City Lights IS San Francisco. I've been in there countless times over the years. I dig the photo of the gang outside the bookstore with Neal Cassady kind of bowing with Allen Ginsberg next to him, and the film footage of Allen and Neal doing an interview in the basement for a local TV station. My father, Neal, took the family down to visit Jack Kerouac and Michael McLure when they were staying at Ferlinghetti's cabin in Bixby Canyon in Big Sur around 1960. (I'm "little Timmy" in that book, "Big Sur"). The shutters were closed, and Jack and Micheal were sitting at a table by candlelight with a bottle of red wine between them. "Neal threw the door open, and the sunlight bouncing off of little Timmy's hair blinded us!" (I had white hair even back then). It was a great visit, with Jack walking with me down the creek to the beach everyday, pointing out this and that. I remember that there was an overturned car on the beach which had obviously missed the turn onto the bridge. I crawled inside it and thought there was blood on the speedometer. (Now I know that it was just rust, but it made for a good story back at the campfire). More Beat trivia to follow, John Allen Cassady
Super stories and magical memories, John. Thank you for taking part in this conversation and speaking so warmly of City Lights itself. I've only been there a couple times myself, in 1978 and 2009, but I hold the recollection of those visits in my heart.
BTW John,Is the picture you refer to, featuring your Dad and the gang outside City Lights, the one that features on the cover of Steven Watson's terrific book The Birth of the Beat Generation?
I am a reader and writer. Visited City Lights in about 1977. Wonderful experience to go there and absorb the ongoing literary feelings. Bought a few books of course.
I'm with you on this, Chris. I first visited a little after you in 1978 but it remains in my heart as a truly memorable temple to radical literature and visionary ideals.
A cinema event that San Francisco is waiting. For kudos to Jonah Raskin. Paris had Shakespeare & Company and the Lost Generation. City Lights is the cathedral of Love- Poetry literature the Beats and the spirits that walk the streets of San Francisco
Simon the importance of your work is in curating the archives which will increase in value as the readers and artists become aware of the cultural leverage
City Lights IS San Francisco. I've been in there countless times over the years. I dig the photo of the gang outside the bookstore with Neal Cassady kind of bowing with Allen Ginsberg next to him, and the film footage of Allen and Neal doing an interview in the basement for a local TV station. My father, Neal, took the family down to visit Jack Kerouac and Michael McLure when they were staying at Ferlinghetti's cabin in Bixby Canyon in Big Sur around 1960. (I'm "little Timmy" in that book, "Big Sur"). The shutters were closed, and Jack and Micheal were sitting at a table by candlelight with a bottle of red wine between them. "Neal threw the door open, and the sunlight bouncing off of little Timmy's hair blinded us!" (I had white hair even back then). It was a great visit, with Jack walking with me down the creek to the beach everyday, pointing out this and that. I remember that there was an overturned car on the beach which had obviously missed the turn onto the bridge. I crawled inside it and thought there was blood on the speedometer. (Now I know that it was just rust, but it made for a good story back at the campfire). More Beat trivia to follow, John Allen Cassady
Super stories and magical memories, John. Thank you for taking part in this conversation and speaking so warmly of City Lights itself. I've only been there a couple times myself, in 1978 and 2009, but I hold the recollection of those visits in my heart.
BTW John,Is the picture you refer to, featuring your Dad and the gang outside City Lights, the one that features on the cover of Steven Watson's terrific book The Birth of the Beat Generation?
Fascinating tale, Rob. This I did not know about you! Thank you for sharing.
Rob Stone, cool story!
City Lights is revered to me and to many more.
Hope this film is made!
I am a reader and writer. Visited City Lights in about 1977. Wonderful experience to go there and absorb the ongoing literary feelings. Bought a few books of course.
Long live City Lights!
I'm with you on this, Chris. I first visited a little after you in 1978 but it remains in my heart as a truly memorable temple to radical literature and visionary ideals.
A cinema event that San Francisco is waiting. For kudos to Jonah Raskin. Paris had Shakespeare & Company and the Lost Generation. City Lights is the cathedral of Love- Poetry literature the Beats and the spirits that walk the streets of San Francisco
Fine words from a man who knows! Thank you.
Simon the importance of your work is in curating the archives which will increase in value as the readers and artists become aware of the cultural leverage
Thank you for that encouraging remark.