‘Based on a True Story’ is slaying them in Claremont and Pomona
The new comedy thriller series “Based on a True Story” (it isn’t) involves a tennis pro, a real estate agent and a plumber in L.A. who, according to the synopsis, try to capitalize on America’s obsession with true crime. (It might be that NBC Peacock is trying to capitalize on “Only Murders in the Building,” but no matter.)
Reader Jackie McHenry of Claremont is tuning in. She tells me that in the debut episode, the plumber says he grew up in Pomona but left after someone in his apartment complex was killed. The tennis pro’s real estate agent wife, meanwhile, wonders if the plumber might not be a serial killer himself.
“So Claremont has a serial killer raised by two professors from the Claremont Colleges (‘Rookie Feds’) and Pomona has a tennis-loving plumber who is suspected of being a serial killer,” McHenry chortles. “Yes, I watch too much TV, but I enjoy hearing that Pomona and Claremont have soooo much in common!!”
Jimmy Carter (cont’d)
While at the Claremont Public Library one night, browsing among the Friends of the Library books for sale, “White House Diary” by Jimmy Carter caught my eye. I picked it up and turned immediately to the index to see if James Fallows was there.
Now an acclaimed journalist and author, Fallows was the Carter speechwriter (’76-78) who hails from Redlands and whom I interviewed in March. He described Carter to me as a tough taskmaster who was, to put it delicately, sparing with compliments.
Sure enough, there was one lone reference in the diary to Fallows, from May 2, 1978.
“I called Jim Fallows in and told him that I was not satisfied with the speechwriting quality. The Law Day speech for Los Angeles I’ve had to write almost myself, with assistance from Stu Eizenstat,” the leader of the free world griped. “The draft I got from Fallows was completely inadequate.”
Speaking of drafts, anyone reading that just felt a chill descend.
Attitude of gratitude
After my May 31 column on the grateful reception Riverside Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson got in South Korea because of her father’s service during the Korean War, reader Connie Madott got in touch. The West Covina resident saw that column in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune and, despite the distance, the story hit home.
Her late husband, Frank, was in the war too, fighting in a bitter winter and getting severe frostbite in Chosin, which veterans nicknamed Frozen Chosin.
“We also went to Korea one year for a wonderful tour and experienced all that you mentioned about the welcoming, friendly people that we met,” Connie told me. “All but our airfare was completely paid for and we stayed in a first-class hotel.
“Korea was not a country I had ever wanted to visit, but after going I would gladly go again and take family to see all the museums and memorials to our country for the help we gave them,” she continued. “We never met a Korean person here in our area that was not so thankful for our military. Most were not even born at that time of war.”
Her husband, a 100% disabled veteran, died at 91 in 2020.
Dan Bernstein (cont’d)
The retired Press-Enterprise columnist, featured here June 14 in regards to his new book and volunteer efforts on the trombone, still has his admirers — as he should.
Elizabeth Adame, Riverside: “After reading your column today featuring Dan Bernstein, I thought nostalgically about how much I enjoyed his columns over the years … For years and years, chuckling over his stories gave my parents and me topics of conversation. Riverside news and gossip just didn’t seem as interesting without his take! (And those nicknames!!!!!)”
Lynn Petroff, Temecula: “What a marvelous, melodious, uplifting visit with Dan Bernstein! It has been a long time since I’ve heard about him, and this is certainly a joy to hear! You’ve offered many readers a lovely glimpse into fond memories. Dan’s literary shoes are mighty big, and your feet come mighty close to fitting into them.”
Shucks.
Bernstein himself writes: “I have heard about your column from a prominent criminal defense attorney, a resident of an assisted-living complex, a fellow Kaiser volunteer, and a civilian Kaiser member who spotted me playing in the lobby today. Two of them showed or gave me the actual newsprint column.” He adds parenthetically: “(The criminal defense attorney was not acting in her official capacity.)”
On a related note
As mentioned in passing in my Bernstein column, July 1 will mark three years for me in The Press-Enterprise. It will also mark four years for me in The Sun, as well as increasingly regular appearances in the Redlands Daily Facts. And I’m still in the good ol’ Inland Valley Daily Bulletin after 26 (!) years.
To clarify, these are all the same columns, but they are now appearing in, and attempting to include, a wider territory, the entire Inland Empire (wherever it is).
How am I doing? Am I meeting your needs as your columnist or falling short? Are there topics you’d like to see more of or, gulp, less of? Sock it to me via email at dallen@scng.com.
brIEfly
Beth Brooks of Pomona is among those who remember Morris Stewart, the creator of L.A. County Fair mascot Thummer. When her family owned the breakfast-lunch-dinner coffee shop Mission Family Restaurant, Stewart ate there three times a day. So it wasn’t just Tuesdays with Morrie, but every day.
David Allen writes Wednesday, Friday and Sunday but eats daily. Email dallen@scng.com, phone 909-483-9339, like davidallencolumnist on Facebook and follow @davidallen909 on Twitter.
