The LA Times has a wonderful obituary for a bit actor named Steve Wayne (Bedtime for Bonzo, Dragnet, Cisco Kid), who died at the age of 84. For the last quarter century of his life, Wayne was monomaniacally focused on tearing down fliers that were posted on walls and buildings.
Over the last two decades, Wayne tore down thousands of illegal fliers tacked on fences, traffic lights and utility poles. His quest was endless, like trying to wipe out gnats one swat at a time…
He began climbing up poles and clawing at the unwanted ads with a garden rake, or going after them while perched on the hood of a moving car with an accomplice at the wheel. But as fast as he tore them down, new ones would replace them…
In 1980 he was so upset by the proliferation of handbills for the Roxy, Troubadour and Whiskey a Go Go nightclubs that he spray-painted "Keep L.A. Clean" on the outsides of the famous establishments. He was arrested on suspicion of malicious vandalism, a charge that could have brought jail time and a steep fine…
He kept at it nearly up to the day he died, stopping to rip down signs "even when coming home from his chemo appointments," his daughter, Cathy Wayne, said in an interview.
