Johnny Grant, unofficial mayor of Hollywood, Friday night in Hollywood. Grant comes out of retirement to try and save the Hollywood Christmas Parade. Celebrities aren’t showing up anymore and sponsors aren’t either, threatening to end this 73 year tradition.

Wallace Albertson in her home, Thursday morning in West Hollywood. She is a policyholder who sustained losses and hopes to recovery damages in a lawsuit by the California Insurance Commissioner against Credit Lyonaise Bank and other French defendants over alleged fraud involving the failed Executive Life Insurance Co. in 1991.

Holding a photo of his son, 82-year-old Julius Szabo, has a moment to himself in his bedroom at his home in Los Angeles. The Holocaust refugee who for years was just a grandfatherly benefactor in Mario Aguilar’s life, actually was Mario’s real father. Mario Aguilar was one the peolple killed in an Aspen, Colorado plane crash.

Marcus Nispel, the director of the horror hit, “Texas Chainsaw Massacre”, being himself at his home in the Hollywood Hills.

Artist Ed Ruscha takes a moment to himself at his studio, Thursday afternoon in Venice. He has a big retrospective show of his drawings opening at MOCA Oct. 17.

Artist Joe Goode with his dog, Pollack, at his studio in Los Angeles. In the late 1970s, Goode moved to a small town in northern California to paint. His series burned in a fire, and he was left with only the photo slides. In his new show, Ashes, he has taken these photos of this lost art, and painted on top of them, to create a new series.

Singer Petra HadenÊat her sister’s apartment, Thursday afternoon in the Westlake area of L.A. She is the daughter of jazz bassist Charlie Haden and a frequent collaborator with artists such as Beck and Mike Watt. Her latest album is an unuaual effort, an a cappella version of The Who’s classic album, The Who Sell Out.

Harry Segil takes a moment in front of a garage door at his 3500 sq. ft. house in Wilshire Vista in L.A. Segil, of Harry ARt Furniture, has just sold the house and is moving to a very pared down work/loft space in Culver City. He is selling everything in the house in the next 3 weeks.

Santeria priest Charlie Guelperin at his place of business and place of worship, Botanica el Congo Manuel, Monday in Los Angeles. He is an eccentric Hollywood santeria and yoruba priest who offers everything from seances and animal sacrifices to casual yet florid life advice from his cramped botanica on Santa Monica Boulevard.

Violinist Linda Wang, currently working on a doctorate-level musical degree at USC, rehearses in the solace of the on-campus church, thursday morning at USC. STAFF PHOTO BY RICHARD HARTOG 9/5/96

Playwright Naomi Iizuka at her home, Sunday afternoon in the Mount Washington area of L.A. She is an L. A. rarity: a playwright with a national reputation who lives here, but has no interest in writing for TV and film.

Irwin Winkler at his home Wednesday in Beverly Hills December 06, 2006. Winkler is the producer of Rocky and director of new movie: Home of the Brave, a movie about national guards re-adjusting to civilian life.

HOLLYWOOD CA – May 15, 2008: Surrounded by cars and color, owner Frank Corrente stands at his Cadillac Corner vintage car lot in Hollywood, Thursday, May 15, 2008. LA officials have ordered Corrente to come up to code or close after 21 years. It turns out Corrente never got a permit when he opened. He says his place is a tourist attraction and deserves a break from the city. (Richard Hartog/Los Angeles Times).

Singer Petra HadenÊat her sister’s apartment, Thursday afternoon in the Westlake area of L.A. She is the daughter of jazz bassist Charlie Haden and a frequent collaborator with artists such as Beck and Mike Watt. Her latest album is an unuaual effort, an a cappella version of The Who’s classic album, The Who Sell Out.

Dodger pitching great Don Newcombe at Dodger Stadium, Friday in L.A. Plaschke writes about what Newcombe experienced with teammates, the opposition and fans when he played in the 1950’s. The 1955 World Series team will be honored at Sunday’s game.

Billionaire broadcom founder Henry Nicholas III at his home in Newport Beach Friday July 13, 2007. He is being sued by a former assistant. Nicholas contends the lawsuit is an attempt to extort millions from him.

Lou Zamperini, 85 yrs., a remarkable war hero and track star at the historic Italian Hall Museum in downtown L.A. Zamperini was a high school track star who made an appearance in the 1936 Olympics. In World War II he was in the United States Air Force and his plane crashed in the Pacific. He survived without food and water for 47 days until washing up ashore on a Japanese island behind enemy lines, where he was held as a prisoner of war for two years and tortured by his captors.

Marshall High football player James Wilson on campus in L.A. He was once homeless, living out of a car and he now lives in a group home. Ê

Artist Raymond Pettibon in his home studio in Long Beach. He works with ink on paper.