Plastic Father by C. W. Truesdale (1971)

 

Plastic Father

C. W. Truesdale

Fragments Press

New York

(c)1971

Illustrations throughout by Neil Greenberg. Fragments Press seems to have disappeared without much of an internet "footprint". Mr. Truesdale was the author of several books of poetry, this one among his earliest. 

I like the use of differing fonts and some spacial deviations that I am quite used to seeing now but was kind of surprised to see in a 1971 chapbook. He's experimenting and I fully appreciate his efforts and those of Fragments Press, a press that was associated with Rutgers University. The books from Fragments Press were distributed by New Rivers Press (NYC), also a press I know next to nothing about. 

At the same time, this book is also a film critique of the 1959 John Wayne movie, Rio Bravo, using the language and "experimentation" I previously mentioned to pick through the corpse of the movie. (Not a "film", but light John Wayne western entertainment oozing with white privilege and minority troupes that were common place back then) - but this astute poet noted and wrote about in this tiny volume. Truesdale spares no one; even the scriptwriter gets a kick in the pants. 

Vanish by David Hiatt (1974)

 

Vanish

David Hiatt

Litmus

Salt Lake City, UT

(c) 1974

There is a 21st century Litmus Press. This isn't that. This is the original Salt Lake City based publishing concern that Mr. Hiatt was instrumental in creating.Hiatt was instrumental in the establishment of Litmus Press, which played a key role in promoting local authors and literature during the 1970s. He was known for promoting the writing of local SLC poets. 

This is a handsome representation of the work that Litmus published during their heyday. They published a chapbook by Charles Bukowski in 1968 (so Black Sparrow didn't publish everything Bukowski) 

David Hiatt (1942-2007) deserves to be remembered. 

Northport by Allan Johnston (2010)

 

Northport

Allan Johnston

Finishing Line Press

Georgetown, KY

(c)2010

Don't trip over that string. 

What is the purpose of that string?

I believe they stopped doing that now, but if there was a logic to it - I don't get it. Am acknowledging the book and the author. The Press? 

NAH.

Astronomers Madonnas and Prophesies by Victor Contoski (1972)

Astronomers Madonnas and Prophesies 

Victor Contoski 

Northeast/Juniper Books

La Crosse, WI

(c)1972

This was my first encounter with Victor Contoski but not with Juniper Books. This was an early book in their publishing lives but already they had published books by George Hitchcock and John Judson. It's a slightly larger sized staple bound book. Cover image by Anne Swan. Poems of the era. 

The Ancient Wars by Paul Zimmer (1981)

The Ancient Wars

Paul Zimmer

Slow Loris Press

Pittsburgh, PA

(c)1981

I find it curious that the book is dedicated to the publishers of all of his books. I never heard of Slow Loris Press, but found this online ; "The Slow Loris Press was an independent non-profit venture headed by Anthony and Patricia Petrosky. The Slow Loris Press focused on publishing a poetry magazine called the Rapport that evolved into a wider format with the start of the Slow Loris Reader (SLR) in 1978. The press also published poetry anthologies of various authors, as well as, the Rapport and SLR which drew upon numerous poets' work. The Slow Loris Press originated in Buffalo, New York, where Anthony Petrosky (also called Tony) taught at the Free School of Buffalo. When Anthony received a position at the University of Pittsburgh in 1975 the couple and magazine headed there. In February of 1978 the couple had a child named Matthew. By 1978 and the launching of the SLR, Patricia (also called Patty) Petrosky controlled most of the press's operations, including the editorship.

Financial support for the press came from magazine subscriptions, sales of its book and from available government grants. In the 1980s the press encountered trouble competing for National Endowment for the Humanities grants as well as more local funding options. In 1986, with two books by Martha Friedberg and Janet Sternberg in production, the press halted operations amid financial and personal troubles. Influenced by these setbacks the Slow Loris Press ceased operation in 1986."

The text is not secured to the cover, apparently by design. The poet as the main character throughout the poems. Interesting collection. 

The Dream Tree by Stephen Cosgrove (1974)

 

The Dream Tree

Stephen Cosgrove

Illustrated by Robin James

Price/Stern'Sloan

Los Ángeles, CA

(c)1974

          Best known for publishing Mad-Lids they expanded their company into the world of children's literature under the "Serendipity Book" imprint. This was one of those. Beautifully illustrated by Robin James. Lovely staple-bound booklet. 

The Bowery and other poems by Linda Lerner (2004)

 

The Bowery and other poems

Linda Lerner 

March Street Press

Greensboro, NC

(c)2004

I don't claim to have met many of the poets whose books I write about here but I did meet Linda Lerner when I was the events coordinator at a famous Philadelphia bookstore a year or two before this book was published. 

She did a good reading as I recall but what I most remember about her visit was her overheated entrance, she has been walking much further than she thought she would be, and she was a bit the worse for wear. 

She name-drops a time or two in this collection, but so did I by dropping hers. It's a good read. 

Spoiled for Choice by Duncan Glen (1976)

Spoiled for Choice

Duncan Glen

Akros Publications 

Lancashire, UK

(c)1976

Apparently there was once a magazine called Akros and from it arose (and later sank) a publishing operation called Akros Publications. I mention this because AI wants me to go to some current named entity that bares no resemblance in publication with the original whatsoever. Other than the fact that the original disappeared and so did the control over the name and thus a new company has claimed the name. 

Now that that is a clear as mud : this numbered and signed copy is extremely interesting in that is was written and published within three months back in 1976 and the poems were printed on different colored paper stock throughout. Really cool. Darn one say "innovative". I dare. 

Spring Fever and Other Dialect Verses by Lucy Cherry Crisp (1935)

 

Spring Fever and Other Dialect Verses

Lucy Cherry Crisp

Joseph J Stone & Co.

Greensboro, NC

(c) 1935

It's a misnomer to say that poetry chapbooks started in the 1940s. There will always be gems like this that appear if for no other reason than to contradict prevailing narratives. 

This frail 41 page hand sown book was made in 1935. It has some condition issues, The poetry is true to the period. Well, the language is more of a regional dialect - hey, I bet that's why ...... yeah, it's actually a good representation of a regional dialect. If it weren't so fragile, I would read it with vigor and energy - and it would disintegrate in my hands. 

I won't do that. I am glad to add it to my collection. 

Total Eclipse by Bruce Holsapple (1977)

 

Total Eclipse

Bruce Holsapple

Contraband Press

Portland, ME

(c)1977

             I will admit that before I even started writing this I had no idea who this poet was nor who the publisher was (spoiler alert: they are the same person). Never heard of the Press, nor the poet, nor did I consider the possibility that Portland Maine was ever a cool creative dot on the map. 

             I am glad to be wrong on all accounts. Contraband Press started out as a magazine created, primarily, by Bruce Holsapple himself. If you are curious to learn more, seek out articles by Dana Wilde about that time period (the mid-1970s) in Portland since he was there and witnessed it, took it all in, was part of that creative community as a teen. 

             This book was included in a lot I purchased online from someone with whom I have had dealings with in the past, and what caught my eye with this one was the amount of visuality in the cover. Pretty stunning for a book cover from a small press in Portland MAINE.  

             Really glad to have it. But again, read Dana Wilde's articles - they are easy enough to find online and really fill in the story more accurately than I ever could.