Shining Up the Shrine

"I like this job because you see everything," says Corona, a 45-year-old Mexican-American. "For me it’s right. For me. I don't know about everybody else." Corona's typical duties include cleaning the theater and dressing rooms, changing lights and, yes, maintaining that famous red rug. It’s not the most glamorous job, but it does come with a very big perk: an all-access pass to events at the Shrine. Corona has attended the American Music Awards, the Grammy's, the Oscar's, and recently, the Miss Universe pageant. "The girls were beautiful," says Corona. He says he's seen just about every star, but the Hollywood glitz and glamour doesn't seem to excite Corona. He says he can’t believe that people wait outside the Shrine for hours just to catch a glimpse of a celebrity. Corona's task of the day is to touch up the paint on the fence around the Shrine, and he listens to Spanish music on his portable radio. He works about eight hours a day, sometimes seven days a week, but he says he doesn't mind spending time at the Shrine. "My heart is happy…everyday," he says.