©2025 Southern California Public Radio
Member-supported news for Southern California
Donate
Support for LAist comes from:
Become an LAist Sponsor
On February 29, this site will be merged with LAist.com. Read more
Off-Ramp
Hosted by John Rabe

Exploring Southern California with John Rabe

Ways to Subscribe
Episodes
  • Larry Davis: tears in his beer led to singing career - at 74!
    "My whole approach is to have a conversation with the listeners. The words have to mean something to me." 

    I first heard Larry sing c2010 at The Other Side, the long-closed piano bar in Silverlake. His voice is a little rough-edged, which grabs your attention, and he almost speaks many of the lyrics of his songs - whether it's "It Isn't Easy Being Green," "Lush Life," or one of the highly suggestive songs the crowd always loved to hear.

    Larry's past includes stints in the Air Force and at ABC-TV as a graphic designer, and his story proves F. Scott Fitzgerald was probably drunk when he said, "There are no second acts in American lives." Larry is on his third act ... at least.

    This piece originally aired in 2012; sit back and enjoy. And then go buy "Close Your Eyes," "Larry Davis Too," or any of his other albums on iTunes.

    Happy New Year!

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

  • A Christmas Carol ... the old time radio version, and some new takes on the Dickens classic
    Off-Ramp's Chistmas present to you is our annual holiday special, A Christmas Carol Redux, which combines the old time radio version - starring Lionel Barrymore - with new versions of the perennial holiday production. Enjoy!

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

Load More
Support Off-Ramp today
LAist Studios relies on listener support to power the podcasts you love.
  • Local pop historian Charles Phoenix, breakfasting at Clifton's Brookside Cafeteria, 2009.
    Under New Management - Off-Ramp for 9/25/2010
    Clifton's Cafeteria gets a new operator who promises to revamp gently ... the Mann Bros in LA ... Barry Cutler remembers THE Kevin McCarthy ... Sacred Fools' 14th Season ... Mark Peel on the best table in the house ... CyberFrequencies ... John Cale on Paris 1919 ...
  • A man who appears to be Sacred Fools director Kiff Scholl at the company's season opening party.
    Sacred Fools' 14th Season - Special Podcast for 9-20-2010
    KPCC's John Rabe interviews members of The Sacred Fools Theatre Company about their 14th season and their mission to fully exploit the theatrical medium.
  • Tim Curry (L) and Lou Adler in a production shot from The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
    Lou Adler on Rocky Horror -- Off-Ramp 9-18-2010
    Lou Adler remembers bringing Rocky Horror to Los Angeles ... Eat-LA/Off-Ramp Collaboration highlights affordable gourmet regional Mexican cuisine ... Tomatomania ... Charlie Chan Redux ... Dinner Party Download ...
  • Charlie Chan was immensely popular, but fell out of favor as a sort of Chinese Uncle Tom. Here is Warner Oland as Charlie Chan in a scene from "Charlie Chan in Paris."
    Charlie Chan Redux - Special Off-Ramp Podcast 9-15-10
    Yunte Huang, author of "Charlie Chan: The Untold Story of the Honorable Detective and His Rendezvous with American History" in conversation.
  • John Rabe's personal "Jerry Brown for Governor" tie. We don't know if it came in other colors, but then again, why would it?
    Eat Pray Love On Off-Ramp for 9-11-2010
    CyberFrequencies ... chef Mark Peel joins Off-Ramp ... Jerry Brown Parody Ads ... Dan Walters on 50 years in newspapers ... An East LA polleria that observes strict Muslim dietary laws ... The Roving Archers ... Lou Adler and The Fabulous Stains ... Do we have just one true love in our lives?
  • Off-Ramp on Celebrity & Celebs on Off-Ramp - 9-4-10
    Actor Christopher Murray on life with father (Don Murray) ... RH Greene on Mel Gibson, before the fall ... Dinner Party Download ... kids who get back-to-school supplies at the Salvation Army ... Ellington singer Herb Jeffries ... Lou Adler on sitting with Jack and discovering Cheech and Chong ... Jonathan Gold and Rick Bayless have a Mexican Food Fight.
  • How Hot Is It, Columbo? Off-Ramp 8-28-2010
    The Off-Ramp TemperaTour ... CyberFrequencies and life on the web ... Lou Adler on Monterey Pop ... Burning Man vets ... the historical Arab roots of Ground Zero ... Wm Link, Columbo's co-creator, speaks!
  • Columbo co-creator William Link - Off-Ramp 8-23-2010
    Wm Link talks with Off-Ramp's John Rabe about Columbo.
Load More