Of Cats and Men

Re “Jimmy on the Edge of Town,” by Patrick Range McDonald (July 23):

Jimmy sounds like a wonderful soul. Even with his tough upbringing and life’s challenges he’s remained a caring man toward animals and others. Amazing story. I hope your article is read by someone who can help him. God bless you for writing it.

—David R., L.A.

 

I talked to Jimmy last night. Jimmy was “visited” yesterday by two County Sheriff squad cars that parked about 75 feet from his tent, and just sat there for 10 minutes in plain sight. Jimmy went over to them and asked whether there was a problem. Guess who was driving one of the squad cars? Alan Shinn, the Union Pacific Railroad cop! Apparently Shinn both works as an L.A. County Sheriff’s Deputy and moonlights as a Union Pacific cop. At least this is what Jimmy told me that Shinn told him during their first visit. This time Shinn said there was no problem, that they just happened to be in the area, and were just “observing.” To me this seems an ominous development. Is Shinn about to give Jimmy a ticket for being on county property? Once again will the railroad prevail because a Sheriff’s Deputy also works as a cop for the railroad? Is there a conspiracy developing with the City Attorney’s Office?

—Comment by Edward Muzika, Northridge

 

Patrick did an excellent job of writing the article. I hope this will be a major Maalox moment for the city attorney who is handling the case, the railroad and the rest of the lynch mob. Maybe the prosecution will fold up their tent and dismiss the case on Monday. This is some good ink for Jimmy. He should receive a lot of empathy from all over the map. Good show!

—Comment by Emil Manx, Encino

 

Correction

Patrick Range McDonald’s July 23 article, “Jimmy on the Edge of Town,” identified City Councilman Greig Smith as a resident of Granada Hills; Smith lives in Northridge. The piece stated that Smith has 20 staffers; he has 17. His aide is Matt Myerhoff, not Meyerhoff.

 

Dudley and Georgia Anne

Re “Funk Spirit Rising: Georgia Anne Muldrow and Dudley Perkins’ Dueling Soul Excursions,” by Brandon Perkins (July 30):

Coming from a long line of G&D Fanatiks, I think I speak for many of us when I say this article comes short of the real people that G&D truly are. When you come into the presence of Declaime you feel like you are in school. The brotha has extensive knowledge and strong opinions that he’ll love to agree to disagree from an intellectual standpoint. You walk away with more awareness and a better understanding than you came with. Georgia Anne Muldrow is a walking beam of light; her shine illuminates any place she steps her feet. And don’t let her open her mouth to sing . her angelic voice and meaningful words bring food to your soul. Her music is timeless and, to be perfectly honest, is knocking most producers out of the water right now. I have never met a more motivated, selfless couple before; and I am personally excited about their movement and the changes it promises to bring.

—Comment by G&D Fanatiks, L.A.

 

I read the article in L.A. Record and it sounds like they are talking about two different couples. How could L.A. Weekly get it so wrong? But everybody in the black community knows that Brandon Perkins is a Wigga but at the same time, deep down inside, he who uses underground black artists as a forum to disrespect black folks. If you notice, everything he writes about blacks who are connected to mainstream is positive. He knows that the white folks who represent them will hang his ass out to dry. But he berates blacks who are not signed to anyone the way he truly feels about all of us. This is not anything new from him.

—Comment by Azah, L.A.

 

The Nuclear Family

Re “The Nuclear Family and One-Night Stand,” by Steven Leigh Morris (July 29):

Great article! One correction: The Nuclear Family runs Friday through Sunday at 8 p.m. There are no Thursday performances. Thanks.

—Comment by John Serpe, producer, The Nuclear Family

 

It is nice to see this recognition of the new wave of improvisation that is growing in the under-30 crowd. But in addition to the connection between improvisation and commedia dell’arte’s stock characters and physical comedy, Shakespeare’s theater was also very likely a hotbed of spontaneity. To quote Stephen Greenblatt’s Will in the World, “No one who did not possess an exceptional memory and a remarkable gift for improvisation could have survived in the competitive world of the Elizabethan theater.” This is supported by the account books of an Elizabethan theater manager that show more than 40 different productions being performed by one company in one year, many of them brand new. Who could remember such a plenitude of text? Actors must have not only improvised physical bits and lazzi, but also entire sections in verse that matched the literary standards of this golden age’s playwrights. Impro Theatre aspires to follow in this improvisational tradition: one where the imaginations and impulses of the actors are employed to help create characters who are not only entertaining, but who are nuanced, complex and speak with skillful wit and sometimes — if we’re lucky — poetry.

—Comment by Brian Lohmann, co-director, Shakespeare Unscripted, South Pasadena

 

On Schulman

Re “Photographer: Julius Schulman, 1910-2009,” by Steve Appleford (July 29):

Forty years ago, I was fortunate to have Julius shoot one of my projects. He was such a creative talent and gave me a totally different way to view life. He humanized artistic expression. He showed the world the best Los Angeles had to offer, in the best “light.” Above all, he was a special human being and a great friend.

—Comment by Michael P. Russell, Playa del Rey

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