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Off-Ramp
Hosted by John Rabe

Exploring Southern California with John Rabe

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Episodes
  • The Romans, 1982 or 1983. At Kelbos on Fairfax, as a "surf punk" ensemble. L-R: the late Keith Mitchell, Michael Uhlenkott, the late Mikey Borens, Juan Gomez, and Pat Delaney
    Remembering the 'Buddy Rich' of punk, and Tiny Tim's Tin Pan Alley soundtrack
    A new album from the late oddball singer Tiny Tim, who was, among many other things, an astounding musicologist, with a focus on obscure Tin Pan Alley songs. ... A new investigation by NBC4 raises serious questions about possible collusion between the owners of a kids camp and a state agency that oversees toxic sites. ... RIP Keith Mitchell, famous drummer for Mazzy Star, but also the "Buddy Rich of punk rock." (That's him far left in Lynda Burdik photo of The Romans)
  • Off-Ramp host John Rabe with 90-year old sax legend Big Jay McNeely outside McNeely's home in South LA.
    Big Jay McNeely still has sax appeal at 90, and Maestro Kahane says, 'I'm not retiring!'
    In the 1950s, saxophonist Big Jay McNeely (left) - now 90 - got teens so excited city officials banned him from LA for a while. ... We go in-depth with Jeffrey Kahane, about to play his final concerts as musical director of the LA Chamber Orchestra. ... 'Anatomy of Innocence,' new collection of memoirs by people who have been exonerated after being jailed for major crimes. ... In “They Shoot Mexicans, Don’t They?,” cultures and personalities clash as a silent film director tries to make a movie at the San Gabriel Mission Playhouse.
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  • Pokemon Go players Justin Diaz, from Azusa; Steven Chavarria, Hesperia; and Christian Diaz, Azusa, with a piece of public art outside LAPD headquarters.
    Pokemon Go See Public Art
    The Pokemon Go craze might get people to see more public art ... would you live in a murder house? Surf Punks!
  • Scarlet celebrated Ringo Starr's birthday at Capitol Records Thursday.
    Ringo, loquats, and a Skid Row artist you should meet
    Meet an artist named Juanita Pina who lives on LA’s Skid Row. We’ll hear from Ringo Starr and talk with some of the hundreds of fans (like Scarlet, right) who celebrated his birthday with him in Hollywood. Tim Cogshell has another DIY film festival for Off-Ramp listeners, this time looking at 3 important films in the film noir style.
  • Guess which hand is an artist and which is a journalist
    Japanese Brazilian American artist makes art world debut ... at 78.
    Kenzi Shiokava's big break at the Hammer's "Made in LA" ... remembering the passion of Jim Hangley, owner of Mustangs Only! ... take a siesta in Nappify's sleep pods ... a day in the life of Little Arabia ... St Thomas More comes to LA ... Dogs v Fireworks
  • Garrison Keillor's exit interview, bootleg In-N-Out, Lakers' new coach
    Garrison Keillor looks back on decades of Prairie Home, the Lakers hire their 4th coach in as many years and we taste test CaliBurger, Pasadena's newest In-N-Out Clone
  • A scene from Nicholas and Bernard Meyer's "Around the World in 80 Days." That's Nick in the top hat.
    For the first time, Nicholas Meyer's teenage movie
    Wrath of Khan's director Nick Meyer shares the movie he made with his dad in the late 1950s ... sound intersection ideas, literally ... Pasadena's homeless champion retires after 21 years ... the last slavery movies you will ever need to see ...
  • The Streetlight Museum at the City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works building was dedicated in January 2015. Los Angeles is the second largest city streetlight system in the country, second to New York City.
    The streetlight museum lights up Downtown LA
    LA's hottest new museum is is in a building downtown and only open a half hour a month, Tony Danza write letters to Tupac, bunnies glow downtown
  • Off-Ramp host John Rabe and punk icon John Doe.
    John Doe plays live!
    John Doe, an icon of the LA punk scene, joins us to play songs from his new album, and to talk about a new memoir about the old days ... If you’ve been called for jury duty in downtown LA, there’s a good chance you went to the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center. But who was Clara Shortridge Foltz? ... You've seen the AIDS Healthcare Foundation billboards: they’re outrageous, memorable, and very effective. We talk with the man behind AHF’s often controversial outdoor ad campaigns.
  • Off-Ramp's John Rabe and Chaya Leah Esakhan in the Off-Ramp studio
    A Jewish Journal singles column changed this girl's life
    Chaya Leah Esakhan, Persian-Jewish-American, meets the author of My Single Peeps ... Birding with Xiu Xiu ... How to write an AHF billboard ... ride in a B-24 ...
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