Poetry readings

[cirerita]

From Adios Againe #7, 1975:
"Bukowski appeared at the West Coast Bodega, Long Beach's premiere poet-bar, March 5, 1975."

There's a poem about the reading, illustrated by a Jesus Guttierrez.

 

[Rekrab]

Damn. If I'd have stayed in Long Beach two more years, I could have been at that Bodega reading.

 

[cirerita]

The poetry reading at the Venice coffeshop took place on Jan. 27, 1971.

Also, B says: "just finished reading at Claremont (or Pomona college)..." in a letter dated Nov. 23, 1970.

 

[roni]

cool. thanks!

 

[Rekrab]

I think I mentioned it in another thread, but for the record, I have a letter somewhere from an early Bukowski fan who saw him read at a bookstore in the mid-1950s. When I find it, I'll post the details. I'm sure I kept that letter. It's here somewhere. By the way, I finally found my stash of Steve Richmond letters and cards, after months of searching. I don't throw stuff like that out, but it gets moved around in piles until it's buried.

 

[mjp]

The poetry reading at the Venice coffeshop took place on Jan. 27, 1971. Also, B says: "just finished reading at Claremont (or Pomona college)..." in a letter dated Nov. 23, 1970.

I think there were numerous Venice readings. Pomona is already in the timeline, but "just finished" could mean anything. But it's probably safe to put it in November.

David, That is such an unlikely story -- it would be great to have the details. The only reason I would even consider it to be an outside possibility would be due to Barbara Fry's influence, such as it was. 1956-57 they were together, so the general time fits.

 

[Rekrab]

mjp -- I know it's an unlikely story, the mid-1950s reading, but the guy who wrote to me about it was an oldtimer, had been there in the early days of Buk's career, and didn't seem like the type to make up stuff. His letter was written in the 1980s. Maybe this was one of those literary events Barbara Fry dragged Bukowski to. I'll look again for the letter but that's like saying I'm going down to the beach to dig for pirate gold. Sure, it's there somewhere along the coast. You just have to dig in the right spot.

 

[cirerita]

I'm pretty sure the Venice reading from January 1971 took place on the 27th and it was in a coffeeshop... unless he read twice in Venice that same month.

A very reliable source told me that he met Bukowski in the early 60s at a literary party where B. read some of his poems... but no one else can confirm this, so who knows?