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(June 28, 1999) Best known in Los Angeles radio circles as "Powermouth Patty" from her days at "Power 106," Patty Lotz uses her nickname on her Earthlink account. Born in Bergen County, New Jersey, she grew up listening to WABC during the heyday of rock radio. Her toughness comes from her New Jersey neighborhood and a family split by divorce. "I had two choices for college, something local or the University of Texas," Patty said recently by phone. "I chose a new environment." She studied microbiology. "In the early 1970s your choice as a woman was to be a teacher or nurse. But I was better at the arts." Patty came to the Southland and worked as a baker, bartender and construction worker. She loved photography and got a job with KABC/Channel 7 where she became the staff photographer for four years. "I was the staff photographer on KABC’s AM LA with Regis Philbin and Cindy Garvey. I photographed virtually every HOT movie star of the day, as well as album covers, magazine covers and layouts."
Patty took to the other side of the camera to overcome her crushing fear of public speaking. "I literally ran out of my speech class in college crying, terrified of having to speak in front of people," said Patty. "I couldn't even give a store meeting at the Gap in front of three people. I froze like a deer in the headlights; maybe I was just distracted by those elephant bells. I was fired before the original GLOW [the female version of WWF, not oil, mud or stripping thank you!] went on the road. I watched the women [and myself] get injured doing stunts like diving off the top rope into a pile driver [ouch!] without any insurance, compensation or protection. When I spoke on behalf of the women, I was asked not to come back. Surely a crushing blow to my career!"
Patty was also a VJ on VH-1. She joined some local comedy improv groups; got an agent and headed to New York to be the character Ava Rescott on a new soap opera called Loving. "My character was a sexy steel worker from the other side of the tracks. The character’s name should have been Ava Rest Stop."
Patty’s diversified activities continued to grow. In the late 1980s she was back in L.A. and answered an ad in the trades for an opening at a new radio station, KPWR. "Jeff Wyatt, one of the great leaders in radio, gave me the job with no radio experience, but he figured that if I survived New York, I could survive radio." Contacted at the Jammin' Oldies station in Washington, DC, Jeff said of Patty: "Patty can deliver in the right situation like nobody else." Patty was thrown in morning drive with Jay Thomas. "Jay was merciless with me but I learned radio real fast. If I goofed, he would come over and rip up my copy while I was on the air." In 1990 she hosted entertainment news on E!, worked briefly at KKFR-Phoenix and then jumped to KUSI/TV-San Diego as a news anchor. In 1996 Patty joined KIBB ("B-100" now "Mega 100"). "Tony Coles paid me ‘men’s wages’ at B100 and at KKBT, Jimmy DeCastro offered me a 6-year contract, which was unheard of in those days." When KIBB became "Mega 100," Patti moved on and resumed her acting career appearing in a Jerry Bruckheimer movie and had a role in the John Travolta/Dustin Hoffman film, Mad City.
Patti is about to resurface in her very variegated career. "I have had many job offers but they always want me to be the sidekick and earn 1/6th of my male counterpart. I won’t take second billing and I want equal pay," said Patty. "I could be much further along if I dated the boss, probably driving a Mercedes. I’ve already worked twice as hard for half the pay. We’re supposed to be lovers and not fighters. Not me. I’m going to fight, even if I start to sound like Joan Crawford. I’ve had two great teachers as leaders, Jeff Wyatt and Steve Smith. Most pds want to tear talent down and with it, usually the radio station. Jeff and Steve build the talent up. They don’t damage people. The women I hang out with feel the same way I do. I refuse to let anyone discriminate against women. I will stand up to those who want to pay me $8 an hour, which they think gives them the right to beat me up emotionally."
"The discrimination against women in radio is REAL," Patty said passionately. "There are no female teams. There is definitely a glass ceiling in radio broadcasting. Men get paid more and get their name on the show. We work harder and get less, but then it's like that across the board, as brought out by a recent LA Times article dated June 6 in regard to discrimination in a white male dominated industry over females and Asians, Blacks, Latinos, etc. AFTRA has gone on record stating: ‘We are very concerned about the issue of women's status and getting paid less than their male counterparts. We are pushing to get stats together but the radio stations are not forthcoming or they provide us with information that is not useful. We intend to go directly to the members.’ This information would lead one to believe we are entering the 1900's rather than the new Millennium."
Reviews
Giuseppe (2009)
Joseph Vassallo IS Giuseppe
An entertaining piece and a light comedy that is a delight to watch. Joseph Vassallo plays the role of "Giuseppe" an elegantly dressed likable Sicilian loanshark and a whiz on the chopping block. Smooth and commanding, Guiseppe is the guy you want to hang out with, be your friend, husband, brother and if anyone owes you money...well, you figure that out. He is Captain Charisma! I dare you not to fall in love with Guiseppe! Giuseppe is by far not another "Goombah" flick but offers real characters, lessons of life, great gourmet food scenes and loud laughs. When he shows up at your home, you better know who he is and what he's there for! The cast is great and the film leaves you wanting seconds! This is a good family movie full of fun, energy and romance that all can enjoy. In a nutshell... Everything jells!