September 23, 2007
5124 De Longpre Ave
Charles Bukowski lived at 5124 De Longpre from 1963 to 1974. It was during this time that many pivotal events occured in his writing career, namely; the beginning of his partnership with Black Sparrow Press, the writing and publishing of his first novel Post Office, his first public poetry reading, and the “research” which would later become his novel Women. It was also during this period that Bukowski begain to attain notoriety as a writer, so much so that one neighbor describes his having to sneak out the back door to avoid admirers lingering in the courtyard. The apartment is one of the last vestiges of Bukowski’s Los Angeles – stark, honest, and sometimes beautiful. It’s one of the only places he describes in his books, so noteworthy for their evocative sense of place, that remain faithfull to the time.
Currently the bungalow apartments at 5124 De Longpre stand empty and boarded up, ensconced in a chain-link fence. The property has been listed on Craig’s List as ready for demolition. We are currently embarking on a campaign to have these apartments declared a historic-cultural landmark before the property is sold and demolished. It’s a race against time, but we feel that one of Los Angeles’s finest writers and native sons deserves to take his place in the pantheon of our city’s rich and fascinating history.
Bastards.
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Posted by mikecane
September 22, 2007
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September 14, 2007
Previously: Movies You Must See And I Guarantee You Haven’t!
A brilliant book, part of a trio
A stunning screenplay — not one wasted or dull word
Gulley Jimson, artist.
Disheveled, unshaven, chronically short of cash, oppressed by Authority and Suits.
I’d have his life any day over yours.
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September 2, 2007
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September 2, 2007
Jack Kirby, a Comic Book Genius, Is Finally Remembered
He created a new grammar of storytelling and a cinematic style of motion. Once-wooden characters cascaded from one frame to another — or even from page to page — threatening to fall right out of the book into the reader’s lap. The force of punches thrown was visibly and explosively evident. Even at rest, a Kirby character pulsed with tension and energy in a way that makes movie versions of the same characters seem static by comparison.
Kirby was — and is still — so far ahead of everyone. He will be stolen from by generations to come as the tools to create dramatic imagery via software becomes more powerful, affordable, and spreads out to the masses.
Jack Kirby (Mike Royer inks) panel from his neomythic New Gods epic series
Previously in this blog:
Another Thing That Will Ensure I Die Poor…
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August 30, 2007
NPR: CBGB’s Hilly Kristal Championed Punk-Rock Spirit
NY Daily News: The value of CBGB’s founder Hilly Kristal
NY Sun: Hilly Kristal, 75, Began CBGB, Home of Punk
I’m reprinting a MySpace Bulletin the band Cheap Perfume sent out:
RIP Our dear friend,
How different our lives would have been without Hilly Kristal. Upon hearing the sad news of his passing at the too-young age of 75, we took a moment to reflect upon the influence Hilly had on literally thousands maybe millions of people. He was a true original forward-thinking enough to turn his creation CBGB/OMFUG into the launching pad for the second wave of hyper-creative rock musicians since the 60s. Would any other club owner have recognized the genius of the Ramones and afforded them the opportunity to grow and develop into the groundbreaking innovators they ultimately became? What about Television? Or Blondie? Or The Talking Heads? Or Patti Smith? Not to mention The Dead Boys, Sorrows, The Shirts, The Plasmatics, The Revelons, Nervus Rex, Quincy, Son, The Police, Marshall Crenshaw, The Tuff Darts, The Demons, The Miamis, The Laughing Dogs the list goes on and on of the crazed and colorful acts that graced the stage of Hillys gritty and authentic music haven. Our own band, Cheap Perfume, had its first gig ever at CBGB in early 79 (where two of our founding members, Susan Palermo and Alison Berger, worked as waitresses), and we came to regard the place almost like our alma mater, our home away from home, our base. Hilly was frequently to be seen in the neighborhood of the East Village. When you saw him, he’d greet you in a very gentlemanly and cordial way, and you just knew he remembered who you were, which band you were in and what instrument you played. (Or at least he made you feel like he did.) The world has lost one of the shapers of popular culture and he will be sorely missed, but fondly and affectionately remembered always.
L, Brenda, Susan, Bunny and Nancy
Cheap Perfume
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