Robert Ito
Robert Ito is a journalist based in Los Angeles. He writes about film, television, and theater for the New York Times.
Football As Religion
In his latest book, Wrecking Ball: Race, Friendship, God, and Football, Rick Bass writes about briefly joining a semipro football team based in Texas.
The Playwright Who Found His Stage
Philip Kan Gotanda and the legacy of East West Players.
Searching for Sober Living
In Rehab: An American Scandal, Shoshana Walter reports on individuals betrayed by drug treatment facilities.
The Lost Chinatowns
In search of Northern California communities where residents were forced out.
5 Movies That Capture Unforgettable Trips
From noir classics to indie gems, these five California-set road trip films reflect the adventure, humor, and heartbreak of hitting the open road. Curated by writer Robert Ito.
Time-Lapse Pioneer
Journalist Robert Ito profiles graphic novelist Guy Delisle, whose latest, Muybridge, departs from his usual material to tackle the biography of photographer Eadweard Muybridge.
Fast-Food Burgers: How Beef Patties Begot a Chain Reaction
More than just the birthplace of In-N-Out, California is the original home of McDonald’s, Jack in the Box, and A&W.
Reconsidering the Rattlesnake
Scientists are pushing back on long-held misconceptions about one of the West’s most emblematic creatures.
Reel Reptiles
Five movies starring iconic rattlers.
How Gay Days Brought Pride to Main Street, USA
Once underground, LGBTQ groups work with Disney to form a more magic kingdom.
Every Small Step Counts
Architect Michael Lehrer’s tiny-home villages offer color, light, and cohesion to unhoused people.
Movies
The desert’s most iconic pop culture moments.
TV Shows
The desert’s most iconic pop culture moments.
Photo Shoots
The desert’s most iconic pop culture moments.
Music Videos
The desert’s most iconic pop culture moments.
Wheels of Fortune
A Q&A with George Powell, whose engineering mojo led to a revolution in skateboard design.
The Mochi Miracle
Combining ice cream with gummy rice for a dessert treat had its risks. But the payoff has been sweet.
Stirring the Pot
A Q&A with Tung Chiang, who keeps things spinning as studio director at the legendary Heath Ceramics.
A Salon for Space Lovers
Led by Bill Nye the Science Guy, the Planetary Society promotes exploration across generations—and platforms.
Keeping Hollywood in Hollywood
California is tired of losing big money to runaway production—so it’s fighting back.
The Hard-Learned Lessons of History
California’s last boarding school for Indigenous students moves toward embracing—not disgracing—tradition and culture.
Hail an Air Taxi!
When it comes to flying cars, The Jetsons got a few things wrong.
Embarrassment of Riches
Three prominent archives of rare materials that document the history of Black film land in Los Angeles.
Knowing Your Rights—Even During a Pandemic
Support When It’s Most Needed
The Female Playwrights Transforming Television
Character and dialogue? We got this. A new generation of female playwrights is shaking up television writers’ rooms across Hollywood.
Pulling Back the Curtain on Beach Blanket Babylon
After a wild—and wildly successful—45-year run, the camp classic Beach Blanket Babylon ends this December. Robert Ito compiled an oral history of a beloved San Francisco spectacle.
Setting the Record Straight on the Asian American Experience
Nearly 50 years before Crazy Rich Asians, a group of UCLA students began documenting the Asian American experience on film.