AND PROBABLY WAS.

JESS>> WAS HOLLYWOOD PART OF THE WAR EFFORT WITH PROPAGANDA FILMS?

RICHARD SCHICKEL>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.

JESS>> THESE POPULAR MOVIES WERE PURELY PROPAGANDA?

RICHARD SCHICKEL>> YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT SILVER NITRATE, WHICH WAS THE FILM STOCK, WAS A WAR MATERIAL, SO THEY ACTUALLY RATIONED THAT MATERIAL AND THEREFORE THEY HAD A LITTLE HOOK ON HOLLYWOOD IN WHAT THEY COULD MAKE AND WHAT THEY COULDN’T MAKE.

VAL>> LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT ONE OF THE FILMS THAT YOU WRITE ABOUT IN YOUR BOOK. THIS IS 1944, “THE PURPLE HEART”. LET’S TAKE A LOOK.

[FILM CLIP]

JESS>> THAT WAS FAIRLY TYPICAL. THE JAPANESE WERE TREATED PARTICULARLY BADLY BY --

RICHARD SCHICKEL>> -- THE JAPANESE WERE ROUGH GUYS TO FIGHT. I MEAN, I DON’T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER IN THE WAR, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE’D SIT AROUND AS KIDS AND WE ALL SAID IF WE GET OLD, WE’D SOONER FIGHT THE GERMANS. I MEAN, THEY DIDN’T SURRENDER, THEY RAN VERY BRUTAL PRISON CAMPS, THEY WERE JUST SADISTIC GUYS TO FIGHT AGAINST. I MEAN --

JESS>> -- BUT YOU SUGGESTED THAT THE JAPANESE, ALMOST AS A RACE, THE WAY HOLLYWOOD TREATED THEM, WERE --

RICHARD SCHICKEL>> -- YEAH, THE PORTRAYALS OF THEM WERE RACIST. ON THE OTHER HAND --

JESS>> -- MORE SO THAN THE GERMANS?

RICHARD SCHICKEL>> YEAH, THE GERMANS WERE REGARDED BY THE GOVERNMENT AS PEOPLE IN THE MIDST OF A TEMPORARY ABERRATION. THEY WERE SALVAGEABLE IN SOME WAY.

JESS>> BUT THE JAPANESE WERE NOT.

RICHARD SCHICKEL>> BECAUSE WE DIDN’T UNDERSTAND THAT THEY WERE RUNNING DEATH CAMPS. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS THE STORY THAT WAS LEFT OUT AS FAR AS THE GERMANS WERE CONCERNED, SO IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE. IT WOULD HAVE MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IF THAT HAD BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED AND THERE WAS KNOWLEDGE OF THAT IN THE UNITED STATES REALLY.

VAL>> WE’RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT ANOTHER CLIP FROM A DIFFERENT MOVIE, “BOMBARDIER” FROM 1943. LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.

[FILM CLIP]

RICHARD SCHICKEL>> IS THAT INCREDIBLE OR WHAT?

VAL>> THAT WOULD NEVER BE MADE TODAY, BUT IT --

RICHARD SCHICKEL>> -- WELL, WE DO HAVE THE BELIEF THAT WE HAVE VERY SMART BOMBS.

VAL>> THAT’S TRUE.

RICHARD SCHICKEL>> AND WE JUST HAD VERY SMART BOMBARDIERS, OBVIOUSLY (LAUGHTER).

VAL>> THAT KIND OF LANGUAGE COMES OUT OF THE PENTAGON INSTEAD OF HOLLYWOOD (LAUGHTER).

RICHARD SCHICKEL>> THE FACT IS, THERE’S NO BOMB OR BOMBARDIER WHO’S SMART ENOUGH TO PREVENT CIVILIAN CASUALTIES AND IT’S ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TO ACCEPT ABOUT MODERN WAR. YOU KNOW, CIVILIANS WILL BE KILLED IN ANY KIND OF MODERN WAR.

JESS>> RICHARD SCHICKEL, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US. AGAIN, THE BOOK IS CALLED “GOOD MORNING, MR. ZIP ZIP ZIP: MOVIES, MEMORY AND WORLD WAR TWO”.

VAL>> AND A REMINDER THAT YOU CAN FIND TRANSCRIPTS OR HEAR AUDIO OF RECENT LIFE AND TIMES PROGRAMS. JUST GO TO OUR WEBSITE AND CLICK ON LIFE AND TIMES. YOU’LL ALSO SEE NOTES ON UPCOMING SHOWS AND SPECIAL FEATURES.

JESS>> AND THAT’S OUR PROGRAM. NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES, THANK YOU AND GOOD NIGHT.

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