Justin’s Newsletter: May 2024
Vol. 4, Issue 5
If you’re not already subscribed to my free monthly email newsletter, you can sign up here. Or if you know someone who might enjoy this, feel free to share it with them.
What’s Up With Me
I’ve been nominated as a finalist for two LA Press Club journalism awards! Both for my TV show, “Pasadena Monthly,” in the Anchor/Host and Talk/Public Affairs categories. The award ceremony is June 23 at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown LA. Wish me luck!
Check out my new book, Paradise Springs, published by Huttopia North America! Currently only available for purchase at Huttopia's Paradise Springs camp in Southern California, 18101 Paradise Dr., Valyermo, CA 93563. When it becomes available online, I’ll let you know! Also, Huttopia has refurbished the Charlie Chaplin Cabin (seen on the cover), where the comedian had extramarital trysts and handbuilt a wooden staircase that still stands today. Drift Travel Magazine covered it and mentioned me and my new book.
Watch this month’s episode of the award-winning Pasadena Media TV show “Pasadena Monthly with Justin Chapman,” featuring a review of the month's top stories, a history segment, and an exit interview with Sue Mossman, outgoing executive director of Pasadena Heritage. Watch the full episode here.
Watch the latest episode of my other TV show "Well Read with Justin Chapman," featuring Irish journalist Rory Carroll of The Guardian, author of There Will Be Fire: Margaret Thatcher, the IRA, and Two Minutes That Changed History, about the IRA's nearly successful attempt to assassinate Thatcher by blowing up her hotel in 1984. Fascinating talk—watch it here.
Around Town
Stories to Keep an Eye On
International: It looks like the African National Congress (ANC) in South Africa will have to form a coalition government for the first time since Nelson Mandela seized power in 1994. It’s only surprising that it’s taken this long. Corruption has been rampant among Mandela’s predecessors. The discontent and opposition to Zuma when I was in South Africa in 2012 was palpable. The damage done by apartheid to the country’s political system is long and lasting. The country could benefit from a coalition, however, as there are a few disparate groups that need to work out their differences and work together.
National: Trump is now a convicted felon, 34 times over. Will this change any votes? Doubtful. People are already locked into their preferred worldview. The dichotomy couldn’t be starker. It’s likely the only shred of accountability he’ll receive before the election—he’s successfully delayed the other three cases, and as we all know, justice delayed is justice denied. The future is bleak.
Local: Meow Wolf is coming to Los Angeles! One of the greatest, trippiest art movements of the past couple decades is opening a new location in West LA in 2026. If you don’t know what Meow Wolf is or haven’t been to one of their locations, do yourself a favor and change that right now.
Great Reads
Here are some recommendations for interesting books I’ve read recently:
Sellout: The Major-Label Feeding Frenzy That Swept Punk, Emo, and Hardcore (1994–2007)—Dan Ozzi
If you enjoy punk music and lived through the 1990s and 2000s, you think you know the story of the bands from the scene that made it big, but there’s so much more to their stories. This book is a thorough, behind-the-scenes examination of several DIY punk bands that signed to major record labels and how that decision changed their music and their members, as well as the local scene that nurtured their bands and ultimately violently rejected them after they “sold out,” including Green Day, blink-182, At the Drive-In, The Distillers, Against Me!, and more.
Ghost Town Living: Mining for Purpose and Chasing Dreams at the Edge of Death Valley—Brent Underwood
Brent never responded to multiple requests for an interview, so maybe borrow this one from a library, lol. But I’ve been interested in his story since the beginning, when he sunk his life savings into buying a ghost town in Death Valley called Cerro Gordo, a former silver mining town that helped fund Los Angeles’ early growth. He launched a viral YouTube channel featuring videos of him exploring mines that are hundreds of feet underground. It was particularly poignant when the American Hotel, the centerpiece of the town built in 1871 and which was also to feature as the centerpiece of his planned revival of the town, burned down from an electrical fire on the 149th anniversary of its completion. Through this tragedy, he found his meaning in coming to this town in the first place, and pledged to rebuild. This lifelong project of his has turned into quite the doozy. His new book explores his trials and tribulations throughout the process, with a very apt subtitle.
Great Listens
To say I’m beyond the moon excited about the reunification of the Blood Brothers is a bit of an understatement. I never thought I’d see the day, but they’re back together and playing shows this fall. I can only hope this will mean a new album as well.
Spotlight on My Past Stories
In light of my book about Paradise Springs being published, check out my award-winning article in LAist about the camp that used to be a hedonistic playground for stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood.
And read all of my journalism here.