On Sunday, Frontiers In LA news writer Peter DelVecchico went on the “Fitzgerald in West Hollywood” tour of places frequented by Fitzgerald, including the famous the Chateau Marmont Hotel. Please click inside to see Peter’s sizable photos and read his notes from the tour.
When I first moved into West Hollywood in late 1983, my neighbors on North Laurel Avenue pointed out that our apartment building was right next door to where F. Scott Fitzgerald lived when he wrote his unfinished last novel, “The Last Tycoon.” His apartment was the one with the balcony at the back.
Like so many others of my generation, I had been intellectually mesmerized by Fitzgerald’s critique of the American Dream – exposing the “vast wasteland” – in “The Great Gatsby” and equally enthralled by the reckless, Jazz Age experimental lives he and his wife Zelda lead – as if their drunken flirtation with insanity was the source of their creativity. Now years later – and sober – I lived next door, and then for a spell, in the same building where the great author struggled with his greatness. It was yet another life lesson.
The City of West Hollywood is celebrating one of its most famous citizens and on Sunday – it’s “Fitzgerald in West Hollywood,” a free urban walking tour of places frequented by Fitzgerald. Organizers say to meet at the Chase Bank building on the southwest corner of Sunset Boulevard and Crescent Heights. 2 – 3:30 p.m. (1st tour) 3:30 – 5 p.m. (2nd tour) For more information, please call 323/848-6883. TTY for the deaf and hard of hearing at 323/848-6496. Please click inside to see more about the “Big Read” events.
(Editor’s note: Dana Miller is my colleague at Frontiers In LA, where he is a popular columnist who often raises controversial issues. He also lives in and loves West Hollywood where he has produced successful AIDS fundraisers and challenged the LGBT community and WeHo public officials to do better. This post is intended to spark civic discussion well in advance of the next city election – March 2011 – to hopefully increase the usually low voter turnout. Of particular interest to a national audience is that John D’Amico, a respected WeHo politico, calls for the ouster of longtime gay politico John Heilman, past co-chair of the International Network of Lesbian and Gay Officials, in this email interview with Dana. – Karen Ocamb)
JOHN D’AMICO – DISSIDENT, CHALLENGER OR BOTH?
By: Dana Miller
A sleepy West Hollywood City Council meeting woke with a jolt during public comments the other day. John D’Amico, who sat on the West Hollywood Planning Commission for five years, took to the stage to declare it was high time for Mayor Abbe Land and Mayor Pro Tem John Heilman to go. This isn’t some kook rattling about. D’Amico is a well-respected, highly credible gent who has fired a shot heard round the hamlet. I caught up with John D’Amico a few days after his assault.
Dana Miller: Why did you specifically focus on Heilman and Land for ouster?
John D’Amico: Mayor Land and Councilmember John Heilman as 16 and 25 year incumbents [respectively], are regarded by nearly everyone as having a complete lock on power and by direct extension, most critical decision making…..
Please click inside to read the rest of Dana’s interview with John D’Amico.
It’s just past noon in West Hollywood. The temperature reads 70 degrees – tee shirt weather on Thursday, Jan. 14, 2010. Pepper and Charlie enjoy a moment in the sun before mom has to get back to work.
In 1984, before Rock Hudson came out as a gay man with AIDS, actress Zelda Rubinstein was the poster-mother for HIV/AIDS awareness.
Literally. An Los Angeles County AIDS awareness campaign featured her as “mother” in an LA Cares billboard campaign with Rubinsteain warning her Village People-wanna be son, “Don’t forget your rubbers” as he made his way into a world where it was “raining men.” Those billboards were ubiquitous all over the unincorporated portion of LA County where gays, seniors and renters were campaigning to become the new city of West Hollywood.
Rubinstein was best known as the eccentric spiritual medium Tangina Barrons who played a key minor role in the Steven Spielberg-co-written, co-produced movie Poltergeist in 1982. There was something very comforting about her presence as “mother” during those very difficult times when AIDS was snatching away gay men like the creepy Beast in that film.
RadarOnline.com reported today “the sad news that Rubinstein, 76, has been taken off of life support following the failure of two of her major organs.” Please click inside for more on Rubinstein. But here’s a short video – shot in 2007 at a screening of the film Poltergeist that illustrates her wonderful sense of humor.
In commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and in celebration of the 25th anniversary of becoming a city, the City of West Hollywood is welcoming nominations from the community for its annual “Keeper of the Dream” award. Anyone who lives in, works in, owns property in, or participates in the West Hollywood community is invited to submit nominations. Click inside for more information. The deadline for submissions is Monday, Jan. 4.
The world was well into the throws of war with Hitler’s Nazis in 1943 when 12 year old Desmond Tutu’s father, a teacher, moved his family to deeply racially segregated Johannesburg, South Africa. There his mother found work as a cleaner and cook in a school for the blind.
One day, a fleeting moment occurred that changed his life, Tutu says:
“I was standing in the street with my mother when a white man in a priest’s clothing walked past. As he passed us, he took off his hat to my mother. I couldn’t believe my eyes – a white man who greeted a black working class woman!”
That white priest became Desmond Tutu’s mentor and together they fought apartheid in South Africa. West Hollywood City Councilmember John Heilman said “people were thrilled” to hear the “human rights icon” address them via videotape at an event commemorating the 61st anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Click inside to read the story.
The City of West Hollywood will commemorate World AIDS Day on Tuesday, Dec. 1 by presenting the annual Paul Starke Warrior Award to outstanding members of the community working in HIV/AIDS services.
Special guest speakers will include actress,Emmy-nominatedtelevision personality, independent filmmaker and gay icon Ricki Lake; Marie Da Silva, CNN Hero 2008 and founder of the “Jacaranda Foundation;” and Brenda Goodman, board President of Aid for AIDS. Additionally, West Hollywood’s Citychannel 10 will be originating and cablecasting AIDSWATCH for 24 hours—from midnight to midnight. Click inside for details.
Startling and sad news: longtime HIV/AIDS, youth, disability and social services activist and all-around good guy Howard Jacobs died from liver cancer this morning. He was 45, with a birthday coming up. Please click inside for an interview with his former boss West Hollywood City Councilmember Jeff Prang on the circumstances surrounding Howard’s unexpected death and the legacy Howard leaves. UPDATE: A MEMORIAL FOR HOWARD JACOBS WILL BE HELD ON SUNDAY, NOV. 15, AT 1:30PM AT CONGREGATION KOL AMI, 1200 N. LA BREA AVE., WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA 90038.
Literary buffs recall the famous Algonquin Round Table at the Algonquin Club in New York City. From 1919 to 1929, a group of writers, critics, actors and intellectuals would hang out for lunch, get drunk and have witty and catty conversation about books and the matters of the day. At the center was witty writer Dorothy Parker – who, it turns out, also lived in West Hollywood so WeHo is honoring her memory with the Algonquin West Hollywood Literary Award.
Today is West Hollywood City Councilmember John Duran’s birthday. It also is the 18th anniversary of the protests over the veto of AB 101 – the California gay rights bill. In light of the recent demonstrations over the passage of Prop 8 and the upcoming National Equality March in Washington on Oct. 11, I asked John to write a remembrance of AB 101. And we have pictures.
As part of West Hollywood’s 25th Anniversary of Cityhood, the city is commemorating some of its most famous residents, including a month-long tribute to F. Scott Fitzgerald, one of America’s greatest writers.
When I first moved into West Hollywood in late 1983, my neighbors on North Laurel Avenue pointed out that our apartment building was right next door to where F. Scott Fitzgerald lived when he wrote his unfinished last novel, “The Last Tycoon.” His apartment was the one with the balcony at the back.
(Editor’s note: Dana Miller is my colleague at Frontiers In LA, where he is a popular columnist who often raises controversial issues. He also lives in and loves West Hollywood where he has produced successful AIDS fundraisers and challenged the LGBT community and WeHo public officials to do better. This post is intended to spark civic discussion well in advance of the next city election – March 2011 – to hopefully increase the usually low voter turnout. Of particular interest to a national audience is that John D’Amico, a respected WeHo politico, calls for the ouster of longtime gay politico 
In 1984, before Rock Hudson came out as a gay man with AIDS, actress Zelda Rubinstein was the poster-mother for HIV/AIDS awareness.
In commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and in celebration of the 25th anniversary of becoming a city, the City of West Hollywood is welcoming nominations from the community for its annual “Keeper of the Dream” award. Anyone who lives in, works in, owns property in, or participates in the West Hollywood community is invited to submit nominations. Click inside for more information. The deadline for submissions is Monday, Jan. 4. 
The world was well into the throws of war with Hitler’s Nazis in 1943 when 12 year old Desmond Tutu’s father, a teacher, moved his family to deeply racially segregated Johannesburg, South Africa. There his mother found work as a cleaner and cook in a school for the blind.
The City of West Hollywood will commemorate World AIDS Day on Tuesday, Dec. 1 by presenting the annual Paul Starke Warrior Award to outstanding members of the community working in HIV/AIDS services.
Longtime HIV/AIDS Activist Howard Jacobs Dies
Literary buffs recall the famous Algonquin Round Table at the Algonquin Club in New York City. From 1919 to 1929, a group of writers, critics, actors and intellectuals would hang out for lunch, get drunk and have witty and catty conversation about books and the matters of the day. At the center was witty writer Dorothy Parker – who, it turns out, also lived in West Hollywood so WeHo is honoring her memory with the Algonquin West Hollywood Literary Award. 
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