BEVERLY HILLS
January 31, 2014 | Page 31 . Publisher Clifton S. Smith, Jr ******* Associate Publisher Marcia W . Hobbs Senior Editor John L. Seitz Special Sections Editor Steve Simmons ****** Founding Publisher March Schwartz (Publisher 1965-2004)
Rabbi Jacob Pressman BRING THE HORSES BACK TO BEVERLY HILLS
Not too long ago, little Beverly Hills was an equine oasis in Greater Los Angeles. Rodeo Drive derived its name from the bridle The Courier is proud to be a Education Partner path in its center, down which a goodly number of local citizens rode horseback from the Hollywood hills to Santa Monica Boulevard for recreation. Often they would stop off at The Beverly Hills Hotel where they could tither their horses and stop for cooling refreshments. Those horses really added a particular charm, hard to put into words (and some considerable feces). In those leaner days, there were not that many cars on Rodeo Drive, with the horses in the middle. Beverly Hills was a small town in the midst of Los Angeles. Along Sunset Boulevard just west of the town, the area also boasted polo grounds where the sport was Many cities are turning 100 years old around the state. Most are having “centennial” celebra- played by teams of local citizens in large arenas. This weekend, the Chinese “Year of the Horse” starts. Enjoy the tions. When they have them, they play songs. But where else except Beverly Hills could a city hold a wonderfully uplifting 100th birthday parade on Feb. 8th! party where every song sung is famous and every one written by one of its own residents??!! The Courier never needs to look for a reason to celebrate Beverly Hills as the finest place there is – we’re surrounded by reasons. This past Tuesday night was just another example of why we have an undisguised love affair with Beverly Hills. The historic Saban Theatre, which began life in 1930 as the Fox Wilshire, hosted a sold-out Congratulations to the producers and sponsors of the birthday party for the City. (Well “sold” is not quite accurate – tickets were free, but they were all Centennial Concert at the Saban Theatre. What a grand and gloritaken). Nothing could showcase Rabbi David Baron’s vision for the restored movie palace better ous evening of fun, entertainment and community. The selection than Tuesday’s gala. of musical numbers and musical groups–LA Lawyers Gary Greene’s L.A. Lawyers Philharmonic and its subset “Big Band of Barristers” gave us hit Philharmonic, BHHS Madrigals, Big Band of Barristers and BHHS song after hit song from one Beverly Hills composer or lyricist after another. The high points had Marching Band–was first class. what a great idea to have various to be Beverly Hills’ own Richard Sherman guest-conducting the orchestra in a medley of his hits. Beverly Hills luminaries lead us in spirited sing-along. Sherman is a real-life major player in Disney’s new hit movie, Saving Mr. Banks about creating the The staging and tempo were excellent. I especially appreciatmovie Mary Poppins. He and his late brother wrote tunes we sing almost every day. (If you visit ed having the words projected overhead. And the research that Disneyland and go through It’s a Small World, we all know it takes months to get that theme out went in to creating the souvenir program with the compendium of of your head. Yo ho, yo ho, as well.) His music had people tapping their toes and singing along. Beverly Hills resident composers is excellent. What a surprise to The excellence of his compositions came through as his own lush orchestral arrangements discover Elvis was a former resident and that our Mayor John enveloped us in a cloud of wonderful music. Mirisch is a gifted ukulele player. The Q&A with former mayors Charles Fox took the conductor’s baton to lead the orchestra in a medley of his hits – the theme and the video montage of local personalities were great fun...and from ABC’s Wide World Of Sports, Love, American Style, The Love Boat Theme and others. to think the singer I swooned over as a youngster (in Michigan), Amazing how those television themes sound when played by a full symphony. If he had com- had me swooning again with his beautiful rendition of The Story posed for a baron, duke or count, the orchestras of the world would be playing his music in con- Of My Life by Neil Diamond, a current resident. Watch out for the cert halls all over the world. Instead, we get to enjoy them. We’re the lucky ones. hugely talented opera singer Golda Berkman, age 14. She's headHow do you top a “local talent show” when the “local talent” is Betty White or Pat Boone or ed to the NYC Metropolitan Opera, for sure . . . June Lockhart or Florence Henderson? Are you kidding? We even had a quiz show of ex-mayors Thank you for a magical evening. Thank you for pulling out the of Beverly Hills hosted by the great Monty Hall. Even the mayor is a talented musician as ukulele stops. Though I've only lived here since the Millennium, I felt right virtuoso John Mirisch played the intro from Burt Bacharach’s and Hal David’s Oscar-winning at home and greatly appreciated all the time and effort that went Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head. into to this special Centennial celebration. J. Golden We could cry at the tribute to the late Joel Pressman for his dedication to the young people of ****** Beverly Hills. Permits, shmermits, what’s the fuss? Word has it that Not everyone was old – we were stunned by the vocal performance of 14-year-old Beverly Councilman Brien, the City staff, Kasey Shuda and the Metro execHills opera singer Golda Berkman, the vocal gymnastics of our Beverly High Madrigals – a living utive staff have volunteered to open their homes to all who will be tribute to Pressman. affected by the Westside Subway Extension Project. Whether it We saw clips from Phil Savenick’s documentary on Beverly Hills’ first 100 years. takes days, weeks, months or years, these kind folk will provide Who are “our own people?” Irving Berlin, George and Ira Gershwin, Harold Arlen, Marilyn food, shelter, cell phones, pcs, parking for one and all whose lives and Alan Berman, Nacio Herb Brown, Sammy Cahn, the wonderfully kind and gracious Hal David, are impacted by the “project.” What a wonderful world! Dorothy Fields, Arthur Freed, Jerry Goldsmith, Oscar Hammerstein II, Yip Harburg, Lorenz Hart, Brief note to the Blue Ribbon Committee--it's obvious why you Elton John, Gus Kahn, Ernst Katz, Jerome Kern, Buddy De Sylva, Gene Lockhart, Johnny Mercer, didn't call yourself the green ribbon committee since your proposRichard Rodgers, David Rose, Stephen Sondheim, Stravinsky, Jules Styne, Albert Von Tilzer, Weezer al (after weeks of exhaustive study) proposed destroying valuable – plus the Shermans, Fox and Meredith Willson. Question: name a famous composer or lyricist land-marked green space to enable future speedo wearing weekwho is or was not a Beverly Hills resident? end cyclists from Alhambra to tool up and down one of the busiest Hats off and kudos to the volunteers who made it happen, led by Annette Saleh, Karla Gordy trafficked corridors in the City. Thanks “Blue Ribbon folks.” Bristol, Marguerite Carlucci, Lori Greene Gordon and Jon Gluck. Special thanks to the musical Robert Block director and conductor Gary Greene, and all of the rest of the crew. Grateful thanks to major ****** sponsors Rolex, Gearys and Mercedes-Benz of Beverly Hills. I was shocked to read about the City staff’s "oversight" placing No one does it like Beverly Hills. As a few said, “Beverly Hills is like Mayberry.” Well, sort permits for LA Metro’s plan to close down one to two lanes of of – but not. Mayberry never had a Wil Wright’s, which made Beverly Hills this writer’s favorite Wilshire Boulevard for months at a time on a consent agenda rather place in world around age 6 when his mother discovered the fabled ice cream parlor. It’s been than bringing it before the City Council for review and discussion. that way ever since. Is there a disconnect between staff’s charge to work for the best For this writer, there is just no place like Beverly Hills – our candidate for the most wonderful interests of City residents and understanding of what its job descripplace in the world. Tuesday was just another reason to believe it. tion is? Happy 100th Birthday, Beverly Hills. If what The Courier reported is true, it raises serious concerns as to how the City staff is carrying out its responsibilities. Was The Courier someone sleeping at the switch? Whose responsibility was it to welcomes and appreciates apply critical reasoning to determine that such a shut down would “Letters to the Editor” cause immense disruption to a great proportion of Beverly Hills resPlease remember the following guidelines: idents, as well as the multitudes of visitors to our City? Did the staff (1) The shorter the better; (2) Refrain from permerely drop the ball on this one or, is there, as The Courier sugsonal attacks or insults; (3) Keep to one topic; gests, a more sinister implication here? (4) Do not send letters appearing elsewhere. Thank you Mayor Mirisch, Vice-Mayor Bosse, and all the City Council members who were alert and on top of this potential disEmail: myopinion@bhcourier.com; aster! We are fortunate to have dedicated, discerning and foresightFax to: 310-271-5118; ed leaders of our City watching over our interests, as their job Mail to: description requires. It would appear a complete review of the City staff’s duties The Beverly Hills Courier WEATHER WONDERS!! (including its head, City Manager Jeff Kolin, is in order. What were 9100 Wilshire Blvd. (#360E), they thinking (or not)??? Linda Spiegel Beverly Hills CA 90212
From the Publisher CLIF SMITH
THE MOST WONDERFUL CITY SHINES AGAIN
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Cartoon for The Courier by Janet