Jack Neworth

Santa Monica

Humor Columnist at Santa Monica Daily Press

Beach lover; newspaper columnist ("Laughing Matters"), screenwriter, playwright and author of countless grocery lists. Biden/Harris!

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Articles

Opinion: The battle to ban pay toilets

Jan 26, 2024 | smdp.com | Jack Neworth

When it comes to political elections I was raised in an unusual household. An avid supporter of FDR, my mother was an organizer of Democratic Clubs in West Los Angeles and in 1960 worked with Ted Kennedy going to Bakersfield, Fresno and other smaller cities to create such a club to support JFK’s presidential campaign in 1960. She had met the Kennedy’s and anybody who was anybody at the Democratic National convention held at the L.A. Sports Arena as she was in charge of the seating.
Diabolical Donnie's Dictator Dream

Jan 12, 2024 | smdp.com | Jack Neworth

Donald Trump loves buckets of KFC chicken and six packs of Diet Coke. He also loves dictators. His “fave fascist” is Rodrigo Duerte of the Philippines whose personal “Death Squads” murder drug dealers. Trump praises Duerte who replaced due process with machine gun massacres. (During 2016 and 2017 there were 7000 dealers killed in this fashion.)What seems to impress Donald most is Duerte does some of the killing himself. One can almost hear Trump sigh enviously.
Brother Can You Spare $153,000,000?!

Dec 29, 2023 | smdp.com | Jack Neworth

Often when someone reaches remarkable fame and fortune if and when there’s a fall from grace, it can be all the more humiliating. Enter Rudy Giuliani. As Mayor of New York on 9/11, Rudy was tirelessly on the ground comforting New Yorkers and the country that we would overcome the disastrous terrorist attack and be stronger than ever. He was so beloved he received standing ovations everywhere, which unfortunately only fed his insatiable ego. And yet Rudy could be charming.
I Can Chew and Walk Gum at the Same Time

Dec 15, 2023 | smdp.com | Jack Neworth

In the 234 year history of the U.S. House of Representatives (Congress) only five members have ever been expelled. That is until December 1, when the former Congressman George Anthony Devolder Santos, (aka Anthony Devolder; Anthony Zabrovsky; drag queen Kitara Ravache) was expelled by the final vote of 311 to 114.
The End Of Innocence

Nov 28, 2023 | smdp.com | Jack Neworth

Thursday marked the 60th anniversary of JFK’s assassination. In retrospect, I believe that horrendous murder was the end of innocence for America. To some degree, it was for me. At barely 16, my admiration for JFK began at the 1960 Democratic National Convention at the L.A. Sports Arena and where my late mother was in charge of the delegate seating. Whether it’s a five star restaurant or a National Convention, the person in charge of seating is a big shot.
The Last Stand: Heroes at Ballona Wetlands

Nov 10, 2023 | smdp.com | Jack Neworth

With all the grim news in the world these days, and I’m not even including pathological prevaricator George Santos still being a member of Congress, I’m pleased to write about a cause that is uplifting. The Ethos Film Festival runs from November 10 through November 17 at different venues in Santa MonicaActually I’ve been an environmentalist since the very first Earth Day at UCLA in 1970.
Laughing Matters

Oct 20, 2023 | smdp.com | Jack Neworth

It feels like every fourteen years and four months I review a book by Santa Monica folk journalist Hank Rosenfeld from whom I sometimes get the feeling he thinks he’s funnier than I am. The problem is, he’s right. So it was in June, 2009 I reviewed The Wicked Wit of the West, “an as-told-to” book Hank wrote with 94-year-old Irving Brecher a Marx Brothers screenwriter.
Santa Monica Daily Press

Oct 6, 2023 | smdp.com | Jack Neworth

The poem “Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum” is famous for its use in the classic 1747 English fairy tale “Jack and the Beanstalk” that my late mother often read to me as a bed time story. Since my name was Jack, kids at school would often kid me but I was still drawn to the tale as young Jack saved the day. However, the obese and menacing giant kinda scared me.
After 30 Years, Might Andrew Go Free?

Sep 14, 2023 | smdp.com | Jack Neworth

Even with quality television via cable and streaming, I’m too busy procrastinating updating my screenplays. Unfortunately I’m a far better procrastinator than I am a writer. However I am addicted to “Dateline,” the true crime TV show on NBC which often features correspondent Keith Morrison. I’ll try to explain this embarrassing habit. First, I only watch Dateline when I work out in the gym. So while I can almost feel my I.Q. dwindling, at least I’m burning off calories.
I Never Thought I'd Miss Nixon

Aug 26, 2023 | smdp.com | Jack Neworth

In 1952, when U.S. Senator Richard Nixon of California was selected by GOP power brokers to be Dwight Eisenhower’s presidential running mate, Ike wasn’t thrilled as Nixon already had a reputation of an unethical campaigner. In fact, his nickname was “Tricky Dick.” And sure enough, well before the election a scandal surfaced that Nixon had received illegal campaign funds.