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.

Rabe: It's (still) Cold Outside!; Animated Conversations; Drawing the Line; These Kids are Alright; And These Kids Aren't; Food for Thought; Go West Chef; Hammer Time; A Modern Collection; Low Merlot; Brad's Secret

Rabe: It's Cold Outside!; King in a Temple; Johnie's No More; A Little Night Music; Colombian Folk with a Twist; Eating in the City of Angels; Eating in 1984; No Big Deal; Apple Pared; Reporter's Roundtable

Off-Ramp Makes Friends and Influences People; Take a Hike; How Great Thou Art; Call Your Bookie; The emerging bank of America; Cheveux au natural; Beat It; Princess of Whales; So You're a Marine Biologist?; Rocky Un-Robed; Hit 'Em Where They Feel

Future City; Back to the Future; Mirror, Mirror; The Making of a Queen; Rose Rustler; Edward Scissorhands; New Art; Sana Sana; Resolutions; Call Sheet

A Christmas Carol Redux

Message from John Rabe This week we are doing a virtual broadcast from the Alhambra's Apocryphal Mall. (It's not on a map, hit "listen to entire program" to get there) Listen in as Off-Ramp regulars drop in to talk, share and scuffle! -John

Our Lady of the Ladle -- On DVD; Nunsense; Sweet Deal; The Making of "Sweet Land"; Eeny Meenie Mighty Mo; Menorah on a Mazda; OCMA Biennial; Reporter's Notebook; Mars Water Sponsor; A Public Good-Bye; Call Sheet; WEB EXTRA: Eye of the Tiger

It isn't easy being Green; Cello Fellow; Crime Buster; How Great Art Thou; Road to Hollywood; Blade II; Wining and Dining; Bozo The Bling-Bling Clown; Call Sheet; Reporter's Roundtable; WEB EXTRA: A Year-Round Winter Wonderland