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L.A. Exposed: Strange Myths and Curious Legends in the City of Angels
 
 
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L.A. Exposed: Strange Myths and Curious Legends in the City of Angels [Paperback]

Paul Young (Author)
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)


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Book Description

May 3, 2002
Every city has its urban legends, its tall tales, and even its outright lies, and Hollywood and Los Angeles have enough to fill a book--and Paul Young has done just that.

L.A. Exposed includes the facts behind the myths surrounding everything from the tall tales of tinsel town, to the legend and lore of LA landmarks, to rock n' roll rumors, to Southern California's unnatural history, to the city's crime lore, to tales of corruption and conspiracy in the land of sunshine and health; LA Exposed dares to ask the hard questions. Does L.A. really have earthquake weather? Did Alfred Hitchcock ask Grace Kelly to do a strip teast in her front window? Is there treasure buried in the Watts Towers? Are there still opium dens in Chinatown? Was Barbara Streisand ever in a porn film? Young gives readers the lowdown on the city's most enduring myths, exploring their origins, and whether there is an ounce of truth to any of them.

L.A. Exposed, inventive, witty, and addictive, is sure to be a hit in L.A. and beyond.


Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Was Fidel Castro an extra in a Hollywood movie? Did Hitchcock ask Grace Kelly to do a strip tease in her window? Do murder rates go up when the Santa Ana winds arrive? These and other rumors are explained and dispelled (or verified) in L.A. Exposed: Strange Myths and Curious Legends in the City of Angels. Paul Young (Buzzwords: L.A. Freshspeak, with Anna Scotti) researched dozens of persistent urban myths and scandals surrounding the celebrities, landmarks, natural history, politicians and criminals of Los Angeles. Writing in the breathless, hyperbolic style of the tabloid stories he investigates, the knowledgeable Young is not immune to stirring up a few conspiracy theories of his own.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Young (coauthor, Buzzwords: L.A. Fresh Speak) has compiled a wide collection of stories about the many myths, rumors, urban legends, and flat-out lies surrounding Los Angeles and Hollywood. The book has limited academic value, but fans of popular culture in general and those who enjoy stories about the City of Angels in particular will find a treasure of fascinating tales. Young tends to focus on the sexually lurid aspects of Hollywood mythmaking, with many stories fit for the National Enquirer. He considers such rumors as Jamie Lee Curtis's being a hermaphrodite, Errol Flynn's spying for the Third Reich, whether Tom Cruise is gay, and so on. Also recounted are specific claims about the city, such as the treasure buried in Watts Towers and the mythic opium dens in Chinatown. The author seldom reaches any conclusions about these stories; mostly, he simply tells us that many rumors are false. Diehard fans of L.A.-style sensationalism might appreciate this collection, but those looking for any real conclusions about the city and its inhabitants will be disappointed. Recommended with reservations for public libraries specializing in popular culture. Tim Delaney, Canisius Coll., Buffalo
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 320 pages
  • Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; First Edition edition (May 3, 2002)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0312206461
  • ISBN-13: 978-0312206468
  • Product Dimensions: 10 x 8 x 0.8 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #992,821 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

12 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.3 out of 5 stars (12 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Sometimes Trash Can Be Fun...., August 30, 2002
By 
Gail K. Powers "Abra" (Harbor Country, Mi,N. Naples, FL, Chicago area) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: L.A. Exposed: Strange Myths and Curious Legends in the City of Angels (Paperback)
Actually, this book really does take an admirable stab at debunking ridiculous and/or incredulous stories and/or myths concerning things which have happened within or near the City of Angels. It contains some things that I have never heard of and presents logical explanations as to how some stories got started and evolved.
This is a great kickback book for that special day when you are snowed in or dodging buckets of rain and just want to have some fun. Hours will shoot by and you'll never know it.
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Now the truth. Mysteries in Hollywood, L.A. and Lancaster.., August 29, 2003
This review is from: L.A. Exposed: Strange Myths and Curious Legends in the City of Angels (Paperback)
This book contains 297 full pages of the truth you want to know. Los Angeles and Hollywood are full of rumors, gossip and mysteries. This book will tell you a little history, what people are saying, what happened, and THE TRUTH. Now you will know the truth of...Is Tom Cruise Gay?, Is John Travolta gay?, Did Barbara Streisand do porno? Who does now!, What happened to Marilyn Monroe, Sam Cooke and Jayne Mansfield. Did Dennis Hopper contact a UFO?, Which actors and rock stars are big or hung? The story of the tiki god (fertility god) with the three-foot hard on at Trader Vic's. Also included is the Elizabeth Lake creature at the lake located 15 miles west of Lancaster, California. Indians once claimed the lake to be a passageway to the underworld, a passageway designed by the devil himself. Also, does Southern California have earthquake weather? There are 98 mysteries in this book, the story and the truth will be revealed to you. Also the truth of Jimmy Hoffa's death is on page 278.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars everything you REALLY wanted to know about LA, July 17, 2004
By 
Theresa May (omaha, ne United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: L.A. Exposed: Strange Myths and Curious Legends in the City of Angels (Paperback)
If you like your scandal mixed with history, or vice versa, you will like this chatty book of scandals and the true story of what makes LA tick. Some times the author uses a tad to much pschyo-speak, but a throughtly enjoyable book for those who want to look behind the red carpet, and into the bedrooms.
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Inside This Book (learn more)
First Sentence:
While this rumor was rampant throughout the early part of the twentieth century, it wasn't until the release of Kenneth Anger's classic tome of Hollywood debauchery, Hollywood Babylon, that it found a place in the firmament of L.A. lore. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
similar beast, female serial killer
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
The Bottom Line, New York, The Context, Little History, San Diego, All Means, Beverly Hills, West Coast, Little Background, Santa Barbara, Santa Monica, Palm Springs, San Francisco, White House, Errol Flynn, Paul Young, Santa Ana, Culver City, South Central, Van Tassel, Edgar Hoover, Las Vegas, Laurel Canyon, United States, Black Panthers
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Surprise Me!
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