Laurence Austin

Re “ ‘The Man Died Doing What He Loved,’ ” Jan. 19:

Although our family didn’t attend the Silent Movie Theater often enough to feel comfortable calling him “Larry,” Laurence Austin always recognized us as he sold us tickets, or conversed happily when he took our tickets at the door. And he always pointed, smiling, at the Felix the Cat wristwatch my mother had found for him.

This gentle, quirky man had attained what most can only aspire to--the vocation that was his life-long dream, and so perfect for his talents and temperament. Others who knew Austin better than we did must give the full measure of his life. All we can add is: We are so sorry; thank you for all you accomplished, and know that we will do what we can to help your theater live on.

ROGER, VERA and NEIL CLARK

Santa Fe Springs

On Jan. 17, a hero in the Fairfax district was gunned down. He was Laurence Austin. Unfortunately, when we talk about heroes, we talk only of Sylvester Stallone, Clint Eastwood, Arnold Schwarzenegger or Chuck Norris. Austin was better than that. He was a man who lived and died to preserve a treasured and neglected art form.

We in Los Angeles and the United States have to stop this insanity. We need to ban handguns now! If groups like the NRA do not like it, tough!

ELY KREISEL

JENNY LENS

Culver City

The Silent Movie on Fairfax--the world’s only silent movie theater--is perhaps the most overlooked cultural resource of Los Angeles. I discovered it in the 1960s and always recommend it when I can.

How tragic that Austin, the gentle flag-bearer of that great institution, had to die such a senseless death. Now what will become of the Silent Movie?

MICHAEL FAWCETT

Los Osos