posted
OK. Before anyone emails me and asks about my other Burrough's encounters.. A customer called me up one day in 1980 needing a new sign over the front of his bar in Lawrence, KS. It was the old Rock Chalk Cafe (former hangout to the likes of Keroac) which he had bought up and turned into a sub shop with beer. He needed a sign announcing the name "The Crossing". I showed up around 11:45 am and he said he would buy me a sandwich for coming to his aid. I ordered a sammy as he vanished back into the kitchen. I figured he would be out soon enough and we would talk signs.
In walked a couple characters from the Journalism School, setting up lights and cameras, basically aiming at my table, the only big table in the joint. Then wattled in several odd looking ducks, who all sat down to discuss world politics and left wing radicalism. Everyone gravitated to my table. Allen Ginsburg, William Burroughs, Marcy Francisco (the mayor of Lawrence at the time) and Charlie Whitman (a local attorney and resident genius of the place). I sat there amazed that somehow, I was being included in this tempestuous and intellectual lot. The lights went on and the cameras started rolling.
Finally, after ten minutes of listening to Burroughs bark about the lack of any good guns or rifles in the place and Ginzburg cackle about how he quit smoking cigarettes, someone asked me just who the heck I was. I smiled and said I was the sign guy. Just there for a sammy and a quick bid for the outside sign. ...Welllll.... everyone went into uproar! The camera guy dropped his lens cap. Everyone's mouth went agape. It was obvious as a blue stool that I was not invited to that party and should leave immediately. The new owner (who had no idea who these people were) came over with my free sandwich and asked everyone if any sammies were needed. I stood up, shook the owner's hand and went into the kitchen, where I ate my sammy in peace. Yes, I sold him a sign and yes, I went back for more of his dilectable sammies! No, I never ran into Burroughs in there again, but did have another couple of encounters with him! What a character.Ah, the life of selling signs!
------------------ Preston McCall 2516 W 63rd St. Mission Hills, Kansas 66208 913-262-3443 office 816-289-7112 cell
Posts: 1562 | From: Overland Park, KS | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Good story! Back in the '80s a good buddy and I got some bogus press passes and went as reporters to cover a "Yippie vs. Yuppie" debate at the University of Rhode Island. Being "media" people got us an invitation to the post-event reception, and I found myself a few hours later on the back porch of Professor Somebodies house, talking politics and burning a fattie with non other than Abbie Hoffman. He'd just come back from his years of being "underground" and was doing the debate circuit with old Chicago Seven pal Jerry Rubin; a year or so later he lost his battle with his manic-depressive disorder and ate a revolver. Damn shame. I didn't agree with his politics, but I loved his rabble-rousing iconoclastic efforts.
------------------ "A wise man concerns himself with the truth, not with what people believe." - Aristotle
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro. - Raoul Duke (Hunter S. Thompson)
Cam Finest Kind Signs 256 S. Broad St. Pawcatuck, Ct. 06379 "Award winning Signs since 1988"
Posts: 3051 | From: Pawcatuck,Connecticut USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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