Episode Number 11 - Original Airdate: April 15, 2010

Shanghai Girls: A Tale of Survival and Bond Between Sisters

In her novel, Shanghai Girls, author Lisa See takes readers on a turbulent journey from China torn by war in the 1930s to Los Angeles' Chinatown.

Shanghai Girls is a story of two sisters, and it opens in Shanghai in 1937.

The city was a glamorous international center, known as the Paris of Asia. But according to Lisa See, that life was about to change for sisters May and Pearl.

This story was originally aired on April 15, 2010 on Voice of America, and was produced and reported by West Coast Bureau Chief, Mike O'Sullivan.

#voa #mikeo'sullivan #la #losangeles #shanghai #shangaigirls #chinatown #chineseamericans #chinesecivilwar #immigration #historicnews #historiccalifornianews #voiceofamerica

Episode Number 10 - Original Airdate: October 30, 2009

Both Parties Target Voters in Oregon

Reporting from Portland, Oregon, Mike O'Sullivan speaks with eighteen-year-old Max Berger, who works for the Young Voter Project in a cluttered makeshift office not far from downtown Portland.

He got involved in politics after being inspired by Vermont's Democratic ex-governor, former presidential candidate Howard Dean. Mr. Dean's populism and anti-war message brought a virtual army of college-age workers to the campaign trail.

This story was originally aired on October 30, 2009 on Voice of America, and was produced and reported by West Coast Bureau Chief, Mike O'Sullivan.

#voa #mikeo'sullivan #la #losangeles #elections #electioncampaigns #americanelections #howarddean #portland #historicnews #historiccalifornianews #voiceofamerica

Episode Number 9 - Original Airdate: October 3, 2009

Death Toll Rises in Pacific Islands, Families Cope with Losses from Tsunami

Reporting on location from American Samoa, Mike O’Sullivan describes how relief efforts are continuing in the Pacific islands of Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga, where the death toll is approaching 200 from Tuesday's earthquake and tsunami.

Seaside communities are burying their dead and coming to grips with their losses. The people of American Samoa are starting to clean up as they cope with their vivid memories. Mormon Church official Stu Uiagalelei was teaching a children's class when the earthquake struck.

This story was originally aired on October 3, 2009 on Voice of America, and was produced and reported by West Coast Bureau Chief, Mike O'Sullivan.

#voa #mikeo'sullivan #la #losangeles #samoa #tsumani #americansamoa #earthquakes #historicnews #historiccalifornianews #voiceofamerica

Episode Number 8 - Original Airdate: November 30, 2009

Falun Gong Wages War of Words with China

The organization Falun Gong made news in 1999, when its members held a massive demonstration outside Communist Party headquarters in Beijing.

In response, Chinese authorities labeled the group an evil cult. And during the past 10 years, they have arrested thousands of Falun Gong adherents.

Human rights organizations say many followers have been tortured and some have died while in custody.

Falun Gong practitioners in the United States say they are working to get out their message in the face of a propaganda campaign by China.

This story was originally aired on November 30, 2009 on Voice of America, and was produced and reported by West Coast Bureau Chief, Mike O'Sullivan.

#voa #mikeo'sullivan #la #losangeles #China #falungong #humanrights #chineseamericans #historicnews #historiccalifornianews #voiceofamerica

Episode Number 7 - Original Airdate: April 8, 2008

Exercise Adds to Life and Lifetimes

Studies often show regular exercise can help people live longer.

A researcher in the Netherlands, Doctor Oscar Franco, recently showed that older people who exercise a lot can add more than three years to their lives.

VOA's Mike O'Sullivan found a group of U.S. senior citizens who are taking such studies to heart and staying active.

This story was originally aired on April 8, 2008 on Voice of America, and was produced and reported by West Coast Bureau Chief, Mike O'Sullivan.

#voa #mikeo'sullivan #la #losangeles #healthyaging #exercise #aging #seniors #activeaging #historicnews #historiccalifornianews #voiceofamerica

Episode Number 6 - Original Airdate: April 15, 2008

Designer Bob Mackie Dresses Stars

Costume designer Bob Mackie is known as the Sultan of Sequins, and some of the biggest names in Hollywood have worn his flamboyant creations. VOA's Mike O'Sullivan recently visited Mackie's Los Angeles studio to see how he designs outfits for the stars.

This story was originally aired on April 15, 2008 on Voice of America, and was produced and reported by West Coast Bureau Chief, Mike O'Sullivan.

#voa #mikeo'sullivan #la #losangeles #oscars #bobmackie #cher #hollywoodfashion #hollywooddesigners #historicnews #historiccalifornianews #voiceofamerica

Episode Number 5 - Original Airdate: February 5, 2010

UNICEF, NGO's: Haitian Children at Risk

Aid workers in Haiti say hundreds of thousands of children are at risk in the aftermath of the January 12 earthquake.

The case of 33 children allegedly abducted by a group of Americans illustrates the plight of children separated from parents, and those whose families are living in desperate conditions.

The circumstances remain murky surrounding the 33 children allegedly being smuggled out of the country by a group of American church members. Aid officials say all were supposed orphans, but at least 20 were known to have living family members, in some cases parents.

This story was originally aired on February 5, 2010 on Voice of America, and was produced and reported by West Coast Bureau Chief, Mike O'Sullivan.

#voa #mikeo'sullivan #la #losangeles #haiti #earthquakes #haitiearthquake #unitednations #aidworkers #unicef #historicnews #historiccalifornianews #voiceofamerica

Episode 4

Griffith Observatory: Where the Stars Converge on Hollywood

This special video episode of Historic California News takes us back to a report filed by Mike O'Sullivan on April 8, 2024. We allow the episode to speak for itself, without our customary introductory theme music.

Griffith Observatory in Hollywood is a landmark where visitors, many now inspired by NASA's Artemis moon program, learn about the cosmos.

On April 8, 2024, many will converge there to witness a solar eclipse, visible in Los Angeles and most of North America as a partial eclipse of the sun.

We speak with observatory director Ed Krupp about the links between the observatory and the Hollywood movie industry.

#la #hollywood #losangeles #griffithobservatory #historicnews #historiccalifornianews #mikeo'sullivan #solareclipse

Episode Number 3

Fans Meet Old Time Hollywood Stars at Autograph Convention

Autograph conventions offer fans the chance to meet the stars from television and movies.

They offer the stars a chance to get involved in the growing business of celebrity memorabilia.

At a recent convention in Los Angeles, fans bought pictures of their favorite Hollywood actors, many from movies and television series from decades ago.

This story originally aired August 31, 2005 on Voice of America and was produced and reported by West Coast Bureau Chief Mike O'Sullivan.

#voa #hollywood #losangeles #mikeo'sullivan #historiccalifornianews #ronharper #autographs #johnsaxon #marlagibbs #jeffconaway #margareto'brien #renaowen #podcasts #newspodcasts #historicnews

Episode Number 2 - Original Airdate: November 25, 2004

Popular US Novelist Sidney Sheldon Publishes New Thriller

In Sidney Sheldon's latest novel, Are You Afraid of the Dark? the veteran writer takes readers on a trail of intrigue across two continents. The former Hollywood screenwriter and best-selling novelist tells VOA's Mike O'Sullivan in Los Angeles that at age 87, he is not ready to slow down, and is already working on his 19th book.

This story was originally aired on November 25, 2004 on Voice of America, and was produced and reported by West Coast Bureau Chief, Mike O'Sullivan.

#voa #mikeo'sullivan #la #losangeles #sidneysheldon #activeaging #historicnews #historiccalifornianews #voiceofamerica