It was 2015. I was at a comic book store late one night and in strode Chris Nichols of LA Magazine. "John, Angelyne is outside and she'd give you a ride in the pink Corvette if you want." 

He had me at Angelyne, and the ride was awesome. 45 minutes later I had an audio portrait of one of the hardest working women in Hollywood who strives to live within her warm pink bubble. And later, when the Hollywood Reporter finally uncovered her backstory, it all made sense. As also told in the Peacock miniseries, Angelyne was fighting the dehumanizing legacy of the Holocaust in her family. 

This episode also features a fresh interview with LAist's Mike Roe about the miniseries, Angelyne's reaction to it, and our mutual admiration for a woman who remade herself and her life. 

Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live; and bythe Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

(Off-Ramp theme music by Fesliyan Studios.)

(CONTENT ALERT: This piece includes frank discussion of abortion and clinical descriptions of abortion procedures.)

We're all processing the news that a draft ruling from the US Supreme Court supports overturning Roe v. Wade, which has protected a woman's right to an abortion in the US for almost 50 years. A decision to overrule Roe would lead to abortion bans in roughly half the states.

On this bonus Off-Ramp episode, we meet Carol Downer, now 88. Before the 1973 Supreme Court decision, this Eagle Rock woman had made it her mission to take abortion from the back alley ... to the living room, by creating an underground network of unlicensed women who performed very early term home abortions. She wrote books on female anatomy, went to jail, and ran a women's health and abortion clinic in Hollywood which burned down in 1985.

After we hear Chris Greenspon's 2017 profile of Downer, we'll hear what Downer has to say about the latest bad news for Roe v. Wade.

Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live; and bythe Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

(Off-Ramp theme music by Fesliyan Studios.)

Director Florian Gallenberger tells KPCC's John Rabe about making the award-winning film, "John Rabe."

Ashes of Oakridge

KPCC's Off-Ramp welcomes PBS's "This Old House" to Los Angeles. Norm and Kevin tell all to host John Rabe.

"John Rabe" director Florian Gallenberger in conversation with KPCC's John Rabe ... Puppet shows on the 405... Ellen Geer brings out religion, notorious Milady in adaptation of "Three Musketeers" at Theatricum Botanicum ...

This Old House finally comes to LA ... "Sister Carrie" too controversial, Theodore Dreiser was scandalous, too ... Harry Partch adds a bajillion notes to the scales ... Dinner Party Download's dinner with Wallace Shawn ... Skirball Center exhibits The Chosen albums ...

A money management class at a homeless shelter ... Jon Bon Jovi supports LAMP with a tour ... Russ Parsons: how to bbq without stress ... MUST READ: Ray Bradbury's "Dandelion Wine" ... Queena Kim says goodbye ... Lisa See on her latest: "Shanghai Girls" ... a violin master class with Jennifer Frautschi.

Joel Grey - a Broadway, Silver Screen, and TV triple threat - talking with KPCC's John Rabe about his almost 60 years in show business.

Actor and Director Joel Grey ... Shirley Jahad's EV diaries ... James Beard Foundation award winners Jonathan Gold and Colman Andrews ... Eat-LA, a guide to help you avoid "Food Panic" ... Dinner Party Download meets Marissa Silver ... Cabaret with The Brown Betties ...