Bluesman John Bigham; The Ashes of Oakridge; Counting Crime; Why "Bail Out" a Healthy Bank?; A Christmas Catastrophe; Growing Up Ahmed; A Music Odyssey; Don't Call Them Hell's Angels; David Fincher on Dinner Party Download; The Play's a Thing
Bluesman John Bigham
Blues guitarist and singer John Bigham (a.k.a. "John Black") brings his guitar into the studio to sing from his new, yet-to-be-released album Black John.
The Ashes of Oakridge
In November, the Sayre fire ripped through the Oakridge Mobile Home Park in Sylmar, resulting in the biggest loss of homes in LA since the 1961 Bel Air fire. Residents say that the fire destroyed a tight-knit community that they called the Beverly Hills of Mobile Parks.
In this audio documentary, KPCC reporter Frank Stoltze, Off-Ramp producer Queena Kim, and Jackson Musker find out what kind of place Oakridge was, why the fire happened, whether future mobile park fires can be prevented, and what future the park and its survivors face.
Off-Ramp Exclusive Video: Frank Stoltze Walks through the Ashes of Oakridge
Counting Crime
John and KPCC law and order reporter Frank Stoltze attend LA's annual crime statistics news conference. Chief Bratton and Mayor Villaraigosa say crime is down, but they're fighting to keep cops from being cut from the budget.
Why "Bail Out" a Healthy Bank?
KQED's Rob Schmitz reports on the local bank at the bottom of the bailout list--Saigon National Bank--and explains why the bank got federal money, even though it didn't need it.
A Christmas Catastrophe
Actor Barry Cutler lays the blame for the Kodak Theater's disastrous rendition of "A Christmas Carol" at the feet of its producer, who has led numerous failed productions across the country over the last two decades.
Growing Up Ahmed
KPCC reprorter Frank Stoltze talks with local Muslim teens who say that their lives are pretty normal. They watch college football, duh...
A Music Odyssey
KPCC's Program Director and Classical Music aficionado Craig Curtis explains what happened to Alex North's unused score for 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Don't Call Them Hell's Angels
These riders are part of the Sons of God, the local chapter of a Christian biker group. They spoke with KPCC reporter Brian Watt about ridin' and religion.
David Fincher on Dinner Party Download
Dinner Party Download presents an interview with David Fincher, director of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
The Play's a Thing
"Sevenlegs," original radio drama from Morning Edition host Steve Julian, et alia.