The occasion that HD refers to was a TWA 707 that descended to 2500 about 25 miles out and then came down to 1200 over the city. Reason given for the initial descent was that 2500 was the listed min.sector altitude, no logical reason even found (sightseeeing excepted) for the 1200 feet.
Oh! happy days when you could say to the early morning TWA and PanAm flights as they approached Woodley "do you want to go visual for 28L" and then watch from the windows.