11/22/2005
They're Fighting Over Dicks in West Hollywood
As usual. But we're not talking about Sunday afternoon at the Abbey here. The times really are a 'changing. Some West Hollywood residents are uncomfortable living on Dicks Street.
Thankfully, the L.A. Times spells out the reason why Dicks Street might cause issues, because none of us would have guessed:
"Many residents...are embarrassed to have the street as their address because its name is the plural of a common slang term for the defining part of the male anatomy (and for "not very nice fellow")."
Tee hee.
Residents Michael Fisk and Shirley Gargan want the name changed and have begun collecting signatures. Says Gargan: "When people ask me my address, I say, 'You've really asked a very unfortunate question.' I mean, even my banker laughs at me. Have you ever heard of bankers laughing?"
Hmm, can't say I have.
They'd like to rename the street Dickson. I mean, would you want to live in a 24-hour porn video? Because apparently living on Dicks Street causes the mind to think naughty thoughts all the time.
Alan Shatkin and his chihuahua Pepe think the change idea is ridiculous as the street's name has not impacted the property values, Dicks Street has been documented in books, and it's been that way "for, like, a century."
It's not the first time residents of a town have wanted a street name change because they think somehow the street possesses "mind control" over people, but it's a strange battle for West Hollywood. Maybe they should rename it Wisteria Lane because it sounds like a lot of its residents are desperate for something to do with their time.
Seeking a Sweeter Name for Street That Provokes Snickers [la times]
(thanks alex)
Posted 9:58 AM EST by Andy in Los Angeles | Permalink
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I love that the morons in question live in WEST HOLLYWOOD and are complaining about the name.
There's totally going to be a rumble, like in "West Side Story." "The Dicks are going to have their waaay... tonight..."
I fully expect to hear that in a month "Shirley Gargan is petitioning for the name change of Santa Monica Blvd, as the street is not actually in the city of Santa Monica."
Posted by: Chad | Nov 22, 2005 10:17:22 AM
OMG! They can't change the name!!! That street's name is perfect, and they have the cutest houses there right behind Pavillions! Those old people need to get a life and just get over it!
Posted by: Roy | Nov 22, 2005 10:29:47 AM
After they change their street name, can they help me get off Vagina Avenue??
Posted by: nyc | Nov 22, 2005 10:31:00 AM
Jeez - they should be glad they don't live on Coxwell Avenue here in Toronto.
Posted by: Steven | Nov 22, 2005 10:39:26 AM
Hopefully we won't have any of that nonsense here in SF. All the queens in the Castro are clamoring to be live on Uranus St. . .
Posted by: KP | Nov 22, 2005 10:49:50 AM
Just another sad sign of over-gentrification in West Hollywood. With the Abby going straight-ish and Dicks getting its balls clipped, soon we'll have a Halloween parade in which it's mostly straight families gawking at a few drag queens. Ooops. Wait. That's already happened.
Posted by: cafegogo | Nov 22, 2005 11:15:19 AM
How about other alternatives..
Lube Lane
Porno Parkway
Tina Trail
Yeah. lots of street names would be worse than saying I live on Dicks.. :)
Posted by: Darren | Nov 22, 2005 11:22:08 AM
hello andy....
don't know how many times i may have passed that street in WeHo. perhaps, it's so appropriate it wasn't apparent. i've seen bankers laugh in the company of men. actually, the other night -- reveling in "love for sale", as that may be the only way to GET IT.
i'd much rather be a fresh dick than a stale fascist. myopic conservatism doesn't much appeal to me.
Posted by: ricardo | Nov 22, 2005 12:08:03 PM
heheh... KP is right about Uranus. I have friends who live on Mars (one block away). Just down the hill you'll find Beaver, and downtown there's Bush. We've got High, Nellie, Golden (but no Showers)...
And don't forget the beloved SC 'Cocks...
Posted by: fortheloveofniel | Nov 22, 2005 2:27:38 PM
they should move to Gay Street in the west village and deal with that.
Posted by: A.J. | Nov 22, 2005 2:58:25 PM
The street had that name when they moved there. If they didn't like the name then, they shouldn't have moved there.
They're just like folks who purchase property in cow country and then complain about the smell. Perhaps they should be smarter real estate shoppers.
Posted by: RBinWeHo | Nov 22, 2005 4:57:49 PM
We have a Gay Street in Knoxville, TN, too. But the good dick is on State. Trust me.
Posted by: Giacomo | Nov 22, 2005 6:08:05 PM
I think they ought to build a church to St. Apenis on that street.
Posted by: Elrey | Nov 22, 2005 9:45:27 PM
they can change it all they want...they'll still be in the 900 '69' zip code!
Posted by: basis4insanity | Nov 22, 2005 10:03:31 PM
Dicks St. is right between Willy Ln. and Palm Ave.
Queens Rd. and Queens Ave. aren't very far away either.
Feces Street. Now there's a street name I'd want changed.
Posted by: Jay Croce | Nov 22, 2005 10:29:06 PM
Allow me to add some local insight into the conversation. Dicks street has bourn it's name for well over 85 years. The people who are supposedly "upset" by the name are a bunch of stuck up snobs who have moved into a high priced condo development that straddles between Dicks and San Vicente. These people have the entrance to their parking garage off of Dicks rather than on San Vicente. Their supposed embarrassment comes from having to tell their guests to go around back to Dicks to be let in (the double entendre in my phrasing was not by accident). The vast majority of reasonable people who live in this upscale part of town have no problem with the name. It's just the new uptight transplants that have the problem. The opinion of people who live in the area (for a long time) is: The chance that the name of the street will be changed for these upscale idiots is "zero." If they don't like it, tough. They knew all about it when they decided to buy their overpriced condos in the first place. Nobody dictated that they had to live in West Hollywood. If they don't like it, sell and move. That's what happens in the rest of the world. Why should WeHo be any different?
Posted by: Robert In WeHo | Nov 23, 2005 5:26:08 AM
I once worked for a woman who lived on Rimmer Avenue (hee hee) in Pac Pal.
Posted by: Ken | Nov 25, 2005 9:23:05 PM
oh my address? sure, it is ummm, well it's..
oh darn it, 8969 dicks street!
Posted by: william | Jul 10, 2007 1:44:51 AM
oh my address? sure, it is ummm, well it's..
oh darn it, 8969 dicks street!
Posted by: william | Jul 11, 2007 8:38:16 PM
Hmmm. I'm thinking of buying a home on Dicks St, and I have to be honest-- the name of the street is a drawback. As a gay guy, I dread the constant, stupid little jokes that will be made every time I give out my address. It will get really old. I don't think it's a totally trivial issue, as the author suggests, nor do I think it's a sign of uptightness to not like the name of the street. It's more a matter of not wanting to hear everyone's stupid little jokes every time you have to tell them where you live.
Posted by: Josh | Jul 15, 2007 4:51:28 AM
PLEEEEZE! These people complaining must be REALLY OLD FARTS! I am 46 and still have my teenage sense of humor, it keeps me young. I mean, I have never complained of my corner lot at Snatch St. & La Tuna Canyon! If they change the name to Dickson then Michael Jackson will want to move into the neighborhood!
Posted by: Derek | Jul 31, 2007 5:35:38 PM