M Henry Jones in a contribution to the recently-published The Occult Harry Smith recalls a sweetly mocking jest on Harry from his old friend, Gregory Corso.
“They gave each other a hug and Gregory said, “I can’t imagine what it’s like to have your name on a cough drop”.
Harry came back with a juvenile jibe of his own.”
Banter between two great “difficult minds”. It’s a big Harry Smith today. The celebration at the Anthology Film Archive in New York for the publication of The Occult Harry Smith takes place tonight
The evening will feature the world premiere of Anthology’s new restoration of Smith’s
“Film No 20 – Fragments of A Faith Forgotten“, as well as rare recordings and home movies of Harry.
In 1980, he combined his two Wizard of Oz-related films (Film No.16 and 19) and called the new work “Film No. 20 – Fragments of A Faith Forgotten”. The film was to be premiered, accompanied by a live score, at an Anthology fundraising event at Alice Tully Hall, but, unfortunately, the event was canceled and it never screened.
So, tonight, for the first time ever, with a live score by Anthology’s Composer in Residence, John Zorn, along with Ikue Mori (electronics), Jorge Roeder (bass), and Ches Smith (drums) – an evening not to forget
Ah, but there are two “Smiths”, avant-garde film Smiths. We remember Harry, but who could forget the remarkable “Flaming Creatures” and the remarkable Jack Smith
September 18, 1989 was the day Jack Smith died (aged 56, from complications from AIDS, in New York City’s Beth Israel Hospital)
We remember Jack Smith.
from Wikipedia:
“Smith is an occupational surname originating in England. It is the most prevalent surname in the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, and the fifth most common surname in Ireland. In the United States, the surname Smith is particularly prevalent among those of English, Scottish, and Irish descent, but is also a common surname among African-Americans, which can be attributed either to African slaves having been given the surname of their masters, or to being an occupational name, as some southern African-Americans took this surname to reflect their or their father’s trade. 2,442,977 Americans shared the surname Smith at the time of the 2010 census..”
“The name refers to a smith, originally deriving from smið or smiþ, the Old English term meaning one who works in metal, related to the word smitan, the Old English form of smite, which also meant strike (as in early 17th century Biblical English: the verb “to smite” = to hit). The Old English word smiþ comes from the Proto-Germanic word smiþaz. Smithy comes from the Old English word smiðē from the Proto-Germanic smiðjon…”
Continuing the conceit, we salute also today the two “Smith sisters”
Bessie Smith. and Patti Smith
– and see here and here (for Jack and Harry)
Striking a blow for art. Happy Smith Thursday, everybody