Author Archives: Nathan Marsak

Norman Chandler gave me a ring on the Ameche and said “Marsak! Our best man from City Desk is on his way to the Whizbang Lounge to interview you! Be at your booth by 11:00am sharp!” and I always do what a Chandler tells me, so, here are the results— Read it for yourself byContinue reading ““Freeways” in the Los Angeles Times”

This Sunday! The Los Angeles City Historical Society presents yours truly, as part of the Marie Northrop Lecture Series; LACHS cosponsors with the History Department of Central Library. I’ll be talking all about Arnold Hylen’s curious life, the process of chasing down lost archives, the genesis of America’s post-Panic of ’93 visual language, and muchContinue reading “Free Lecture, this Sunday!”

I’ve written a lot about Cooper Donuts.  Reading all of it, though, can be a bit of an exercise, with its 10,000 words stretched out over five separate blog posts (We Need to Talk About Cooper Do-Nuts, Cooper’s Do-Nuts—Addenda, Cooper Do-Nuts Pt. III, Cooper Do-Nuts…AGAIN, and Cooper Do-Nuts FINALE — six blog posts, if youContinue reading “My Final Words on Cooper Donuts”

Let’s talk the lobbies of Bunker Hill! Of course there’s no returning to the Melrose or Trenton or Fremont, so you’ll have to content yourself with the modern lobbies of post-redevelopment Bunker Hill. You’ve likely been inside some of Bunker Hill’s more important and sublime interiors, like the Music Center; other lobbies are well-documented online,Continue reading “Bunker Hill Lobbies”

Hello again! After last Friday’s blogpost about Channel 5’s Chavez Ravine video, blog reader janey_dlh asked “did you listen to the new Tinseltown Ghost Stories podcast?” so, here’s a rather similar investigation (though, good news, much shorter than last Friday’s post) into the claims made on the Tinseltown podcast. Granted, I was moved to pickContinue reading “Deflating More Chavez Ravine Nonsense”

Honestly, after last May’s Chavez-o-thon, I thought I was done with the subject. Of course with baseball season upon us, and the Arechiga eviction anniversary nearing, I assumed we’d be exposed to a bit more Chavez Ravine chatter, sure, but — behold! what is likely Chavez Ravine’s most-seen media concoction ever, a product of suchContinue reading “Channel 5 Flubs Chavez Ravine”

Authors on Architecture: Marsak on LA Before the FreewaysSAH/SCC Zoom PresentationSunday, May 04,2025, 01:00 PM Join me via zoom this Sunday, as I talk the lost architectural landscape of our Victorian downtown. Click here! LA Before the Freeways—Sunday, May 4, 2025; 1-2:30 PM Pacific; $5. Go to http://www.sahscc.org and pay via PayPal; or mail in orderContinue reading “This Sunday, an Event with the Society of Architectural Historians! Plus LAPL and OC Register Interviews”

It’s that time of year again! Come on by the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, all day Saturday and Sunday, at USC. A whole gang of Angel City Press authors will be there to sign books, and talk with YOU alllll about their Los Angeles-related obsessions. I’ll be there under the ACP tent onContinue reading “LA Times Festival of Books, this Weekend”

I’m not a morning person, and wouldn’t wish sunrise on my worst enemy, but I will still nevertheless appear for you at a 7:00 am event, come the 16th! If you’re not familiar with the LABC, they are great group of folk and the club has just entered its hundredth year! Learn about them here.Continue reading “EVENT! Los Angeles Breakfast Club, Wed. April 16”

Postscript: we had a GREAT turnout! I want to heartily thank the Book Club of California, and the good folks at Pasadena Heritage. The Book Club of California will host lil’ ol me in Pasadena this Wednesday the 9th! I’ll be delivering an illustrated lecture about Arnold Hylen, his books, how I came to reprintContinue reading “EVENT! Book Club of California, April 9th”