
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, July 26, 1993                   TAG: 9307260037
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LOS ANGELES                                LENGTH: Medium

PARTICIPANTS TURN LA RIOTS INTO MONEYMAKING DEALS

Since amateur cameraman George Holliday collected $500 for his videotape of police officers clubbing and kicking Rodney King, making money off the beating and last year's riots has become a cottage industry of sorts.

From book deals to tabloid TV appearances to T-shirts and trading cards, the notion of cashing in has caught on. Even art has imitated life - and made money.

"Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992," Anna Deavere Smith's critically acclaimed one-woman show about the riots, grossed $138,877 in its final week, breaking a record for regularly priced shows at Los Angeles' Mark Taper Forum.

Residents of South Central Los Angeles, which suffered most when violence erupted after the acquittals of four white police officers in the black motorist's beating, don't appreciate what they see as profiteering that won't help them, said Los Angeles Urban League President John Mack.

"There's a resentment when people do movies, books and plays about the rebellion and in turn, folks don't see any of that effort benefiting the community," Mack said.

Even the police officers - two of whom were later convicted of federal civil rights violations - are making money.

Immediately after the federal verdicts in April, the race for paid public appearances was on.

Convicted Sgt. Stacey Koon, who also wrote a book about his experience, was paid a reported $10,000 to appear on "A Current Affair" hours after the verdict. Officer Theodore J. Briseno, who was acquitted, was reported to have received $25,000 the next day for an appearance on "Donahue."

Koon's publicist and agent, Dan Beck, said the former sergeant hasn't made a profit because he made less from the book and television appearances than he has lost in salary since being suspended from the force.

Koon "hasn't seen a paycheck in two years," Beck said. "He's got five kids. He's facing a $250,000 fine and eight to 10 years in prison."

Others involved in the case face only the prospect of more money. The forewoman of the state jury and the foreman of the federal jury have collaborated on a book. King's former bodyguard and private investigator is writing one, too.

by CNB