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Date: Mon, 26 May 1997 07:51:16 -0400
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From: "R. Bentz Kirby"
<bocelts@SCSN.NET>
Organization:
Law Office of R. Bentz Kirby
Subject: Jerry Cimino's posts
Dear
Beat List:
I just
signed on to this list a few days ago, but it seems like a year
ago. The range of emotions has soared and dipped
me like I am the
finest
of fighter jet plane on an evasive maneuver in the mountains. I
have
pulled from my shelf books that have lain dormant for years and
found
within them joy and tears that I thought had long since left me.
To find
that I am still in touch with them cuts both ways like a knife.
I hope
that Ferlinghetti will be in the store to have coffee with me and
I will
bask in the glow of a fire lit in me by Homer and fed by the
Legends
of King Authur, the story of Ivanhoe (sp), Jason and the search
for the
Fleece, the story of Jesus, Catch 22, Ferlinghetti, Corso,
Thomas
Wolfe, Jack Kerouac, Gerry Nicosia, Allen Ginsburg, Bob Dylan,
Thoreau,
Van Morrison, etc. etc. etc. While I
admired Ann's biography
of
Kerouac and read it first, I wonder how any person can say that
Nicosia
has written the best, or at least one of the two best
biographies
of Kerouac.
I would
say that it is the best, but will admit that others might prefer
Charter's
because it is more flattering, but to me Memory Babe has the
most
facts and the most Love in it.
Regardless, I am honored to be a
member
of a list with Gerry Nicosia. I have
also seen messages going
back
and forth between Levi Asher and Gerry.
I have looked at Levi's
site
and find it to be a great web site. One
of the best. But, Levi
has yet
to answer Gerry's direct questions. Why
is that?
I have
just read the first in a series of posts by Jerry Cimino about
the
list and Gerry. I tend to agree. When I first signed on I asked
several
questions that have gone unanswered.
One of those troubles me
greatly.
1. In an email response to Gerry, someone
asked an open question that
to me
said in paraphrased terms:
What
about Gerry Nicosia, isn't he a thief because he has sold
photocopies
of Kerouac's letters for profit?
I
responded to the list and to the poster, whose id I have forgotten,
what
letters, where, to whom and how much. I
have not heard, nor has
this
list heard yet what letters to whom and how much.
If one
is not willing to stand behind such an accusation, or if one
lacks
the facts to back it up, one should not accuse another, especially
a
writer of the integrity of Nicosia of this behavior.
2. There also was a statement by someone to
this lists claiming that
Sampas
has not sold off piece meal portions
of Kerouac's works and
artifacts. Does anyone actually know what Sampas has
done. I asked the
question
and all I received was a chastisement that I should "do my
homework"
or some such and stating that I needed to spell Sampas' name
right. But have I received an answer to the
question. Who knows what
Sampas
has done and what he has sold? No, I
have not seen any such
information
forthcoming.
In
short, why does Gerry Nicosia post facts and the others respond with
accusations
and no facts. I am down with Cimino's
post. I am off to
take my
children to school, and will respond further in a few minutes
with
other points about what I have seen.
Peace,
--
Bentz
bocelts@scsn.net
http://www.scsn.net/users/sclaw
=========================================================================
Date: Mon, 26 May 1997 08:47:25 -0400
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From: "R. Bentz Kirby"
<bocelts@SCSN.NET>
Organization:
Law Office of R. Bentz Kirby
Subject: Kerouac's baseball league
Just a
thought, but on reading Levi Asher's page on Jack, was he the
sole
member of the first fantasy baseball league?
Peace,
--
Bentz
bocelts@scsn.net
http://www.scsn.net/users/sclaw
=========================================================================
Date: Mon, 26 May 1997 08:53:53 -0400
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From: "R. Bentz Kirby"
<bocelts@SCSN.NET>
Organization:
Law Office of R. Bentz Kirby
Subject: Star Trek is not beat
David,
Star
Trek is not beat. It is an extension of
society. It is more of a
world
vision in which Orwell and others are wrong and big brother turns
out to
be nice guy after all.
Star
Wars comes closer to beat, but at best it was maybe Hip or even
Hep.
To me,
Space Balls (Mel Brooks?) was beat! Or,
that Outer Limitsor
Twilight
Zone where the people got on the space ship and the man then
figures
out that the book th aliens brought is a Cook Book. That is
hip. And maybe just maybe Beat and space would be
say, The Day the
Earth
Stood Still.
Peace,
--
Bentz
bocelts@scsn.net
http://www.scsn.net/users/sclaw
=========================================================================
Date: Mon, 26 May 1997 08:55:09 -0400
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From: "R. Bentz Kirby"
<bocelts@SCSN.NET>
Organization:
Law Office of R. Bentz Kirby
Subject: correction
I said
in my addled brain, but not in the message and hereby correct it
to
state:
I
wonder how any person can say that Nicosia has NOT written the best,
or at
least one of the two best biographies of Kerouac.
The
omission of three letters can affect the meaning.
I
believe Gerry's is the best, because it is full of love and
tenderness,
but does not avoid any difficult issues.
Others will see
Ann's
as the best I am sure. But, anyone else
is merely a pretender and
does
not approach those two.
So,
does Ms Charters post here? If not,
does anyone know her? Invite
her to
join the list. I get jazzed thinking
about Charters and Nicosia
debating
the beats and Kerouac. But, remember
Nicosia had the courage
to come
here and is a blessing to us out of a Gone World.
I
remember years ago a law professor speaking somewhat contemptuously of
his
colleagues who did not publish. I
thought he was just jealous
because
they had tenure and did not publish much (he had tenure too, but
worked
much harder than they did). I asked him
why and he said that if
you are
not willing to put your ideas into the public arena and have
them
ripped to shreds by your colleagues, then you are intelletually
dishonest
and are a coward as that is the way you learn.
Now, I
am not saying that Ann Charters or John Sampas has to post their
ideas
here. What I am saying is that,
regardless of the rest of it all,
Nicosia
is a man of courage and conviction. He
may be looney as a nut
cake,
fruit cake or whatever that device is, but he puts his ideas forth
and
allows you do dissect him. And from my
experience on the net and
newsgroups,
you will be dissected by idiots and genius.
He has cast
pearls,
it is up to the list to ensure that he did not cast them before
swine.
He is
courageous. I have discouraged him
because:
1. He can't argue with people who do not
state facts.
2. If he has been slandered, then it is best
to leave it to the
lawyers. (Hey, I got a plug for me in here too!!!
;-))
3. It must be very distracting to him to have
to deal with bs, and he
needs
to be about his life's work.
4. I would rather not see him expose his soul
on public, as I don't
know
who this public is.
But,
even though his obvious anger makes me feel that he is wasting his
effort
on those who do not deserve it, I admire his candor and
willingness. Are those who speak less than well up to the
task to be so
honest
and to expose themselves to the same criticism, are they willing
to be
dissected in such detail? Where are
their facts?
I for
one count us to be very rich for Gerry's presence here, would
welcome
Ann aboard if she would join and say, if you are unwilling to
back up
an attack on Gerry or a defense of Sampas without facts, then
keep it
to yourself because Nicosia has stated facts.
Peace,
--
Bentz
bocelts@scsn.net
http://www.scsn.net/users/sclaw
=========================================================================
Date: Mon, 26 May 1997 08:26:59 -0500
Reply-To: "BEAT-L: Beat Generation List"
<BEAT-L@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU>
Sender: "BEAT-L: Beat Generation
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From: RACE --- <race@MIDUSA.NET>
Subject: Re: Jerry Cimino's posts
RBK,
We're
not always the best hosts when it comes to newcomers. This thread
is not
the only example of when that has happened.
The emotional level
though
may explain why our hosting is particularly poor.
There
is a range of emotions involved in this thread - not only those
concerning
a hotly contested legal argument being discussed in a
non-legal
environment - but also the emotions of grief involved in close
friendships
on both sides of what has politely been referred to as a
"feud"
and at times compared to a "war".
>
> I
just signed on to this list a few days ago, but it seems like a year
>
ago. The range of emotions has soared
and dipped me like I am the
>
finest of fighter jet plane on an evasive maneuver in the mountains. I
>
have pulled from my shelf books that have lain dormant for years and
>
found within them joy and tears that I thought had long since left me.
> To
find that I am still in touch with them cuts both ways like a knife.
> I
hope that Ferlinghetti will be in the store to have coffee with me and
> I
will bask in the glow of a fire lit in me by Homer and fed by the
>
Legends of King Authur, the story of Ivanhoe (sp), Jason and the search
>
for the Fleece, the story of Jesus, Catch 22, Ferlinghetti, Corso,
>
Thomas Wolfe, Jack Kerouac, Gerry Nicosia, Allen Ginsburg, Bob Dylan,
>
Thoreau, Van Morrison, etc. etc. etc.
It
seems to me that these remembrances are wonderful feelings and
connections
and fairly appropriate to a Memorial Day Celebration of
Beat-ism. I find myself as a fairly newcomer to both
the scene, the
list,
and the literature - manically trying to read more and more and
more to
get a better sense of the IT that runs through all of these
words. But it is a smooth mania for me and one that
I can enjoy quite
well.
While I
admired Ann's biography
> of
Kerouac and read it first, I wonder how any person can say that
>
Nicosia has written the best, or at least one of the two best
>
biographies of Kerouac.
I think
they are both wonderful. I'm reading
them both right now along
with
Dharma Lion about Ginsberg. Charters'
is a much more empathetic
style
and Nicosia's a more detached one. The
two in combination is
something
of a symphony for me. I don't know why
all the ratings need
be done
at all. The books say the same thing
almost only they say
completely
different things at the same time. They
are both wonderful
tributes
to Kerouac. As was McNally's which was
a different style
altogether
almost intimate anthropological in nature.
I'm looking
forward
to others that have been mentioned as well.
>
> I
would say that it is the best, but will admit that others might prefer
>
Charter's because it is more flattering, but to me Memory Babe has the
>
most facts and the most Love in it.
Regardless, I am honored to be a
>
member of a list with Gerry Nicosia.
He is a
wonderful resource. When he has time to
discuss matters
off-estate,
i find his insights beautiful to read.
I can't wait for the
Vietnam
Vets book. I'm certain that he will
tell that story and its
many
plots with incredible technique.
All
that said, i have to admit that I'm somewhat tired of the estate
discussion. It seems an important thread but not
incredibly significant
to
me. None of the libraries under
consideration are ones I will ever
be near
- i doubt. I doubt that I will ever
return to the "scholarly
arena". I respect the desire of scholars to desire
an archive like the
one
suggested for the NYPL, but it doesn't seem to be the only audience
for
Kerowhackos around this beautiful land.
I have
also seen messages going
>
back and forth between Levi Asher and Gerry.
I have looked at Levi's
>
site and find it to be a great web site.
One of the best. But, Levi
>
has yet to answer Gerry's direct questions.
Why is that?
Have to
ask Levi. I thought that some of the
questions were answered
but the
answers were unacceptable to Gerry and so it went ....
>
> I
have just read the first in a series of posts by Jerry Cimino about
>
the list and Gerry. I tend to
agree. When I first signed on I asked
>
several questions that have gone unanswered.
One of those troubles me
>
greatly.
>
>
1. In an email response to Gerry,
someone asked an open question that
> to
me said in paraphrased terms:
>
>
What about Gerry Nicosia, isn't he a thief because he has sold
>
photocopies of Kerouac's letters for profit?
as i
recall, the photocopy letter originally was a bad joke in the
middle
of a post. that's how i read it at
least. it has since blew up.
>
> I
responded to the list and to the poster, whose id I have forgotten,
>
what letters, where, to whom and how much.
I have not heard, nor has
>
this list heard yet what letters to whom and how much.
it
would be letters in the Lowell archive as far as I can tell. letters
associated
with the Memory Babe biography. i think
that the price
sounded
reasonable considering Gerry's expenses in working on the book.
>
> If
one is not willing to stand behind such an accusation, or if one
>
lacks the facts to back it up, one should not accuse another, especially
> a
writer of the integrity of Nicosia of this behavior.
i think
it was a poor joke that wouldn't die.
but that's my failing
memory.
>
>
2. There also was a statement by
someone to this lists claiming that
>
Sampas has not sold off piece meal portions
of Kerouac's works and
>
artifacts. Does anyone actually know
what Sampas has done. I asked the
>
question and all I received was a chastisement that I should "do my
>
homework" or some such and stating that I needed to spell Sampas' name
>
right. But have I received an answer to
the question. Who knows what
>
Sampas has done and what he has sold?
No, I have not seen any such
>
information forthcoming.
I've
learned to have some difficulty with this part of the whole feud.
It
seems that until the courts determine otherwise - which is uncertain
at best
- that this stuff is Sampas' private property.
I don't think
he's
accountable to any of us concerning what he does with his
property. He could have a huge garage sale - like the
Kennedy children
- but
it doesn't sound as though that has happened.
>
> In
short, why does Gerry Nicosia post facts and the others respond with
>
accusations and no facts. I am down
with Cimino's post. I am off to
>
take my children to school, and will respond further in a few minutes
>
with other points about what I have seen.
My
impression is that Gerry while an excellent scholar and writer is not
willing
to see any grain of truth in anything in this besides his
viewpoint. That is merely an impression. My impression is that people
don't
post anything worthwhile because, it won't be good enough for
Gerry
if they do. And when they do, there is
often at least innuendo
that
John Sampas is pulling their strings like puppets.
The
dialogue in this thread has broken down from both sides and every
angle
in-between. My impression is it is a
case of emotionally charged
true
believers involved in a fairly messy and intricate legal action and
that the
animosity will probably not end after the legal action or
actions
are decided. It will be one for the
literary historians to
write
about some day down the road.
I hope
that i've filled in some of the details.
I am very hesitant to
do so
for fear of being attacked for having provided misinformation.
These
are what I've gathered from the thread, my impressions of the
thread,
information as I recall it now, and i don't know that they
necessarily
have any correspondence with the truth (whatever that is)...
david
rhaesa
=========================================================================
Date: Mon, 26 May 1997 08:31:30 -0500
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From: RACE --- <race@MIDUSA.NET>
Subject: Re: correction
R.
Bentz Kirby wrote:
>
> I
said in my addled brain, but not in the message and hereby correct it
> to
state:
>
> I
wonder how any person can say that Nicosia has NOT written the best,
> or
at least one of the two best biographies of Kerouac.
>
>
The omission of three letters can affect the meaning.
>
As one
of the most addled brains on the planet it was easy to read past
the
addled-typo and understand the context.
i really don't think anyone
suggests
Nicosia is not an incredible scholar.
When I read his
biography
I say "Wow - how'd he find that out - in my head a lot". In
the
others, I say different words inside my head.
The symphony of
reading
multiple biographies comes out with this chorus in my head.
Wow-Jack/Wow-Jack/beeeeeeeatttttttitiffffffic
terrific WOW - Jack
david
rhaesa
=========================================================================
Date: Mon, 26 May 1997 09:33:56 -0400
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From: Antoine Maloney
<stratis@ODYSSEE.NET>
Subject: Re: Gerry's Dad's story
Gerry,
Thank you for the vivid post
describing your dad's time in San
Francisco.
It sounds like you did what too many of us neglect to do; really
quiz
your Dad about his youth. Free advice to everyone on the list....ask
your
mom and Dad and aunts and uncles and grandparents what their childhood,
adolescence,
and coming of age was like; endlessly rewardimg as we can see!
Was the aside about Lord Buckley a tip
of the hat to my frequently
broadcast
interest in the Lord, or did it just trip off your tongue? Any
evidence
of Buckley intersecting with Kerouac or the others? Charles
Plymell
mentioned remembering Buckley from Los Angeles ...days of the
old
Crackerbox Palace. He was truly a hipster! I've read Kerouac's
description
of seeing slim Gaillard, but have always been curious about any
awareness
of Lord Buckley (especially given the close association with
Charlie
Parker) and Harry 'the Hipster' Gibson ("Who Put the Benzedrine in
Mrs'
Murpht's Ovaltine").
Thanks again. Any idea who Navrotsky
is or if I've spelt his name
correctly?
The quotation as i heard it was attributed to them jointly. It's
a good
one. Do you know Jo Grant? Is he / was he a labor organizer?
Antoine
Voice contact at (514) 933-4956 in Montreal
"An anarchist is someone who doesn't
need a cop to tell him what to do!"
-- Norman Navrotsky
and Utah Phillips
=========================================================================
Date: Mon, 26 May 1997 09:37:46 -0400
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From: Rod Anstee <Nastees@AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: Memory Babe Archive
Gerry,
I think you are on more solid ground with this issue than the other.
There
are huge chunks of your archive that are irreplaceable -- especially
the
tape recordings, which must be preserved at all costs, even if the actual
access/rights
issue isn't sorted out for years to come. Preserve the tapes at
least!
(ASIDE: I can, for example, see that someone
who had granted you an
interview
back in the mid-1970's, might now be a bit surprised/troubled to
discover
that the entire interview was potentially now available in complete
form,
either audio or transcript, to the public -- that is, I can realize
that
one of your interviewees might not have forseen such an eventuality when
they
originally granted the interview as part of helping you with your book.
I say,
I can sort of SEE someone feeling that way, though I imagine most of
the
interviewees don't care either way, and if asked would readily grant
permission.
I am thinking of someone like Helen Weaver, for example, who
might
very well be writing her own memoirs of her time with JK, and therefore
not
feel comfortable -- I pick Helen W. just as an hypothetical example
though,
you understand.)
The
original letters, too, even in 1987 deserved extra special treatment, and
it's
appalling to think that they have somehow been allowed to disappear into
the
void. (See, we can/do agree on some things!)
The
xeroxed letters, on the other hand, present a difficult problem --
entirely
aside from any Sampas angle. In a way I am quite surprised, in
retrospect,
that Martha Mayo agreed to purchase these in the first place,
knowing
that many of them (originals) are the property of other libraries.
Just as
an example, I have in front of me a xerox of part of an 8 April, 1952
letter
from JK to AG. It's a xerox you must have sent to me, and it's covered
with
margin notes in your hand -- interesting, in and of themselves, as
pointers
to the eventual text in MEMORY BABE -- but stamped on one edge are
the
following words:
" THIS IS A PHOTOCOPY OF
ORIGINAL MATERIALS IN THE COLUMBIA
UNIVERSITY
LIBRARIES.
This copy must be returned to Special
Collections (801 Butler
Library)
at the completion of the reader's use."
Whilst
it's arguable, I guess, that you haven't, as yet, completed your use
of this
material, I'm pretty sure this statement on the document was actually
put
there to preclude you (anyone) from subsequently SELLING it, at some
later
date, to another institution --no? It renders your sale of such
material
to the library in Lowell in 1987 somewhat dodgy. I even wonder if
this
wasn't one of the reasons that most other insitutions you apporached
were
not interested? (I assume your archive included this material -- on p.
35 of
the list you sent me years ago, it lists "266 pages of letters of JK to
Allen
Ginsberg"-- and I assume that comparable letters, from other libraries
came
with similar restrictions.)
I guess
I'm just suggesting that, in some respects at least, some of the
content
of your MB archive is rather problematical, legally speaking. Of
course
this in no way excuses any mishandling of the remainder of the
archive,
or any (alleged) Sampas interference in the running of the archive
viv-a-vis
scholarly access.
Just a
thought. CHEERS Rod
=========================================================================
Date: Mon, 26 May 1997 09:35:14 -0400
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From: "R. Bentz Kirby"
<bocelts@SCSN.NET>
Organization:
Law Office of R. Bentz Kirby
Subject: David's post
David:
Thanks
for the post. I have reviewed most of
the posts that I can find
on
these issues and welcome receiving copies of older posts back channel
if
anyone saved them.
On the
issue of selling letters:
>From
what you said, it was a "joke" that got turned around and out of
proportion. I can see that happening and do not take
issue with that.
But
again, did Gerry sell photocopies to Umass at Lowell. My impression
is that
he sold his work and donated the rest as he had no right to sell
it. If that is wrong, then I may be wrong, but
in light of that
position,
if I am correct noone may claim that Jerry sold Kerouac's
letters
for gain. He donated them.
On the
archives, my concern is the lack of availability and deterioation
in the
tapes. That is a valid issue for us if
we are to have free
information
about Kerouac.
I am
tired of draft talk on the Celtic list.
This thread is much
better.
Love
you, mean it.
Peace,
--
Bentz
bocelts@scsn.net
http://www.scsn.net/users/sclaw
=========================================================================
Date: Mon, 26 May 1997 09:44:39 -0400
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From: Antoine Maloney
<stratis@ODYSSEE.NET>
Subject: David's Impressions
David,
Thanks for your post summarizing your
impressions of the estate
debate.
It was excellent having neutral ground to test my own
recollections/impressions
against.
I'm hoping to get back quickly enough
to the list to encourage Gerry
and the
other comabattants to resist the temptation - great as it might be!
- to
reply with "clarifications". I thinks id would help greatly to have
other
"impressions' posted as well to see if we can't see the middle ground
that
I'm sure exists - the "no man's land?" Her's hoping!
Thanks again.
Antoine
Voice contact at (514) 933-4956 in Montreal
"An anarchist is someone who doesn't
need a cop to tell him what to do!"
-- Norman Navrotsky
and Utah Phillips
=========================================================================
Date: Mon, 26 May 1997 08:44:14 -0500
Reply-To: "BEAT-L: Beat Generation List"
<BEAT-L@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU>
Sender: "BEAT-L: Beat Generation
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From: RACE --- <race@MIDUSA.NET>
Subject: Re: Gerry's Dad's story
Antoine
Maloney wrote:
>
>
Gerry,
>
> Thank you for the vivid post
describing your dad's time in San
>
Francisco. It sounds like you did what too many of us neglect to do; really
>
quiz your Dad about his youth. Free advice to everyone on the list....ask
>
your mom and Dad and aunts and uncles and grandparents what their childhood,
>
adolescence, and coming of age was like; endlessly rewardimg as we can see!
>
> Was the aside about Lord Buckley a
tip of the hat to my frequently
>
broadcast interest in the Lord, or did it just trip off your tongue? Any
>
evidence of Buckley intersecting with Kerouac or the others? Charles
>
Plymell mentioned remembering Buckley from Los Angeles ...days of the
>
old Crackerbox Palace. He was truly a hipster! I've read Kerouac's
>
description of seeing slim Gaillard, but have always been curious about any
>
awareness of Lord Buckley (especially given the close association with
>
Charlie Parker) and Harry 'the Hipster' Gibson ("Who Put the Benzedrine in
>
Mrs' Murpht's Ovaltine").
>
> Thanks again. Any idea who Navrotsky
is or if I've spelt his name
>
correctly? The quotation as i heard it was attributed to them jointly. It's
> a
good one. Do you know Jo Grant? Is he / was he a labor organizer?
>
> Antoine
> Voice contact at (514) 933-4956 in Montreal
>
> "An anarchist is someone who
doesn't need a cop to tell him what to do!"
> -- Norman Navrotsky
and Utah Phillips
I just
saw my Dad Saturday night for the first time in months. If I'd
read
Gerry's story before that Pop would have probably got a good
quizzing. I know that he used to hitch from Detroit to
Sterling Kansas
and
back for college in the early 1950s.
The few times I asked him
about
it years ago - it brought no stories - just "it's what i had to
do, it
was the only way I could afford to go back and forth." But I've
also
heard tell that my Ma's family in Northeastern Kansas thought my
Dad was
too wild - so I have a feeling that there are stories in there
somewhere
to be dug out ... :) My brother will be
up from Arizona in a
couple
weeks and we'll be at my Dad's for our step-sister's wedding.
Perhaps
we can gang tackle him and tie him up and force the stories out
of
him. Or I can tell him that if he
doesn't fess up, I'll start
creating
my own legends which he might not like to well and maybe that
will
bring it out of him. To hear him talk
it wasn't that much
different
than walking down to a dime store or something. Maybe by the
early
50s that was true. I really don't know
cuz if I was around in
some
former incarnation, my memory is cloudy.
I loved
Gerry's story too !!!!! Made me think
of my Dad more than Jack
or
Gerry's Dad but sometimes that's the way those stories go.
take
care all,
david
rhaesa
=========================================================================
Date: Mon, 26 May 1997 08:57:55 -0500
Reply-To: "BEAT-L: Beat Generation List"
<BEAT-L@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU>
Sender: "BEAT-L: Beat Generation
List" <BEAT-L@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU>
From: RACE --- <race@MIDUSA.NET>
Subject: Re: David's post
R.
Bentz Kirby wrote:
>
> David:
>
>
Thanks for the post. I have reviewed
most of the posts that I can find
> on
these issues and welcome receiving copies of older posts back channel
> if
anyone saved them.
>
> On
the issue of selling letters:
>
>
>From what you said, it was a "joke" that got turned around and
out of
>
proportion. I can see that happening
and do not take issue with that.
>
But again, did Gerry sell photocopies to Umass at Lowell. My impression
> is
that he sold his work and donated the rest as he had no right to sell
>
it. If that is wrong, then I may be
wrong, but in light of that
>
position, if I am correct noone may claim that Jerry sold Kerouac's
>
letters for gain. He donated them.
i have
no access to the formal agreements with Lowell U. to know whether
the
package was divided between sale and donations. while I know little
of
this, i could understand sampas' concerns (a little) for letters
which
are to be published in forthcoming collections. but once again,
it
seems that is something where all sense of proportion has been lost
and
Jack's memory suffers for it.
>
> On
the archives, my concern is the lack of availability and deterioation
> in
the tapes. That is a valid issue for us
if we are to have free
>
information about Kerouac.
Well it
pisses me off - what to do though?
Unless part of the
sale/donation
agreement required the Library to make these upgrades it
doesn't
seem they can be forced to do so. I've
never thought much of
letter
campaigns, but perhaps a letter campaign on that specific issue
would
be worthwhile.
I also
think Bill Gargan's notion of helping in gaining the permission
slips
(somehow they remind me of high school "hall passes") seems worth
trying.
>
> I
am tired of draft talk on the Celtic list.
This thread is much
>
better.
This
thread is full of rancor but that one is full of textbook cases of
delusional
thought. we must pick our poisons
carefully .... )
I'm off
to read another forty or so in Dharma Lion then back to Memory
Babe
for around 75-100 pages.
Memorial
Day
What do
we remember on a
day
sanctified
by the State
for
remembrances?
Do we
remember the soldiers
lost in
foreign wars
and
relatives we never
met?
Certainly,
these are appropriate
remembrances.
But my notions
of remembrance
are
more twisted.
I
remember the families
I
created in
the
Mental Hospitals
where
all were
lonely
and all
seemed to
breakdown
at
Holiday after
Holiday.
I
remember the
friends
I've had
for
years
who I
never
met
in life
but
know
deeply
in my
connection
and
identification
with
their
words.
I put
Skeletons
on the
CD
player
and
I
sit
back in
my
rusty
recliner
and
attempt
to
remember
scenes
from
life
that
seem
so far
away
friends
from
here
and there
scattered
victims
of our own
insanities
and I
remember
most of
all
that
God is
Pooh Bear.
David
Rhaesa
salina,
Kansas