Sputnik launch and Jack Kerouac's ON THE ROAD

both turned fifty this year along with a slew of people all around the world. Somehow sputnik into outer space never will replace spudnut donuts down gullet in my book.

In the tradition of Jack London, Walt Whitman, Henry David Thoreau, and all the writer's listed in Walter Rideout's THE RADICAL NOVEL IN THE UNITED STATES 1900 - 1954, Kerouac 's ON THE ROAD, takes its place among these literary American lights.

Jack and Neal poppin' bennies , burning high octane straight eight cylinder Detroit wheels , while doing backflips , new trips , occasional eclipse , no lulls , no dips , just zip , zip, zip , out for kicks cross country joyride. Their American highway documented prior to the interstate highway system . Romping about visiiting comrades , chicks , and beatnik pals from NYC to San Francisco. An existential journey of souls in search for their own. Happy and sad in the same sentence. Jack Kerouac a Mama's boy , failed athelete , and in many ways a very melancholy outsider , afraid of success , and unable to adapt to the cultural change of postwar American values.

Jack Kerouac

Sadly , Kerouac died a scant eleven years after the publication of this novel , a sad man with a bad liver , dead at the age of forty seven in the year 1969.

On a happier note I was fortunate to attend a birthday party for a legion of folk turning the half century mark a few days ago. A local poem was recited to honor the occasion and I believe that it went something like this

Ogden Nash would have been much quicker /
Likewise Dorthy Parker her host and his liquor /
These eccentric folks who live near the water /
Prefer self accolades as perhaps they oughter

Somehow this poem seemed to last the better part of ten minutes in its delivery? The poet reading was blocked from my view and was of an unspecific gender , and though possesing a simian face, announced self as Veeela BeAach.

A fine time was had by all the half centurians, with the host Rudy Shakes-Moore retiring early as is his custom. Stating a desire to purchase a ticket to a balloon ride to Canada the very next day. We can offer an antidote to rote poetry of suspicious nature in the form of a signed , limited copy of Dylan Thomas COLLECTED POEMS.

Hats off to all those born in the great year 1957 , My Dear Mother and two brothers, John, Kim , and their families , and of course King George Steinbrenner and his vassal of New York baseball knaves , with a mere two games remaining at best for their 2007 season.

Go Tribe!

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Welcome to old erie street book store

and please watch this space. On Turning Fifty will post soon. I promise just a few words concerning the fiftieth anniversary of Jack Kerouac's ON THE ROAD, a gentle hype towards the collectible 1957 first edition copy we have for sale. A few tales concerning a recent half century literary artsy soiree.

Drat' even a cheezy four line poem if the mood strikes. A short book review.

Stay tuned.

Hats off and a big hello to the queen city of the American south , home of John , Kim , and their great families, my old school pal Slim , and his hopped up roots beer. Better get sum goetta.

Goodnight to Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Bull Moose Jackson, Albert Ayler, and Tadd Dameron. All never to be forgotten immortal musical heroes of Cleveland, Ohio origin. Perhaps it would be better for all concerned to be absent from the" Best Of All Time, Greatest Clevelanders Ever Music", section in the October 3-9 issue of the 'free times', and all the other sections as well. A lack of aesthetic sense and historical perspective of the writers entrusted to select the best all time Cleveland musicians for this article seems to rule the day. Ayler, Hawkins, Jackson, and Dameron's musical talents speak to the world daily, and should not be so easily overlooked.

Screamin' Jay Hawkins

On the literary side of the 'free times best of' pathos reigns supreme with the predictable inclusion of Daniel Thompson , much to the chagrin of the smoldering poetic bones of Cleveland born Hart Crane and d.a. levy who were not selected as local Cleveland scribes of lasting artistic merit according to the free times unique selection process. Just what was the criteria used to judge any of the categories they covered?

This ' Best Of' fiasco only gets worse. Joe Siegel and Jerry Schuster , creators of the seminal American superhero comic book Superman while still students at Cleveland's Glenville High School , are absent.

Of no importance as Clevelanders of origin?

While we are on the funny book pages, I really would like to hear the explanation for the inclusion of Harvey Pekar and the exclusion of Siegel and Schuster? Contemporary Cleveland cartoonist Derf is nowhere to be found either?

Again, what conceivable reasoning for including Pekar and leaving Derf behind as Best Of candidates? I suppose the logic is that Deaf is a real talent. Continuing on the literary path notable Cleveland authors Edward Dahlberg and Herbert Gold are nowhere to be found either.

Nor is Margaret Hamilton in the performing arts section, Cleveland reform mayor Tom L. Johnson is given no nod for his 'Public Service'. Nor is Dennis Kucinich. The rest of the free times ‘Greatest Clevelanders Ever articles' proceed along similar lines. Glaring omissions the norm in every category.

Overall a weak cum journalistic effort and a true waste of printers ink.

Just like plenty of books we have for sale. I will sadly note that an eighty page book has been printed entitled DRUMSTICK SPINOLOGY and is now joining the stream of knowledge available for the modern English speaking world. This volume is not available from Old Erie Street Bookstore, and if you see a copy in someone’s hands run in the opposite direction.

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