Yes, Pamela, you are right I forgot to mention Charley Plymell. But in a synchronistical way, I did attend a party in the lower Haight Ashbury in 1966 put on by Michael Ferguson and Chloe who owned the Magic Theatre for mad men only, Alan Ginsberg was there spouting and gesticulating in the living room and I happen to run into Charley in the bedroom being filmed by Bill Hamm
I wonder what makes you say that, Jack. It's an interesting idea but, in fact, Rock and the Beat Generation is actually read in 46 states and 56 countries. But do expand on your idea if you have the chance. Thanks for commenting.
My main thrust was to point out that many current writers want to own the narrative, but they weren’t there, and they often make up their own version of what didn’t exist!🤪
I've never met Harry but he's right. I was there. Early days. He left out 2 who were there AD Winans and Charley Plymell, my husband. Both have chronicled the last 60 years.
We should also say that we have featured Gary Snyder in an article by Wang Ping, one of our most popular posts ever from August 2023, and Joanna McClure has been mentioned in various dispatches. Search Snyder and Joanna McClure in our archives.
The magic Theatre, for mad men only, was a unique gathering place and exhibition gallery on Dividadero street one block from the San Francisco tape music center. It opened in 1966, when North Beach was being left behind by any beats or beatniks because of the rising rents and we’re moving to the lower Haight Ashbury and eventually the Haight Ashbury district. Also, my wife and I had our first folk art gallery, b’tzalel, on the visit Divisadero street. Some of our beach customers were, Joan Brown painter, James Brown, filmmaker and poet. Other famous customers of ours were Ruth Bernhard, famous photographer, Imogene, Cunningham, famous photographer, John Adams, composer, and opera, composer, and Anton Lavay, founder of the church of Satan, Richard Baker, who became Roshi at the San Francisco Zen center, and sister Mary Korte, a noun who later left the order and became a hippie poet! Also, there was Batman Gallery on Fillmore Street owned by Billy and Carol Batman. Billy Batman, OD on heroin!
Michael Ferguson was the keyboard player for the early San Francisco psychedelic band THE CHARLATANS. . Charley Plymell published the first issue of zap comics. This began the rise of adult. COMIX. Zap Camic book number one featured R. Crumb.
One afternoon in 1967 Janis Joplin came into my boutique on Haight Street, in gear, and said to my wife Hyla that she and the band big Brother in the holding company were in the studio, recording their second album and they didn’t like the artwork. She said she liked the artist who did the poster of Mr. natural keep on trucking, a guy with a long beard kind of a comic looking guy marching down a street. My wife said I know that guy, he’s R. Crumb. eventually, my wife introduced the two of them and that’s how the album cover cheap thrills was born. Everyone then went onto fame.
Completely agree with Ryan: There are a few select Beat poets, namely Gary Snyder who are still with us. Gary in particular has apparently beaten the ole man river of Time (I use his first name, not only because I had once previously known him, and, today, still feel that I "know"). Along with Michael McClure who has died, Snyder has been able, nearly single handedly, slowed down the drip, drip near-destruction of the ecosystem. As well he has engaged in a broader interpretation of civil rights in that Gary has throughout his poetry and advocacy been a spokesperson for Nature and the environment, the latter being a crucial cause of the current civil rights movement in states like my own-- poor Blacks living under the cancerous effect of "Cancer Alley."
Environmental racism is alive and well, unfortunately.
If one has had the opportunity to view recent documentaries, Snyder appears on camera as a wise mountain lion, aging yet physically and mentally strong, above all still filled with his acute sense of humor, with a sly ironic wisdom in his eyes.
On this Thanksgiving day, let us give thanks to those who remain, those that inspired them that do. And, of course, let us eat to the beat!
Yes, Pamela, you are right I forgot to mention Charley Plymell. But in a synchronistical way, I did attend a party in the lower Haight Ashbury in 1966 put on by Michael Ferguson and Chloe who owned the Magic Theatre for mad men only, Alan Ginsberg was there spouting and gesticulating in the living room and I happen to run into Charley in the bedroom being filmed by Bill Hamm
I wonder if you mightn't find more enthusiasts abroad than extant in the US these days.
I wonder what makes you say that, Jack. It's an interesting idea but, in fact, Rock and the Beat Generation is actually read in 46 states and 56 countries. But do expand on your idea if you have the chance. Thanks for commenting.
Yes of course about these living legends.
My main thrust was to point out that many current writers want to own the narrative, but they weren’t there, and they often make up their own version of what didn’t exist!🤪
Pam Plymell writes…
I've never met Harry but he's right. I was there. Early days. He left out 2 who were there AD Winans and Charley Plymell, my husband. Both have chronicled the last 60 years.
Pamela Beach Plymell
Ann Charters also remains.
We should also say that we have featured Gary Snyder in an article by Wang Ping, one of our most popular posts ever from August 2023, and Joanna McClure has been mentioned in various dispatches. Search Snyder and Joanna McClure in our archives.
Excuse me folks, I need to explain a few mistakes that voice to text created in my last long long comment
Beach=beat
James Brown=James Broughton
Voice to text thinks it’s smarter than me. But I know I’m smarter than voice to text.
The magic Theatre, for mad men only, was a unique gathering place and exhibition gallery on Dividadero street one block from the San Francisco tape music center. It opened in 1966, when North Beach was being left behind by any beats or beatniks because of the rising rents and we’re moving to the lower Haight Ashbury and eventually the Haight Ashbury district. Also, my wife and I had our first folk art gallery, b’tzalel, on the visit Divisadero street. Some of our beach customers were, Joan Brown painter, James Brown, filmmaker and poet. Other famous customers of ours were Ruth Bernhard, famous photographer, Imogene, Cunningham, famous photographer, John Adams, composer, and opera, composer, and Anton Lavay, founder of the church of Satan, Richard Baker, who became Roshi at the San Francisco Zen center, and sister Mary Korte, a noun who later left the order and became a hippie poet! Also, there was Batman Gallery on Fillmore Street owned by Billy and Carol Batman. Billy Batman, OD on heroin!
Michael Ferguson was the keyboard player for the early San Francisco psychedelic band THE CHARLATANS. . Charley Plymell published the first issue of zap comics. This began the rise of adult. COMIX. Zap Camic book number one featured R. Crumb.
One afternoon in 1967 Janis Joplin came into my boutique on Haight Street, in gear, and said to my wife Hyla that she and the band big Brother in the holding company were in the studio, recording their second album and they didn’t like the artwork. She said she liked the artist who did the poster of Mr. natural keep on trucking, a guy with a long beard kind of a comic looking guy marching down a street. My wife said I know that guy, he’s R. Crumb. eventually, my wife introduced the two of them and that’s how the album cover cheap thrills was born. Everyone then went onto fame.
Completely agree with Ryan: There are a few select Beat poets, namely Gary Snyder who are still with us. Gary in particular has apparently beaten the ole man river of Time (I use his first name, not only because I had once previously known him, and, today, still feel that I "know"). Along with Michael McClure who has died, Snyder has been able, nearly single handedly, slowed down the drip, drip near-destruction of the ecosystem. As well he has engaged in a broader interpretation of civil rights in that Gary has throughout his poetry and advocacy been a spokesperson for Nature and the environment, the latter being a crucial cause of the current civil rights movement in states like my own-- poor Blacks living under the cancerous effect of "Cancer Alley."
Environmental racism is alive and well, unfortunately.
If one has had the opportunity to view recent documentaries, Snyder appears on camera as a wise mountain lion, aging yet physically and mentally strong, above all still filled with his acute sense of humor, with a sly ironic wisdom in his eyes.
A giant who is still growing.