MacArthur Park Takes in Glow from the Stars

by Roggie McFadden

LOS ANGELES -- September 24, 2002 -- A little bit of Hollywood magic visited MacArthur Park with the filming of the new TV series "Snitch," a gritty crime drama in which Snitchers face off to do battle. The homeless community that ordinarily occupies the shady expanse at the corner of Seventh Street and Park View were remarkably reproduced by white folks from Goldberg All-Purpose Extras. Staff had earlier urged away from the area the authentic homeless only to bring in crackers outfitted to look like this same community.

The lead in "Snitch" appeared to be a fellow from West Hollywood greased up with a phony guayabera and adorned with gold chains to look as though he were some out-and-out street tough toughin' it out on the streets of Los Angeles. In one scene, from behind a pair of stylish shades, the guy exclaims diabolically, "Boo! …Did I scare ya? Yeah, that's what I thought, fool!"

"I enjoy seeing this touch of Hollywood magic that greets us today; another sign of the MacArthur Park Renaissance," said Rich Notamaño, one of those awakened by production security at 5 a.m. and told to vacate the park bench where he was resting.

It was ironic that the homeless should be so easily removed given the location. On this same spot just weeks before on August 16, the homeless had been incited to spontaneous revolt by actions of the LAPD.

"We mobilized and the police were forced to meet the demands from democratic action," Notamaño remarked. The burgeoning homeless movement at this park in central LA is fast becoming an important engine of local politics. "We'll never forget eight-sixteen. It's a wake-up call: you can make a difference."

Extras with whom I spoke were uninformed of the events of August 16 though one was familiar with this area, having been an extra on a previous movie shoot down the block at the fabulous Park Plaza Hotel.

Built in 1925, the brilliant Art Deco interior of the hotel is a popular site for filming. Like many classical-looking structures, the Park Plaza Hotel has some maxims engraved around its entrance on Park View, though none of these uninspiring sayings would discriminating opinions consider as veritable 'wisdom.'

"The chandeliers in the lobby there totally rock," said one extra. "Snitch" is still in the early stages of productions. Its pilot should be shopped around to networks by the end of October for possible premiere in the Spring.

From Wilshire Gazette (November 2002)

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Fabulous MacArthur Park, Los Angeles.

The Park Plaza Hotel on Sixth &
Park View in the Westlake
district of Los Angeles.

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