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Off-Ramp
Hosted by John Rabe

Exploring Southern California with John Rabe

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Episodes
  • One late King of Food helps us remember another: Jonathan Gold on the legacy of King Taco
    Sure, there had been tacos al pastor before he did them, but after the popularity of King Taco, everybody had tacos al pastor. People had had carnitas before, but, suddenly, everybody had carnitas. It just seemed to form the template of what the modern Los Angeles taqueria should be. 

    --Jonathan Gold, 2013

    Nine years ago, Los Angeles lost an unsung hero, Raul Martinez Sr., the founder of King Taco. To find out why this man was so important to LA, I shared a taco or two (or three) with the late Pulitzer Prize-winning food writer Jonathan Gold at King Taco #1 in Cypress Park. (Gold died in 2018.)

    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.

    Off-Ramp theme music by Fesliyan Studios.

  • A rite of passage for LA journos: Rabe recounts his angry phone call from Harlan Elllison
    In 2013, I visited an utterly charming and impish Harlan Ellison at his remarkable home and talked at length with him about his work as a prolific Sci-Fi writer. Then came the dreaded - and expected - phone call from Harlan's alter-ego. (Ellison died in 2018 but I wouldn't be surprised if he sent an angry message from beyond about using his name and "Sci-Fi" in the same sentence.)

    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.

    Off-Ramp theme music by Fesliyan Studios.

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  • A undated photo of the back of the Los Angeles Theatre in downtown LA, purchased by Ezat Delijani in 1982 at Mayor Bradley's request.
    RIP Downtown Theater Savior - Off-Ramp 9-3-2011
    Remembering Ezat Delijani, 83; bought and saved 4 downtown LA movie palaces ... A Noise Within gets a huge new theatre ... stick-fighting in Hermosa Beach ... Nick Roman remembers covering Cerritos plane crash 25 years ago ...
  • "Mr. Flamingo" and the "Bronze Buckaroo," Herb Jeffries
    Sweet, hot and windy - Off Ramp for 8-27-11
    A different music festival, less likely to be cancelled, comes to LA. Birding with a 15 year old expert, and how to bring a tornado to Long Beach.
  • Off-Ramp turns five years old this month. One of our heroes is Robbie Eisenberg, who died in 2003. He turned 101 in 1999, celebrating with a big cake at The Pantry, and was still selling zippers in downtown LA until he was 103.
    Happy 5th Birthday Off-Ramp - 8-20-11
    The best of five years of Off-Ramp including: Tom Jones ... Heston Remembered at the DWP ... Movies at the Cemetery ... Dog Pee v Skunks ... Rabe as Arnie and Andy ...
  • Men play tug of war at a Korean Institute of Southern California picnic in 1995. But feel free to sit in the shade at your local park this weekend and do absolutely nothing.
    Your turn to talk about 9/11 - Off-Ramp 8-13-11
    CyberFrequencies launches new 9-11 project ... Marvin Hamlisch on writing music for Barbra ... Eat:LA on making goat cheese at home, and eating burgers with Obama ... ArtWalk reacts to the baby tragedy ...
  • Filming "I Love Lucy" in 1952.
    Off-Ramp Loves Lucy -- 8-6-2011
    We celebrate TV pioneer Lucille Ball on her Centennial ... Kevin's grandma remembers WW2 and the USS Indianapolis ... The LA Jewish Symphony plays Bible stories at the Ford Ampitheatre ... a trip down Wilshire in 1970s photos ...
  • Author Lisa See (far right) with (L-R) Producer Wendi Murdoch, actress Li Bingbing, director Wayne Wang, and producer Florence Sloan, at a screening of Fox Searchlights' "Snowflower and the Secret Fan" on July 11, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.
    Lisa See Dreams of Joy on Off-Ramp 7-30-11
    Lisa See on "Dreams of Joy," the sequel to "Shanghai Girls ... "Leftover Cuties" live on KPCC's Jam and Banter ... Dinner Party Download makes you 15% smarter, 12% more attractive ... RIP Magu (Gilbert Luhan, founder of Los Four) ...
  • In this undated photo from the LA Public Library's fantastic online photo archive, a child captures Off-Ramp correspondent Hank Rosenfeld's disgust at the way officials treat the people who enjoy the free concerts at the Santa Monica Pier from blankets on the sand.
    Turturro Shares His "Passione" - Off-Ramp 7-23-11
    John Turturro on his Naples music doc Passione ... tour the new dino exhibit at the Natural History Museum ... Kidz Karmen at the Bowl ... The Man Harshes Good Vibe at SaMo Pier Concerts ... CyberFrequencies on Sexting ...
  • In Passione, Director John Turturro gets in front of the camera to dance with a few of the Neapolitans he meets on the street.
    Special: Actor and Director John Turturro on Passione, his newest film
    John Turturro talks with Kevin Ferguson about his love of Italian music, especially that of Naples, where his musical documentary takes place.
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