Inbreds at Eleven

Understand, I don't put these costumed rubes on my site without a little trepidation. But what better way to introduce you to the career of one David R. Busse, news photographer, sat truck operator and sore-shouldered witness to the last thirty years of history. I've been aware of Busse for some time; he's a veritable legend at KABC-TV in Los Angeles and a constant contributor to b-roll.net. But it wasn't until he shared his personal photo spread with me that I began to grasp just how much this journeyman photog has eyeballed in the name of news. His collection of snapshots reminds of a montage from Forrest Gump - in which a likeable everyman wanders in and out of our nation's most important frames. He's been gracious enough to allow me to display a few of those photos here - provided I don't drool over any of the pixels. So, let's begin with the above image, captured by Gail Fisher - now a National Geographic photographer based in DC. It was October of 1981 - at the very center of Fontana, California...

The Klansmen decided they would march down Sierra Ave., the town's main drag, in a show of strength. The march drew plenty of publicity and the Klansman were outnumbered about 50-1 by outraged townspeople, cops and media. The mill closed in 1983 and Fontana's rough edges were worn down by the transition to bedroom community in the growing Southern California economy. Today, people of all races and kinds live in the tract home communities of Fontana, there's little left her to suggest bikers, steel mill workers and the Ku Klux Klan. So be it.

So be it, indeed. Next time, a few candid snapshots of young David hamming it up with a then unknown Bigfoot. Well, not really...