Here's a bonus Off-Ramp Episode to celebrate a special anniversary!

In 1938, Orson Welles and the Mercury Theatre scared the pants off the American public with the CBS Radio broadcast "The War of the Worlds."

In 2013, to mark the 75th anniversary of Welles' radio masterpiece, I commissioned RH Greene to produce a documentary telling the backstory of the broadcast, which he called "The War of the Welles." The icing on the cake is that it's introduced by the one and only George Takei. 

So let's listen to it again on the 84th anniversary, and lift a glass to the power of audio. 

(Fun fact: "The War of the Words" was broadcast on October 30, not 31, 1938.)

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

Off-Ramp theme music by Fesliyan Studios.

Today, we dig into the Off-Ramp archives to pay tribute to a man named Jules Bass, who was a part of our childhood. Bass died Tuesday at the age of 87.

With his partner, the late  Arthur Rankin, Jr., Bass produced some of the most beloved children's Christmas TV specials: "The Little Drummer Boy," "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "Frosty the Snowman," and one more that maybe isn't really a Christmasspecial at all. 

In 2012, Off-Ramp's RH Greene argued cogently that "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" was a Jewish origin story for Santa ... essentially a Hanukkah special. The clues are all there in plain sight: The villains are cartoon Nazis who burn toys instead of books. Santa is a foundling, like Moses, raised by Tante Kringle -- the Yiddish word for "aunt." And Santa is a freedom fighter, whose ragged band make an Exodus to their own promised land in the cold desert.

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

Off-Ramp theme music by Fesliyan Studios.

Bob Kholos; City Hall Tower; It isn't easy being Green; Sana Sana; Santeria Botanica; Rooney Weighs In; Trivia: AnimeExpo

AnimeExpo 2007 This (pictured) is what your kids are up to when you're not looking, and it may be the future of the entertainment industry. But don't worry too much. Anime and manga are mostly about doing the right thing. Come with animation expert Charles Solomon and me to AnimeExpo 2007! - John Rabe

Happy Birthday de Havilland; Skirball's Ark; The NFL, not!; Bug's Eye View; Eden's Edge at the Hammer; Homeless Crackdown; Re-Gifting Sound; iWait; What Are You Doing for Summer Break?; The Art of Haiku; There Are Some Things Alli Doesn't Alleviate...; Futile Fuel?; Plaque Attack

Dixon's West; Landscaping America; The ABC's of BBQ; Matthew Monahan in Eden's Edge; Caruso; The (other) Happiest Place on Earth; Malibooster Malice; Short Attention Span Theatre; Animayhem; Reporter's Roundtable: Five More Years; Adios to Aguilar; Short-Sighted Shirt

Architectural Texture; It's Not a Knack; Fresh from the Can; Sopranos Sleep with the Fishes; Beyond Muscle Beach; Artists At Eden's Edge; Humble Art; Exene's L.A.; The Art of Punk; The Politics of Marriage; The Nancy Drew Philes; Farewell to Rachael Myrow; Have something to tell us?

Artists at Eden's Edge ; Hitting the Links; Holy Gifts; Space Aliens and Sea Fish; Alternate Route; Breaking the Rules of the Road; Driving with the Top Down; The Fast Sandwich; Space Talk; Bozo The Bling-Bling Clown; Dance Legend Remembered; Letters: Civil Disobedience

Summer Fun in Malibu This week, watchdog Jenny Price gives us tips on how to enjoy Malibu despite the efforts of some residents.

A Last Goodbye; Hello Tiki-Ti ; Tiki Tribute; Ghost in the Machine; Dad's in Jail; For want of a fingernail...; Eve's Apple; Urban Survivalist; Web Extra