I am new to this forum. Stumbled across it. Saw some dated (2011) posts asking if C.B. did any readings in Florida during the ‘70s. Short answer is yes.
Longer answer - he read two nights at the Pastime bar in Tallahassee. I know because I’m the guy that set it up.
Called Ma Bell information in L.A. and got his phone number. We talked. Bought his round trip plane ticket. Put him up for a week. His girlfriend, whose name escapes me, flew in for the last 3 days. One night we drank a bunch of mushroom tea. The money was put up by friends who made their living off the grid importing agricultural products from Latin America. Hence the name of the story. If you read the story I am Clyde.
I was temporarily 86’ed from the Pastime because I had agreed to give the 50% of the profit from the reading. We charged a buck to get in. We gave him $500.00 + plane fare. Lost money. But had one helluva good time. It was a truly memorable experience that I’ll carry smiling to my grave. The Pastime relented after I explained the true finances of what happened. That was important for me as I was often there until closing time. My friends and I knew along we weren’t going to make any money. That thought never entered our minds. We just wanted to meet Bukowski and have a good time.
The Pastime was like the bar scene in the original Star Wars - a motley collection of artists, writers, musicians, grad students, pool hustlers, bikers, drag queens, drug dealers and hippies. And Bukowski fit right in. If you made it this far, thanks for reading - aka Clyde.
Longer answer - he read two nights at the Pastime bar in Tallahassee. I know because I’m the guy that set it up.
Called Ma Bell information in L.A. and got his phone number. We talked. Bought his round trip plane ticket. Put him up for a week. His girlfriend, whose name escapes me, flew in for the last 3 days. One night we drank a bunch of mushroom tea. The money was put up by friends who made their living off the grid importing agricultural products from Latin America. Hence the name of the story. If you read the story I am Clyde.
I was temporarily 86’ed from the Pastime because I had agreed to give the 50% of the profit from the reading. We charged a buck to get in. We gave him $500.00 + plane fare. Lost money. But had one helluva good time. It was a truly memorable experience that I’ll carry smiling to my grave. The Pastime relented after I explained the true finances of what happened. That was important for me as I was often there until closing time. My friends and I knew along we weren’t going to make any money. That thought never entered our minds. We just wanted to meet Bukowski and have a good time.
The Pastime was like the bar scene in the original Star Wars - a motley collection of artists, writers, musicians, grad students, pool hustlers, bikers, drag queens, drug dealers and hippies. And Bukowski fit right in. If you made it this far, thanks for reading - aka Clyde.