The season of Hollywood summer blockbusters is here, but box office receipts so far have been disappointing. In fact, movie ticket sales in the U.S. have lagged behind the same period last year for 18 straight weeks, making this the worst slump the film industry has seen in some 20 years. Guest: Rachel Abramowitz, L.A. Times reporter.
Music Bridge #1: "Stoney Street" by Amon Tobin, from "Bricolage" (Ninja Tune)
Later this month, George Lucas will move his Industrial Light and Magic special effects team and his computer game developers to San Francisco's Presidio, a former military base that is now a national park. The new Lucas headquarters sits on a jewel of real estate -- 23 acres overlooking the Golden Gate and San Francisco Bay. Most of the acres are designed as open space by landscape architect Lawrence Halprin. He tours the grounds and shares his thoughts on how he worked with a cutting-edge digital arts center inside a national park. Guest: Lawrence Halprin, landscape architect.
Music Bridge #2: "Here We Go" by Jon Brion, from the "Punch Drunk Love Soundtrack"
Five years ago, Californians voted to legalize gambling. Since then, casinos have multiplied -- and so have compulsive gamblers. What is the state doing about this problem?Reporter: Lisa McRee
Music Bridge #3: "Better Get Hit In Yo' Soul" by Charles Mingus, from "Mingus Mingus Mingus" (Impulse)
Fire season is underway in California. Fourth of July weekend weather forecasts say parts of Southern California could see temperatures in the triple digits, and that means fire crews will be on high alert. In San Diego County, fire agencies are experimenting with new high-tech sensors to help keep wildland fires from raging out of control.Reporter: Erik Anderson
In the city of Fairfield, Independence Day is a time to honor the men and women serving in the armed forces. Residents, veterans and personnel from nearby Travis Air Force Base are busy preparing entries for this weekend's community parade. Meanwhile, Kenwood, a sleepy farming town in Sonoma, welcomes 8,000 to 10,000 visitors on Independence Day, when it plays host to the annual World Pillow Fighting Championships.Reporter: Scott Shafer
Hear an interview with Charles Birnbaum, founder of the Cultural Landscape Foundation, the organization working to preserve Lawrence Halprin's work.
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