On that fateful day 25 years ago, Laura Schroff bought that young panhandler lunch at McDonald’s and an unlikely friendship was born. She shares her story in the New York Times bestseller, An Invisible Thread.

KCBS’ Connie C. Kim interviews author Laura Schroff:

“When I first saw him, I was really surprised that this 11-year-old boy was panhandling on the street and what really resonated with me was the fact that he said he was hungry,” Schroff described her first encounter with Maurice Mazyck. “In my wildest dreams I never would’ve thought …25 years later we would still be unbelievably close, great friends.”

After meeting with him for weeks, Schroff offered Mazyck either money or a homemade lunch for the days they couldn’t eat together. He requested a brown paper bag because “when kids come to school and they have their lunch in a brown paper bag that means somebody cares for them.”

“Simple things in life that we all take for granted, children like Maurice don’t have,” Schroff said.

By sharing her story, she hopes to inspire others that a simple act of kindness can make an enormous impact.

“We met and I don’t believe it was an accident. There are those invisible threads that connect people and I believe that we were destined to be connected,” Schroff said. “As much as he needed me, I needed him.”

For more information and to share your own ‘invisible thread’ story, go to www.aninvisiblethread.com.

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

Maggie Gyllenhaal & Hugh Dancy (credit: Sony Pictures Classics)

 
(CBS SF) – KCBS Entertainment Reporter, Jan Wahl reviews ‘Hysteria’ staring Maggie Gyllenhaal, Hugh Dancy, Jonathan Pryce, Rupert Everett, Ashley Jensen, Sheridan Smith, Felicity Jones, Gemma Jones and Anna Chancellor.

 
HYSTERIA (R)

In an age of invention and often social prudishness, one man sets out to find a medical cure for what is ailing a group of women. In the process, he electrifies and changes lives forever.

We meet Mortimer Granville, (Hugh Dancy), a dedicated and forward-thinking doctor. He sees the procedures and conditions of the medical world in his British Victorian world and he is appalled. As he fights the bloodletting and worse of the medical establishment, he has a career change and ends up with a doctor (Jonathon Pryce) in a thriving solo practice helping women who suffer from the nervous disorder termed at the time “Hysteria.” This doctor has two very different daughters, one of them a free spirit and reformer (Maggie Gyllenhaal.) She’s a suffragette campaigning for women’s rights and running a center to help feed and educate the poor. This character drives the movie forward as she tries to make life bearable and give options and opportunities to working class women.

Back in the world of “hysteria” patients, a catch-all description to the patients dealing with anxiety, depression and anything else considered unwomanly in Victorian times, Mortimer is having success. An actor we don’t see enough, Rupert Everett, is a wealthy inventor friend of Dr. Granville, and is now turning an electrical device into something quite different.

 
The rest is history as we follow this comedy – that is based on a true story – with some unforgettable Victorian characters. Director Tanya Wexler keeps it fun, while making political and social statements and sometimes just being outrageous. Three hats.

 
See Right Now: Men in Black 3, Hemingway and Gellhorn (HBO beginning Monday, Nicole Kidman, journalist Martha Gellhorn and Clive Owen as Hemingway, filmed in SF), Bernie, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Home Viewing/DVD: Albert Nobbs, Carol Channing: Larger Than Life, We Bought a Zoo, Drop Dead Diva: Season 3, Rampart

You can hear KCBS Entertainment Editor Jan Wahl’s movie reviews on KCBS All News 740AM and 106.9FM Fridays at 8:53am & 4:53pm.

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

A new app launched this weekend that will scan the faces of patrons in 25 bars across the city to determine their ages and genders.

Would-be customers can then check their smartphones for real-time updates on the crowd size, average age and men-to-women mix to decide whether the scene is to their liking.

The Austin, Texas-based makers of SceneTap say the app doesn’t identify specific individuals or save personal information.

But in a city known for its love of both libations and civil liberties, a backlash erupted even before the first cameras were switched on from bar-goers who said they would boycott any venue with SceneTap.

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

So began a mixture of laughs and heartfelt advice delivered Friday to the graduating class of the University of San Francisco College of Arts and Sciences.

KCBS’ Anna Duckworth Reports:

Cosby recounted how nervousness before his very first gig in the 1960s nearly derailed his early comedy career, and implored the students, playfully, not to give in to such uncertainty.

“You have this education. You have these expectations. There are parents waiting for you to move out,” he said.

“They want you to move out so they can have that house. They can have their dream. The ending where you come back home? They did not dream of that. They dreamt of you going on. They don’t want to hear, ‘But I was nervous.’”

The creator of Fat Albert, the Cosby Kids and the groundbreaking Cosby Show then sounded a more serious note, stressing the importance of helping people regardless of one’s profession.

“It is important for you to understand that your job is to help, to aid, to teach, to hold, to comfort, to make laugh,” he said, while all the while learning about the people you are helping without losing sight of altruistic values.

As a teenager, Cosby dropped out of high school, but completed a GED in the US Navy, eventually earning a Master’s and a Ph.D. in education.

During the ceremony, the university recognized the 74-year-old for his humor, compassion and commitment to service with an honorary degree.

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

Jack Black in ‘Bernie’ (credit: Millennium Entertainment)

 
(CBS SF) – KCBS Entertainment Reporter, Jan Wahl reviews ‘Bernie’ staring Jack Black, Shirley MacLaine, Matthew McConaughey and Rip Torn.

 
BERNIE (PG-13)

At last. This is a comedy to go out of your way to see. Too original to call it a kind of modern day Harold and Maude meets Pleasantville, with real life thrown in.

In the small, rural town of Carthage, Texas, Assistant Funeral Director Bernie is one of the town’s most beloved residents. He teaches Sunday school, stars in the town play, is always the one ready with a helping hand. He is everything beloved in this small town, and the residents tell us why and how much he means to each and every one of them.

 
Bernie (Jack Black, in his best role including School of Rock!) is played with a depth of sincerity that makes it all believable. Our man Bernie, for by now we are invested in his kindness too, meets up with an affluent widow (Shirley MacLaine), as well known for her mean disposition as for her fortune. They become so close, he ends up handling all her affairs. Then, the entire film turns, and the ride is well worth taking.

Director Richard Linklater (Dazed and Confused, School of Rock, Me and Orson Welles) brings out the wit and satire while keeping it real, as well as finding the goodness and heart in this true tale. Wait for the final credits when we meet the real Bernie. Four hats.

—————————————————-

See Right Now: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Bully, The Hunger Games, The Avengers

Home Viewing/DVD: Albert Nobbs, Rampart, We Were Here, Voices from the AIDS Years in San Francisco, Joyful Noise.

You can hear KCBS Entertainment Editor Jan Wahl’s movie reviews on KCBS All News 740AM and 106.9FM Fridays at 8:53am & 4:53pm.

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

The reason Warner Brothers is doing this is to promote their three-disc Blu-ray 70th anniversary edition of the film along with an illustrated e-book on the movie.

But Facebook has other motives. When you go to their page to download the app, you’ll notice pitches for all sorts of other films. It’s really an opportunity for them to make it known that they’re open for business when it comes to renting movies.

KCBS Tech Report:

Facebook actually has allowed users to stream movies for a charge for a while, but a lot of people don’t know that. It may or may not be a coincidence that this campaign comes two days before the company’s IPO.

This also begs the question of how soon will it be before we start seeing Facebook on our TV’s. The trend is growing for the convergence of computers, TV, smartphones and iPads. I think Mark Zuckerberg would have Facebook on our toothbrushes if he could figure out how.

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

The campaign by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), is debuting the PSA’s that shows the Giants struggling against the kids in a video game match. Posey then realizes it isn’t his type of game and then goes into the message reminding parents to check their kids’ video game ratings.

KCBS’ Janice Wright Reports:

“Not every game is appropriate for every child” Vogelsong added stating that he learned how easy it is to get the ratings information right from the game’s box.

If parents want additional information they can also check out the ESRB website.

“It’s just a matter of taking a couple of seconds,” Posey said agreeing how easy it is to keep kids away from inappropriate action.

ERSB president Patricia Vance said its not like the kids are going out and buying the games themselves.

“Parents are involved in game purchases nearly nine times out of 10,” Vance claimed.

The lucky Junior Giants who participated in the PSA stick with “E” for everyone games and avoid “M” for mature. But that doesn’t mean those violent games aren’t in the house. They’re fully aware of the violent games with blood and guns that sometimes their older siblings like to play.

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

Rapper Method Man of the Wu-Tang Clan (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)

 
MOUNTAIN VIEW (CBS SF) – The lineup for this year’s Rock the Bells has been announced. The three-city, traveling hip hop event will mix the old and the new, featuring headliners Kid Cudi, J Cole, Nas, Wiz Khalifa and Atmosphere.

Also set to perform are Missy Elliott, Timbaland, Yelawolf, Kendrick Lamar, Dipset, Salt-N-Pepa, Tyga, Ice Cube, Mac Miller, 2 Chainz and A$AP Rock, among others.

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony will reunite for its 20-year anniversary, performing a special tribute to the late Eazy E, as well as breakout album, “E. 1999 Eternal,” in its entirety.

Redman and Method Man will close out one of two stages at this year’s festival, performing the 1999 album “Blackout!”

Rock the Bells will be held in San Bernardino, California on August 18-19, a stop in our neck of the woods at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View on August 25-26; and Holmdel, New Jersey on September. 1-2.

Tickets go on sale Friday. Go [ here ] for the complete lineup.

READ MORE: Nas & Lauryn Hill To Perform Full Albums At ‘Rock The Bells 2011’

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

Steve Jobs (1955-2011)

 
CUPERTINO (CBS SF/AP) – Aaron Sorkin is going from Facebook to Apple. Sony Pictures officials say the Oscar-winning writer will write a screenplay based on the Steve Jobs biography.

Sony Pictures co-chairman Amy Pascal said Sorkin will make the film about the late Apple founder “everything that Jobs himself was: Captivating, entertaining and polarizing.”

June 6, 1961

Sorkin (pictured) won the adapted screenplay Academy Award for 2010′s “The Social Network.” The 50-year-old writer was nominated in the same category for 2011′s “Moneyball.”

His other credits include “Charlie Wilson’s War” and “A Few Good Men.” He also created TV’s “The West Wing.”

Ashton Kutcher In Talks To Play Steve Jobs In Biopic Role

“Two And A Half Men” actor, Ashton Kutcher (pictured right) is set to play Jobs in a separate project.

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

Adam Lambert (credit: RCA Records)

 
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) – Not only did American Idol alum Adam Lambert‘s new album Trespassing hit stores today it was also announced that he will headline a free concert in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park.

Lambert will be hitting the stage for Alice@97.3‘s annual Summerthing in Hellman Hollow on Sunday, June 24th long with Scars on 45 and others to be announced.

For complete details, go to radioalice.cbslocal.com/show/alices-summerthing

- Bradford Hornsby Alice@97.3/San Francisco

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

In celebration of its one-year anniversary, Mixed Roots Foundation is presenting its first Adoptee Comedy Show on Monday, May 21st.

Holly Choon Hyang Bachman, founder and President of Mixed Roots Foundation, said the mission of her organization is to create more awareness of the adoption experience, and inspire the next generation of adoptees to become leaders in the community.

KCBS’ Connie C. Kim talks to Holly Choon Hyang Bachman, founder and President of Mixed Roots Foundation:

This is a personal mission for Bachman who was adopted at the age of three from South Korea and raised in Minnesota. After an eye-opening trip back to Korea as a teenager, she became more committed to celebrating her background and providing support for other adoptees.

One of the comedians is Amy Anderson who was also adopted from Korea, raised in Minnesota and currently lives in Los Angeles. She said a lot of the adoption resources out there seem to focus on the adoptive parents but not really the adoptee. She hopes this event and the organization will help raise awareness and provide support to adoptees who are now adults.

Anderson is also mother and manager to her four-year-old daughter who plays ‘Lily,’ an adopted child from Vietnam, on the television sitcom ‘Modern Family.’

Joe Klocek, a domestic adoptee and one of the other comedians who will be performing, said, “I think people forget that adopted kids grow up and you have these holes in your life that you want answers.”

“Especially in the Bay Area where we’re all very much aware of racial identity, sexual identity, all kinds of identity, and if you’re adopted there’s just a little piece of your personal history that’s missing,” Klocek spoke about his involvement with Mixed Roots, “so it’s cool that there’s a place that recognizes that and will be able to help adopted people.”

“A friend of mine said, ‘I thought about you the other day when I saw a sign that said adopt a highway,’” Klocek commented on the funny responses he’s received when sharing that he was adopted.

He hopes people coming to the show will walk away with a sense of understanding so when they do come across someone who is adopted they won’t freak out.

“Most superheros were adopted,” Klocek added.

For tickets to the show and to learn more go to www.mixedrootsfoundation.org. The comedy show on May 21st will also be streaming live online.

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

Some people believe she didn’t die in Los Angeles, but instead, at the Cal Neva Resort at Lake Tahoe.

“Something about Marilyn was unique and special, there was an inner drive of some sort that pushed her more than anyone else,” said Greg Schreiner, President and Founder of “Marilyn Remembered” Fan Club.

Schreiner’s home is a shrine. He is one of the world’s foremost collectors of Marilyn memorabilia.

“Here we have Marilyn’s costume from ‘Let’s Make Love,’” Schreiner said, describing one of the pieces from his collection.

While his collection celebrates Marilyn’s life, it’s the manner in which she died that continues to fascinate and intrigue.

“One of the most famous stars in Hollywood history is dead at 36. Marilyn Monroe was found dead in bed,” reported by news agencies on August 5th, 1962.

Reports said she died in her home in the Brentwood area of Los Angeles. But most theorists don’t believe the story officials laid out.

“There was definitely a vast cover-up as it relates to Marilyn Monroe’s death,” said Jay Margolis, author of a new book titled “Marilyn Monroe: A Case For Murder.”

“And this was where the rich and elite used to come and this was their private playground,” said Hans Weig, tour guide at the Cal Neva Resort.

Weig leads tours of the Cal Neva Resort and Casino on the north shore of Lake Tahoe, regaling tourists with tales of the glory years.

From 1960 to 1963, this was the place the Rat Pack called their home away from home.

Straddling the border of Nevada and California, it offered a taste of Sin City, with comforts of home. An owner was none other than Ol’ Blue Eyes, Frank Sinatra.

“Cabin #4 is where Dean Martin, Bobby Kennedy, Sammy Davis Junior, JFK, anyone who was a close personal friend of Frank would stay in cabin #4. Marilyn Monroe used to stay in cabin #3. It was known as the girl’s cabin,” said Weig.

One of the last photos ever taken of Monroe was at the Cal Neva, Frank Sinatra behind her and entertainer Buddy Greco smiling on cloud 9.

Greco confirmed with CBS by phone what had happened.

“I was sitting with Frank, outside Frank’s bungalow when a limousine pulls up and this gorgeous woman in dark glasses steps out. You’d never believe that she had a care in the world,” Greco said.

But that carefree weekend would be her last.

Most historians agree Marilyn Monroe endured a terrible ordeal during her stay here, just days before her death.

“She was molested by two mobsters, Skinny Damato and Johnny Roselli,” said Margolis.

“She had stayed here for only two days, she decided to leave abruptly and she had overdosed that day as well,” said Weig.

The Cal Neva’s seclusion, owned by a celebrity to protect celebrities, hid it all.

“These are the original tunnels that were built in the 20s and the only thing that survived in 1937,” said Weig about a fire that destroyed the resort.

The tunnels were used to run liquor up from the lake and hide comings and goings of gangsters, celebrities, and politicians.

Mysterious copper mesh still lines the walls, likely meant to foil wiretaps.

“To shield your conversation if anyone wanted to record what you were saying, like federal agents.” said Weig.

But why do some say Marilyn did not overdose in her home, but rather at the Cal Neva? The source is George Masters, Marilyn’s hairdresser and the audio tapes he made in 1998.

In those tapes, Masters said Marilyn was not in Southern California on August 4th, but at Lake Tahoe, at the Cal Neva. Masters said he knew this because he was with her.

“She reportedly flew back…a lot of people think maybe she didn’t take a plane, maybe she was driven down to Brentwood, California and if she was conscious or not, nobody knows… so if Marilyn Monroe did die here, she died in the heart shaped bed that used to be here,” said Weig.

Monroe researcher and author Jay Margolis scoffs at George Masters’ claim and at the idea that the mob was behind her death.

“The evidence in my book shows there was no mafia involvement, there was no FBI or CIA trying to do her in. They may have been listening in,” said Margolis.

But we do know what police found when they were called to her home on August 5th. A naked, disheveled Marilyn, in bed, clothes on the floor, a dresser the only other real furniture in the room.

That dresser is a part of Schreiner’s collection.

“This is the dresser that was there the night she died. So if it could talk it could tell us exactly what happened that night in her bedroom,” said Schreiner.

Author Jay Margolis believes Monroe’s psychiatrist, Ralph Greenson, murdered her at the request of Bobby Kennedy, via a mostly undetectable enema.

The reason? He says not only was Monroe having an affair with the Kennedy brothers but also Greenson.

And he believes Greenson was tricked by Bobby Kennedy into thinking Monroe was going to reveal her affairs with all of them.

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

Kevin Kline in ‘Darling Companion’ (credit: Sony Pictures Classics)

 
You can hear KCBS Entertainment Editor Jan Wahl’s movie reviews on KCBS All News 740AM and 106.9FM Fridays at 8:53am & 4:53pm.

(CBS SF) – KCBS Entertainment Reporter, Jan Wahl reviews two films, ‘Darling Companion,’ staring Kevin Kline and Diane Keaton & ‘The Perfect Family’ with Kathleen Turner, Jason Ritter, Emily Deschanel and Richard Chamberlain.

This is a story of connections and disconnection, then finding one’s way back to caring and hope. Diane Keaton stars as a woman facing changes in her life – empty nest with kids gone, and a distracted and obsessed husband. She finds a dog on the side of the highway one wintry Denver day who seems as lost as she feels. She forms a special bond with the dog, over the objections of her self-involved husband, perfectly played by Kevin Kline. When that bond is shattered, everyone and everything changes.

Costarring Diane Weist and Richard Jenkins, written and directed by the husband wife team of Lawrence and Meg Kasden, directed by Lawrence Kasden, who gave us Body Heat and The Big Chill. Sweet but too simple, two and a half hats.

———————-

THE PERFECT FAMILY (PG-13)

Kathleen Turner stars as a suburban supermom, completely devoted to her Catholic parish. She is excited and deeply honored when she is nominated for the Catholic Woman of the Year Award. But, she needs to pass the test before perhaps winning. She has to introduce her family to the Church Board for their seal of approval. This is where director/writer Ann Renton’s movie becomes a comedy with dramatic themes, fitting some fun into dysfunctional. Her gay daughter is about to marry and have a child, her son is having an extramarital affair with the town manicurist no less, and her own marriage is challenged. There’s a lot to hide to get this award.

Costarring Richard Chamberlain and Michael McGrady, there’s some messages here about tolerance and compassion. Three hats.

———————-

See Right Now: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Bully, The Hunger Games, The Avengers

Home Viewing/DVD: Joyful Noise, W.E., New Year’s Eve

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

Los Angeles police spokesman Kevin Maiberger says officers went to Sassoon’s home Wednesday morning and determined he was dead of natural causes. Sassoon’s family was present.

The London-born Sassoon’s creative, geometric cuts required little styling. They were an integral part of the look of Mary Quant, the superstar British fashion designer who popularized the miniskirt.

The easy-maintenance cuts also fit right in with the fledgling women’s liberation movement.

Sassoon opened salons all over the world, including one in downtown San Francisco. He also developed a popular line of shampoos and styling products bearing his name. His slogan was “If you don’t look good, we don’t look good.”

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

Florence + The Machine (credit: Live 105)

 
MOUNTAIN VIEW (CBS SF) – After co-headling Coachella in April, Florence + The Machine has announced a Fall US Tour. The third in 2012, the tour is in support of their latest album “Ceremonials”. The tour kicks off in Massachusetts in May and will make a stop at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View on October 5 with supporting act, “The Weekend.”

PHOTOS: Not So Silent Night 2011: Florence + The Machine

In 2011, Florence + The Machine completely captivated the audience at Live 105′ Not So Silent Night show. This taken from their website: “Talk about a powerhouse performance. Who would have thought that the timid, soft-spoken woman hanging out backstage with fans could command a crowd like that. Florence Welch’s vocals captivated the crowd with breathtaking songs like “Dog Days Are Over” and “Kiss With A Fist.”

Tickets for the Florence + The Machine show will release on Friday, May 11, 2012 through Live Nation.

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

 
(CBS SF/ALICE @ 97.3) – We’ve seen reactions of grief over the early loss of Beastie Boys’ Adam Yaunch from celebrities, musicians, station staff and listeners. Now Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi has released a statement about his death and his legacy of tireless advocacy for the Free Tibet movement.

Adam Yauch (Photo by Brad Barket/Getty Images)

“As an artist, Adam Yauch changed the course of music; as a humanitarian, he changed lives. He was a creative genius who used his powerful platform and celebrity to address the cause of human rights for the people of Tibet. Adam Yauch was devotee of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and an agent of change.

“Adam Yauch’s concerts raised awareness on campuses across the country; what a beautiful sight it was in 1996, when he drew 100,000 people to Golden Gate Park in San Francisco for a concert to benefit the cause of freedom in Tibet. His knowledge of issues and his activism were deeply rooted in his values.

“I hope it is a comfort to the many who loved and admired Adam, especially his wife Dechen and his daughter Tenzin, that so many grieve their loss and are praying for them at this sad time.”

PHOTOS: RIP Adam “MCA” Yauch

The concert Pelosi is referring to is the first Tibetan Freedom Concert in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park on June 15 & 16, 1996 featuring Beastie Boys, The Smashing Pumpkins, A Tribe Called Quest, Pavement, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rage Against the Machine, Sonic Youth, Beck, Foo Fighters, Björk, Fugees, No Doubt and more. It was able to raise $800,000 for The Milarepa Fund, founded by Yauch, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting awareness and activism to free Tibet from Chinese rule. The concert was followed by similiar concerts in New York City (1997), Washington D.C. (1998), Amsterdam, (East Troy) Wisconsin, Sydney, Tokyo (1999), Tokyo (2001), and Taipei (2003).

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

In a letter sent to San Francisco-based Lucasfilm Ltd., the city’s Economic Development Department has suggested a movie production studio could be built in the Shadelands Business Park.

Vallejo and Benicia have also reportedly launched attempts to woo George Lucas and his film company.

Lucas recently abandoned efforts to build a new Lucasfilm Ltd. studio on Grady Ranch in rural Marin County, in the face of ongoing neighboring homeowner opposition to the project.

“It’s really important to reach out and see if you can bring some more jobs to the community and especially a company as prestigious and reputable as Mr. Lucas’ company,” said Walnut Creek Economic Development Manager Rob Gerber.

“We really welcome the opportunity to give the representatives of Lucas’ company the opportunity to tour with us and get their thoughts,” said Gerber.

Walnut Creek has not received an immediate response to its letter.

KCBS’ Ted Golberg Reports:

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

Adam Yauch (Photo by Brad Barket/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival)

 
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) – Local celebrities and those in the music community are in mourning over the loss of fellow musician/rapper & activist, Adam Yauch, better known to most as “MCA” of the Beastie Boys. Yauch died Friday, May 4th after a long battle with throat cancer.

PHOTOS: RIP Adam “MCA” Yauch

San Francisco native, Mike Schwartz aka “Mix Master Mike,” member/DJ of the Beastie Boys, left this message on his Twitter, @M1XMASTERM1KE.

This morning i lost a great friend, a brother and a legendary bandmate,
Adam yauch. I will miss him so deeply. http://t.co/U55mDPht—
MIX MASTER MIKE (@M1XMASTERM1KE) May 05, 2012

———————-

Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day

@BJAofficial

MC Hammer, Rapper

@MCHammer

Brian Wilson, San Francisco Giants Pitcher

@BrianWilson38

Former KOME Radio DJ, Now NBC Talk Show Host, Carson Daly

@carsonjdaly

DJ Q-Bert

DJ QBert

DJ Shortkut

@Shortkut

DJ Scotty Fox, 99.7 Now Mixshow DJ

@DJScottyFoxx

———————-

The staff at Alice @ 97.3 are first and foremost music lovers and the news of the loss of Adam Yauch left everyone in a bit of shock.

Initially they held their breath and hoped it would all just be yet another false story in the Twitterverse. Once the sad new was confirmed, Alice airwaves with “No Sleep Til Brooklyn” and the staff had this to say about the late Beastie Boy:

“As a Beastie Boys fan it makes me really sad to say goodbye to Adam, RIP.”
- Vinnie from the Sarah and Vinnie Show

———————-

“Thank you Adam. You have blessed the world with an endless gold mine of musical genius. You will be dearly missed, but your legend will live on for generations. Rest In Peace”
- Icky, Producer/Sarah & Vinnie Show

———————-

“I’m so sad, even more sad than honestly I would have guessed I’d be. You think of the Beastie Boys as eternal kids; immortal. They were a huge part of the soundtrack of our youth – in high school AND college, they were THE band you played when your friends were all together. They were THE band that absolutely everybody danced to.”
- Jayn, 10AM – 3PM & Alice’s Music Director

———————-

“Adam Yauch was a pioneer, plain and simple. The Beasties made hip hop fun for EVERY kid you knew while still keeping an edge that made your parents just nervous enough. And it was mostly because you had NO idea what they were going to do next both in and out of the studio. I have a fond memory of performing ‘Paul Revere’ at a church camp talent show when I was 15. We CRUSHED it … but nobody over 18 clapped and I nearly got sent home. MCA would have been proud.”
- Marcus D., 3PM – 7PM & Alice’s Assistant Program Director

If you DIDN'T know every word to every song on "License To Ill," you were spending WAY too much time on your homework. #RIPMCA #fb—
Marcus D./ALICE SF (@marcusdshow) May 04, 2012

———————-

Live 105 has been associated with the Beastie Boys as long as anyone at the station can remember. They loved and supported the band’s music and they in turn have played multiple shows in the Bay Area under the banner of Live 105. As you can imagine today’s news of the death of Adam “MCA” Yauch hit the station and it’s staff pretty hard.

———————-

“The career path I choose in music and radio was solidified from the very first moment I heard Licensed To Ill back in 1986 and for that Adam I am forever grateful. I had the pleasure of meeting MCA several times over the years and he was truly one of the most humble, affable and passionate artists I’ve ever come across. A true visionary and music maverick, his iconic Beastie Boys helped pave the way for the birth of Live 105 back in 1987. We almost because a country station if it weren’t for Adam’s revolutionary beats saving the day.”
-Aaron Axelsen, Live 105 Music Director

———————-

Just played a block of @beastieboys on @live105. RIP and thank you MCA.—
Megan Holiday (@MeganHoliday) May 04, 2012

"Egg Man" is the shit. I still love that song. #RIPMCA—
Miles The DJ (@MilesTheDJ) May 04, 2012

R.I.P. #3mta34life instagr.am/p/KNyT9MOCce/—
NONAME (@NONAMESHOW) May 04, 2012

———————-

 
Other notable celebrities who took to Twitter to mourn the passing of Hip Hop legend, Adam Yauch:

Rev Run, Member of Run DMC

@RevRunWisdom

Russell Simmons, Hip Hop Mogul

@UncleRUSH

Q-Tip of ‘A Tribe Called Quest’

@QtipTheAbstract

Justin Timberlake

@jtimberlake

Common, Rapper

@common

Travis Barker of ‘Blink-182′

@travisbarker

Snoop Dogg

@SnoopDogg

Tom Morello, Musician of ‘Rage Against the Machine’

@tmorello

Will.I.Am, Black Eyed Peas

@iamwill

 
(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

(L-R) “Iron Man” & “Captain America” (credit: Marvel Studios)

 
You can hear KCBS Entertainment Editor Jan Wahl’s movie reviews on KCBS All News 740AM and 106.9FM Fridays at 8:53am & 4:53pm.

(CBS SF) – Super-humans are brought together to form The Avengers, trying to save Earth from destruction and, even more importantly, fight the power of the vengeful brother of Thor!

 
THE AVENGERS (PG-13)

What saves this movie from being just a comic book generic is some powerful actors. The most fun is Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark, a.k.a. Iron Man. He has some smart, snappy dialogue that treats the audience as if we have enough going on to know references like Shakespeare in the Park and basic European history.

Mark Ruffalo is Bruce Banner, a.k.a. The Hulk, Scarlett Johansson becoming a better, more natural actress (she showed this also in the earlier movie We Bought a Zoo), this time as Natasha, a.k.a. The Black Widow.

Good casting gives women and some men a character to swoon over. Definitely a comic book flick, but worthy of 3 hats.

 
PICK-A-SIDE: Who Is Your Favorite ‘Avenger’?

 
THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL (PG-13)

Get ready for a movie that actually leaves you felling better about the world, and the adventure of life at any age.

Cast of ‘The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel’ (credit: Fox Searchlight Pictures)

 
We meet a group of interesting seniors – each one has a story and all are reaching that time in their lives when they are ready for a radically new adventure. Do they get one! A hotel in India is advertised as glamorous and modern yet seeped in history of the region. It lures them all there with exotic promises, yet the reality is quite different. The actors make it multidimensional; the director is John Madden from Shakespeare in Love and Her Majesty Mrs. Brown. The cast hits it out of the park. 4 hats.

 
See Right Now: Natural Selection, Monsieur Lazhar, Marley, Chimpanzee, Bully, The Lady, Jiro Dreams of Sushi, A Separation, and Salmon Fishing in the Yemen.”

Home Viewing/DVD: Mission Impossible, Ghost Protocol, The Iron Lady, War Horse, We Bought a Zoo.

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

(L-R) Steve Marker, Butch Vig, Shirley Manson and Duke Erikson of Garbage (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

 
MOUNTAIN VIEW (CBS SF/LIVE 105) – Live 105′s BFD Concert will soon be at the Shoreline Amphitheatre, but KROQ’s morning show has one of the bands, in-studio to talk about their comeback to the stage and studio.

Shirley Manson, Duke Erikson, Steve Marker and Butch Vig are Garbage. Beginning in 1994, the band with the Scottish female frontwoman took the alt-rock world by storm with a string of hits including “Stupid Girl,” Queer” and “Only Happy When It Rains.” Their self titled debut album was a surprise success, selling over 4 million copies. Their follow-up, titled 2.0, outsold their debut. During the tour for their third album, the group declared they were going on permanent hiatus and disbanded.

Seven years later, Garbage is back together and surprising themselves all over again.

In an interview with KROQ’s Kevin & Bean, Manson and Vig revealed their surprise over being instantly adored all over again.

Why such negative vibes about working with a big record company? What’s changed now?

Butch: It’s better doing it ourselves, basically. By the time Bleed Like Me came out, we hit a wall. Part of it was that our first records came out on indie labels, and they were bought out by bigger corporations. So, by the time it came out, there were people who didn’t even know us or care what kind of record we were making. So it just didn’t make sense for us to pursue that path any more

Shirley: Plus it’s sexy being a CEO.

Did non-musical people try to have too much musical influence over the band?

B: That’s one of the things that happened. You start getting all of these opinions. We were an asset to a corporation, that’s how they looked at us.

S: Obviously when a major label is behind you and you’re the hot ticket of the month, then there’s no better combination. But we just found that the relationship became obstructive in the end. We’re not stupid, we know they want to make money and they’re a business, and that’s fair enough but that doesn’t mean that we have to view ourselves like that.

You guys seem really smart about using social media.

B: We were surprised when we finally activated our Facebook account and suddenly there were 300,000 fans on there and they were all super psyched that we have a new album coming out. We were gone for seven years!

S: We just assumed that nobody would care, to be honest. Which I think is probably the best way to start. We understood that if we wanted to take our music to an audience we had to assume that we were starting from scratch.

Does it feel that way when you’re playing shows?

B: After being gone so long, it’s kind of like taking baby steps to get back up on stage. We decided we wanted to play really small clubs. We’re surprised. The response from fans has been insane. We played this rehearsal gig at The Bootleg, this tiny little club on Beverly. There were maybe 200 fans there and they sang every song louder than the PA. We were terrible! We were really sloppy!

After seven years apart, did you find that you had changed musically?

B: One of the things we talked about was not reinventing ourselves. We realized that we have a strong sonic identity and we embraced that. We weren’t signed to a label, we were in between management, so no one even knew we were in the studio. So it was like we could do whatever we wanted to do.

Did it ever occur to you to bring in a different producer?

B: No, it was basically just the four of us and our engineer Billy. We just locked ourselves in a studio. No one heard any music at all until we were pretty much done with most of the recording and we played some rough mixes.

What do you know about producing?

B: Well the cool thing in this band is that I sometimes wear two hats. I wear a musician and a songwriting hat, but all four of us make production decisions. The studio we recorded in was really tiny. The four of us were at this little table, and anytime there was a part, arrangement, or decision, we would just look at each other and talk it out to figure it out. It was cool because you couldn’t escape into a large room somewhere and not be involved in the process.

New music from you guys, this song is called “Control.” What do you guys want to tell us about this song?

B: Well, you’ve got the devil on one shoulder and an angel on another shoulder. So you’ve gotta flip a coin to see which way you’re gonna fall.

S: Are you gonna come my way or Butch’s way? (laughs)

What was that production you used to make it sound like she was singing through a fan?

B: Well we actually have some footage of Shirley doing that in the studio. We actually tried some pretty crazy things.

There’s something hilarious about when you’re in a studio with millions of dollars of equipment and you’re still banging on a coffee can.

B: Yep. Putting mics in buckets of sand and things like that. It’s not always about getting a pristine sound. A lot of times it’s about getting a vibe. Sometimes you have to screw with things to get it to sound interesting.

What expert did you bring in to play harmonica on the song?

S: Butch!

B: My six-year-old daughter has a harmonica and she left it in my home studio. We were working on the song one morning and I picked it up and started blowing on it. I can’t really play harmonica, the part is dead simple, anyone could figure it out. I didn’t think we would actually use it and then we left it in the song, we mixed it. We made this record kind of guerrilla style. Our engineer, Billy, has this little studio in Atwater Village. It’s tiny. We did some at my home on my couch. I have a bedroom studio.

It really is like you’re starting over.

B: Kind of, yeah. A lot of the vocals are first takes on handheld mics. My daughter would go to school and I would come down and do drums in my pajamas in the morning. It was fun, there was no pressure, no time constraints. We kind of just approached it like “whatever.”

Now that this album is out, are you going to hibernate again for seven years? We heard you have 25 or 30 other songs.

B: Yeah. We probably wrote about 26 songs and we’re kind of in love with all of them. So at some point we want to get them out whether it’s bonus tracks or we give them out on our site. A lot of them have to be mixed still. I think now that we’re recording again and out playing shows, the chemistry is good between us, we’re all having a lot of fun. There’s not gonna be a break like there was before.

Interview Part 1:

Interview Part 2

Garbage, along with Cake, Naked And Famous, Silversun Pickups and Jane’s Addiction headline Live 105′s BFD Concert at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View on Saturday, June 2.

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

(L-R) Courtney Love and Francis Cobain (credit: GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)

 
(CBS LOCAL) – The family feud continues between Courtney Love and Kurt Cobain’s daughter Frances Bean.

Love’s real troubles started when she lost control of her daughter in a 2009 custody battle. According to private documents obtained by The Fix, a publication focused on addiction and recovery, 19-year-old Frances has ceased control of her father’s publicity rights. In other words, she now owns his likeness and moving forward, will have final say on who and when Cobain’s image can be used.

The rights to an image and likeness as iconic as Kurt’s can be worth a fortune. Just one major ad campaign can result in over $5 million.

Frances also has the final say in business agreements negotiated by the attorney who represents Kurt’s image. Although San Francisco-born, Courtney Love remains a company member, she can no longer make decisions regarding Kurt’s image or likeness.

Now, Kurt’s music is another story. Larry Mestel of Primary Wave Music owns all the rights to Kurt’s music. According to The Fix, this means only Primary Wave can determine Kurt’s music is used. In other word’s Courtney’s rant about The Muppets’ use of “Smells Like Teen Spirit” is unwarranted.

One of the major causes for Frances Bean’s decision to remove her mother from the equation is likely Love’s drug abuse, which has cause a public display of erratic behavior. In an e-book titled Courtney Comes Clean by Maer Roshan, Frances Bean is quoted “[Love] has taken drugs for as long as I can remember. She basically exists now on…Xanax, Adderall, Sonata and Abilify, sugar and cigarettes.”

Many people are asking how has Courtney Love remained in the public eye so consistently, even without producing a note of new music in years? According to Papermag, a New York-based arts and style magazine, it’s her presence on the internet. Whether on purpose of not, Love has been digitally inescapable since the 90′s.

In an interview, Love says “Yeah, well, I’m not a social network genius, as evidenced by being the first and only person ever to have a Twitter lawsuit. At the time that lawsuit happened, I didn’t even really fully get what Twitter was for or how it worked.”

“My online persona is a disaster — that’s not me. You can ask for help from these companies that supposedly remove stuff from the Internet for you, but they’re hilarious. [One company] was like, waiting for me when I called. They said they were going to charge me $250,000 per one page of results. A quarter-million dollars per page? Are they joking? I met this hedge fund banker guy who actually paid their fee, because he can’t have anything bad about him out there. I’m in entertainment, I can take all the sh*t you throw at me to some extent. But $250,000 to alter the crap out there about you on the Internet is just absurd.”

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

Norah Jones (credit: EMI)

 
NEW YORK, NY (CBS SF/ALICE @ 97.3) – The notoriously chilly air at the Ed Sullivan Theater was heavy with anticipation for Norah Jones’ Live on Letterman concert Wednesday night. Just a day after the release of her acclaimed album Little Broken Hearts, her fans in New York and thousands more at home couldn’t wait to hear the new material live. Norah did not disappoint, as she smoothly carried the crowd through a breathtaking blend of new material and classics.

PHOTOS: Norah Jones ‘Live On Letterman’

Norah and her band cooly cruised on stage, as the chanteuse positioned herself coyly behind the keyboard and kicked it off with “Say Goodbye,” before donning her six-string and grooving into the title track off the new record. Norah and the bands’ sly and soulful sound had the audience hooked as they declared their undying love online and with applause. Midway through the set the crowd online was shouting out for “Happy Pills.”

Norah closed the hour long set with a couple of classics including “Sunrise” and “Come Away With Me” before delighting the crowd with an encore of “Stuck.”

If you missed any of the show, click here for an encore performance. Be sure to also check back for more on-demand content and scroll down to vote in our poll and let us know what your favorite song that Norah played was.

 
For those that aim to see Norah in person this summer,
here are her U.S tour dates:

June 20 Indianapolis, IN – Murat Theater
June 22 Memphis, TN – Mud Island Amphitheater
June 23 Atlanta, GA – Fox Theater
June 24 Nashville, TN – Rhyman Auditorium
June 27 Vienna, VA – Wolf Trap
June 28 Philadelphia, PA – Mann Center
June 29 Rochester, NY – Kodak Hall
July 1 Boston, MA – Bank of America Pavillion
July 2 Wallingford, CT – Oakdale, Theatre
July 3 New York, NY – Central Park SummerStage
Aug 7 Santa Barbara, CA – Santa Barbara Bowl
Aug 10 Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl
Aug 11 San Francisco, CA – Outside Lands Festival
Aug 12 Lake Tahoe, NV – Harvey’s Outdoor Arena
Aug 15 Bend, OR – Les Schwab Amphitheater
Aug 17 Portland, OR – Edgefield Winery
Aug 18 Seattle, WA – Marymoor Amphitheater
Aug 21 Salt Lake City, UT – Red Butte Garden
Aug 23 Denver, CO – Red Rocks

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)