George Lopez Thanks Troops at Studio City Celebration

Comedian George Lopez thanked the people who served in the military and their families who attended the Studio City Fireworks Celebration at the CBS Studios Radford lot on Monday afternoon.

A smaller crowd than in recent years attended the daytime event, and even the ever-popular Kids Zone wasn't as packed this year as last. Comparative crowd estimates weren't available.

Los Angeles City Controller and Studio City resident  raved about the dance group the Rage, which recently performed on So You Think You Can Dance, and she also paid tribute to the military families in attendance.

CBS Studio lot manager Michael Klausman attended and gave a welcoming speech. Klausman had been recuperating from a motorcycle accident and many friends who hadn't seen him since the accident asked him how he was.

"I'm fine, I'm back in the swing of things," Klausman said to Patch as he headed off in one of the studio carts.

Studio City Neighborhood Council members were manning the tables, including Lana Shackleford, Richard Niederberg, Remy Kessler, Ron Taylor and Gail Steinberg.

The Kids Zone was hopping with inflatable slides and bounces and barbecue was sizzling. 

The Picture Car Warehouse's movie and TV cars were a big draw in the air-conditioned warehouse, and in another were members of the Blacksheep Squadron showing kids how to make model airplanes and fly gliders.

Boogie Knights performed, as well as the Diane Lotny Band, the International Jazz Sound, the Starbuck Jazz Quartet and the ARC Handbell Choir. 

ARC (Activities for Retarded Children) started in 1969 as an idea by two local moms who met in a Studio City park and began talking about the need for activities for special-needs children. Those moms, Dixie Henrickson and Mary Schallert, founded ARC.

"We are very proud of the handbell choir, and they enjoy performing," said Rob Yurick, ARC board president, who was in the audience.

North Hollywood High School students helped volunteer for the event, and some of the money from the $20 admission tickets (and $100 for VIP) would go to their music program, as well as the East Valley Multipurpose Senior Center, and the Lopez Foundation, which helps underprivileged children.

Fireworks were broadcast live at 9 p.m. on Channel 9 and hosted by weatherman Josh Rubenstein from CBS 2 and KCAL 9.

On the other side of the studio, just outside the gates on Colfax, people were crowding near the unopened bridge, and some people wandered further onto it, although it was supposed to be closed. It was good viewing on the soon-to-be-opened bridge. No police were in the area.