San Diego's eccentric craftsmen

Chabad brings hard-core Judaism, insecurity of local dance scene, moonies capture J. Michael Straczynski, unhappy Vietnamese, judo man trains for boxing title

Author

By William Owens, Sue Garson, Gordon Smith, Amy Chu, Stephen Heffner

Publish Date

April 16, 2022

Sterling King and his root chair (Jim Coit)

Arts and crafts and controversy

"In the beginning, when the group was smaller and more homogeneous, it was possible to have a unanimous vote on a new member, but now, with the active membership numbering in the fifties, and with the diversity in taste and direction among the members, we probably couldn’t get a unanimous vote on what day it is, and certainly not on admitting a new member."

By Stephen Heffner, Sept. 4, 1980 Read full article

Rabbi Shmul Raichik (left), Rabbi Jacob Shechet (center) (Jim Coit)

Jews like San Diego has never seen

At least a dozen men in assorted head-gear — black fedoras. Homburgs, yarmulkes of every fabric, texture, and color (satin, knitted, crocheted, white, black, pale blue, red) — join in the circle as it grows larger and larger. Young students, middle-age businessmen, and bearded old patriarchs dance ecstatically around the tables with an intensity equivalent to the most fervent praying.

Those who would dance

Talk to any ballet teacher in San Diego and you’ll hear something like this: “I could name names . . . other ballet schools in this town . . . irresponsible . . . unqualified . . . there’s nothing you can do about it.” It’s not only in San Diego that young dancers may be afraid of letting one teacher know that they also take classes from another teacher, but it just might be worse here because of the overall insecurity of the local dance scene.

By Amy Chu, Apr. 23, 1981 Read full article

“Look, I work for the media, I’m a writer, and if I don’t get out of here real soon there’s going to be a lot of people missing me." (David Diaz)

Reverend Moon Wants You

The van was ready to leave at exactly eleven o’clock. This time, the load was considerably smaller — just myself, two drivers, several cases of vegetables and other foodstuffs, and a quiet, exceptionally nervous girl who wasn’t saying anything to anyone. She had apparently stayed for most of the week-long session, and wanted out even more than I did.

By J. Michael Straczynski, May 8, 1980 Read full article

Cambodian refugees have been noted by officials here as the group that suffers most from depression, homesickness. (Jim Coit)

Escaped from Vietnam to San Diego. Now what?

“I want you to know that every Vietnamese refugee has hostility,” he went on after a pause. “You look at their faces and it’s just, hmmmm.” He turned an expressionless face toward the sky. “But inside they are dead. Most of the Vietnamese people I know are not happy.”

By Gordon Smith, June 5, 1980 Read full article

"I asked if he was any good at judo and he said he was number two or three in the world or something." (Robert Burroughs)

Punch hard, but don't get hit

"Jesse was supposed to get down to 170 pounds for this last fight, and he told me he wouldn't. I cannot let a fighter dictate to me. But Island's abrupt departure is really a mystery to us. I really can’t tell you what the hell happened. Nobody really knows. There’s only about four fight managers in town, and so far, Jesse’s run the gauntlet through all of ’em.”

By Bill Owens, Sept. 11, 1980 Read full article