John KiteTen Lessons from BruceLast Wednesday I got a call from a Grandville, MI police officer who wanted me to confirm my identity before passing on the phone number of…Jan 19, 2022Jan 19, 2022
John KiteAkira Kurasawa’s Dreams are More Vivid 30 Years LaterThirty years, ago, almost to the day, I walked into one of the small movie theatres at The Beverly Center, in Los Angeles, that were…Aug 30, 20201Aug 30, 20201
John KiteFarewell to the One I Love (Hollywood’s Dark Decade: conclusion)In March of 2019, I returned to Southern California with my wife and my daughter, Lillia. Caralie, my beloved aunt, had cancer and I…Sep 9, 2019Sep 9, 2019
John KiteLate, Late Nights and Early Mornings at Fellini’s (Hollywood’s Dark Decade: part 10)I got a phone call from my friend, Tony, in early 1996. In retrospect, we should have gone into mourning. Instead, we both raced down to…Jul 31, 2019Jul 31, 2019
John KiteHey, We Were Invited (Hollywood’s Dark Decade: part 9)There is a small lane that breaks off from the 101 Freeway and travels between the Sunset Blvd exit and the off-ramp for Hollywood Blvd…Jul 21, 2019Jul 21, 2019
John KiteResisting Decay in West Hollywood (Hollywood’s Dark Decade: part 8)The legendary sign at Barney’s Beanery on Santa Monica Blvd held such a place in West Hollywood’s consciousness, that I can recall seeing…Jul 20, 2019Jul 20, 2019
John KiteTragical History Tour (Hollywood’s Dark Decade: part 7)Walking down Hollywood Blvd. in 1989, my friend Tony and I came upon a crowd in front of Bob’s Frolic Room. There was a director’s chair…Jul 16, 2019Jul 16, 2019
John KiteBreaking into Hollywood’s Music Scene (Hollywood’s Dark Decade: part 6)The Highland Grounds had a rich history of cultivating new artists that, later, would be more well known to the public. Tenacious D and…Jul 12, 2019Jul 12, 2019
John KitePutting the Lime in the Coconut (Hollywood’s Dark Decade: part 5)Every Friday night at midnight, a line of people waited in the lobby of The New Beverly Cinema to watch Quentin Tarantino’s masterpiece…Jul 11, 2019Jul 11, 2019
John KiteSmoking Babies, Alfred E. Newman, and Angelyne (Hollywood’s Dark Decade: part 4)And now, everything has been sanitized to the point of absolute safety, moderate cleanliness, and, worse of all, mediocrity.Jul 10, 2019Jul 10, 2019