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Off-Ramp
Hosted by John Rabe

Exploring Southern California with John Rabe

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Episodes
  • This LA couple bought a pristine Mid-Century ranch home in the Valley ... complete with a pristine Mid-Century BOMB SHELTER!
    For the first Off-Ramp podcast episode, let's go back to that amazing day in 2013 when my friend Chris sent me a message:

    "Hey, John. My sister and her husband just bought a home in the Valley with a fallout shelter that hasn't been touched in decades. Wanna do an Off-Ramp piece about it?" 

    Would I? Should you wear a sport coat to Musso & Frank? Are horizontal fence slats getting old? Are you legally required to take visiting relatives to The Huntington? Yes!

    The piece you're about to listen to was probably the most popular one we ever did, in no small part due to the great photos by Mae Ryan. 

    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.)

  • Welcome to Off-Ramp, your passport to exploring Southern California
    Welcome from host John Rabe, a public radio veteran and bon vivant who turned exploring Southern California into a radio art form on KPCC's Off-Ramp. Now, he's sharing stories from the Off-Ramp archive - in a lead-lined vault deep beneath Mt Wilson - with you!

    Check your feed every Friday, then sit back, listen, enjoy ... and then get out and make your own SoCal adventures!

    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)

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  • What Mark Stambler was reduced to until Governor Brown signed the Homemade Food Act.
    Breadmaker Gets Rise from County - Off-Ramp 7-16-11
    Mark Stambler, breadmaker v. LA County ... Comedy Store history with Brandon Christy ... ball-chasing at Dodger Stadium ... Austin Beautner, the man who would be LA's mayor ... Dinner Party Download ...
  • In this little seen photo, Theodore Filson, an engineer at the LA County Heatwave Generator cranks up the temperature in the LA Basin. Don't blame him, though. He gets his orders from the nation's air conditioner manufacturers, which operate state-of-the-art centers like these throughout the country.
    California's Golden Explorer, Huell Howser - Off-Ramp 7-9-2011
    A Day with Huell Howser ... a fifty-year space tech vet on the ending of the shuttle program ... "D is for Dog" ... Dinner Party Download ... "Leave it on the Floor" black drag movie ...
  • James Sallis, harmonicat and author.
    "Drive" novelist James Sallis - Off-Ramp 7-2-11
    In-depth with James Sallis ... LAUSD cuts homework requirement ... new backstory for old Washington bust at Huntington ... singing Mountain Goats ... CyberFrequencies ...
  • James Sallis, harmonicat and author.
    James Sallis, "Drive" author - Off-Ramp 6-28-11
    In-depth interview with literary Renaissance man James Sallis, author of book "Drive," which the new Ryan Gosling movie is based on.
  • Off-Ramp host John Rabe.
    Off-Ramp on the Larry Crowne set - 6-25-11
    Tom Hanks welcomes Off-Ramp to the set of Larry Crowne ... Eat:LA on new Vietnamese food and make-your-own limoncello ... Dinner Party Download ... LA Film Festival ... Hard Times meets Peggy Martin ...
  • Old time paddleboarding!
    All Aboard! Off-Ramp for 6-18-2011
    Paddleboard Racing, Father's Day, the real Gidget, John Frame, and Rabe finds his roots.
  • New York's Papaya King -- now in Hollywood!
    The New Pinks? - Off-Ramp 6-11-2011
    Papaya King's hot dog empire comes West ... Harry Partch's Partch-work ... more Hard Times ... America's most famous naked actor ... California's most multiculti butcher shop ... Dandelion Wine ... top secret Lotusland garden,
  • Undated photo of a Shriners parade walking past 5th and Olive Streets in Downtown LA. On the right corner is the Philharmonic Auditorium Building, which shared space with Temple Baptist Church.
    Betty White and Yuri Lowenthal - Off-Ramp 6-4-2011
    Betty White on acting, being blue, and tapirs ... Marc Haefele on new Cuba exhibit at Getty ... Yuri Lowenthal, anime star, reveals secrets of voiceover acting ... Mimi Pond hails "Bridesmaids" for allowing women to be gross ... Remembering the SLA Shootout ...
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