Charles Schulz got hate mail, and newspaper editors threatened to pull his strip "Peanuts," after he showed Charlie Brown meeting Franklin Armstrong on the beach on July 31st, 1968. All because Franklin was Black ... in fact, the first Black character in a mainstream daily comic strip.

This time on Off-Ramp, we're listening back to my 2014 interview with the two friends who made it happen: Harriet Glickman, a white teacher, and Ken Kelly, a black aerospace engineer.

Harriet died two years ago at 93, and Ken died a year ago at 92 ... and by the way, Ken has an amazing life story you'll hear about at the end of the episode.

Advisory: Ken and Harriet use old fashioned language to describe Black people. They use the polite terminology of the time, NOT the N-word, but if this is upsetting to you, you should skip this episode.

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

(Off-Ramp theme music by Fesliyan Studios.)

Pico Boulevard, Pico Union, Pico Rivera ... they tell the story of one of the most fascinating figures in California's 19th Century history: Pio Pico, the last governor of Alta California under Mexican rule, and a revolutionary who helped make the missions forfeit their land. But at the time of his death, he couldn't afford his own grave. Off-Ramp contributor Chris Greenspon has his quintessentially Californian story.

Originally broadcast September, 2015.

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.

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

(Off-Ramp theme music by Fesliyan Studios.)

Empty Mansions: The Mysterious Life of Huguette Clark and the Spending of a Great American Fortune ... another Hard Times update ... goodbye Cal Worthington ... the Congressman who arm-wrestled Putin ...

Harry Dean Stanton smokes in front of Patt Morrison; Zoey 101 as Bob Tur continues to become a woman; remembering writer Frederik Pohl; and lamenting Miyazaki's retirement from animation.

Dwight Yoakam performs at Hollywood Palladium, Patt pokes Pershing plan, our newest Instagram contest celebrates working men and women.

Marc Haefele marched on Washington 50 years ago ... Kevin Ferguson takes us to Glendora's Rubel Castle ... the Western stories of Elmore Leonard ...

Jason Mandell of The Coals sings in studio ... how is tattooed Jahsan doing? ... meet LA's new coroner ... Marc Haefele on the new Sam Francis exhibit ...

Answered on this episode: What happens to your old mattress? What moves comedian Eddie Pepitone? What are the best pop melodies? Can humans breathe in the Funkmosphere?

Driving with stuntman Jim Wilkey, art with Robert Williams, OCMA's California Pacific Triennial, and the best stuff that was never built in Southern California.

Larry King on almost 80 years ... dishing on Deitch ditching MOCA ... called a "cracker," Clay Russell tells us about his eureka moment ... why did a Lomita builder collect 55,000 dresses?