Opening Hours
Daily: 10 A.M.–5 P.M.
Closed on Tuesdays
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108
Manuscripts
Daily: 10 A.M.–5 P.M.
Closed on Tuesdays
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108
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Manuscripts
Approx. 50 items: the folder contains a collection of complaint letters and replies that were considered good examples of how to respond to criticisms. The issues include x-rated movie ads, price increases, lost-and-found ads, gun / ammunition ads, disagreement about arts reviews and more. The replies were written by staffers from several departments including Editorial and Advertising. Among the staffers writing replies: Charles Champlin (Editorial) ; Glen W. Peters (Advertising) ; Nick B. Williams (Editorial) ; Leonard Pomerantz (Advertising) ; Robert D. Nelson (LAT Gen. Mgr.) ; Phil Magwood (Advertising). NIck Williams created more than one diplomatic reply "prototype." These letters were used dozens or even hundreds of times. One that is included here begins - "Every subscriber of The Times means something to its editors..."
mssLAT
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Manuscripts
A complaint letter to the Los Angeles Times and a response letter from Tom Johnson. Both written in elementary school English to emphasize the point of the letters.
mssLAT
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Manuscripts
1 item: 55-pp. transcript of Otis Chandler interview by Marshall Berges, around 12/1980. Subjects include: more memories of Bobby Kennedy ; the Los Angeles Times - Washington Post News Service ; Katherine Graham and Philip Graham of the Washington Post ; wild story about Phil Graham's mental deterioration ; memories of Ben Bradlee ; rejection of porno ads and x-rated movie ads ; door-to-door circulation sales - "boy crews" ; Circulation Department ; Advertising Department ; more.
mssLAT
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Manuscripts
Approx. 25 items: a wide array of complaint letters written to LAT, plus a number of the replies, in the time period 1968 - 1980.
mssLAT
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Manuscripts
Don Clark was Director of Advertising in the 1970s-1990s. These five folders including correspondence and reports, to and from Clark, regarding marketing, locating executives for hire, and responses to reader complaints about specific ads. Date range is 1983-1991.
mssLAT
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Manuscripts
Approx. 35 items: letters and postcards from readers complaining (some very pointedly) about the scented ads that were then being placed in LAT. Also included are a selection of LAT responses. Notable items: exchange of letters between author James M. Cain (author - The Postman Always Rings Twice), and W.G. Pfaffenberger, LAT Advertising Manager.
mssLAT