Good morning, it’s Friday, Oct. 9, and you can expect a reprieve from the heat wave, with highs in the mid-80s.
1. How one classic L.A. novel became such a giant deal in small-town Italy.
The year was 1939 and it was a great one for the Los Angeles literary scene. That February, Raymond Chandler’s The Big Sleep debuted, followed in quick succession by The Day of the Locust from Nathanael West. John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath also came out that year, vividly portraying Kern County, just north of L.A.
Then there was John Fante’s Ask the Dust. Fante’s novel, set in Bunker Hill during the Great Depression, received rave reviews. A New York Times critic dubbed it “excellent.”
But rather than literary fame and a secure spot in the canon, Fante’s novel was followed by “crushing disappointment and near-oblivion,” as L.A. Material contributor Max Kutner writes in today’s feature.
Recognition would follow decades later, thanks in part to Charles Bukowski. But the local renown Fante eventually earned here pales in comparison to his standing in rural central Italy, where the late author is something of a superstar.
Read on to learn how Fante’s reputation floundered (it involves Hitler’s Mein Kampf) and how the novelist eventually became a beloved icon in a remote town east of Rome.
In Torricella Peligna, hundreds come annually to pay their respects and even the library bears Fante’s name.
A MESSAGE FROM OUR SPONSOR:
CicLAvia—Heart of LA, connects several historic Los Angeles neighborhoods, welcoming everyone of all ages and abilities to 6.5 miles of open streets on Sunday, Oct. 11, from 9am to 4pm.
Always free, enjoy the day by walking, jogging, biking, roller skating, skating, chilling, or simply spectating.
2. Join L.A. Material’s live panel after next week’s mayoral debate.
Come join L.A. Material after the mayoral debate on Tuesday, Oct. 13, at 8:30 p.m. Candidates Karen Bass and Nithya Raman face off from 7 to 8 p.m. on NBC4 and Telemundo 52.
Afterwards, join our virtual panel for reactions and expert analysis from Matt Hamilton, L.A. Material senior reporter, Mariel Garza, Golden State Report executive editor, and Erika D. Smith, Bloomberg Opinion columnist. The discussion will be moderated by Jessica Garrison, L.A. Material editor.
CAMPAIGN COUNTDOWN: 25 DAYS TO GO
Open social media in this homestretch of the L.A. mayoral race, and you’re bound to encounter the incessant bickering of warring political operatives and freelance pundits. These tedious posts are easy to write off, but the patter of commentary can also help shape public perception of the race between Nithya Raman and Karen Bass.
Notable among these squabbling belligerents are Jeff Millman, a Raman campaign consultant, and Mike Trujillo, a Bass booster working for an outside group supporting the mayor.
Both are longtime Democratic strategists. Both worked on Hillary Clinton’s 2008 campaign. Millman typically only tweets to defend Raman against attacks, while Trujillo is a prolific shitposter. (Once, in 2005, Trujillo told the L.A. Times that Millman looked “like a modern-day version of Dennis the Menace.”)
Because even (some) political operatives contain multitudes, I challenged both of them to say something nice about the other guy on the record.
Trujillo said: “I knew Millman was…
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READING MATERIAL
SUBURBAN PROSTITUTION: A 911 call from a Mandarin-speaking woman pleading for help led the LAPD to uncover a network of brothels operating in the San Fernando Valley. The LA Times’ Matthew Ormseth and Summer Lin examine the investigation into this shadowy underworld.
NYT MAYORAL PANEL: The New York Times’ opinion section convened seven Angelenos — including former Garcetti chief of staff Ana Guerrero and former L.A. City Councilmember Mike Bonin — to evaluate the mayoral candidates’ leadership style, experience and potential in office. See which of the two was viewed as the stronger candidate overall.
STALLED STAHL SALE: The famed Stahl House has been on the market for a year, with its initial asking price of $25 million slashed to $20 million. Yet no buyers are biting. The L.A. Times looks at the headache of selling and owning an architectural gem, which one realtor likened to having “a very expensive mistress who needs constant attention.”
SAT REVIVAL: The University of California stopped using SAT and ACT scores in admissions in 2020. But there’s a new effort underway to reinstate standardized testing, CalMatters reports, as professors lament that their students are unprepared for rigorous coursework.
BAILOUT FOR HOLLYWOOD: In case you missed it, Rep. Laura Friedman joined this week’s L.A. World podcast to talk about how she’s pushed Congressional legislation for a federal tax credit that could give film and TV production a much-needed shot in the arm.
WEEKEND MATERIAL
SATURDAY DAY: Nerd out on L.A. history at the annual Los Angeles Archives Bazaar at Cal State L.A., where more than 80 archives from large institutions, community organizations and private collections will be exhibiting.
ALSO SATURDAY: The Universal Studios lot will host this year’s FocusFest, a daylong film festival that celebrates some of Focus Features’ classic movies (Tár, The Holdovers) and new releases like Sense and Sensibility.
SATURDAY AFTERNOON: Head up Angeles Crest Highway to Mount Wilson Observatory for a “Matinees on the Mountain” showing of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. You can bring your own picnic to enjoy on the grounds beforehand or grab lunch at Cosmic Cafe.
SATURDAY NIGHT: East L.A.’s own Sonido Dolores Y Su Conjunto is headlining El Velorio XVI Day of the Dead Music & Arts Festival at Plaza de la Raza. The event is 21+ and there will also be a lowrider show.
SUNDAY DAY: CicLAvia: Heart of LA will open 6.5 miles of streets to bicycles and pedestrians from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with hubs in Echo Park, Chinatown, Little Tokyo and Boyle Heights. (L.A. Material will have a booth at the Echo Park hub, so come say hi if you’re there!) It’s also the Feria de los Moles in Grand Park — a free festival celebrating regional Mexican mole with dozens of food vendors.
SUNDAY NIGHT: Get in the Halloween spirit with murder ballad night at Zebulon.
AND FINALLY… A poem to pair with your morning coffee: “In Chandler Country” by Dana Gioia.
