Lee Kaplan: Arcana Books, Art, and the History of Los Angeles Book Culture

Mark Edward Harris, Documenting The World With Photos and Beautiful Books

Paris Chong welcomes acclaimed travel and documentary photographer Mark Edward Harris to discuss his extensive career and global adventures. With a background rooted in documentary history, Mark shares his journey from starting out with stills for *The Merv Griffin Show* to photographing in over 100 countries across all seven continents. The conversation highlights his acclaimed work, particularly his artistic book *The Way of the Japanese Bath*, and his deep-seated passion for capturing stories that matter, including his experiences documenting the Winter Olympics and the World Cup. The discussion delves deep into Mark’s philosophy as a photographer, emphasizing the importance of investing time in a location to create humanistic photo essays rather than "parachuting in" for quick, superficial shots. Mark reflects on his long-term projects in challenging environments like North Korea and his work with orangutan rescue foundations, underscoring the value of persistence, preparation, and building genuine connections with subjects. He explains how his drive to tell a story through images—whether it’s the cultural nuance of Japanese baths or the stark realities of war—has shaped his identity as a storyteller and visual artist. Beyond the technical side of photography, the episode offers a warm and candid look at Mark’s life and outlook. He shares personal anecdotes about his love for travel, his deep connection to Japan, and his advice for aspiring photographers to be proactive rather than waiting for opportunities to come to them. Paris and Mark discuss the balance of work and personal life, the changing landscape of the industry, and the power of photography to unite and inform. It is a thoughtful conversation that inspires creators to pursue depth in their work and to keep moving forward in their own artistic journeys. Show Notes: www.theparischongshow.com/episodes/mark-edward-harris-documenting-the-world-with-photos-and-beautiful-books Chapters: 00:00 Season Three Kickoff 00:40 Meet Mark Edward Harris 02:00 World Cup Ticket Chaos 03:33 Japanese Bath Book Reveal 04:53 Bathing Rituals Explained 07:18 Publishing and Photo Awards 16:02 North Korea Stories 25:31 Leica Olympics Show 26:29 Tokyo Win and COVID 27:11 Naked Hollywood Project 27:52 Let History Breathe 28:58 Phil Penman - Small World 31:15 Olympics Lessons and Access 37:58 Orangutans Books and Farewell 🎵 Music by ⁠Andrew Raiher⁠ https://andrewraiher.com/ 📸 Shot & Edited at ⁠Visible Audio Studios https://www.visibleaudiostudios.com

Curating Art, Photography, and Life | Show Clip

Lee Kaplan shares heartwarming memories of the late Diane Keaton, highlighting her unique spirit and her status as a devoted patron of independent bookstores. He recalls a curious anecdote about Keaton window-shopping at his former location—a behavior he notes was shared by the great painter Richard Diebenkorn—offering a glimpse into her idiosyncratic charm. The conversation then shifts to the core of Arcana Books’ identity, as Lee explains his "visually driven" philosophy. He details the store's extensive curation—spanning photography, modern art, design, fashion, cinema, music, and even cookbooks—affirming why Arcana remains a premier destination for visual culture enthusiasts in Los Angeles and beyond. Show Clip from The Paris Chong Show with Lee Kaplan https://youtu.be/lHTJIxcMj44 https://www.theparischongshow.com 🎵 Music by ⁠Andrew Raiher⁠ https://andrewraiher.com/ 📸 Shot & Edited at ⁠Visible Audio Studios https://www.visibleaudiostudios.com #books #artbooks #podcast

The Reality of Running a Bookstore | Show Clip

Lee Kaplan and host Paris Chong discuss the realities of running a long-term business, with Lee candidly describing the transition from the thrill of the hunt for rare books to the daily "grind" of operations. The conversation shifts to the history of Arcana Books’ home within the iconic Helms Bakery complex, which Lee reveals was built for the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics. They explore the building's previous life as a high-end mattress showroom and share a mutual understanding of how challenging it can be for business owners to find the time and energy to engage with the art and culture scene outside of their own daily work environments. Show Clip from The Paris Chong Show with Lee Kaplan https://youtu.be/lHTJIxcMj44 https://www.theparischongshow.com 🎵 Music by ⁠Andrew Raiher⁠ https://andrewraiher.com/ 📸 Shot & Edited at ⁠Visible Audio Studios https://www.visibleaudiostudios.com #arcanabooks #artbooks #podcast

40 Years of Curating Arcana | Show Clip

Paris Chong chats with Lee Kaplan, the owner of Arcana Books, about the evolution of the independent bookselling scene in Los Angeles. Lee shares the story behind starting his iconic store in 1984, operating initially from a small one-bedroom apartment in Westwood, and explains the strategic reasoning behind choosing the name "Arcana" to stand out in the pre-internet Yellow Pages. Throughout their conversation, they reflect on how the industry has shifted over the last four decades, the disappearance of many historic and metaphysical bookstores, and Lee’s personal journey of building a long-lived, all-consuming business with passion and energy. Show Clip from The Paris Chong Show with Lee Kaplan https://youtu.be/lHTJIxcMj44 https://www.theparischongshow.com 🎵 Music by ⁠Andrew Raiher⁠ https://andrewraiher.com/ 📸 Shot & Edited at ⁠Visible Audio Studios https://www.visibleaudiostudios.com #books #artbooks #podcast

The Original Rhino Records Insider | Show Clip

Paris Chong sits down with Lee Kaplan, the owner of Arcana Books and a former fixture at the legendary Rhino Records. Kaplan shares his memories from 1975, when he served as one of the record store's original employees during its pre-label era, and details his role in scouting rare imports of creative improvised music, free jazz, and Jamaican reggae. Beyond his music industry roots, Kaplan reflects on his lifelong connection to the West Los Angeles area, offering a nostalgic look back at the neighborhood's history and his evolution from musician and visual artist to a cornerstone of the LA bookselling scene. Show Clip from The Paris Chong Show with Lee Kaplan https://youtu.be/lHTJIxcMj44 https://www.theparischongshow.com 🎵 Music by ⁠Andrew Raiher⁠ https://andrewraiher.com/ 📸 Shot & Edited at ⁠Visible Audio Studios https://www.visibleaudiostudios.com #arcanabooks #photography #podcast