Karen Ocamb is now a leading LGBTQ journalist in LA, but decades ago she was a cranky teenager on the East Coast, who was very gently reproved by Paul Newman over some freshly caught fish. When Newman died, Ocamb filed a loving commentary on her two encounters with the star.

Then, since Newman won the Academy's Jean Hersholt award at the Oscars in 1994, another distinguished journalist, Hollywood historian Alex Ben Block, goes to the Hollywood Walk of Fame to tell us who Jean Hersholt was and why he's beloved in the Industry.

Both of these pieces originally aired in October of 2008.

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.

I start this week's podcast with a piece of audio I was instructed never to play again. Ever. It's Tom Jones adapting his mega-hit "She's a Lady," so it goes "He's a Rabe, whoah whoah whoah he's a Rabe..."

The person who told me not ever to run it again was Rico Gagliano, who was just jealous. I mean, the best he could ever get is Gerardo.

We originally aired this interview on KPCC in December of 2008, when Sir Tom released the album, "24 Hours."

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.

A pristine fallout shelter in the Valley ... the Channel Island Fox makes a comeback from extinction ... the USS Indianapolis ... a time machine in LA City Hall: the mayoral portrait gallery.

How strong are the Watts Towers? Do you know the Natural History Museum's newest taxidermist? And military erotic fiction: 50 Shades of Khaki?

We talk to Dr. George Fishbeck, Los Angeles' most beloved weatherman, page through graphic novelist Gilbert Hernandez's Marble Season and more!

We go to the corner of Hollywood and LaBrea as Stevie Wonder helps Shotgun Tom Kelly get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, talk with a photographer of very small things, explore the Rolling Stones' San Bernardino roots, and reconsider the New Hollywood's "flops."

Billy Ray Cyrus and his Hillbilly Heart ... puppet month ... hidden and forbidden staircases ...

A lifesaving moment at the Boston Marathon ... talking with Stephen Hawking ... Mazda unveils its first diesel racecar ... real racecar drivers talk about LA traffic pet peeves ... Stoltze and real people on the LA mayor's race ... bringing Rodney King back to life on stage ...

Mt Zion Cemetery, plagued by vandals and neglect ... Jim Beckler, last journalist left from the pressbox the day Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier ... meet Bleached and their three favorite LA LP's ... How "Toilet to Tap" helped kill reforming LA's looming water shortage ... an undiscovered mosaic mural uncovered in Downtown LA.

We go to Dodger Stadium for Opening Day; to imaginary cities with Ben Katchor; to the Weimar Republic with singer Max Raabe; to the stage with Paul Dooley; and to a pet cemetery with Tess Vigeland.