Tag Archives: E. V. Griffith

The Free Lance

“The Free Lance Poetry and Prose Workshop was begun in 1942 by Mrs. Helen Collins, a librarian whose outlook was decidedly advanced for that profession here in those days. In 1950, Russell Atkins, a charter member of the group, suggested starting a ‘little magazine’ and brought this project together. He edited and published the first issue through financial gifts. It was distributed mainly in Cleveland. The 1952 issue was the first issue circulated outside of Cleveland. We were in correspondence with Judson Crews’ Suck Egg Mule, E.V. Griffith’s way-out editing of the Minnesota Quarterly. Mrs. Collins presented the magazine at Breadloaf. Many suggestions, help, from Langston Hughes, Loring Williams, Arna Bontemps. With the start of Trace magazine, Free Lance began its correspondence with Villiers’ James Boyer May. Collectively, this constituted some of what was the avant garde of the early fifties.

“Free Lance did not advocate the Carlos Williams school that began later. It has never held any particular sympathy for that concern with ‘ordinary language’: a dead-end seemingly. However, it did publish emerging Robert Creeley along with others in the boldest of experimentation. Eventually, Free Lance set an entirely different pattern of thought which persists even now. After some surprises to Cleveland (viz., Irving Layton’s poem, ‘The Dwarf’ which used ‘fuck’ as early as 1955 in Cleveland, and a short salon play, ‘The Abortionist’, at a time when the word was unmentionable here) Free Lance published its ‘psychovisualism’ theory. Few ‘little magazines’ had launched as complete and as original a bid for a ‘scientific aesthetic’. Free Lance was established, indisputably, as Cleveland’s avant garde. The magazine picked up interest. Editor-in-Chief Casper L. Jordan, Adelaide Simon, Helen Collins began to bring influences to bear: Mr. Jordan through the library at Wilberforce University; Mrs. Simon stirred memories of Hart Crane (who, after all, was a neglected name in Cleveland); Mrs. Collins determined policies. Many poets who became the “Beats” of late 1957 passed through our early files.

“Free Lance is now Cleveland’s hard core for poetry. Recently it supplied the largest continuous support for other activities pertaining to poetry, viz., the Fenn College Poetry Center; radion station WCLV’s Poetry Seminar (Jau Billera); d.a. levy’s Renegade Press. To the extent of its means it brings to Clevelanders names such as Judson Crews, Tracy Thompson, David Cornel DeJong, Irving Layton, Robert Creeley, Barris Mills, Charles Bukowski, Robert Sward

“Recently, Adelaide Simon re-organized the Free Lance Workshop, developing it along the lines of a zany salon for pent-up poets, painters, musicians. Russell Salamon invents words while d.a. levy makes prints using a condom in some instances; Russell Atkins suddenly psychovisualizes at the piano while Jau Billera plays tapes of poets he has recorded; Mr. and Mrs. Kent Taylor, James R. Lowell and Alsbrooks Smith run the gamut from art to sociology and politics while Mrs. Simon brings out day-old cakes, beer and newly arrived ‘Little Mags’. Celeste Simon pounces on overbearing seriousness devastatingly; the Fergusons relax. Mr. Simon returning from a Cleveland Orchestra concert brings delighted sanity to the evening. Somebody reads a poem occasionally. There are visitors.”

– Russell Atkins [Input, Vol. 1, No. 4 (New York, December 1964)]

Carl Larsen – Books and Broadsides

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SECTION A:
This index includes books, chapbooks, booklets and broadsides

1. Larsen, Carl. NOTES FROM A MACHINE SHOP
First edition:
Alondra: Hennypenny Press, 1956
Saddle-stapled in printed and illustrated wrappers, 5.5″ x 8.25″, 16 pages, numbered but no limitation stated, offset printed, edited by James M. Singer Jr. Published as Henny Penny Press Chapbook / Periodical #1.

2. Larsen, Carl. THE JOURNAL OF AN EXISTENTIALIST VILLAIN
First edition:
Redondo Beach: Hennypenny Press, 1957
Saddle-stapled in printed and illustrated wrappers, 5.5″ x 8.25″, 16 pages, offset printed.



3. Larsen, Carl. ARROWS OF LONGING
First edition:
Eureka: Hearse Press, 1958
Saddle-stapled illustrated wrappers, 5.5″ x 8.25″, 16 pages, (c. 100 copies), offset printed, edited by E.V. Griffith. Published as Hearse Chapbook #1.


4. Larsen, Carl. HERE, IN COUNTDOWN DARKNESS
First edition:
New Haven: Penny Poems, 1959
Broadside, 7″ x 10″, offset printed. Published as Penny Poem No. 66.



5. Larsen, Carl. THE GEOMETRIC NIGHTINGALE
First edition:
New York: 7 Poets Press, February 1960
Single sheet folded once to make four pages, 5.5″ x 8.5″, 4 pages.



6. Larsen, Carl. ONAN’S SEED, A NOVELLA
First edition:
New York: 7 Poets Press, 1960
Brad-bound in printed cover, 8.5″ x 11″, 30 pages printed recto only, offset printed.



7. Larsen, Carl. STORMING YOUR GATES: 1, A BOWL OF SHADOWS *
New Haven: Penny Poems, 1961

8. Larsen, Carl. THE PLOT TO ASSASSINATE THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK
First edition:
New York: 7 Poets Press, 1962
Saddle-stapled illustrated wrappers, 6″ x 9″, 20 pages, offset printed. Published as #4 in the Seven Poets Press Series, following O.W. Crane’s View from the Garret, Harland Ristau’s Next Time You’re Alive, and Charles Bukowski’s Longshot Poems for Broke Players.

9. Larsen, Carl. THE NAKED AND THE DEAD AND THE PRIDE AND THE PASSION AND OTHER POEMS
First edition:
Torrance: Hors Commerce, 1963
Side-stapled sheets with printed covers in library tape binding, 5.5″ x 8.5″, 24 pages, 125 copies, letterpress printed. Poems collected in the book previously appeared in Coastlines, Liberation, Lili, Mummy, Signet, Simbolica.

10. Larsen, Carl. THE BOOK OF ERIC HAMMERSCOFFER *
Tarot Press, 1964

11. Larsen, Carl. THE TOAD KING & OTHER POEMS
First edition:
Lanham: Goosetree Press, 1964
Saddle-stapled in printed wrappers, 4.25″ x 7″, 6 pages, offset printed. Poems collected in the book previously appeared in Merlin’s Magic, The Wormwood Review, and Mummy.

12. Larsen, Carl. THE CLOCKS
First edition:
Cody: Pioneer Drama Service, 1964
Saddle-stapled in printed wrappers, 5.5″ x 8.5″, 7 pages, offset printed. A one-act play.

13. Larsen, Carl. LEAH
First edition:
Cleveland: Renegade Press, 1965
Side-stapled in printed wrappers, 5.5″ x 8.5″, 10 pages, 100 copies, letterpress printed by d.a. levy. This 8-part poem previously appeared in The Wormwood Review. (T&H P-58)

14. Larsen, Carl. LOWER EAST: STANLEY’S BAR *
Niagara Falls: Press Today Niagara, 1966
Published as Press Today Niagara monograph, No. 1

15. Larsen, Carl. THE POPULAR MECHANICS BOOK OF POETRY
First edition:
Bensenville: Mimeo Press, 1966
Saddle-stapled in illustrated wrappers, 7″ x 8.5″, 24 pages, mimeograph printed, edited by Douglas Blazek. Forward by James Singer. Poems collected in the book previously appeared in The Wormwood Review, The Spero, The Panic Button, Poetmeat, and Simbolica.

16. Larsen, Carl. OL’PECKERHEAD
First edition:
San Jose: Samisdat, 1975
Saddle-stapled in illustrated wrappers, 5.5″ x 8.5″, 16 pages, offset printed. Published as Samisdat, Vol. 9, No. 1. Poems collected in the book previously appeared in Samisdat and Ampersand.

17. Larsen, Carl. THE MIDVALE CHRONICLE *
New York: New Earth Books 1977

18. Larsen, Carl. 1934 AMALGAMATED LUGWART COMPANY SPARE PARTS CATALOGUE *
St. Louis: Cornerstone Press, 1977

—

[* not in archive]

Carl Larsen

Carl Larsen in New York City, 1962

 

 

Carl Larsen’s first little magazine titled Existaria was published in Southern California (Hermosa Beach), ran for 7 issues in the mid to late 50s, and was a model for E.V. Griffith’s own little magazine Hearse.

His second periodical was rongWrong, and was published quarterly for 5 issues in New York in the early 60s and was co-edited by James Singer under the 7 Poets Press imprint. At this time, 7 Poets Press also started issuing chapbooks — there were seven or eight in all.

Also, in the early 60s was the periodical Brand X, which seems to have been modeled after Floating Bear, and ran for 12 issues each month in 1962…

Carl Larsen Checklist:

Section A: Books and Broadsides
Section B: Contributions to Books and Anthologies
Section C: Contributions to Periodicals
Section D: Books Edited and Published
Section E: Periodicals Edited and Published

References Consulted:

Griffith, E.V. SHEAF, HEARSE, COFFIN, POETRY NOW: A HISTORY
Eureka: Hearse Press, 1996

Lowell, James R. “A Preliminary Checklist of the Writings of d.a. levy (1942-1968)” appearing in THE SERIF, Kent State University Library Quarterly, Vol. VIII, No. 4, December, 1971

Taylor, Kent and Alan Horvath, eds. LOOKING FOR D.A. LEVY (RANDOM SIGHTINGS): THE D.A. LEVY BIBLIOGRAPHY, Volume 1 [1963-1966]
Vancouver: Kirpan Press, 2006

Online Resources:

Bukowski.net

Wormwood Review

Hearse Press Chapbooks

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Hearse Press published 18 chapbooks from  1958 to 1970. According to Griffith, “When I first envisioned Hearse, I wanted to also do some chapbooks, but it was nearly a decade before that wish became a reality.”

1. Larsen, Carl. ARROWS OF LONGING
Eureka: Hearse Press, 1958

2. [Anthology]. NINE BY THREE
Eureka: Hearse Press, 1959

3. Orlovitz, Gil. THE PAPERS OF PROFESSOR BOLD
Eureka: Hearse Press, 1959

4. Mason, Mason Jordan. A LEGIONERE
Eureka: Hearse Press, [1959]

5. Bukowski, Charles. FLOWER, FIST AND BESTIAL WAIL
Eureka: Hearse Press, 1960
First edition, saddle-stapled illustrated wrappers, 5.5″ x 8.25″, 28 pages, (200 copies), offset printed, cover illustration by Ben Tibbs, edited by E.V. Griffith. The author’s first book. Published as Hearse Chapbooks 5. (Dorbin A1, Krumhansl 3)

6. Nowlan, Alden A. A DARKNESS IN THE EARTH
Eureka: Hearse Press, 1959

7. Mason, Mason Jordan. THE CONSTIPATED OWL
Eureka: Hearse Press, 1959

8. Eckman, Frederick. HOT & COLD RUNNING
Eureka: Hearse Press, 1960

9. DeJong, David Cornel. ELKS, MOOSES, LIONS, AND OTHER ESCAPES
Eureka: Hearse Press, [1963]

10. Crews, Judson. THE FEEL OF SUN & AIR UPON HER BODY
Eureka: Hearse Press, [1959]
First edition, comb-bound illustrated boards., 32 pages, 125  copies.  Published as Hearse Chapbook 10. Illustrated with photographs cut from magazines on both sides of covers, with title and author name letterpress printed in green on front, plus two similar leaves in text. The images appear to come from nudist, girly, travel, and other magazines. Each copy presumably is unique.

11. Mason, Mason Jordan. THE TWENTY-THIRD OF LOVE
Eureka: Hearse Press, 1964

12. Crews, Judson. THE OGRES WHO WERE HIS HENCHMEN
Eureka: Hearse Press, [1960]

13. Singer, James. GOD WITH A BIG O
Eureka: Hearse Press, 1960

14. Griffith, E.V. ANSWERS: EYE POEMS
Eureka: Hearse Press, 1960

15. Griffith, E.V. QUESTIONS: EYE POEMS
Eureka: Hearse Press, 1961

16. Atkins, Russell. OBJECTS
Eureka: Hearse Press, 1960

17. Griffith, E.V. THE FOXFIRES
Eureka: Hearse Press, 1963

18. Witt, Harold. WINESBURG BY THE SEA: A PREVIEW
Eureka: Hearse Press, 1970

Hearse Press

HEARSE, A VEHICLE USED TO CONVEY THE DEAD

Starting with the publication of HEARSE 1 in 1957, E. V. Griffith’s HEARSE PRESS would go on to publish 17 issues of the little magazine, a series of 18 chapbooks including Charles Bukowski’s mags_hearse01first, and COFFIN, a portfolio of broadsides. Among those published by HEARSE PRESS are Richard Brautigan, Charles Bukowski, Judson Crews, Russell Atkins, Mason Jordan Mason, Larry Eigner, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Allen Ginsberg, Joel Oppenheimer, Paul Blackburn, Robert Creeley, LeRoi Jones, and many more.

According to Griffith in SHEAF, HEARSE, COFFIN, POETRY NOW: A HISTORY (Hearse Press, 1996):
“In format, HEARSE was a center-stapled booklet 5.5″ x 8.5″ page size; the wire staples which held the propensity for rusting. The Rhino Bristol cover stock ran through several different colors — blue, gray, green, yellow, and (much later) pink — with the name in buk_flowerblack ink. (A few issues varied this by using white cover stock, and a colored ink.) Its appearance owed much to — in fact, almost copied — Larsen’s EXISTARIA.” (more…)

Hearse

>> return to Hearse Press main page >>

HEARSE, A VEHICLE USED TO CONVEY THE DEAD ran for 17 issues and was published by E. V. Griffith’s Hearse Press from 1957 until 1972. According to Griffith in SHEAF, HEARSE, COFFIN, POETRY NOW: A HISTORY (Hearse Press, 1996):

“In format, HEARSE was a center-stapled booklet 5.5″ x 8.5″ page size; the wire staples which held the propensity for rusting. The Rhino Bristol cover stock ran through several different colors — blue, gray, green, yellow, and (much later) pink — with the name in black ink. (A few issues varied this by using white cover stock, and a colored ink.) Its appearance owed much to — in fact, almost copied — Larsen’s EXISTARIA.”

1. HEARSE, No. 1, edited by E. V. Griffith
mags_hearse01First edition:
Eureka: Hearse Press, 1957
Saddle-stapled  in printed wrappers, 5.5″ x 8.5″, 24 pages, 100 copies, offset printed.

Contents: poems by Joel Oppenheimer, Robert Creeley, Raymond Souster, Larry Eigner, Jonathan Williams, Langston Hughes, Louis Dudek, Gil Orlovitz, David Cornel DeJong, Bariss Mills, Judson Crews and 11 other poets; artwork by Kenneth Lawrence Beaudoin, and Lawrence Ferlinghetti, an excerpt from the autobiography of Dick Stud, and a collage by Mercy Pennis Hyman.

2. HEARSE, No. 2, edited by E. V. Griffith
mags_hearse02First edition:
Eureka: Hearse Press, 1957
Saddle-stapled in printed wrappers, 5.5″ x 8.5″, 24 pages, offset printed.

Contents: poems by Gil Orlovitz, Langston Hughes, Robert Creeley, Charles Bukowski, Joel Oppenheimer, Lloyd Zimpel, Richard Brautigan, Theodore Enslin, John Forbis, Alden A. Nolan, Raymond Souster and 16 other poets; artwork by E. V. Griffith, and Henry Miller, and a short story by Harold Witt.

3. HEARSE, No. 3, edited by E. V. Griffith
mags_hearse03First edition:
Eureka: Hearse Press, 1958
Saddle-stapled in printed wrappers, 5.5″ x 8.5″, 32 pages, offset printed.

Contents: poems by Kenneth Rexroth, Langston Hughes, Alden A. Nolan, Gil Orlovitz, Judson Crews, David Cornel DeJong, Carol Ely Harper, Mason Jordan Mason, Richard Brautigan, Raymond Souster, Clarence Major, and 5 other poets; artwork by Kenneth Lawrence Beaudoin, and Ben Tibbs, and a short story by R. T. Taylor.

4. HEARSE, No. 4, edited by E. V. Griffith
First edition:
Eureka: Hearse Press, 1958
Saddle-stapled in printed wrappers, 5.5″ x 8.5″, 16 pages, offset printed.

Contents: poems by Russell Atkins, Charles Bukowski, Maxine Cassin, Paul Blackburn, Mortimer Tission, and 10 other poets; artwork by E. V. Griffith, and Farley Gay, and a short story by Mary Graham Lund.

5. HEARSE, No. 5, edited by E. V. Griffith
mags_hearse05First edition:
Eureka: Hearse Press, 1959
Saddle-stapled in printed wrappers, 5.5″ x 8.5″, 20 pages, offset printed.

Contents: poems by Allen Ginsburg, Paul Blackburn, Robert Creeley, LeRoi Jones, Joel Oppenheimer, David Cornel DeJong, Frederick Eckman, Alden A. Nolan, Walter Lowenfels, and 8 other poets; artwork by E. V. Griffith.

6. HEARSE, No. 6, edited by E. V. Griffith
mags_hearse06First edition:
Eureka: Hearse Press, 1960
Saddle-stapled printed wrappers, 5.5″ x 8.5″, 20 pages, offset printed.

Contents: poems by George Scarborough, Felix Stefanie, Russell Atkins, Gil Orlovitz, Jon Barkley Hart, Maxine Cassin, Judson Crews, and 5 other poets; artwork by E. V. Griffith, and Bob Brown, a short story by Clarence Major, and a excerpt from the autobiography of Raven Lunatick.

7. HEARSE, No. 7, edited by E. V. Griffith
mags_hearse07First edition:
Eureka: Hearse Press, 1960
Saddle-stapled printed wrappers, 5.5″ x 8.5″, 16 pages, letterpress printed.

Contents: poems by David Cornel DeJong, Langston Hughes, Charles Bukowski, Raymond Souster, Patricia Hooper, Larry Eigner, Gil Orlovitz, Jack Anderson, Diane DiPrima, Judson Crews, and 8 other poets, and a short story by Mary Graham Lund.

8. HEARSE, No. 8, edited by E. V. Griffith
mags_hearse08First edition:
Eureka: Hearse Press, 1961
Saddle-stapled printed wrappers, 5.5″ x 8.5″, 16 pages, letterpress printed.

Contents: poems by Charles Bukowski, Jonathan Williams, Gil Orlovitz, Frederick Eckman, Maxine Cassin, Russell Atkins, and 11 other poets, and a short story by Irving Halperin.

9. HEARSE, No. 9, edited by E. V. Griffith
mags_hearse09First edition:
Eureka: Hearse Press, 1961
Saddle-stapled printed wrappers, 5.5″ x 8.5″, 16 pages, letterpress printed.

Contents: poems by Paul Blackburn, Richard Brautigan, Gil Orlovitz, Robert S. Ward, George Scarborough, and 4 other poets.

10. HEARSE, No. 10, edited by E. V. Griffith
mags_hearse10First edition:
Eureka: Hearse Press, 1969
Saddle-stapled printed wrappers, 5.5″ x 8.5″, 32 pages, letterpress printed.

Contents: poems by Winfield Towny Scott, Charles Bukowski, Marge Piercy, Harold Witt, William Childress, Maxine Cassin, Dave Etter, Theodore Enslin, Carroll Arnett, and 9 other poets.

11. HEARSE, No. 11, edited by E. V. Griffith
mags_hearse11First edition:
Eureka: Hearse Press, 1969
Saddle-stapled printed wrappers, 5.5″ x 8.5″, 48 pages, letterpress printed.

Contents: poems by William Childress, Robert Bly, Charles Bukowski, Hayden Carruth, Kathleen Fraser, Larry Eigner, Lyn Lifshin, Harold Witt, Vern Rutsala, Robert Mezey, Gerg Kuzma, Thomas Mayer, Nancy, Willard, George Hitchcock, Keith Wilson, Rochelle OWents, Dave Etter, Carroll Arnett, Peter Wild, Terry Stokes, and 12 other poets.

12. HEARSE, No. 12, edited by E. V. Griffith
mags_hearse12First edition:
Eureka: Hearse Press, 1970
Saddle-stapled printed wrappers, 5.5″ x 8.5″, 44 pages, letterpress printed.

Contents: poems by Diane Wakowski, Robert Mezey, John Haines, Dave Etter, Charles Simic, William Childress, Charles Wright, Michael Benedikt, William Matthews, David Ingatow, Harold Witt, Rochelle Owens, David Antin, Robert Gershon, and 17 other poets.

13. HEARSE, No. 13, edited by E. V. Griffith
mags_hearse13First edition:
Eureka: Hearse Press, 1970
Saddle-stapled printed wrappers, 5.5″ x 8.5″, 52 pages, letterpress printed.

Contents: poems by Marge Piercy, Charles Simic, Marvin Applewhite, Jack Anderson, Michael Benedikt, Howard McCord, Dave Etter, Nancy Willard, Lewis Warsh, Gerard Malanga, Harold Bond, Keith Wilson, Morton Marcus, John Gill, and 11 other poets.

14. HEARSE, No. 14, edited by E. V. Griffith
mags_hearse14First edition:
Eureka: Hearse Press, 1970
Saddle-stapled printed wrappers, 5.5″ x 8.5″, 52 pages, letterpress printed.

Contents: poems by James Schevill, Philip Levine, Nancy Willard, Marvin Bell, Larry Eigner, Stephen Sandy, James Welch, Charles Bukowski, Robert Peters, William Childress, Marge Piercy, Harold Witt, James Tate, Adrien Stoutenburg, Peter Wild, Carolyn Stoloff, Terry Stokes, Harley Elliott, and 20 other poets.

15. HEARSE, No. 15, edited by E. V. Griffith
mags_hearse15First edition:
Eureka: Hearse Press, 1971
Saddle-stapled printed wrappers, 5.5″ x 8.5″, 64 pages, letterpress printed.

Contents: poems by Hayden Caruth, William Matthews, Marge Piercy, Charles Bukowski, John Woods, Herbert Scott, Gary Gilder, William Childress, Greg Kuzma, Theodore Enslin, Albert Goldbarth, Jack Anderson, Peter Wild, Michael G. Culross, H.L. Van Brunt, Lyn Lifshin, Norman Dubie, and 30 other poets.

16. HEARSE, No. 16, edited by E. V. Griffith
mags_hearse16First edition:
Eureka: Hearse Press, 1971
Saddle-stapled printed wrappers, 5.5″ x 8.5″, 64 pages, letterpress printed.

Contents: poems by Harold Witt, Daniel Hoffman, Philip Booth, Ted Kooser, David Wagoner, William Matthews, David Ingatow, Robert Mezey, Larry Levis, Paul Zimmer, Dave Etter, Carolyn Stoloff, Lyn Lifshin, Charles Edward Eaton, Ernest Kroll, David Hilton, Sonya Dorman, Robert Hershson, Terry Stokes, and 28 other poets.

17. HEARSE, No. 17, edited by E. V. Griffith
mags_hearse17First edition:
Eureka: Hearse Press, 1972
Saddle-stapled printed wrappers, 5.5″ x 8.5″, 88 pages, letterpress printed.

Contents: poems by Charles Bukowski, Harold Norse, X.J. Kennedy, Robert Mezey, James Schevill, Charles Wright, John Woods, William Childress, Russell Edson, Peter Everyone, Colette Inez, Douglas Blazek, Thomas Lux, William Witherup, Robert Hershon, Peter Wild, Lyn Lifshin, Geof Hewitt, Dave Kelly, Stephen Dunn, William Hathaway, Adrien Stoutenburg, and 39 other poets.

Hearse Press

mags_hearse01

 

 

Starting with the publication of HEARSE 1 in 1957, E. V. Griffith’s HEARSE PRESS would go on to publish 17 issues of the little magazine, a series of 18 chapbooks including Charles Bukowski’s first, and COFFIN, a portfolio of broadsides. Among those published by HEARSE PRESS are Richard Brautigan, Charles Bukowski, Judson Crews, Russell Atkins, Mason Jordan Mason, Larry Eigner, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Allen Ginsberg, Joel Oppenheimer, Paul Blackburn, Robert Creeley, LeRoi Jones, and many more.

Hearse Press Checklist:

Section A: Hearse, A Vehicle Used to Convey the Dead
Section B: Hearse Press Chapbooks
Section C: Coffin

References Consulted:

E.V. Griffith. SHEAF, HEARSE, COFFIN, POETRY NOW: A HISTORY
Eureka: Hearse Press, 1996