7/21/03

LC030721

VAL ZAVALA>> TONIGHT ON LIFE AND TIMES --

A PUSH TOWARD GAY MARRIAGE IN CALIFORNIA. HAS THE SUPREME COURT SET THE STAGE FOR A MAJOR CHANGE IN THE LAW?

STEVE LLANUSA>> WELL, WE'RE ALMOST MARRIED LIKE ANYBODY ELSE ALREADY BECAUSE WE'VE DONE A JOINT ADOPTION WITH OUR BOYS. IF WE WERE TO SPLIT UP, WE'D HAVE TO DEAL WITH ISSUES OF CUSTODY AND VISITATION AND CHILD SUPPORT.

VAL>> AND THEN, WE MEET THE MAN WHO BROKE THE RACE BARRIER IN LOS ANGELES TELEVISION NEWS AND IT WASN'T EASY.

ALL THAT AND MORE STRAIGHT AHEAD ON TONIGHT'S LIFE AND TIMES.

LIFE AND TIMES IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF
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.

VAL>> HELLO, I'M VAL ZAVALA REPORTING FROM THE DOHENY MANSION IN WEST ADAMS ON THE CAMPUS OF MT. SAINT MARY'S COLLEGE. IT'S A LOS ANGELES LANDMARK WITH A LONG AND STORIED PAST AND, LATER IN THE PROGRAM, PATT MORRISON WILL TAKE US ON A TOUR OF THIS SPECTACULAR GRAND OLD PLACE.

BUT FIRST A LOOK AT A HOT POLITICAL ISSUE: SAME-SEX MARRIAGE. YOU RECALL THAT THE SUPREME COURT STRUCK DOWN A TEXAS LAW THAT ESSENTIALLY MADE HOMOSEXUAL RELATIONS ILLEGAL. THAT WAS A VICTORY FOR GAYS. NOW MANY GAY ACTIVISTS SAY IT'S TIME TO TAKE THE EXTRA STEP AND LEGALIZE SAME-SEX MARRIAGE. THE BATTLE LINES ARE BEING DRAWN IN CALIFORNIA AND MANY OTHER STATES. TONIGHT PHILIP BRUCE INTRODUCES US TO ONE LOCAL COUPLE WHO'S HOPING THE LAW WILL CHANGE.

PHILIP BRUCE>> IN TODAY'S CULTURAL JARGON, THEY'RE CALLED A NON-TRADITIONAL FAMILY, TWO GAY MEN AND THEIR THREE ADOPTED SONS, ALL LIVING IN A COMFORTABLE HOME IN THE HILLS OF CLAREMONT. STEVEN LLANUSA IS A SCHOOL TEACHER. GLENN MIYA IS A PEDIATRICIAN. ALEX AND AARON ARE TWINS AND ERIC IS THEIR BIOLOGICAL BROTHER. THE BOYS ALL CAME FROM AN ABUSIVE HOME. ONLY ELEVEN STATES ALLOW SAME-SEX COUPLES TO ADOPT CHILDREN AND CALIFORNIA IS ONE OF THEM, BUT STEVEN AND GLENN WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP AND MAKE WHAT THEY HAVE A LEGAL MARRIAGE FOR THEMSELVES AND FOR THE KIDS.

STEVEN LLANUSA>> WELL, WE'RE ALMOST MARRIED LIKE ANYBODY ELSE ALREADY BECAUSE WE'VE DONE A JOINT ADOPTION WITH OUR BOYS. IF WE WERE TO SPLIT UP, WE'D HAVE TO DEAL WITH ISSUES OF CUSTODY AND VISITATION AND CHILD SUPPORT. BECAUSE OF THAT, IT'S ALMOST LIKE WE'RE MARRIED ALREADY.

GLENN MIYA>> WHEN WE HAD OUR ADOPTION, THE JUDGE REMINDED THAT IF WE WERE EVER TO SPLIT UP, THERE WOULD BE CHILD SUPPORT, SO I TURNED TO STEVEN AND SAID, GREAT, WE HAVE ALL THE BENEFITS OF DIVORCE WITHOUT THE BENEFITS OF MARRIAGE.

PHILIP BRUCE>> REGARDLESS OF THE LABELS OTHERS MAY PUT ON THEM, STEVEN AND GLENN AND THEIR RAMBUNCTIOUS BOYS CALL THEMSELVES A FAMILY. THE KIDS' SURNAME IS MIYA LLANUSA, REFLECTING THE LAST NAMES OF THEIR TWO DADS. WHILE THE STATE APPROVED OF THIS HOME ENOUGH TO ALLOW THREE LEGAL ADOPTIONS, THERE'S NOT AN OFFICIAL IN THE LAND WHO'D SANCTION A LEGAL UNION BETWEEN STEVEN AND GLENN, BUT IS THAT ABOUT TO CHANGE?

GAY MARRIAGE HAS BECOME A HOT ISSUE IN LIGHT OF THE RECENT SUPREME COURT RULING THAT STRUCK DOWN AN ANTI-SODOMY LAW IN TEXAS. THAT RULING DECRIMINALIZED HOMOSEXUALITY AND UPHELD THE ZONE OF SEXUAL PRIVACY FOR GAY COUPLES. IT ALSO OPENED THE DOOR TO THE LEGAL RECOGNITION OF UNIONS SUCH AS GLENN AND STEVEN'S AND THEY SAY IT'S ABOUT TIME, BUT THEY CLAIM THEY'RE NOT TRYING TO REWRITE THE BOOK ON MARRIAGE.

STEVEN LLANUSA>> MARRIAGE HAS TWO FACETS. THERE IS THE RELIGIOUS CEREMONY AND THERE IS THE LEGAL CONTRACT. I WOULDN'T REQUIRE ANY RELIGION TO MARRY GAY PEOPLE BECAUSE EVERY RELIGION HAS ITS OWN CONSTRUCTS AND PRECEPTS.

GLENN MIYA>> THIS IS A LEGAL ISSUE, YES, INDEED. NOT NECESSARILY A RELIGIOUS ONE.

PHILIP BRUCE>> THEY KNOW PART OF THE CHALLENGE IS CONVINCING THE STRAIGHT WORLD THAT THERE'S NOTHING TO BE AFRAID OF. MANY GAY COUPLES CALL IT REDUCING THE "IC" FACTOR, A DISCOMFORT SOME PEOPLE HAVE WITH THE IDEA OF GAY SEXUALITY. BUT STEVEN AND GLENN WHO HAVE BEEN TOGETHER FOR SEVENTEEN YEARS SAY THEY'RE NOT ALL THAT DIFFERENT FROM MOST MARRIED COUPLES WHO HAVE KIDS AND WORRY ABOUT GIVING THEM A GOOD HOME.

GLENN MIYA>> WE TELL THEM THAT MOMMY AND DADDY LOVE EACH OTHER AND ARE COMMITTED TO BEING WITH EACH OTHER AND LIVING WITH EACH OTHER FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES AND WE'RE ALSO COMMITTED TO RAISING THEM AS A FAMILY, THAT NOT ALL FAMILIES ARE THE SAME, THAT IT'S OKAY TO BE DIFFERENT AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ALL STICK TOGETHER AND RESPECT EACH OTHER AND LOVE EACH OTHER.

STEVEN LLANUSA>> WELL, ONE OF THE DIFFICULTIES ABOUT US NOT BEING MARRIED AND RAISING OUR BOYS IS THAT WE HAVE TWINS THAT ARE TWELVE AND BECOMING TEENAGERS. RIGHT NOW, WE'RE TRYING TO EXPLAIN TO THEM HOW SEX SHOULD ONLY BE PART OF A RELATIONSHIP SUCH AS MARRIAGE. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR US AS TECHNICALLY NON-MARRIED MEN OR A NON-MARRIED COUPLE TO TELL OUR CHILDREN NOT TO HAVE SEX UNTIL THEY'RE MARRIED WHEN WE OURSELVES ARE UNMARRIED, SO THAT'S DIFFICULT FOR GAY PARENTS.

PHILIP BRUCE>> GAY COUPLES MAY HAVE A HARD TIME BEING ACCEPTED, BUT THAT GOES DOUBLE FOR ONES WITH KIDS. THERE IS A NOTION THAT THE CHILDREN WILL BE RAISED TO TURN OUT GAY. STEVEN AND GLENN SAY THEY WOULDN'T KNOW HOW TO DO THAT IF THEY WANTED TO. AS FOR THE BOYS, HAVING TWO DADS SEEMS NORMAL.

ALEX MIYA LLANUSA>> SOME OF MY FRIENDS KNOW THAT MY DADS ARE GAY BECAUSE THEY COME TO OPEN HOUSE. THEY KNOW MY DAD BECAUSE HE WORKS IN THE COMPUTER LAB.

PHILIP BRUCE>> NO BIG DEAL?

ALEX MIYA LLANUSA>> NO, BECAUSE I TOLD MY FRIENDS WHAT GAY MEANT, WHEN TWO FATHERS LOVE, BUT HE WAS THINKING OF THE OTHER ONES. NOW HE UNDERSTANDS WHAT IT REALLY MEANS.

ERIC MIYA LLANUSA>> IT'S JUST DIFFERENT FROM WHAT THEY'RE HAVING, A DAD OR A MOM OR SINGLE. IT'S JUST DIFFERENT. THEY LOVE EACH OTHER TOO.

PHILIP BRUCE>> BACK IN 2002, THEY ALL WENT ON A FAMILY TRIP TO THE GAY GAMES IN SIDNEY, AUSTRALIA. GLENN WAS ONE OF THE COMPETITORS. THE RACE WAS MEMORABLE, BUT AS AN AUSTRALIAN DOCUMENTARY CREW DISCOVERED, THE REAL MOMENT CAME AFTERWARD.

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PHILIP BRUCE>> NOW THAT A MOSTLY CONSERVATIVE SUPREME COURT HAS CHANGED THE STATUS OF GAY COUPLES, CAN GAY MARRIAGE IN A LIBERAL STATE SUCH AS CALIFORNIA BE FAR BEHIND? THAT WOULD BE A MAJOR LEAP. EVEN SOME PEOPLE WHO DEFEND THE RIGHTS OF GAYS STILL HAVE TROUBLE WHEN IT COMES TO REDEFINING MARRIAGE. IN THE MEANTIME, LIFE FOR THIS CLAREMONT FAMILY GOES ON AS NORMAL. GLENN SAYS THE KIDS HAVE OVERCOME SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT STARTED WITH THEIR BIOLOGICAL PARENTS. FOR A WHILE, THERE WERE DIFFICULTIES IN SCHOOL AND AARON LOST A LEG BECAUSE OF A BIRTH DEFECT.

GLENN MIYA>> WHEN AARON FIRST CAME TO US, HE WAS MEDICALLY NEGLECTED. HIS PROSTHETIC LEG HADN'T BEEN LOOKED AT FOR YEARS AND HE WAS LIMPING, BUT AFTER HE GOT THE MEDICAL CARE THAT HE DESERVED AND SOME NUTRITION AND HELP WITH HIS GROWTH, HE BLOSSOMED.

PHILIP BRUCE>> THEY MAY NOT BE THE TYPICAL FAMILY, BUT IN MANY CALIFORNIA COMMUNITIES, THESE ARE THE FACES OF THE FAMILY NEXT DOOR. STEVEN AND GLENN SAY THAT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE LAW CHANGES.

STEVEN LLANUSA>> IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE A MARRIAGE CEREMONY. GIVE BACK SOME OF THOSE RECEPTION GIFTS WE'VE GIVEN OUT OVER ALL THESE YEARS (LAUGHTER).

GLENN MIYA>> IF WE HAVE ENOUGH AFTER WE PUT IN FOR THE COLLEGE FUND FOR THE CHILDREN, MAYBE WE'LL SEE ABOUT THAT. SOME OF OUR FRIENDS HAVE HAD CEREMONIES, HUGE, HUGE CEREMONIES, AND EXCHANGED RINGS. STEVEN OFTEN HAS SAID THAT WEARING THE SAME POLO SHIRTS IS GOOD ENOUGH IN LETTING THE PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE'RE A TEAM.

VAL>> THIRTY-SEVEN STATES ALREADY HAVE LAWS ON THE BOOKS DEFINING MARRIAGE AS A UNION BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN. TEN OTHER STATES ARE CONSIDERING SIMILAR MEASURES, BUT GAY RIGHTS GROUPS SAY THE RECENT SUPREME COURT RULING CONVINCES THEM THAT THEY CAN WIN THIS FIGHT.

>> I THINK IT SHOULD BE LEGALIZED BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO HAVE CHILDREN AS LEGAL PARENTS, AND IT'S MORE STABLE WHEN THERE ARE TWO PEOPLE IN A MARRIAGE. IF THOSE TWO PEOPLE ARE OF THE SAME SEX, I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD MAKE TOO MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE.

>> IT SHOULD NOT BE LEGALIZED. OUR FOREFATHERS BELIEVED, WHEN THEY WROTE THE CONSTITUTION, THEY BASED IT ON THE BIBLE AND THE BIBLE DOESN'T TALK ANYTHING ABOUT SAME-SEX MARRIAGE. WE SHOULD NOT LEGALIZE IT AT ALL.

>> WELL, I THINK IT SHOULD BE RESPECTED THE SAME WAY THAT HETEROSEXUAL MARRIAGES ARE THAT DON'T HAVE CHILDREN. I THINK THEY SHOULD BE IN THE SAME CATEGORY. I DON'T THINK IT'S AN INSULT THAT THEY'RE NOT.

>> WELL, I THINK INSOFAR AS MARRIAGE IS A LEGAL INSTITUTION IN ADDITION TO A RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION, I THINK IT'S A LEGAL STATUS THAT NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED TO EVERYONE IN OUR CULTURE, NOT JUST TO SOME.

KCET.ORG IS THE PLACE TO LOOK FOR THE VERY LATEST ON LIFE AND TIMES. YOU'LL FIND PREVIEWS OF UPCOMING STORIES, TRANSCRIPTS AND AUDIO OF PAST EPISODES AND LINKS TO SOME OF OUR MOST INTERESTING FEATURES. JUST GO TO KCET.ORG AND CLICK ON "LIFE AND TIMES".

TONI GUINYARD>> IN 1965, A YOUNG BLACK MAN FROM A SMALL TOWN IN LOUISIANA GOT A JOB HERE AT CBS TELEVISION STATION, KNXT CHANNEL TWO. HE TOOK A PLACE IN HISTORY BY BECOMING THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN JOURNALIST TO BE HIRED BY AN OWNED AND OPERATED STATION HERE IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES. HIS NAME IS JOSEPH DYER AND HE'S WRITTEN A BOOK. WE TALKED TO HIM ABOUT HIS "LIFETIME OF MEMORIES FROM THE COTTON FIELDS TO CBS".

JOSEPH DYER>> I WANTED TO PAINT A PICTURE OF HOW IT WAS AT CBS FOR ME WHEN I FIRST GOT THERE. IT WAS A LONELY ISLAND. ON THE THIRD DAY OF THE JOB -- AND IT'S IN THE BOOK -- I SAW A GROUP OF BLACK JANITORS STANDING IN A DOORWAY WATCHING, POINTING AND DISCUSSING ME. SO I RAN OVER THERE AND SHOOK THEIR HANDS AND THAT KIND OF STUFF AND THEY BEGAN TO TELL ME HOW PROUD THEY WERE THAT SOMEBODY OF COLOR WAS IN THAT NEWSROOM. THEY LATER SAID, WE ALWAYS WONDERED HOW NICE IT WOULD BE IF ONE OF OUR FOLKS HAD ONE OF THOSE SEATS OVER YONDER.

JOSEPH DYER>> "TODAY WE ARE STANDING AT THE CORNER OF SEVENTH AND BROADWAY IN BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES. NOW WE'RE HERE TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT PEOPLE ON THE STREETS THINK ABOUT THE SO-CALLED GASOLINE CRUNCH."

TONI GUINYARD>> BUT ONCE YOU GOT TO LOS ANGELES, ONCE YOU GOT INTO A NEWSROOM, YOU ESSENTIALLY MADE YOUR OWN BREAK. 1965, WATTS RIOTS. WHAT PERSONNEL IN THE NEWSROOM WAS WILLING TO GO INTO THE AREA?

JOSEPH DYER>> WELL, NUMBER ONE, THERE WERE NO VOLUNTEERS, THAT'S FOR SURE AND UNDERSTANDABLY SO. IT WAS DANGEROUS DOWN THERE. KEEP IN MIND THAT THE NEWSROOM IN 1965 WAS ESSENTIALLY WHITE -- DISREGARD ESSENTIALLY -- IT WAS ALL WHITE. I WAS THE ONE BLACK SPECK THERE. SO IT WAS DANGEROUS TO GET DOWN THERE. ROY HINCKLEY, THE GENTLEMAN WHO HIRED ME, DIDN'T WANT ME TO GO DOWN THERE. KEEP IN MIND, I THINK ROY WAS FRIGHTENED THAT THERE HAD BEEN SOME BROUHAHA ABOUT A REPORTER IN NEW YORK SOMEWHERE WHO HAD RESENTED BEING ASSIGNED STORIES THAT WERE BASICALLY ALL BLACK.

SINCE I HAD COME IN THROUGH THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE NAACP, I THINK ROY MAY HAVE BEEN OVERLY SENSITIVE. WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF WE'D FINALLY HIRED THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND SENT HIM OFF DOWN TO WATTS AND GOT HIM KILLED OR GET HIM MAIMED OR GET HIM SERIOUSLY HURT? HOW WOULD THAT SET WITH WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO DO HERE AT CHANNEL TWO? HE DISAGREED WITH MY GOING DOWN THERE. I FINALLY GOT HIM TO ACQUIESCE AND AFTER HE SAID, OKAY, YOU GO DOWN THERE WITHOUT MY BLESSING, I KNEW IN MY GUT IT WAS THE WRONG THING TO SEND ME DOWN THERE. BUT THERE WAS ANOTHER PROBLEM. ALL MY CREW WAS WHITE, SO THAT MEANT I HAD TO GO DOWN THERE BY MYSELF AND GO INTO TELEPHONE BOOTHS AND FALL BACK ON TELEPHONE BEEPERS FOR THE BIG NEWS.

TONI GUINYARD>> WHAT SHOULD THIS CITY HAVE LEARNED AFTER WHAT IT WENT THROUGH OVER THE YEARS THAT YOU WERE COVERING STORIES, THAT YOU WERE OUT ON THE STREET?

JOSEPH DYER>> JOHN BOGGS WHO WAS THE HEAD OF HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION TRIED TO WARN THE CITY LONG BEFORE THE RIOTS OCCURRED IN 1965. THERE ARE SEETHING DIFFICULTIES DOWN THERE. THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH LACK OF TRANSPORTATION. THERE'S NO MOTION PICTURE THEATER. THE UNEMPLOYMENT IS OFF THE RICHTER SCALE. THE POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS IS DISMAL. HE TRIED TO TELL PEOPLE THAT WE'D BETTER WATCH OUT BECAUSE THE STAGE WAS SET FOR AN EXPLOSION.

WELL, NOBODY PAID MUCH ATTENTION TO JOHN BOGGS UNTIL SOMEONE STRUCK A MATCH ON AUGUST 13, 1965 AND THE CITY BEGAN TO BURN. WE WOULD GO DOWN AND COVER THOSE STORIES ON THE WEEKEND, THE NEGATIVE TYPE STORIES, IF YOU WILL, WHICH ONLY TENDED TO PROMOTE MORE OF THE STEREOTYPES, YOU KNOW, THOSE PEOPLE DOWN YONDER, DOWN THERE, QUITE FRANKLY, AS OPPOSED TO THE BALANCED STORIES. YOU'VE GOT TO COVER THE BAD, BUT YOU ALSO SHOULD BALANCE IT WITH THE GOOD. LIFE IS NOT ALWAYS A STEADY DIET OF BAD NOR IS IT A CONTINUOUS DIET OF GOOD.

TONI GUINYARD>> RACE HAS PLAYED SUCH A HUGE ROLE IN YOUR LIFE AND IN YOUR CAREER.

JOSEPH DYER>> WELL, IT'S BEEN VERY PROFOUND. IT JUST SO HAPPENS, KEEP IN MIND, THE ERA I CAME OUT OF WAS DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. IT'S INTERESTING, WHEN I COVERED GOVERNOR GEORGE WALLACE WHO WAS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT, WE WENT TO THE AIRPORT TO CATCH HIM COMING IN AND WE GOT THERE KIND OF EARLY. TWO OF HIS ADVANCE MEN -- I CALL THEM GOONS IN THE BOOK, BUT I WON'T GET INTO THAT RIGHT NOW -- BURLY NECKS AND THAT KIND OF STUFF HEADED TOWARD ME WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAMERA CAR. THEY DIDN'T SAY A COTTON PICKING THING TO ME. THEY WALKED RIGHT BY ME AND ASKED MY CAMERA PERSON, BILL PICKETT, IS HE WITH YOU? BILL PICKETT SAID, NO, HE'S NOT. WE'RE WITH HIM. HE'S OUR REPORTER.

TONI GUINYARD>> WHY ISN'T YOUR NAME A HOUSEHOLD NAME?

JOSEPH DYER>> YOU ASKED THAT QUESTION THE OTHER DAY. I DON'T KNOW. ONE THING I SURMISE IS THAT I WAS NOT A HOLLYWOOD TYPE PERSON. I DIDN'T GO TO A LOT OF PARTIES. I WAS A FAMILY MAN AND I ENJOYED THAT. I GOT OFF WORK AND CAME HOME. I REALLY WANTED TO SPEND THE REST OF MY LIFE AS A PLAYWRIGHT. REGARDLESS OF WHAT ONE'S BACKGROUND IS, WHAT ONE'S CHALLENGES ARE IN LIFE, IF YOU BELIEVE, IF YOU SINCERELY BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN, EVENTUALLY IT WILL. I THINK DR. BENJAMIN E. MAYS SAID IT BEST. HE WAS THE PRESIDENT OF MOREHOUSE COLLEGE YEARS AGO. HE SAID THE TRAGEDY IN LIFE IS NOT TO HAVE YOUR DREAMS UNFULFILLED. THE TRAGEDY IS NOT TO HAVE DREAMS TO DREAM. HE SAID TO DREAM, BUT THEN WORK LIKE EVERYTHING TO MAKE THOSE DREAMS A REALITY.

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VAL>> IT'S BEEN THE SCENE OF COUNTLESS SOCIAL EVENTS AND FANCIES AND IS RIVALING ANYTHING AT THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE OWNER WAS A WEALTHY PETROLEUM TYCOON WHO GOT TANGLED UP IN THE INFAMOUS TEAPOT DOME SCANDAL. WELL, TONIGHT YOU HAVE A FRONT ROW SEAT IN AN INSIDE TOUR WITH PATT MORRISON. SHE'LL SHOW US THE TREASURES AND THE SECRETS OF THE DOHENY MANSION.

PATT MORRISON>> IN 1901, EDWARD DOHENY WHO FIRST DRILLED FOR OIL IN LOS ANGELES PAID $120,000 CASH FOR THIS HOUSE. HIS WIFE, ESTELLE, BEGGED HIM NOT TO. WHEN SHE WALKED IN THE DOOR, SHE SAID, I WAS HEARTSICK AT WHAT I SAW. IT LOOKED LIKE THE ADDAMS FAMILY HAD LIVED HERE. BUT OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT FIFTY-SOME YEARS, ESTELLE DOHENY TURNED THE DOHENY NAME INTO A PHILANTHROPIC NAME IN LOS ANGELES AND TURNED THE DOHENY MANSION INTO A CIVIC TREASURE THAT WE'RE NOW GOING TO BE ABLE TO SEE.

MARYANN BONINO IS THE CURATOR HERE. SHE LOVES THE PLACE IN SPITE OF ITS CURIOSITIES AND WE ARE GOING TO TOUR TODAY THE PLACES THE PUBLIC IS NOW ABLE TO SEE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A VERY LONG TIME.

MARYANN BONINO>> ABSOLUTELY, AND WELCOME TO THE DOHENY MANSION.

PATT MORRISON>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WIPED MY FEET BEFORE I CAME IN (LAUGHTER). I'M SURE IT WOULD HAVE MATTERED.

MARYANN BONINO>> WELL, WHEN YOU FIRST CAME IN IN THE ORIGINAL DAYS, YOU WOULD HAVE LOOKED AT SOMETHING THAT VERY MUCH RESEMBLED THE OUTSIDE. ELK HEAD ON THE WALL, BEAR SKINS ON THE FLOOR AND VICTORIAN HORROR EVERYWHERE. HEAVY DRAPES, HEAVY, HEAVY, HEAVY.

PATT MORRISON>> THIS WAS THE HOUSE THAT HAD BEEN BUILT IN 1898 OR 1899 --

MARYANN BONINO>> -- 1899.

PATT MORRISON>> -- THAT ESTELLE DOHENY WALKED INTO AND THOUGHT OH, GOD, HE REALLY DOESN'T WANT ME TO LIVE HERE, DOES HE?

MARYANN BONINO>> NO. BUT, AS YOU SAY, OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT FIFTY YEARS, SHE EXERCISED AND LEARNED TASTE AND REBUILT AND REMODIFIED AND MADE IT HER OWN. YOU'LL SEE THE RESULTS OF IT TODAY.

PATT MORRISON>> AND MUCH OF THIS IS STILL ORIGINAL? UNLIKE OTHER GREAT HOUSES IN LOS ANGELES, IT HASN'T BEEN GUTTED?

MARYANN BONINO>> NOT, IT HASN'T. BUT ORIGINAL IN THE SENSE THAT SHE WENT THROUGH SEVERAL PROCESSES HERSELF OF REVISIONS --

PATT MORRISON>> -- I UNDERSTAND. I GOT RID OF THE FORMICA COFFEE TABLE (LAUGHTER). WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE ROOMS AND SOME OF THE FEATURES AND WE'RE GOING TO WIND UP WITH ONE LOLLAPALOOZA OF A ROOM. NOW THE DOHENY NAME OCCUPIES TWO PLACES IN LOS ANGELES HISTORY. THERE IS THE PHILANTHROPIC DOHENY WHO ESTABLISHED MT. SAINT MARY'S COLLEGE.

MARYANN BONINO>> WELL, THE DOHENY FOUNDATION.

PATT MORRISON>> THE DOHENY FOUNDATION.

MARYANN BONINO>> THE DOHENY EYE CLINIC --

PATT MORRISON>> -- WAS VERY GENEROUS TO THE CATHOLIC CHURCH?

MARYANN BONINO>> CORRECT.

PATT MORRISON>> LEFT A LEGACY OF BOOKS AND CERTAINLY WEALTH, BUT THERE'S ALSO THE DOHENY OF THE TEAPOT DOME SCANDAL, THE OIL SCANDAL. OIL IS WHERE HE MADE HIS MONEY AND OIL IS WHERE HE CAME CLOSE TO LOSING SOME OF HIS REPUTATION.

MARYANN BONINO>> THAT'S TRUE. THE TEAPOT DOME, HOWEVER, WAS NOT HIS. HE WAS IN ELK HILLS AND BUENA VISTA HILLS IN KERN COUNTY --

PATT MORRISON>> -- AND HE WAS DRAWN INTO THE SCANDAL AND ACQUITTED?

MARYANN BONINO>> ACQUITTED.

PATT MORRISON>> BUT NEVER QUITE --

MARYANN BONINO>> -- WELL, EVERYONE ELSE WENT TO JAIL, BUT HE WAS ACQUITTED. WE'LL NEVER KNOW THE FULL TRUTH, UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE ON THE NIGHT OF HIS FUNERAL, AT HIS REQUEST, ESTELLE DOHENY AND HER SISTER DAISY MAE --

PATT MORRISON>> -- HAD A BONFIRE.

MARYANN BONINO>> HAD A BONFIRE. SHE REGRETTED IT LATER. SHE REALLY DID.

PATT MORRISON>> WELL, LET'S LOOK AT THIS HOUSE. NOW WE HAVE -- THIS IS THE GRAND HALL?

MARYANN BONINO>> GREAT HALL.

PATT MORRISON>> GREAT HALL, GRAND HALL.

MARYANN BONINO>> SAME THING.

PATT MORRISON>> AND THESE RECEPTION AREAS WERE VERY COMMON IN THAT ERA. IF ONE WAS TO BE A GREAT HOSTESS, ONE HAD TO HAVE GREAT AREAS TO RECEIVE.

MARYANN BONINO>> ROOMS FOR DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS.

PATT MORRISON>> AND THIS, OF COURSE, IS THE MUSIC ROOM.

MARYANN BONINO>> THIS IS THE MUSIC ROOM, AS YOU CAN SEE.

PATT MORRISON>> WITH THE SAME KIND OF PIANO THAT CHOPIN HAD.

MARYANN BONINO>> CHOPIN'S FAVORITE PIANO WAS MADE BY PLAYO. THIS IS A PLAYO CUSTOM ORDERED FROM PARIS.

PATT MORRISON>> DID THE DOHENYS PLAY PIANO THEMSELVES?

MARYANN BONINO>> WHETHER THEY PLAYED OR NOT, I DON'T KNOW, BUT THEY DID HAVE CONCERTS. JOHN MCCORMACK, WHO WAS THE GREAT IRISH TENOR, AND, OF COURSE, EDWARD DOHENY WAS OF IRISH ORIGIN, GAVE A RECITAL HERE. IN WHAT ROOM, I'M NOT SURE, BUT THAT'S QUITE REMARKABLE.

PATT MORRISON>> NOW THE DOHENYS WERE NOT BORN TO THE PURPLE. THEY WERE VERY HUMBLE PEOPLE. SHE WAS A TELEPHONE OPERATOR BEFORE SHE MARRIED HIM. HE FELL IN LOVE WITH HER VOICE PUTTING THROUGH ALL THOSE CALLS WHEN HE WAS HITHER AND YON. SO SHE WAS REALLY DISCOVERING HER TASTE AS SHE WENT ALONG.

MARYANN BONINO>> BOTH OF THEM, YOU KNOW, HAD A HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION AND THEY HAD ENORMOUS CURIOSITY. HE HAD GREAT INSTINCTS, OBVIOUSLY. HE HAD A NOSE FOR WHERE THE OIL WAS, AMONG OTHER THINGS, AND HE STARTED OUT AS A SILVER AND GOLD PROSPECTOR. EVENTUALLY, IT LED HIM TO OIL. BUT BOTH OF THEM HAD THIS ENORMOUS CURIOSITY AND THEY GREW AND LEARNED AS THEY WENT ALONG.

PATT MORRISON>> SO SHE WALKS INTO A HOUSE THAT DOES LOOK LIKE THE ADDAMS FAMILY. IT'S REALLY GROTESQUE. THINKS SHE CAN'T LIVE HERE, BUT ENDS UP LIVING HERE FOR MORE THAN FIFTY YEARS.

MARYANN BONINO>> SHE DIED HERE IN 1958.

PATT MORRISON>> THIS IS THE POMPEIAN ROOM?

MARYANN BONINO>> THIS IS THE POMPEIAN ROOM.

PATT MORRISON>> 1906, THE PIECE D'RESISTANCE OF THE DOHENY MANSION.

MARYANN BONINO>> IT WAS THE PLACE WHERE THEY ENTERTAINED AND GRANDLY.

PATT MORRISON>> QUITE GRANDLY. WHAT WAS IT BEFORE?

MARYANN BONINO>> BEFORE, IT WAS AN OPEN COURTYARD. IN FACT, IF YOU LOOK AS WE MOVE AROUND THE ROOM, YOU'LL SEE THE OUTLINES OF THE ORIGINAL BUILDING. IT WAS CALLED THE EL HANDRA COURT WITH TILE AND A FOUNTAIN IN THE CENTER AND IT HAD TEA PARTIES.

PATT MORRISON>> VERY STANDARD SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (LAUGHTER).

MARYANN BONINO>> (LAUGHTER) YES, EXACTLY, BUT THIS IS NOT YOUR STANDARD ADD-A-ROOM. THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL PLACE. THE DOME IS BY LOUIS TIFFANY COMPOSED OF 2,853 PIECES OF GOLD FABRILLE GLASS.

PATT MORRISON>> THE BIGGEST LAMPSHADE YOU HAVE EVER SEEN (LAUGHTER).

MARYANN BONINO>> (LAUGHTER) YES, THAT'S TRUE, AND IT CHANGES IN TEXTURE AND QUALITY AS IT GOES UP TO THE TOP. IT'S VERY LOVELY AT NIGHT, BUT IT'S PARTICULARLY STRIKING DURING THE DAY.

PATT MORRISON>> AND SHE PUT IN --

MARYANN BONINO>> -- WELL, THERE'S MARBLE FROM TUSTIN QUARRIES. SOME OF THIS MARBLE AT THE FOOT OF THESE PILLARS IS FROM NORTH AFRICAN MARBLE. THE FURNITURE IS COPIED FROM AMPERE PIECES IN A MUSEUM IN ROME. THE WALLS ARE PAINTED WITH BRONZE AND GOLD TO AFFECT A KIND OF LEATHER FEELING AND THEN THERE ARE WEDGWOOD MEDALLIONS IN POMPEIAN RED TO CAP IT ALL OFF. ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE SOME COLORED GLASS BY THE LOS ANGELES ART GLASS COMPANY. AS A WHOLE, I THINK IT MAKES A VERY HARMONIOUS COMPOSITION.

PATT MORRISON>> WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS ROOM? THERE WAS NO LONGER A FOUNTAIN OR SPANISH TILE, BUT IT WAS MUCH GRANDER.

MARYANN BONINO>> RIGHT. GRAND DINNERS. SHE HAD A TABLE -- WE STILL HAVE IT TODAY -- THAT THE ENTIRE LENGTH HAS A MIRROR TOP AND IT SEATS FORTY-TWO PEOPLE. SHE HAD, YOU KNOW, SMALL TABLES ALONG THE SIDE. SHE DINED IN SPLENDOR HERE. SHE HOSTED EDWARD THE VIII. SHE STRUNG ORCHIDS FROM THE CEILING FROM HER HOTHOUSE WHICH IS JUST OUTSIDE THE BUILDING.

PATT MORRISON>> OH, MY GOODNESS.

MARYANN BONINO>> PUT A STRAND OF PEARLS AT EVERY WOMAN'S PLATE AND YOU COULD LOOK FROM YOUR MEAL DOWN AT THE TABLE AND SEE THE DOME WITHOUT HAVING TO CRANE YOUR NECK.

PATT MORRISON>> SO YOU WOULDN'T GET A STIFF NECK LOOKING UP. YOU COULD JUST LOOK DOWN AT THE TABLE.

MARYANN BONINO>> RIGHT.

PATT MORRISON>> SO SHE REALLY BECAME A FAIRLY WELL-KNOWN HOSTESS.

MARYANN BONINO>> SHE WAS A WELL-KNOWN HOSTESS AND LOVED IT. SHE REALLY LOVED IT.

PATT MORRISON>> SHE CAME INTO HER OWN.

MARYANN BONINO>> CAME INTO HER OWN IN MANY WAYS. THAT WAS ONE.

PATT MORRISON>> WHEN MRS. DOHENY DIED IN 1958, SHE LEFT A GREAT DEAL, INCLUDING THIS BUILDING, TO THE CHURCH AND THE CHURCH HAS TURNED IT INTO --

MARYANN BONINO>> -- WELL, IT'S NOW PART OF -- IT'S OWNED BY MT. SAINT MARY'S COLLEGE. IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF OUR MISSION BECAUSE THIS MANSION IS AN EMBODIMENT OF ALL SORTS OF THINGS THAT WE STAND FOR. REVERENCE FOR HISTORY, LOVE OF BEAUTY, A SENSE OF POSSIBILITY BECAUSE THE DOHENYS CAME FROM NOTHING.

PATT MORRISON>> REINVENTION?

MARYANN BONINO>> REINVENTION, YES, GROWTH, AND GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. WE TRY TO INCULCATE ALL OF THOSE VALUES IN OUR STUDENTS.

PATT MORRISON>> AND THAT'S WHY YOU'RE OPENING IT UP TO THE PUBLIC TO SEE AS WELL.

MARYANN BONINO>> TO SHARE WITH THEM AS WELL.

PATT MORRISON>> PART OF THE LEGACY OF LOS ANGELES.

MARYANN BONINO>> EXACTLY.

PATT MORRISON>> GOOD. WE'LL BE BACK.

MARYANN BONINO>> OH, GOOD. THANK YOU.

VAL>> MT. SAINT MARY'S COLLEGE HAS OWNED THE DOHENY MANSION FOR THE PAST FORTY YEARS. IT'S BEEN OFF-LIMITS TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC FOR MOST OF THAT TIME, BUT THE COLLEGE HAS DECIDED TO OPEN THE HOUSE UP FOR REGULAR TOURS.

THAT'S OUR PROGRAM. I'M VAL ZAVALA. FOR ALL OF US AT LIFE AND TIMES, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

LIFE AND TIMES WAS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF
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.

VAL>> TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, NO ONE DOUBTS THAT VIOLENCE HAPPENS AT CALIFORNIA SCHOOLS, SO WHY AREN'T ANY OF THEM LABELED DANGEROUS?

>> IT HAS BEEN THE CULTURE OF THIS DISTRICT THAT THE PRINCIPALS ARE NEVER SUPPOSED TO LET ANYTHING GET OUT OF HAND. SO WHAT THEY DO IS THEY DON'T REPORT WHAT'S GOING ON.

VAL>> THAT'S TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES.