Many years ago, I took an acting class. Missing was any delusion that I’d be the future Brad Pitt. I just wanted to improve my writing by bringing more reality to my characters, not just how they thought, but stood, spoke, moved through the world. I still recall what our acting impresario said: “You cannot — NOT — watch a cat.”

What IS it about cats that make them so compelling? They’re mysterious. Always ready to pounce — or act goofy. They’re exciting, profoundly beautiful. Cats have the “IT” Factor. On humans, “IT” is a sliding scale. We all cross paths with the beautiful. Sometimes, we do catch a glimpse of the stunningly gorgeous or charismatic. But a Marilyn Monroe? There’s far prettier women, more talented actresses, certainly women less insane. Yet, Marilyn is a once-in-a-lifetime goddess. On the guy side, there’s James Dean. Isn’t that funny? The two dated and considered marriage.

Dean exploded onto American culture 70-plus years ago and he’s still with us today. He ate his last meal here, in the Santa Clarita Valley, back on Sept. 30, 1955. A few hours later, en route to a car race, Dean died instantly in a traffic collision outside the San Joaquin Valley farming community of Cholame. The New York Post and Los Angeles Times recently penned features about the insane, cult-like adoration that still exists for the young actor. He was just 24 when he died and made only three movies, including the classic, “Rebel Without a Cause.” “East of Eden” and “Giant” earned him Best Actor Oscar nominations and both were issued posthumously. Since his........

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