Forty Years Through the Eyes of the Topanga Messenger · Forty Years Through the Eyes of the...
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Topanga Messenger 40th Year Anniversary By Flavia Potenza In 1976, Merrick Davidson, a local carpenter, gathered an enthusiastic group of professionals to produce a newspaper. We all brought our own tools and experience and became your local chronicler. We didn’t have an office or telephone. Teddie’s Cleaners was our answering service. We typed the paper on an IBM Selectric, paste-up and photos processed in makeshift darkrooms were all done by hand. The paper was printed on Sid Francis’ old Harris press in his goat shed on Cheney Drive and collated by volunteers at the Community House. We held a “Name Your Paper” contest and went nameless for six issues until artist Todd Haile presented the exuberant design for the masthead you see above with its messenger man and his hawk. The first issues were free but on March 23, we announced that subscriptions would be $5/year, $9/two years! It was as if Topanga’s voice was just waiting to be heard. By April, we published our first investigative article on land use, “Black Day at Big Rock,” in response to massive grading between Big Rock Ranch/CaliCamp and Mill Creek Stables. In April, the County Dept. of Engineering ordered a halt to the grading. In June we reported that the owner was arrested on charges of grand theft, embezzlement and conspiracy. On June 1, we proclaimed the Topanga Messenger as “Six Months Alive!” because it was a miracle we got that far and were still, more or less, viable. The Topanga Canyon Town Council (TCTC) came to life that year and, by September, they had written bylaws and elected a Board of Directors. As an unicorporated area they would be the liaison with our government—the Board of Supervisors, Regional Planning Commission and myriad county agencies and services. Some Topangans, disgruntled about government, considered incorporating with Malibu and Las Virgenes as Chumash County. Cases of irresponsible and inappropriate development were being challenged by the Topanga Community Improvement Association (TCIA) and Topanga Association for a Scenic Community (TASC). Whispers of a general plan by our federal representatives to protect the Santa Monica Mountains wafted through our pages. By the end of the decade, our Congressman Tony Bielenson had shepherded the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SMMNRA) into being and today the InteragencyVisitors Center at King Gilette Ranch in Calabasas is named for him. Planning was also afoot for State Parks. In November, a fire started, a small one, at Canoga and Mulholland that firefighters thought they had put out, but gusty Santa Anas picked up embers and a raging fire pushed through Topanga State Park that burned 1,115 acres and four homes. We covered it all: the blockade by sheriffs and CHP; miscommunication among first responders; how neighbors and fellow Topangans stepped forward to help each other The paper’s survival was on the edge when British journalist, Ian Brodie, walked in the door. By November 23, he was listed as our publisher and introduced us to the rigors of a production schedule, moved us to the office in the Center, purchased our first computer and typesetting machine,” and, as much as we appreciated Sid and his old Harris Press, we contracted with a commercial printer. Back then it took 14 people to put out an edition…20 years later it took just four people four days to get the paper to press. Following the fire, the dreaded deluge came with record rains that started in December and continued until March. In our second issue of 1978, we wrote about “Rains, Floods, Mud, Debris.” In March, Ian Brodie wrote, “Why is God Punishing Us?” By the end of 1977, the Topanga Messenger had truly become the “News and Arts publication of the Santa Monica Mountains,” or at least, our little corner of them. n S PONSORED BY M ELISSA O LIVER AND PAUL F ERRA 310-455-1717 "T HE TOPANGA E XPERTS " (see ad on page 3) Forty Years Through the Eyes of the Topanga Messenger, Part 1—1976-1985 Dis tin guis he d jour n alis t Ian Br odie h a d a lif e lon g lo ve of n e w s pape r s an d was o ur pu blis h e r f or 3 0 ye ars u n t il h is de ath in 2 0 0 8 . Fr om Neil Shaw’s coffee ta ble to a real office! De ce m be r 1 , 1 97 6. Our fi rst i ssu e w as al l abou t u s . Six M ont hs! Hoora y ! But would we l a s t ? Messenger, January 28, 2016, Page 11
Transcript of Forty Years Through the Eyes of the Topanga Messenger · Forty Years Through the Eyes of the...
Topanga Messenger 40th Year Anniversary
By Flavia Potenza
In 1976, Merrick Davidson, a local carpenter, gatheredan enthusiastic group of professionals to produce a newspaper.We all brought our own tools and experience and became yourlocal chronicler. We didn’t have an office or telephone. Teddie’sCleaners was our answering service. We typed the paper on anIBM Selectric, paste-up and photos processed in makeshiftdarkrooms were all done by hand. The paper was printed onSid Francis’ old Harris press in his goat shed on Cheney Driveand collated by volunteers at the Community House.
We held a “Name Your Paper” contest and wentnameless for six issues until artist Todd Haile presented the
exuberant design for the masthead you see abovewith its messenger man and his hawk. The first issueswere free but on March 23, we announced thatsubscriptions would be $5/year, $9/two years!
It was as if Topanga’s voice was just waiting tobe heard. By April, we published our firstinvestigative article on land use, “Black Day at BigRock,” in response to massive grading between BigRock Ranch/CaliCamp and Mill Creek Stables. InApril, the County Dept. of Engineering ordered ahalt to the grading. In June we reported that theowner was arrested on charges of grand theft,embezzlement and conspiracy.
On June 1, we proclaimed the TopangaMessenger as “Six Months Alive!” because it wasa miracle we got that far and were still, more orless, viable. The Topanga Canyon Town Council (TCTC)came to life that year and, by September, theyhad written bylaws and elected a Board ofDirectors. As an unicorporated area they wouldbe the liaison with our government—the Boardof Supervisors, Regional Planning Commissionand myriad county agencies and services.Some Topangans, disgruntled aboutgovernment, considered incorporating withMalibu and Las Virgenes as Chumash County.
Cases of irresponsible andinappropriate development were beingchallenged by the Topanga CommunityImprovement Association (TCIA) andTopanga Association for a Scenic Community(TASC). Whispers of a general plan by ourfederal representatives to protect the SantaMonica Mountains wafted through our pages. By the endof the decade, our Congressman Tony Bielenson hadshepherded the Santa Monica Mountains National RecreationArea (SMMNRA) into being and today the InteragencyVisitorsCenter at King Gilette Ranch in Calabasas is named for him.Planning was also afoot for State Parks.
In November, a fire started, a small one, at Canoga andMulholland that firefighters thought they had put out, but gustySanta Anas picked up embers and a raging fire pushed throughTopanga State Park that burned 1,115 acres and four homes.We covered it all: the blockade by sheriffs and CHP;miscommunication among first responders; how neighbors andfellow Topangans stepped forward to help each other
The paper’s survival was on the edge when Britishjournalist, Ian Brodie, walked in the door. By November 23, hewas listed as our publisher and introduced us to the rigors of aproduction schedule, moved us to the office in the Center,purchased our first computer and typesetting machine,” and,as much as we appreciated Sid and his old Harris Press, wecontracted with a commercial printer. Back then it took 14people to put out an edition…20 years later it took just fourpeople four days to get the paper to press.
Following the fire, the dreaded deluge came withrecord rains that started in December and continued untilMarch. In our second issue of 1978, we wrote about “Rains,Floods, Mud, Debris.” In March, Ian Brodie wrote, “Why is GodPunishing Us?”
By the end of 1977, theTopanga Messenger had trulybecome the “News and Artspublication of the Santa MonicaMountains,” or at least, ourlittle corner of them. n
SPONSORED BY
MELISSA OLIVER AND PAUL FERRA310-455-1717 "THE TOPANGA EXPERTS" (see ad on page 3)
Forty Years Through the Eyesof the Topanga Messenger,
Part 1—1976-1985
Distinguished journalistIan Brodie had a lifelonglove of newspapers andwas our publisher for 30years until his death in2008.From Neil Shaw’s coffee table to a real office!
December 1, 1976. Our first issue
was all about us.
Six Months! Hooray! But would we last?
Messenger, January 28, 2016, Page 11
(Clockwise) 1. Tuba player Roger Boboconducted the Topanga Philharmonic in 1979,handing the baton to violinist Guido Lamellwhen he left Topanga. 2. The Topanga
Nutcracker, established in 1981 by Sherry and Bob Jason, is one of Topanga’smost beloved events. 3. In 1982, Conductor Jerome Kessler founded theTopanga Symphony and continues to perform three free concerts a year.
From eyesore to icon, Kedric Wolfe’s“Boulevard Bhudda.”
(Clockwise) 1-2. Will Geer, founder of TheatricumBotanicum, died in 1978, leaving a legacy that hisdaughter, Ellen Geer, and wife, Herta Ware (with guitar)carried on. 3-4. Burl Ives was a regular at the theater, aswas Woody Guthrie who inspired the annual “Ameri-cana” event that celebrates folk singers who influencedAmerican politics. 5. In 1981, Herta and Ellen began theSchools Program that partners with more than 100schools throughout L.A.
By 1980, fires followed by floods washed outthe roads for six months. The indomitablespirit of Topanga loved the quiet and (below)threw a fundraiser, “Topanga Reigns,” to helpthose in need.
1978. Art Clokey moved to the Canyonwith Gumby & Co., keeping companywith rattlesnakes and ravens likethe rest of us.
(Clockwise, l-r) 1. 1983, Doug Roy is the new doctor in town; 2. 1982,Kathy Miller opened Bouboulina; 3. Ed Lange’s “clothing optional”Elysium Fields opened in 1967 and was still going strong in 1981 havingovercome much controversy. 4. 1980, JR Ball opens vintage
clothing store, Topanga Threads, at crossroads, behind gasstation; 5. 1980, Alan Emerson’s New Dolphin Inn was
barely holding on after two fires and the flood;6. 1981, Frank and Marlene Rocco opened
the long-awaited Rocco’s Italianrestaurant. 7. 1980, Ernie
Demontreaux of TopangaLumber shows off a parlour
stove from Old TimeStove Works.
Messenger, January 28, 2016, Page 12 Messenger, January 28, 2016, Page 13
1. The Corral was the place inthe ‘70s for Neil Young, Joni
Mitchell, Linda Ronstadt, AliceCooper, Bob Hite, BuffaloSpringfield, Eric Clapton, TajMahal and Mick Fleetwood.
(Pictured clockwise l-r) 2. FredTackett of Little Feat; 3. David
and Roselyn; 4. Lowell George’s last performance atthe Corral; 5. Spanky McFarlane of Spanky & OurGang joined The New Mamas & the Papas (clockwisel-r: Denny Doherty, John Philips, Spanky and MichellePhilips); 6. Old Mother Logo was part of the 1980Centennial celebration at Topanga Days.
(Clockwise) 1. 1978. “Black Day at Big
Rock,” showed massive grading ofroads and trails above Zuniga Road that had
scooped out Hidden Lake. The owner was laterconvicted of fraud, conspiracy and embezzlement.
2. 1978. Actor Peter Straus (“Rich Man, Poor Man” ABC-TV mini-series)defended Agoura against massive development.3. 1979. The Battle is on! Jan Moore and Herta Ware at a public hearing tostop the Sunnyglen development threateningTopanga from the valley.4. 1979. Protesters rallied against LNG plantproposed for Point Conception on sacredIndian land.5. 1980. In 1978, Lee and Tony Santoro wereoutraged at the destruction of 16 ancient oaktrees in Agoura. Public outcry made SupervisorBaxter Ward order a permanent oak treeordinance to be drawn up for L.A. County.6. It took a 16-year fight but Summit Valley(1984) was a catalystfor new developmentstandards that keptinappropriatedevelopment out ofthe canyon.7. What was at stakewere tract homescreeping intoTopanga’s foothills.
Topanga Messenger 40th Year Anniversary
THANK YOU TO OUR FRIENDS AND SPONSORS
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