James Franco, Daniel Radcliffe… Wade Williams – here comes another Ginsberg-on-screen (admittedly, in this case, in a more minor part). Pinchas Perry‘s full-length feature, The Chicago 8, (“based on actual court transcripts of 8 anti-war protestors, on trial for conspiring to cause riots in the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago”), opens next month (not un-coincidentally) on the opening day of the 2012 Democratic Convention (September 4). Thomas Ian Nicholas is Abbie Hoffman, Philip Baker Hall is Judge Julius Hoffman , Orlando Jones plays Bobby Seale. Williams, the actor playing Allen, is an alumnae of Rutgers University, as it turns out. As our good friend Eliot Katz points out: “Nice to have an actor with New Jersey in his background playing Allen!”
Steve Finbow‘s critical biography, Allen Ginsberg (in the Reaktion Books “Critical Lives” series) is finally out (Steve was a sometime assistant here at Ginsberg Central). The book is available direct from Reaktion Books in the UK, (or, for those of you reading this in the US, from here, (it’s US distributors – the University of Chicago)).
Marc Olmsted, whose memories of Allen we’ve featured before in this space, joins the illustrious company of in-depth interviewees on Michalis Limnios’ exemplary Blues and Greece site – “Poet/Filmmaker/Musician Marc Olmsted talks about Burroughs, Ginsberg, Leary, Beat Poetry and (the) Dharma”. The full interview with Marc may be read here. (also, in that space, don’t miss the illuminating interview with Charles Plymell)
and Anne Waldman gives an informative interview to GALO (Global Art Laid Out) here
Joanne Kyger on Richard Brautigan? – We’re avidly following Joanne’s Harriet posts. Her most recent musings and observations can be accessed here.
Finally, word up on two essential readings (not to be missed) recently added to the treasures of the ever-essential PennSound – John Wieners in San Francisco, March 25, 1990 (followed by a suitably challenging Q & A session with poet Kevin Killian) – and, (rare indeed) video of the late great James Schuyler.
..And word just in of the passing (after a long illness) of legendary Beat photographer, Larry Keenan (three of his iconic images of Allen and Bob Dylan may be seen here – and more images here and here). Speaking of iconic images… how many faces can you recognize in this classic shot? A sweet man, he will be missed.
