Hollywood: What Goes On..What Goes On...

People have stories and I like to hear them. Here is bundle that I picked up today. Ch-ch-ch-check it out!


Dirk Sampson, 19
Smoke Shop – Hollywood and Cherokee

Mid-Day Fight
The fight story has reared its head again, I wonder how often it will come up. A customer comes in at around 3:30pm about a week ago trying to get a pack of $1.00 black and mild cigarettes for 78 cents. Dirk says no go – the customer panhandles in the store – Dirk says stop to the panhandling – then a fight breaks out between Dirk and said customer “for about 3 minutes”. Some of the notable moves were: a slam into the display case, punches to the head and face, a floor roll and a full out choke hold. Cops broke it up. According to Dirk – this sort of thing is uncommon.

Psychology Experiment
Dirk spent some time on Hollywood and Highland doing an experiment. He dressed alternately as a homeless person and a business man and asked for money from people the same way. He got more money as the businessman but less frequently, and less money as the homeless man but more frequently. You figure it out.

Mug
Dirk has been mugged 4 times on and around Hollywood Blvd. He told me about two.

Mugging #1: Dirk is handing a cell phone to his friend. A man asks for a cigarette and Dirk said he didn't have one. Dirk tries to get his cell phone back from his friend and the guy tries to grab the cell phone. Dirk tried to get it back and the guy hit him in the head.
(Note: 2 fights over cigarettes. Cigarettes lead to no good. I’m just sayin.)
The cops see it – get the guy, and it turns out he is wanted for murder. Dirk testifies at a court case against the guy.

Mugging #2: Dirk goes to leave his house to drop something off at Music Institute in his slippers and pajamas. Just “4 steps outside the door” a transvestite pulls a knife out and asks for Dirk’s wallet. Dirk doesn't have it – so he gave the transvestite his slippers.


Feldeman, 25
News Stand, Hollywood and Wilcox (?)

The Listener
Feldeman told me he likes his job because it is quiet. Ironically, he said the most striking feature about his work is all the people who come and talk to him at length. A man recently ranted for 20 mins. to Feldeman about nothing – he later apologized and said he was off his medication. Feldeman said he has 3 regulars who come around to talk to him weekly. One of them reads his fortune by looking at his face. He told Feldeman that the scar on Feldeman’s nose will mean disaster when he turns 46.


James, 28
Corner Drug Store (exact location unknown)

Simulated Fame
James works right next to the Egyptian Theater but he has never encountered any celebrities. He did however, run into YaYa – a man who has met many celebrities. YaYa came into the drug store and showed James a bunch of pictures of himself with celebrities. James liked the picture of YaYa and Ashley Simpson best.



Marvin, 31
Dray’s Clothing Store, Hollywood and Highland


Superheroes Aren't Real
Marvin came to Hollywood from Guatemala when he was 8 years old. He knows Hollywood Blvd. very well. He used to be a guardian angel and his patrol was specifically Hollywood Blvd. He said it was his favorite job – that he felt invincible – that he got to be just like his favorite superhero, Captain America. He knew who all the drug dealers on the blvd. were and he used to pick one a night and follow them around. He has been in fights with the 18th st. gang – and they shot his friend. He has since left the angels, and he talked about how his mentor in the angels – who is still in it – has done so much for the community and yet will get no retirement compensation, no public credit, and will go into old age with an uncertain future. When he said that, it reminded me that Marvel comics killed Captain America this week.


Cormay, 60’s? ( Where I come from, its impolite to ask an elderly woman her age)
Asian Import Shop, Hollywood and Hudson (?)


Business
Earlier in the day, I tried to talk to an older asian woman who was working in a t-shirt shop. She brushed me off and I immediately formed the opinion that it would be a waste of my time to try to talk to any more older asian women – who I noticed in many of the novelty stores. I saw Cormay and wondered if the pattern would hold true. It didn't and I am so happy we talked.

Cormay has run her shop for 20 years. She said its just a business and there is nothing special really for her about Hollywood Blvd. Its not uncommon for her to have celebrities come in and not even know it until they leave and another customer tells her about it. She said last week someone named ‘Master P’ came in (the rapper) – and she still has no idea who that is.


Magdy, 50’s? (I forgot to ask)
Lotus (Egyptian Import Shop), Hollywood and Caheunga (?)

The Questions
Magdy told me he doesn't so much run a shop as answer questions all day. Magdy has had his shop for 9 years – right next to the Scientology testing center. He says they come by 3 times a week to ask him the same questions. He thought I was a Scientologist. I told him I wasn't – then proceeded with my own line of questioning. He jumped into it like a pro. He said the most common question he gets is “Are you a Muslim?” – and he always tells people he isn’t. He then went on to break it down. He said there are two types of businesses – the kind where people know what they want (like a grocery store) and the kind where people don't know what they want (like an Egyptian import store). People come out of curiosity – with a feeling that they might want something and Magdy guides them to their purchase by answering all sorts of questions: who is the person in this statue? What does the Arabic on this ring mean? What do you use these oils for? They are body oils right? I literally watched this take place as a customer came in mid-interview. With each customer Magdy has to take on a role – and give the customer that piece of Egypt they were looking for when they came in. It makes me think his talking to me maybe wasn't much different.