Trivia: this is the second big fire on the lot in 20 years (in 1990, a disgruntled security guard with a lighter started the first one), and both have destroyed some of the sets used in "Back to the Future".

The last address shared by me and The Crazy Ex was in the building with the cheapest rent in the postal code of Studio City. I remember seeing Universal’s tall office building at the west end of the lot from my front door. And going to work in Pasadena, I crossed even closer to the ‘ol back lot.

What worries me the most is the fact that the fire has destroyed much of Universal’s on-site “Video Vault”. Spokesfolks say they have multiple copies of everything at different locations, but I know a little about how Hollywood mega-studios are (dis-)organized, and wouldn’t be surprised if some episodes of “Leave It To Beaver” or “Ironside” may be lost. Anyway, time to do MY backups… lots and lots of backups.

I live close by there, but so far haven't caught a whiff of any toxic videotape fumes yet. I can see some smoke from where I'm typing in the sun room off the back deck, though.

I'm worried about what's been destroyed in the vaults, too. I just don't believe that everything's been backed up and stored in multiple locations, either.

omg, just to throw this thread onto a different track: I knew the designer of this font when he was a wee snowboarding teen. (also, that's when he did this font!)
≡ Click to see image ≡
on the left

UGH, holy shit. Either the wind's shifted or it just took some time to drift into our neighborhood, but I just walked out on the front porch and had to come right back in -- the air's really foul now. I guess I'm not going to the store for some last minute dinner fixings after all!

EEEE, scody! My cousin lives up on Wonderview and the parents live near Laurel Canyon and Riverside. I haven't gotten any messages on my voicemail, but I hope you all are safe.