Wayne Peel

Its been awhile since I have visited your wonderful website; I left a message 7march 2004 about my experience with the Straight theatre;The Dead and Sons of chaplin,the dance class, and my envolvement with the light show;Its hard to explain what it was like unless you were there;What a long strange trip its been; I'm now living in the Pittsburgh,PA; area and have such great memories back in the 60s Keep up the good work; Peace and Love;Wayne 21 February 2006

Jay & Carol Edwards | SageRange~AT~Centurytel~DOT~net

We lived in the haight/Ashbury district from 1965 to 1967 and shared a flat with several people we have since lost touch with; It got so crazy, finally, that we couldn't take it anymore and left San Francisco to hitchhike around some; We'd love to hear from people who lived in SF during those years; We saw Dierdre Weir's message (Tom Weir's daughter) and remember her as a cute little blond-headed girl upstairs in our apartment building; 19 February 2006 - Walden, Colorado

Panoramix | panoramix~DOT~magic~AT~gmail~DOT~com

Wow ! All those pics remind me lots of memories; Guys, continue ; That's Hype !!!! 12 February 2006 - Belgium

Grey | ozzy~AT~mailbox~DOT~com

Really good site, and a pleasant suprise; Keep doin what you do, dont ever stop; 12 February 2006 - London

Jerry | robert5~AT~mailbox~DOT~com

The site is awesome; I love it! 12 February 2006 - Las Vegas

Dave Vanderslice

Great site! Love Neal " I had a friend I used to drink with but he went drinking!" 11 February 2006 - Tucson

Grey | kelly~AT~mail~DOT~com

Keep up this great resource! Thanks! 10 February 2006 - Toronto

Alan Moore | Bflyspirit~AT~aol~DOT~com | www;butterflyspirit;org/

Great website!! I was SF Oracle editor Allen Cohen's caregiver before he passed last year and was at the Chet Helms memorial; I would be honored to list you as a member of Musicians & Fine Artists for World Peace; Its free if you resonate with our mission statement & goals; We can then link to you on our webpage; Our 1340+ member list at includes Pattie Labelle, Pete Seeger, the Dalai Lama, Patch Adams & Dennis Kucinich; Our mission is at www;butterflyspirit;org/projects/musicians;We organized a nude protest against the War in Iraq with over 50 couples spelling out Make Love Not War with their naked bodies in San Francisco on April 19, 2003 It graces the cover of our compliation Peace CD and was mentioned on CNN; lso check out my story which was published in Magical Souvenirs by Arielle Ford; Love donations are welcome, but membership is free; May Peace Prevail on Earth & in Space! Alan Moore 18 January 2006 Reggie's Comments   I had to post this for others to see and perhaps respond to as well. Keep up the important work L&P

michelle

hey your website is sorta weird BUT it helped me with my project so you did good but just to tell you that some of your pics are x off so you should fix that well ttyl 12 January 2006 - toronto Reggie's Comments   Eh? L&P

Brett Rutherford | brettrutherford~AT~cox~DOT~net

Straight Theater - Joseph Gostanian -- All these years later I am still haunted by that brilliant production, in which the cast mixed with the audience, and members of the audience leaped up at the end of Marc Antony's speech, ready to commit mayhem; I was editor of the short-lived Haight-Ashbury Press then and I wrote a glowing review of the production in that little newspaper (one of the psychedelic bleeding-color tabloids that the runaway kids sold on the street); I would be pleased to hear from anyone involved in that production; That same summer was also graced by a program called "Bach's Death Trip," in which Margaret Fabrizio perfomed Bach's Art of the Fugue on a harpsichord, with huge church candles all around her; I was also involved with poetry readings at the I and Thou Coffe House and will never forget the police riot on Halloween Night when the cops terrorized the hippies; I'd be delighted to share memories with anyone who was there (and can remember); 13 December 2005 - Providence, RI Reggie's Comments   That era of great Directors at the Straight doing many extraordinary need I say avant-garde theater will hold up in history much as Orson Wells’s National Theater group of the ninteenthiries. I have the Julius Caesar handbill with a stylized red and green orator pointing accusingly as the cover of the program which names many of the cast and crew. I will email a jpeg to you if you want. I’d love to read and reprint your review of the play and place it on thestraight.com. Many of these Directors appear in photos that can be viewed by clicking the photo button. Luther Greene S.T. Tech Dir was working the night of the poice riots and describes the theater under police seige and tear gas bombardment in a two page report which I could also send if you want.

jackieb | jbsixties~AT~hotmail~DOT~com

Pilot ist took me there to see "King Rat as Mt;Rushmore,Santanna and All Man Joy jammed (50cents to get in; 28 September 2005 - Los Angeles Reggie's Comments   Thanks to Pilot and you for dropping by and hanging out at the Straight. What a trip being at a multimedia extravaganza plus seeing the Santana Blues Band working it's way toward stardom. L&P

linzi and rose | cohen~DOT~s~AT~merseymail~DOT~com

hi were from liverpool, home of the beatles; we love the sixties and will make a revaloution someday ha ha see u in heaven xxxxxxxx 28 September 2005 - england Reggie's Comments   Lambs across the water; Love and Peace.

Michael Powell

Dear Reg, A million thanks for finally clearing that one up for me; Apparently there were two "openings" ("grand" or otherwise); I had never been able to find anyone who had been at the September 29th/30th opening who could remember the presence of Cassady (Anna Halperin and Mickey Hart had no recollection), but, on the other hand, Charles Perry in his history of the Haight states that, "After a false alarm on July 21, the Straight Theater finally opened with a performance of a play called _The Dossier_" (his entry for 27 July 1967), so it didn't look like that beautifully-postered event for 21-23 July had actually happened; Hank Harrison dates the flexi disc in his 1973 book as having been recorded in "September 1967;" He also mentions that it is just a sampling of much more available in the Dead archives; Does anyone currently have access to the Dead's recordings of Neal Cassady? I'm preparing the Cassady bibliography, which has an archives section, so it would be nice to be able to establish the whereabouts of as much of his own original stuff as possible;Thanks again for that important clarification; Best Michael Powell 24 September 2005 Reggie's Comments   Thanks for the reply. I took the liberty of posting your email answer because maybe it will clear up some confusion that has persisted to this day although I have never been able to figure out why especially because I helped create and was at both events as business manager and light show if I might say artist. The Perry book although practically the only thing out there was written by some one who was not present thus reporting after the fact relying on recollections, hearsay. and sometimes even supposition. After learning from Perry’s so called history of the HA that the Straight was discovered by an unnamed wantabe light show artist I admit skimming the rest of the antidotal work. Every single band advertised played the three day grand opening. Fri July 21,’67 Quicksilver Messenger Service closed after Mother Earth, Salvation Army Banned, and Mt Rushmore, the first to play the Straight in front of the public rocked the packed house. Saturday night July 22 featured the Charlatans, Blue Cheer, and Country Joe and the Fish after Freedom Highway. Sunday July 23 Phoenix, Wildflower, Janis Joplin and Big Brother and the Holding Company played, but the night was made famous by Neal Cassady raping in front of the Grateful Dead during the live sound check. A fellow SF stater, Hank Harrison's tear out record is only a partial track and not assigned the right date, probably poor research or failed recollection. We gave it to him as background and not for publication. You can read and hear more of the audio track on the Straight Sounds Button. Soon I will add Pete Alben, also a fellow SF Stater, thanking us by name during Big Brother's set that same Sunday night, July 23 ,1967. The next appearance of the Grateful Dead at the Straight was Friday and Saturday September 29 & 30. This date was after the Bd of Permit Appeals backed the Chief’s denial of our Dance Hall Permit and we declared the theater performances Dance Classes under the auspices of the Straight Theater School of Performing Arts located next door for over a year.. Caitlin Huggins began instruction only after I had to go downstairs to the instructors risers on the dance floor and explain loudly on mic some of the ground rules to the Grateful Dead who had begun to play like all dance concerts not taking the legal prohibition against dancing seriously. Ann Halprin and her dance company were guest artists and it was Mickey Harts first public appearance with the Dead playing the house filled to the rafters. You can see pictures of this night on the Interior and Gallery buttons and read the story on the Dance Button.. I see by your email that you are at a University perhaps Oregon and are seriously researching the era and its heroes. Bravo and as you and I relearn occasionally that as with all history you have to dig and dig through primary source material as well as first hand recollection to come up with “the Truth” And thanks to Jeff Hall for passing the Grateful Dead audio archives link along helping me keep the chronology “Straight” .

Michael Powell | mapowell~AT~uoregon~DOT~edu

Dear Reg, Can you please tell me the date(s) on which the famous Neal Cassady "Rap" was recorded; The scheduled 21-23 July 1967 "Grand Opening" of the Straight Theater was, I am told, canceled because the SF Police Dept; would not allow a permit; thus, at the end of September, under the guise of a "Dance Class," the opening is said to have taken place; But I'm hearing conflicting reports from different people, and, so far, have not come across a single individual who can vouch for the date on which Cassady's rap was actually recorded; Can you help me with this? Thanks, Michael Powell 21 September 2005 - Straight Theater Reggie's Comments   Hi Michael, The Neal rap was definitely recorded live at the Straight on Sunday night July 23 1967 the third day of the grand opening by Brent Dangerfield ,Audio Engineer, and Luther Greene, Technical Director. All of the bands advertised played our opening week end. We had gotten all the necessary permits including a Public Assembly permit from the Building, Health and Fire departments to open to the public on Friday July 21. Long before this we had applied for a Dance permit from the Police dept which turned us down. Dancing was bad in our neighborhood the Chief thought and he had control of issuing permits for “dancehalls” in SF. Next we went before the Bd of Permit appeals and petioned for them to overturn the Chief’s action. The process took many weeks and several appearances and was reported as front page news. They sided with the chief. As we had already established a Dance company and school in an old Masonic Hall adjoining the Straight Theater a year before, declared that the dance concerts in the theater were dancing classes therefore not under the Chief’s domain and unchallenged people started dancing on our huge wooden floor in September. Thus the Dead played and Neal raped on July 23 and nobody was allowed to dance by the police monitors but when the Dead returned to play two months later in September it was a Dance class and every one danced under the tutelage of our head dance instructress Caitlin Huggins. You can read about it on the Dance page. The Dead instrumental I call Further on down the line was sent to me attached to a copy of Neal’s rap leading me to think that it was also done at that time. I now believe from feedback that it was not. L&P

Nikki and Randy Salas | nikkinez~AT~yahoo~DOT~com

Hey Reg E; I am passing through AZ and want to reconnect; Drop my daughter Nikki an email and she can put us in touch; It would be such a blessing to hear from you again; HEY tomorrow Friday August 26th is my b-day; Would be great to see you if you are in the AZ area; Randy 25 August 2005 - AZ Reggie's Comments   right on! I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR VISIT and offer to sign your posters as now your wonderful art work will be available signed. Thanks Nikki for your help hooking us back up. Love and Peace

DIN SIMPSON BROTHER OF PAM AND DEE DEE | ASIMPSON~AT~SOE~DOT~COM

REG WHAT A TRIP;;;; READING ABOUT YOU AND BILL - SPIKE GREENE ET AL THAT BRINGS ME BACK WAY BACK - I THINK THE LAST TIME I SAW YOU WAS AT BILL'S WAKE I CAN'T REMEMBER BUT THAT WAS A LONG TIME AGO - JUST READING YOUR STORY BROUGHT BACK SO MANY MEMORIES THAT WERE MASKED IN SMOKE AND WHATEVER - I HOPE ALL IS WELL WITH YOU AND YOURS - I THOUGHT YOU WERE IN ARZ NEVER TO BE HEARD OF AGAIN -WELL TAKE CARE AND IF YOU NEED A BAND MY BAND " TROPICAL HEAT " WILL BE GLAD TO PLAY ANDY "DIN" SIMPSON 8 August 2005 - MARIN COUNTY Reggie's Comments   Thanks for touching bases. I am seeking music for my 60's DVDs and on going Celebration Series so I'll be in touch.. Say Hi to your sisters. L&P

Uqabuqi | uqabuqi~AT~uqabuqi~DOT~com

I like this site =) 6 July 2005

Dicowuq | dicowuq~AT~dicowuq~DOT~com

Nice guestbook! Keep it up! 6 July 2005

uma | oven~AT~mocca~DOT~us

i love your work; keep it up!! 2 July 2005 - US

uma | monkey~AT~blogs~DOT~bl

Would like to thank you for very much for this interesting site! 2 July 2005 - US

paul | oven~AT~mail~DOT~be

Just thought I would pop in again - love your site - you've done a WONDERFUL job - will be back often; I have put you in my links - hope you don't mind; 2 July 2005 - US

george | aaron~AT~microsoft~DOT~com

Wonderful pages! Keep up the grat work; 1 July 2005 - US

elephant | loiver~AT~foam~DOT~net

I loved your website; It Rocks! You have done an awsome job; 1 July 2005 - US

rocky | igor~AT~yahoo~DOT~co~DOT~uk

This site is very extensive! Great work! Thanks 1 July 2005 - US

smith | william~AT~msn~DOT~com

Just thought I would pop in again - love your site - you've done a WONDERFUL job - will be back often; I have put you in my links - hope you don't mind; 1 July 2005 - US

Hammond Guthrie

In Light - Namasté Hammond Guthrie In Memory of Chet Helms http://emptymirrorbooks;com/thirdpage/chethelmstrib ute;html 30 June 2005

Wesley,Earl Pillow,Hind;

HIPPIE YES; GENTLEMAN ALSO; Chet was one of those special people who actually lived the "Hippie" ideal; Someone who was a true patron of the arts as practiced in the Renaiscence; A gentleman,a gentle man,in an age of paranoia and conflict; His Avalon was a refuge for many free spirits and the Congress of Wonders was privileged to have performed there with bands like the Qicksilver,Big Brother and Janis,Buddy Guy,Steve Miller,Mother Earth and a crazy-wonderful parade of music makers; All seeking a chance to express their unique sounds to a giant room full of dancing-prancing soul seekers,myself,the Congress and our ladies among them; So Mr; Williams thanks for the word; I just read the blurb on AOL about him also; Bon aventure,Monseur Helms,on the other side! Sayonara,Wesley,Earl Pillow,Hind; 27 June 2005

Wes Wilson

Hi Reggie - It's sadly taken here but thanks anyway for sending us our first news about Chet's demise; I'm staying tuned to find out what sort of memeorial will be organized(?) - but I couldn't make the trip out anyway at this time; I hope you all are doing ok out there this summer; - Peace & Love - Wes 27 June 2005

Carmen C; Kotting

What a sad shocker; What's weird is that for the past week I've had him on my mind almost constantly, and, was going to ask if you had an email address for him; No wonder!! L&P Carmen C; Kotting 27 June 2005

REW

I forwarded this sad new to friends with edresses I have and post it here; I hope some of you can help to archive what this important social leader achieved during his productive and Cosmic life; Summer of Love and Chester Helms can be found on line; PEACE and LOVE Date: Sat, 25 Jun 2005 07:25:48 -0700 Subject: Sad News From: "hammond guthrie" View Contact Details To: "Ann Cohen" Sad to pass the news - but our good friend and brother Chet Helms passed away last night; I am preparing a 3rd Page tribute over the weekend and if you have any comments or a photo please send them along;;; anon Hammond / Portland, Or; 27 June 2005

Ben Johns | bmj24~AT~yahoo~DOT~com | insurance;qsearch;in/

Your site is great! I've bookmarked it 22 June 2005 - USA

Wesley Hind; whind1@aol;com | whind1~AT~aol~DOT~com | N/a

Sorry I forgot the e-mail address; Question one How can I get in touch with Carmen(Seal)C;? I knew her in Greenwich Village with people like Charlie Cockey and Peter Smith,etc;back in 64(?); 16 June 2005 - Dover,Fla; Reggie's Comments   Wesley! All Right! Say it's really you. We touch bases at last. Caitlin just called Carmen to pass along your Scrawl. They haven't talked for a week so it took about an hour to get her off the phone so I could get back on line to answer here. Next I will send an email with all our edresses and current info. I have much catching up to do. L&P R

Wesley(Earl Pillow)Hind | whind1~AT~aol~DOT~com | n/a

Yes! It is I; I left the Congress in '71,by the way;I was never a Jazz musician in Sarasota either; How the hell are you old friend!? I have ,at times been a miller,a delivery and pick-up guy,an electronic technician on kidney dialysis machines,attempted radio show writer and over-all working class anti-hero; I just got back from a jaunt to Santa Rosa and San Fran with my son,Jonathan,to visit relatives I haven't seen in 45 yrs; and Howard and Kit whom i haven't seen in 19; I think Howard tried to contact you; Call me back! I have questions! 16 June 2005 - 13250 Lewis Gallagher Rd;,Dover,Fl;,33527

Roy | torxx~AT~hotmail~DOT~com | buy;pepper;spray;20m;com

Very excellent work all round;;; 12 June 2005

Samuel Morris | sm1968~AT~yahoo~DOT~com | sm;maddsites;com/

Your site is special! Thank you for your work 12 June 2005 - USA

Bruce Frauman | bfrauman~AT~adelphia~DOT~net | none!!!!???

I never visited the Straight Theatre, but did attend many great concerts with many of the same groups at Frost Amphitheatre at Stanford University in 1969-1971, I still quote (as best as I can remember), one comedy troupe, the Congress of Wonders; Does anyone know if any of their work is still available?? 7 June 2005 - South Londonderry, Vermont Reggie's Comments   Being the Congress's manager in the late 60's enabled me to retain a good Congress collection of pictures and 16mm movies. . You can see some on the movie page and in the photo gallery where they have their own section. Unfortunately my original 1/4" audio tapes were misplaced but the link found on the links page labled the Congress of Wonders goes to a fellow that sells cd's of the record that Howard and Richard did for Fantasy records as the Congress of Wonders after Westly left the group in '69. Howard "Carl Truckload" still stays in touch and has posted several Scrawls below where one can find his eddress.

Mark Gilbert | marksax~AT~starpower~DOT~net | www;chopteeth;com

I played saxophone in 1969 at the Straight with my rock band Rush, from Terra Linda High School in San Rafael, during a big legal defense fundraiser, also including Spirit and many other bands; The lobby carpet and stairs were soaking wet; In 1975 my girlfriend lived across the street; I have continued to play all kinds of music, touring with Gladys Knight, the Dells, Four Tops (Live Aid), Cab Calloway, lots of doowop and jazz and salsa, and lately mostly with Chopteeth Afrofunk Big Band, around Washington, DC - www;chopteeth;com; 31 May 2005 - Silver Spring, Maryland Reggie's Comments   I wonder what month that was in ’69? Could it been in May for Messiah’s One World Crusade week long series of different performances? Being in the music biz for many years I have had a chance to work as Local IATSE Crew for some of the performers you mention but I have always wanted to work a Cab Callaway gig. L&P

July;tray | July~DOT~tray~AT~gmail~DOT~com | canada-online-pharmacy;flywebs;com/

Thanx for this site; 31 May 2005 - NY, USA Reggie's Comments   I haven't visted your site yet but we find in general buying from Canada saves big bucks and helps keep our democracy more free. L&P

george | caresite~AT~ikea~DOT~com | www;tamitv;com

Just thought I would pop in again - love your site - you've done a WONDERFUL job - will be back often; I have put you in my links - hope you don't mind; 31 May 2005 - US Reggie's Comments   Sure. I just looked and couldn't find it. I checked out the incense string of links on your site but couldn't find one for thestraight. I'll look again. L&P

Xenical | xenical;135;it

Awesome work! Great! Lets keep in touch; 23 May 2005

Tadalafil | tadalafil;bigsitecity;com

Funny site, thanks! 22 May 2005

halle | chris~AT~kosh~DOT~co~DOT~jp | www;exportforest;com

Just found your site, WOW, very pleased I found this site; 16 May 2005 - US

serena | serena~AT~chick~DOT~com | www;siscape;com

Nice and thought filled site you've got here!;;; 15 May 2005 - US

Thomas Moor | tjm2000~AT~yahoo~DOT~com | spyware;infty;net/

Hey, Site was very interesting for me I wish you and your site everything best! 14 May 2005 - USA

Stevie Gurr | steviegurr~AT~yahoo~DOT~com | www;emith;com

;;;I was talking to Hillel a while back,and he said you might have some old "Congress of Wonders" stuff that I remember from the old KSAN days;;;I think Bob McClay (sp;?)was the DJ that would play a bunch of it;;;I remember a particular skit that wasn't on the two records on Fantasy that I have;;;in this skit,I think it was a take on the "Wizard of Oz",where the punch line was "SEDUCE"!!!;;;jog ' yer memory???;;;Hillel said,if anyone knew,it would be you;;;I met Hillel through Billy Roberts at the old Penquin,when he and his brother had the printing press in what would later become a martial arts dojo;;;also,I grew up for a while at Cole and Fredrick,and used to go to the Haight theater before the freakier daze that ensued;;;hope to hear from you soon!!! 6 May 2005 - Valley Village,CA

Carmen Novak | carmen_novak~AT~hotmail~DOT~com | spyray;com/

What a nice site, been surfing on it for the whole night and day and i neva got bored for a single minute; Keep up your good work and all of the best in everything you do! :-) 6 May 2005 - USA

Ben Watts | bwatts~AT~yahoo~DOT~com | chat;infty;net/

Hey, Site was very interesting for me I wish you and your site everything best! 29 April 2005 - USA

jiang liang | hydid;tra-vel;net

nice 27 April 2005

kiporis girl | matherearth~AT~yahoo~DOT~com | www;cisco-setup;com

Estimado amigo cooooooool site :), Soho vpn 23 April 2005 - USA

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