2500 DelMonte Street: The Oral History of Tower Records

Ep. 73 Betsy Altomare (Night Manager Tower Records Sunset)

November 14, 2023 Bob Zimmerman Episode 73
Ep. 73 Betsy Altomare (Night Manager Tower Records Sunset)
2500 DelMonte Street: The Oral History of Tower Records
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2500 DelMonte Street: The Oral History of Tower Records
Ep. 73 Betsy Altomare (Night Manager Tower Records Sunset)
Nov 14, 2023 Episode 73
Bob Zimmerman

“The goal was to work at a record store and then everybody eventually wanted to work for a label. I envied the label guys and then I went and married one.” If the name Betsy Altomare sounds a bit familiar, there’s a reason for that. Back on episode number 33 we interviewed her husband Keith Altomare, who told us how he and Betsy met while she was the Night Manager at Tower Records Sunset in Los Angeles. Today we get to hear Betsy’s side of this story. 


Before signing on at Tower, Betsy previously worked at three LA record stores and a courier service that dealt primarily within the music industry. So when she applied and was hired under Bob Delanoy, Betsy came to the job armed with a lot of knowledge. Working at Store #131 she worked with veterans Joel Abrahmson, Howard Krumholtz, Store Managers Debbie Pollay and later Dennis Lefler. Oh yeah, she also worked with one guy named Axl and one guy named Slash. More on that in the podcast. 


Betsy tells us about some of her memorable customers including Elton John, Bernie Taupin, Bruce Springsteen and Rick James. Now the owner of a movie theatre in Orgeon, Betsy tells us about some of the similarities and differences between both businesses. 

Show Notes

“The goal was to work at a record store and then everybody eventually wanted to work for a label. I envied the label guys and then I went and married one.” If the name Betsy Altomare sounds a bit familiar, there’s a reason for that. Back on episode number 33 we interviewed her husband Keith Altomare, who told us how he and Betsy met while she was the Night Manager at Tower Records Sunset in Los Angeles. Today we get to hear Betsy’s side of this story. 


Before signing on at Tower, Betsy previously worked at three LA record stores and a courier service that dealt primarily within the music industry. So when she applied and was hired under Bob Delanoy, Betsy came to the job armed with a lot of knowledge. Working at Store #131 she worked with veterans Joel Abrahmson, Howard Krumholtz, Store Managers Debbie Pollay and later Dennis Lefler. Oh yeah, she also worked with one guy named Axl and one guy named Slash. More on that in the podcast. 


Betsy tells us about some of her memorable customers including Elton John, Bernie Taupin, Bruce Springsteen and Rick James. Now the owner of a movie theatre in Orgeon, Betsy tells us about some of the similarities and differences between both businesses.