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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