[lbo-talk] James Dean hated LA, missed NY

[Wojtek S]

[WS:]  I kind of sympathize with his sentiments.  Many years ago, I applied
for a community college position near LA (Orange county, to be exact.)  I
was was kind of desperate, because I hated my DoD job, so I was quite
excited when I got an interview.  However, after driving some 8 or so hours
and then looking at the environs of my prospective employer,  my mood has
changed.  The place, a nightmarish suburban sprawl, sucked big time.  So
when during an interview I was asked why I wanted to give up a government
job for the one I was applying, I responded "I'm not sure if I want to do
that."

I dislike LA for several reasons, chief among them being that everything
seem to be gated there and there are few public places (in comparison to
NYC), it is a quintessential "car city" with few places to walk (Venice
Beach does not count,)  and people seem to be too much preoccupied with the
way they look.  Maybe that has changed but that is how I remember LA.  The
film "Barton Fink" nicely portrays the sleaziness of LA (as contrasted to
NYC) but the plot takes place in the 1930s.

BTW, the only place I actually like in LA is the Union Station.

Wojtek

On Sat, Aug 14, 2010 at 9:17 PM, Doug Henwood <dhenwood at panix.com> wrote:


> <http://www.lettersofnote.com/2010/08/wow-am-i-fucked-up.html>
>
> 4.26.54
>
> FAMOUS ARTISTS CORPORATION
>
> Dearest Barbara
>
> I don't like it here. I don't like people here. I like it home (N.Y.) and I
> like you and I want to see you. Must I always be miserable? I try so hard to
> make people reject me. Why? I don't want to write this letter. It would be
> better to remain silent. "Wow! Am I fucked up"
>
> Got here on a Thurs. went to the desert on Sat., weeks latter to San
> Francisco. I DONT KNOW WHERE I AM. Rented a car for 2 weeks it cost me
> $138.00. I WANT TO DIE. I have told [Redacted] and 5 others like her to kiss
> my ass and what stench, spineless, stupid prostitutes they were. I HAVENT
> BEEN TO BED WITH NO BODY. And won't untill after the picture and I am home
> safe in N.Y.C. (snuggly little town that it is) sounds unbelievable but it's
> the truth I swear. So hold everything, stop breathing, stop the town all of
> N.Y.C. untill (should have trumpets here) James Dean returns.
>
> Wow! Am I fucked up. I got no motorcycle I got no girl. HONEY, shit
> writting in capitals doesn't seem to help either. Haven't found a place to
> live yet, still living with my father--HONEY. Kazan sent me out here to get
> a tan. Haven't seen the sun yet. (fog & smog) Wanted me healthy looking. I
> look like a prune. Don't run away from home at too early an age or you'll
> half to take vitamins the rest of your life. Wish you cooked. I'll be home
> soon. Write me please. I'm sad most of the time. Awful lonely too isn't it.
> (I hope youre dying) BECAUSE I AM.
>
> Love.
>
> Jim {Brando Clift} Dean
>
> My address is (fathers that is) is
> 1667 So. Bundy Drive
> L.A. 25, Calif.
>
>
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