L.A. Meekly: A Los Angeles History Podcast
L.A. Meekly is a monthly comedy podcast about Los Angeles history put out by comedians Greg Gonzalez and Daniel Zafran that battles the idea that LA has no history by delving in the weird, unbelievable and, occasionally, haunted details from the past of their native city.

Crack open the eggnog and fry up the latkes because it's time to get creepy and haunted.  This year we tackle the Queen Mary in all her luxury lining, world war serving, ghost pool glory.  Both the straight history (:14) and the ghouls (1:08).

Direct download: queen_mary_itunes_version.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

You asked for it so we asked it right back.  This month we tackle two listener submitted questions: What do you like most about Angelenos? and What should someone not from here be aware of to make their stay as agreeable as possible?  Listen to our bumbling answers and the much better answers of you, the listener, who submitted your own takes.  You know who you are.  And those of you who didn't?  Consider yourselves uninvited from LA Meekly Thanksgiving.

Direct download: angelenos_itunes_version.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:08am PDT

Pack your sack lunches for the nicest museum you've ever visited inside a cemetery: the Forest Lawn Museum.  We talk with the museum's curator James Fishburne about the museum's role in shaping the art scene of Los Angeles, pigeon photography and the biggest painting of Jesus you've ever seen.

Direct download: forest_lawn_itunes_version.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

Halloween is here and what better way to spend it than with your two favorite grave robbers?  To get you in the...spirit...of the season we'll be covering the stories of a few of the biggest graveyards in the city: Valhalla Memorial Park (:14), Hollywood Forever (:32) and Forest Lawn (1:03).

Direct download: graveyards.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

Pack a picnic for this one as we sit down with Executive Director of the L.A. Philharmonic Gail Samuel (Yes, you read that correct) to talk about everything Hollywood Bowl related from decrepit band shells to Cab Calloway.

Direct download: hollywood_bowl_field_trip.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

Ever wondered where you put that old screwdriver you can't find? How about your mint condition copy of Action Comics #1? Or that old Hope Diamond you used to have lying around? Check the junk drawer! L.A. Meekly's got one too filled with topics that didn't quite fit anywhere else so from that drawer we submit to you: the Spike Jones grocery story of La Crescenta (:13), inspiration for Indiana Jones Antonia Futterer (:28), the roller derby Thunderbirds (:49) and the Alphabet Bomber (1:06).

Direct download: junk_drawer.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

School may be back in session today but it's already time for a field trip.  Join us on our trip to La Plaza de Cultura y Artes as we discuss the museum's mission and importance as the keeper of the history of the early days of this city with Associate Curator Mariah Berlanga-Shevchuk and Assistant Curator Esperanza Sanchez.  

Direct download: la_plaza.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

What's that sound?  The Entertainer by Scott Joplin?  That must mean it's the podcast truck with its barely regulated freezer full of treats!  This month we go into the stories of everyone but Greg's favorite summer treats: ice cream.  We'll dive deep into the history of Fosters Freeze (:14), Baskin-Robbins (:25), Fosselman's (:47) and, of course, Thrifty (:59).

Direct download: ice_cream.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

1969. June 22 Judy Garland dies. July 14 Easy Rider comes out. August 9 Sharon Tate is murdered. Summer of love this was not. This month we're going to look at the downfall of the old Hollywood studio system by way of the rise and fall of Judy Garland (:16) and the birth of the New Hollywood movement through the story of Roger Corman (1:09).

Direct download: 1969.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

Put on your weekend finest and zip on over to listen to the story of the zoot.  Join us as we trace one of the saddest, most disappointing low points in Los Angeles history from the murder and unfair trial at Sleepy Lagoon (:15) to the brutal and just as unfair Zoot Suit Riots (:57).  Get ready to be ashamed of your city.

Direct download: zoot_suits_itunes_version.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

Wax on your podcast device but don't wax it off because it's time for a field trip with Madame Tussaud's Hollywood's very own Helen Larimore.  Join us as she discusses the laborious and somewhat disturbing process of creating each wax model and the even more disturbing experience of having to walk through the empty exhibits at the end of the night.

Direct download: tussauds_itunes_version.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

Strap on your sturdiest hiking boots and sit on the couch and listen to our newest episode on a couple of the city's forests! We'll be covering the exploitation and criminal population of the Angeles National Forest (:12) and the Hollywood glory of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (1:04).

Direct download: forests_itunes_version.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

Activate your spellcheck because we are at the harder-than-you-think to-spell Coliseum!  We are joined by the hilarious comedian/Los Angeles history connoisseur Carl Tart as we discuss this place's meaning to himself and to the city at large.  

Direct download: carl_tart_itunes_version.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

Vroom-vroom goes the car and brake-cry goes the traffic.  It took us this long to cover freeways because we've been stuck on the 405 for 6 years trying to get here.  We'll cover the creation of the city's freeways (:22) and the flipside of all that creation as it destroyed neighborhoods all over town (1:04).

Direct download: freeways_itunes_version.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

Dive into the world of public access TV, billboards and customized cars in our evening with some of LA's most notable local celebrities.  Take a ride with Angelyne (:19), take another ride with Dennis Woodruff (:37), take a look into a future that never happened with the Amazing Criswell (:56), get healed by William Money (1:12) and sing a song of aliens with David Liebe Hart (1:32).  Don't forget to use promo code MEEKLY on the Forkspot app to get $15 off your first order.

Direct download: local_celebs_itunes_version.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:12am PDT

What's black and white and read all over? This description for our episode about a newspaper. This month we cover the Los Angeles Times and the major players behind it from the warlike Harrison Gray Otis (:16), the conservative Harry Chandler (:54), the moderate Norman Chandler (1:23) and the surfing Otis Chandler (1:31). This episode brought to you by Forkspot. Use promo code MEEKLY to get $15 off your first order.

Direct download: la_times_itunes_version.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

We found an old pirate's treasure map and we're hunting hidden gems all over this city!  We'll be looking up at Yamashiro Hollywood (:20), over to Travel Town (:35), sneaking into St. Vincent Court (:49), visiting the Venice Mosaic Tile House (:54), disappearing into the Max Factor Hollywood Museum (1:00) and seeking out the Great Wall of Los Angeles (1:24).  If you want to learn about more hidden gems in the city follow LifeHacks LA on Instagram and Facebook!  This episode also brought to you by Forkspot!  Use promo code MEEKLY and get $15 towards a meal today!

Direct download: hidden_gems_itunes_version.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT