 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| | | | | | | | |
| For Media Interviews Contact Promotion in Motion 323-461-3921 irwinzuckerpr@aol.com brad@promotioninmotion.net |
| Kenny Kahn Author of The Carny Kid: Survival of a Young Thief, has been called by Dennis Miller the "World's Funniest Attorney." |
| Click here to read a feature article in the Sunday Los Angeles Times by Times Staff Writer Cecilia Rasmussen |
Kenny Kahn has a story to tell that is uplifting, tragic,
heartbreaking and heartwarming. He grew up in the projects
of East Los Angeles parents whom he called,"the perfect
negative role models." After they were evicted from a middle
class neighborhood in Santa Monica, Kenny was left to his own
devices in order to survive the local gangs lurking about and
the rest of his teens in years with virtually or adult involvement,
care of supervision. Literally, except for summers, he was on
his own from age 12 on into adulthood.
During the summer he was being trained by his father as an
apprentice carnival thief, and he was extremely accomplished
at separating the local folks from their money. But while the
summers were spent on the road, the rest of the year it was
all Kenny could do to stay away from the drug dealing,
heroin shooting gallery that was their apartment in the Ramona
Gardens.
One of the most eye opening parts of his childhood was when
he contracted Polio at the age of 15. The fright at being
diagnosed with such a horrible disease scared the hell out of
young Kenny, but through the White Memorial Hospital, a
Seventh Day Adventist hospital, with help from the March of
Dimes, he was given the proper treatment.
Kenny was astounded at how clean the facility was, in
comparison to his own house, and how these people that were
strangers him treated him so well. This watershed event also a
call from a 13-year old Jewish girl from the Fairfax District who
heard about his situation. They became close over the phone
and, when they eventually met, Kenny was astounded at how
beautiful she was.
Kenny eventually recovered and brought his body back,
through tremendous hard work, to the point where he could
play sports again. His will power to succeed was fostered by
good people at his high school and a deep desire to break
away from his crazy parents.
Kenny's story is proving an inspiration to inner city children
throughout the country as he emphasizes to them that "you
are not your circumstances, you have the power to change
your life no matter how bad you might think you have it. Never
give up and don't let other dictate your the Fate of your Life."
heartbreaking and heartwarming. He grew up in the projects
of East Los Angeles parents whom he called,"the perfect
negative role models." After they were evicted from a middle
class neighborhood in Santa Monica, Kenny was left to his own
devices in order to survive the local gangs lurking about and
the rest of his teens in years with virtually or adult involvement,
care of supervision. Literally, except for summers, he was on
his own from age 12 on into adulthood.
During the summer he was being trained by his father as an
apprentice carnival thief, and he was extremely accomplished
at separating the local folks from their money. But while the
summers were spent on the road, the rest of the year it was
all Kenny could do to stay away from the drug dealing,
heroin shooting gallery that was their apartment in the Ramona
Gardens.
One of the most eye opening parts of his childhood was when
he contracted Polio at the age of 15. The fright at being
diagnosed with such a horrible disease scared the hell out of
young Kenny, but through the White Memorial Hospital, a
Seventh Day Adventist hospital, with help from the March of
Dimes, he was given the proper treatment.
Kenny was astounded at how clean the facility was, in
comparison to his own house, and how these people that were
strangers him treated him so well. This watershed event also a
call from a 13-year old Jewish girl from the Fairfax District who
heard about his situation. They became close over the phone
and, when they eventually met, Kenny was astounded at how
beautiful she was.
Kenny eventually recovered and brought his body back,
through tremendous hard work, to the point where he could
play sports again. His will power to succeed was fostered by
good people at his high school and a deep desire to break
away from his crazy parents.
Kenny's story is proving an inspiration to inner city children
throughout the country as he emphasizes to them that "you
are not your circumstances, you have the power to change
your life no matter how bad you might think you have it. Never
give up and don't let other dictate your the Fate of your Life."