Ca. January 23, 1968

[Recto:]

FREE NEWS

Four hydrogen bombs lost in Greenland
Four caribou lost in San Francisco
We need you! Call home.

[Verso:]

FREE NEWS

THE CITY IS YOU YOU ARE THE NEWS

MEDIA IS MUTUAL AID IN A FREE SOCIETY
YOU ARE THE CITY THE CITY IS YOU
WHAT DO YOU NEED?

@Jane Lapiner needs a sewing machine for her own and friends' use. Also needs rugs. She'll trade a series of modern dance lessons starting March first. Call 863-5514.

@Gabrielle, who is five and Jane's daughter, is seeking Matell toys and is willing to trade fairly. In fact, Gabrielle is excited about exchanging toys in general. She also offers an afternoon at the zoo with herself, Jane, David, animals and hotdogs. Call 863-5514.

@Asoke Fakir, teacher of meditation and yoga, seeks a modest home for himself and his family. Call 661-5727 c/o Duncan Ray, 734 A Ashbury.

@John Blackwell is looking for a metal sphere 18 to 24 inches in diameter: maybe an old Navy mine. He'll try to find what you need in exchange. Call 387-3904.

@Kathi needs the use of a viola so she can continue lessons. Also needs a teacher. She cooks extremely well, cleans houses, and will do either or both with feeling. 22 Belvedere Street.

@Chris Giullo has a 1960 Rolls Royce Jeep, four wheel drive and completely waterproof. Fine condition, but he'd rather have a Volkswagen bus. Trade can be made. Call 387-3904.

@Black Man's Free Store needs help. Rent is getting heavy. A station wagon would be nice. Can trade a 53 International Harvester Panel truck for it. Also, need donations of good clothes and furniture and paint, maybe light blue. Call Roy Ballard at 922-9841. 1099 McAllister Street

@Lee wants to exchange information about communes. 22 Belvedere.

FREE

Mardi Gras—Dancing in the streets, Music, Food, people. February 9, 10, and 11. In the Fillmore district, Winterland Auditorium, and Hamilton Park. Information at Black Man's Free Store, 1099 McAllister. 922-9841.

Free Church—Glide Memorial, Taylor and Ellis. Free Community Worship this Sunday at 11:00.

Free Birth Control Pills—City Public Health Center, 17th and Pond. All day Thursdays. Call ahead for appointment. All married women. Any woman over 18.

====

Dating: ca. January 23, 1968

News of the January 21, 1968, B52 bomber crash and loss of four hydrogen bombs in Greenland appeared in the NY Times January 23 issue. It is interesting to note that the free store which Roy Ballard started is still being referred to as the "Black Man's Free Store" rather than the "Black People's Free Store" which had supplanted the original name by this time. (See the photo with the banner flying above the store front on the above page.) Also note the interest in communal living.

January 26, 1968

[Recto:]

Free News

I have FREE secretarial skills like typing, dictaphone, office machines, and the loving application of energy & good will to sad emptiness of office spaces. I'd like to work free for a day in your office. Rose Lee Solow. 664-8774

SUPERVISOR OF PUBLIC HOUSING ENEAS KANEWILL RAISE THE RENT ON PUBLIC HOUSING TEN DOLLARS A MONTH SOON. HIS EXCUSE IS THE COST OF BROKEN WINDOWS. FREE HOUSING DOESN'T HAVE BROKEN WINDOWS. PEOPLE DON'T BREAK THEIR NEIGHBORS WINDOWS; THEY BREAK THE WINDOWS OF PUBLIC HOUSING W/ ITS MONOLITHIC LANDLORD, WHERE THE RENT MIGHT GO UP $10 ANY MINUTE.

SOME PEOPLE IN PUBLIC HOUSING PROJECTS ARE REFUSING TO PAY ANY RENT AT ALL. REFUSING TO PAY ANY RENT AT ALL. ANY RENT AT ALL. THEY ARE GOING TO RESIST BEING MOVED. THEY HAVE ARRIVED IN THE FREE CITY. SUPERVISOR ENEAS KANE'S HOME PHONE NUMBER IS 221-1714.

Marvin will give sitar lessons to anyone who's serious about it. FREE Drop by 22 Belvedere.

THE MOON IS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF SAGITARIUS UNTIL 2PM WHEN IT ENTERS CAPRICORN.

FREE stove & oven. 528 Schrader [sid]. Call in the early evening.

IF TEACHERS JOIN THE PRESSMEN ON STRIKE, WILL FREE SCHOOLS ERUPT IN THE STREETS?

Free renaissance tinker. I fix household things: broken toasters etc etc etc sweet etc. Toward a free & perfect world. Jon Glazer. 221-3215

Andy, age 3, & his father Bert need living space. Would enjoy other kids company. Can contribute to expenses. 421-6394

MAYOR ALIOTO IS IN WASHINGTON SEEKING ADVICE ON THE FREE CITY EARTHQUAKE. HE WILL RETURN IN TIME TO READ THE COMICS ON THE RADIO, SUNDAY.

Lee, of 22 Belvedere St. will teach crocheting and/or candlemaking in return for knitting wool.

FREE STREETS. FREE THEATER IN THE STREETS. FREE THEATER EVERYWHERE.

Free City

MEDIA IS MUTUAL AID IN THE FREE CITY. YOU ARE THE CITY.

---

[Verso:]

EAT

LIFE

====

Dating: January 26 (Friday), 1968
 
Note: The Mailers Union strike against the San Francisco Newspaper Printing Company (publishers of the Chronicle and Examiner) began on January 5, 1968 and ended 52 days later. There are two periods in that time span in which the Moon was in Sagittarius. January 24-26 and February 20-22. The moon entered Capricorn at 1:57pm PST on January 26 and at 8:12pm PST on February 22. Thus, the dating of Jan. 26, 1968 for this sheet based on the lunar pronouncement above.

January 29, 1968

[Recto:]

FREE NEWS

FREE NEWS is nothing else. THIS IS A WORTHLESS PIECE OF PAPER. Free news is free spines: Free City is parallel free spines. Use this paper to start a fire or for toilet paper; tear it up for confetti & celebrate the free city; use it to start a revolution. Wad it up & throw it at your lawyer.

Sweet William's Cosmic Garbage Run. YU6-3965

Monday's rumor: Digger food in the Panhandle will reappear for an extended engagement sometime in mid-February. All new cast.

Meanwhile: free cafeteria at St. Anthony's Church — Jones Street a block and a half north of Market Street. 11:30 — 12:30 everyday.

I have free secretarial skills: typing, dictaphone, office machines & the loving application of energy and good will to the sad emptiness of office spaces. Rose Lee. 664-8774

Free plumbing by itinerant plumber/playwright. Vince. 621-7382

Mussels are in season. To get free mussels, go to Ocean Beach at low tide. Take along a screwdriver or crowbar & check out the rocks to the south of the beach. Mussels are black & about the size of clams. Pry them off, clean off the whiskers & steam them like clams.

MEDIA IS MUTUAL AID IN THE FREE CITY.

Community sewing room open 24 hours a day at 1912 Page Street. Apt. 2. Drop by to make arrangements.

Free adventure. Excursions into the Free City for kids. Departure time 1 PM Wednesday. Call Phyllis at MA1-0197 or Eva at 664-8774. Point of departure: corner of Belvedere & Haight.

[Verso:]

I LOOKED INTO YOUR EYES AND THEY WERE SCARED. I WANTED TO EAT YOU.

FREE LOVE. Gynecologist & birth control pills. Northeast Health Clinic. 799 Pacific at Stockton. KL 8-3153 for appointment.

I don't like tape recorders. I have one. I like autoharps. [?] One is all I need. Vince Cresciman. 62]-7382

Free Renaissance tinker. I fix household things: broken toasters etc. etc. etc. sweet etc. toward a free & perfect world. Jon Glazer. 22]-32]5.

FREE STOVE & OVEN. 528 Schrader. [sic] Call 387-3904. Every evening.

What is it you're clutching to your chest like a vacuum cleaner lung? Toby would like a paper cutter because her art jumps out from the paper; she will trade a painting 648-3736.

Andy, age 3, and his father Bert need living space. They would enjoy the company of other children. Can contribute to expenses. 421-6394.

Si Lewinski needs a mechanic in exchange for posters, books, newspapers, etc. Check at the Print Mint any day.

Bert needs an alto recorder. Will trade. 421-6394.

The other day I was having a pleasant dream about a free city when I heard Bob McKay on KMPX rapping about a rock concert being given at the Straight Theater in the "Free City of San Francisco." The admission — $1.50 a head. I had a hard time falling back to sleep.

New moon in Aquarius this morning at 8:30.

Mardi Gras — Dancing the streets, music, food, people, and all the extra things those things imply. February 9, 10, 11. In the Fillmore district, Winterland Auditorium and Hamilton Park. INFORMATION at the Black Man's Free Store, 1099 McAllister Street 922-9841.

====

Dating: January 29, 1968. New moon (at 8:29 am PST.

January 30, 1968

[Recto:]

free news

Somewhere in the city today officials of the city of Saint Francis are consulting with the radical artists of the community in a conference called Free City I. For the first time in Western history since the Renaissance, city planners will lay themselves open to visions of the Free City.

The Chinese New Year begins tonight at midnight. It will be the Year of the Monkey, 4666 on the Chinese calendar. 4 is the number of apocalyptic horsemen; 666 is the number of the beast. Celebrate the Free City.

The moon, in its first quarter, is in Aquarius until 10:15 PM, when it moves into Pisces.

[Verso:]

Sociological search parties scour the San Francisco hinterlands for the dropouts. Where have they gone? Where are the uncounted? Statistics increase. Blood flows on. As fast as they are found, numbered, & labeled, they disappear again, taking more & more of America into the subterranean lifestream. Beware.

free health

Free shots for smallpox, measles, polio, diptheria, whooping cough & tetanus for children. Free medical examinations for pre-school children. Free dental clinic for children up to 9. Emergency care for all school age children. WESTSIDE HEALTH CENTER. 2201 Sutter Street. Call KL8-4637 for appt.

Free food & lodging on a temporary basis for unattached women with children. PINEHURST EMERGENCY LODGE. SALVATION ARMY. 2688 Thirteenth Av. 681-8340

Free X-rays for tuberculosis. 799 Pacific Street. NORTHEAST HEALTH CLINIC. KL8-3158. Call for appointment.

Free treatment of venereal diseases. 33 Hunt St. 558-3804

Free gynecologist & birth control pills 799 Pacific Street. NORTHEAST HEALTH CLINIC. KL8-3158. Call for appointment.

Free dental care for pre-school and school-age children. 101 Grove Street. SF DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

====

Dating: January 30, 1968 (Moon in Aquarius until 10:16pm.)

January 30, 1968

[Recto:]

The captured trawler–spyship was taken by KRISHNA the churches blamed it on the commies.

The captured trawler–spyship was taken by RAMA the board of aldermen and the house of representatives both blamed it on the commies.

The captured trawler–spyship was teleported by a talented but childish tibetan monk, who suffered from ennui. A desperate government inflated it like an aging dirigible and blamed it on the commies for a change.

In addition: the president of the U.S.A. made a speech full of horseshit heroism, taking all the blame for whatever it is that happened and placing it squarely on the shoulders of the commies.

In addition: my friend John, who joined the air force in his extreme youth, and has to stay in the reserves, but has has [sic] also stayed hidden is being hassled now because somebody is calling up the reserves, and tracking them down to make them look for the trawler–spyship. John doesn't even know what a trawler–spyship looks like. The men in charge blame the commies.

The captured trawler–spyship is a fraud. It has no relationship to human beings. The captured trawler–spyship is artificial news designed to distract us from demanding the keys to their locks on our cities.

The captured trawler–spyship is a synthetic diversion designed to distract us from insisting that nature, be given back, the land she held in trust for us until she was raped.

The captured trawler–spyship is a four start, four color process shuck, designed so that T.V. can cover up the fact that the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA DOESN'T CARE.

How real is a country that doesn't care about beavers, and keeping vegetation smelling like it should.

I am a better country then [sic] the United States of America

so are you, we care.

Chinese new year begins at midnight. Chinese astrologers have predicted a year of great change.

YOU ARE THE CHANGE*YOU ARE PROPHESY*WHAT DO YOU PORTEND?

YOU ARE YOUR OWN HOROSCOPE*YOU ARE ALL THE FORCES IN THE UNIVERSE

YOU ARE THE CENTER OF MOTION*WHAT DIRECTION WILL YOU MOVE IN?

YOU CAN MOVE TOWARD BEING FREE*ANY OTHER DIRECTION IS ABDICATION

THE WORLD IS UP TO YOU*SAN FRANCISCO IS UP TO YOU

HOPE FOR SANE DREAMS OF GAILY RAVING LUNATICS IS UP TO YOU

THE CITY IS OPENING UP AND IT'S YOURS*ARE YOU UP TO WHAT THE CITY CAN BE?

CAN YOU BE OPEN TO WHAT THE CAN BE*CAN YOU BE A GENTLE DERVISH?

YOU SHOULD FIND OUT BECAUSE THIS IS YOUR YEAR.

[Verso:]

IF YOU CAN'T BRING GOOD NEWS THAN [sic] DON'T BRING ANY.

NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS UNLESS IT'S FREE NEWS.

I don't like tape recorders. I have one. I like Autoharps. One is all I need. Vince. 621-7832

Free Tarot reading. Find Robin In your favorite coffee house or call him at HE1-8963 or write a note to box 53, 207 Gough street. S.F.

Community Sewing Room open 24 hours a day at 1912 Page st. APT. #2 drop by to make arrangements.

Jon Glazer, the famous Renaissance tinker, is still in the business of being free. "I fix household things, broken toasters, etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. sweet etc. etc. toward a free and perfect world." telephone 221-3215

Sweet William's Cosmic Garbage Run. YU6-3965

Free Adventure. Excursions into the Free City for kids. Departure time 1:00 p.m. Wednesday from the corner of Belvedere and Haight.

Media isn't; theater isn't; self-conscious arting isn't; incantating erudition isn't; turn to your neighbor hugging is.

Clifford M. Natoni, a full blooded Navaho Indian, wants to get together with people in San Francisco to help help reservation Indians and to learn from them. He lives at 545 Jones st. #17 S.F.

A free stove and oven are available at 528 Shrader street call 387-3904 early in the evening.

Free cafeteria at Saint Anthony's Church— Jones street a block and a half north of Market street. 11:30—12:30 every day.

Si Lewinski needs a mechanic in exchange posters, books, newspapers, etc. check at the print mint any day.

3 year old Andy and his PAPA Bert need a place to lay their heads. they can contribute to expenses. contact them at 22 Belvedere st.

The person standing next to you may be your dancing partner at the Free San Francisco International Exposition — June 1968

The FREE CITY DRUMMERS need drum skins to make barrel-drums deliver to Glide Free Chapel.

When goods increase they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes. Ecclesiastes chap. 5 v. 11

====

Dating: January 30, 1968 (Chinese New Year's). But the text indicates that it happens at midnight. So it's possible this is Jan. 29.
 

January 31, 1968

[Recto:]

FREE NEWS

The moon, in its first quarter, is in Pisces and the Viet Cong invaded Saigon, 7 other South Vietnamese cities, and 12 hamlets. Coming as it did during the Thet celebration, correspondents felt the invasion was a poor propaganda move for the Cong, though over 25 Americans were killed and more than 100 wounded in Saigon alone. The Cong coup was the shining new American embassy in Saigon which was occupied by the "other side" for some 6 hours. The building was dedicated on September 29 by Ambassador Ellsworth Bunker as the symbol of "our commitment to the freedom of the people of South Vietnam. The bulletproof structure was considered by authorities to be impregnable.

Larry Miller, KMPX disc jockey, was fired yesterday for being free.

According to informed sources at the Haight-Ashbury Medical Clinic, four girls have been raped in the Panhandle in the past few days.

Dow-Jones averages were down 4.0 today.

Gabrielle and her new friend Paula who is six went with Jane and David to the Batman house for dinner last night. Lee brought over 20 chickens from his father's farm and Billy barbecued them in the backyard.

good morning

Dr. James Wilson, of the President's Advisory Commission on Crime, said yesterday that the police are hampered less by the various Supreme Court civil liberties [rulings?] than by the "public's fear of reprisal or desire not to get involved."

David Hodges, who does walls and posters, will do a mural in exchange for a running truck. Check at Print Mint.

[Verso:]

Andrew Nevai will exchange photo services for woodwind lessons. 771-2840

And it really doesn't matter it doesn't mean what we think it means.

Yaya wants to make fine fine dresses free and needs colorful material of any size: pieces, ribbons, etc. MA-1-0197.

TODAY: Free City excursion for kids. Departure time 1 PM from from [sic] the corner of Belvedere & Haight.

Lenore Kandel is looking for serious Middle Eastern musians [sic] to accompany Free Belly Dancers. YU6-3965

[Reprint of article: "Castro Plans to Rid Cuba of Money"]

[Reprint of article: "Thousands of Gis Are Turning On"]

free news

47 teenagers who had left American homes in the past few weeks arrived in San Francisco today.

He who gives shall receive

Negroes fought Whites in a Muncie, Indiana gymnasium over a basketball game.

Jane Lapiner in Room 475A of Mt. Zion Hospital would enjoy calls from friends. 567-6600

6 Egyptians and 8 Israeli were killed in a skirmish near the Suez Canal.

David & Jane need a pot-bellied stove or anything that burns wood or charcoal or coal. 863-5514

Richard Nixon's name will be filed as Republican presidential candidate in the California primary elections.

====

Dating: January 31, 1968. See NY Times article: "Vietcong Invade U.S. Embassy in Saigon But Are Routed After 6 Hours" (Jan 31, 1968, p. 1).

February 1, 1968

Help
S
O
O
N

The earth will supply sufficient resources to feed, clothe, and house its entire population, if we only put our minds to that problem —Buckminster Fuller

The moon, in its first quarter, is in Pisces and the Viet Cong, military arm of the South Vietnamese National Liberation Front continued today what has become the major offensive of the war. Fourty (sic) cities and towns were under attack and all of Free Vietnam was placed under Marshall Law and 24 hour curfew. Nineteen of the Cong made it into the impregnable American embassy again, but all were killed during a counterattack on their embassy by American paratroopers who landed on the roof in helicopters.

COCKIE DOODLE FREE TRASH REMOVAL FOR OUR DAILY PLANET. Call 752-9919

White House sources stated that they knew in advance of the Viet Cong onslaught but that there was "no effective defense against suicide raids."

THE SEVENTH FLEET STILL COPS IN THE HAIGHT-ASHBURY

Democrats accused Reagan of illegality in a judicial appointment. Reagan answered that the Judge was doing it FREE.

LENORE KANDEL IS STILL LOOKING FOR SERIOUS MIDDLE-EASTERN MUSICIANS TO ACCOMPANY HER BELLY DANCERS. Call YU 6-3965

Mayor Alioto plans a bigger and better San Francisco Film Festival this year.

MARDI-GRAS IN THE FILLMORE DANCING IN THE STREETS AND PEOPLE AND FOOD FEB. 9, 10, 11

David Harris, former Stanford Student Body President, was arrested today by Federal Marshalls for refusing the draft.

Police Chief Blackmoor of San Jose said today that police should act quickly and on their own to quell campus [riots].

PAULA AND HER LARGE FAMILY ARE STILL LOOKING FOR A BIG ENOUGH HOUSE

====

Dating: February 1, 1968

Note: [The assault on the US Embassy in Saigon during the Tet Offensive began January 31 with 19 Vietcong successfully invading the compound.] The moon in Pisces confirms the dating.

February 14, 1968

[Recto:]

The moon is in its third quarter, in Leo, entering Virgo at 8AM.

FREE NEWS
C
I
T
Y

free city adventure for kids leaves today from the corner of belvedere & haight at 1 pm. tour radio station kmpx w/ phyllis & eva. pick the kids up again at 5 pm. toujours gai

free news from new york . . . garbage is the meat of revolution . . . the recent two week municipal garbage strike has the entire lower east side smelling like the terminal end of a river . . . garbage piled up at the rate of ten thousand TONS a day . . . while liberals held protest demonstrations, puerto ricans, who have to live among the crap, used it to throw at policeman . . . local underground heroes instituted free garbage service, trucking the trash to lincoln center [???]

have you smiled at your garbageman today

[Verso:]

A noisy dirty free factory is coming together through screaming irrational planning sessions at 22 Belvedere Street. A loft in the mission district has been procured in which to put tools & machinery for the graceful production of free & useful goods. There will be living space for some: a certain amount of rent will have to be raised each month. projections include potting wheels, welding tools, candlemaking, tiedying, sewing machines, & such. what's needed to make this fantasy whole is a group of people willing to die for it. Ask for Lee.

It now costs fifty cents to take a stroll in Muir Woods. it's free to those who cross the stream & enter from the other side. Signs say 'Stay on the path' & "Muir Woods closes at 8:30." How do you close woods?

A free stove has been sitting at 528 Schrader [sic] Street for two weeks now and John Blackwell, whose apartment it sits in, says if no one takes the fucking thing soon he's going to sell it.

as two international free news correspondents disembarked at san francisco international airport, they were approached by an attractive lady from milwaukee. after inquiring if either of them called themselves jesus, she showed them the picture opposite. it's a picture of her daughter janis, usually known as trixie. trixie is 23 & has a dog named brod. 'if you see her," the milwaukee mother said, "will you ask her to phone the police?"

PROPHECY . . . RUN YOUR VALENTINE FINGERS THROUGH SAN FRANCISCO'S WEDNESDAY HAIR. STROKE HER CITY HALL THIGHS ON THURSDAY.

Bishop's restaurant at 315 Divisadero needs food, supplies, & help in order to fulfill a vision of free food for everyone. they now serve dinner and are forced to ask a 25¢ donation. They want to do it free. there is a possibility of free breakfast too, if people & food show up. Call 431-7195 and ask for Bishop.

A free greasemonkey with otherwise clean habits is looking for garage space in which to practice his trade. Ask for Richie at 22 Belvedere.

FREE FABRIC EXCHANGE THIS FRIDAY AT 2PM, 1748 HAIGHT STREET. BRING WHAT CLOTH HAS COME TO BORE YOU, TAKE AWAY NEW STUFF.

====

Dating: Valentine's Day was Wed. Feb 14 1968. Moon in Leo, Virgo at 8AM on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 1968. (https://mooncalendar.astro-seek.com/moon-phases-calendar-february-1968)
 

Ca. 24 Feb 1968

[Recto:]

Supple and turbulent, a ring of men
Shall chant in orgy on a summer morn
Their boisterous devotion to the sun,
Not as a god, but as a god might be,
Naked among them, like a savage source.
Their chant shall be a chant of paradise,
Out of their blood , returning to the sky;
And in their chant shall enter, voice by voice,
The windy lake wherein their lord delights,
The trees, like serafin, and echoing hills,
That choir among themselves long afterward.
They shall know how well the heavenly fellowship
Of men that perish and of summer morn.
And whence they came and whither they shall go
The dew upon their feet shall manifest.

free

     street

How Does It Feel To Walk In A Street That You Won

[Verso:]

free news
is a telephone

664-7058

media
is mutual aid
in the
         free
                 city

The city of San Francisco relinquished a small section of control yesterday as Haight Street became free street for 8 sweet hours.

Thousands of people used the street for human dances; police & automobiles used other sections of the city.

As always happens when systems of control are relinquished, CELEBRATION broke out.

BREAK OUT OF SYSTEMS OF CONTROL.

Celebrate the free city

 

Ca. March 1, 1968

[Recto:]

free news

Life Without Sight or Sound

IT'S FREE

Renaissance tinker — Jon Glazer — 221-3215
Electrician — Tom — 415 Lyon Street — 567-1448
Plumber — Vince Cresiman — 621-7382
Sound Engineer — Peter Weinberg — 661-5727
Trucker — Don — 752-6449
Truck — Paul — 626-1860
Auto Mechanic — Richie Canto — 664-7508
Free News — 664-7508 What'll You Have?

Show me a rose or leave me alone

Bill Linden has been laying up all winter trying to figure out what makes him such a nasty incisive outrageous puppeteer. He didn't find out. So he & Anne invented the Free City Puppet Theater which will impose its first dress rehearsal on any kids who want to come in the back yard of 1324 Willard Street this Saturday at 1 PM.

Spring. Bloodlight Love Plunge. March 20: 5:24 AM. Equinox. Golden Gate Park. San Francisco. Free City.

A Sharp Sense for Earning a Living

[Verso:]

FREE CAR BLUES/
FREE CAR BLUES

On feb 29
the extra day
that doesn't fit
into the Christian white calendar
& the year length sun revolution
rulers of the hairless ape
scientists
the extra day of the revolution
in San Francisco
a free car was put on the
street
to take its chances
like any other wildfreeunowned
thing
with its enemies in the human race
a 49 or 50
black Chevy six
once owned by a man
who bought it for 55 dollars
then wanted fifty
to bail somebody out of jail
so decided to sell the car
other people had fifty
gave him fifty so he didn't need
to sell it to anybody
and he wrote on the bill of sale
signed over by me
one 1950 black Chevrolet
to EVERYONE
it's in the glove compartment
take a look.
the car was fixed up to run
pretty good
by Richie the free mechanic
the door locks were broken
the starting machinery rigged
to the car could be turned off
but not locked
so anybody could get in & turn
It on
and drive off without having the
key.
then Richie, Bob, Sherwood & a girl
took it to the park
and started painting all over
the car
that it was free
nobody owned it everybody
owned it
you could just get in
& turn it on & take off
and so forth.
lots of people came by to watch
them
& some painted with them.
they explained to the people
if you see it not moving
why don't you get in
& turn it on & take off?

[2nd column]

but nobody took off with it
although all of them said yes
they certainly would do that
but one sort of pretty girl got in
so they drove around to the other side
of The Sadie Hawkins Day Rock Concert
sponsored by
& some people got out
others got in
& one girl said she had a free car too.
Bob asked her if he could drive it
since he liked driving free cars
she said no
& somebody asked
what kind of a free car is that?
but didn't throw her out on her ass
or rale her.
The free car ran pretty good
picked up a lot of hitch-hikers
& was driven by a few
including a couple who discovered
part of what a free car means
you can't leave it parked
waiting for you to come back w/ your stuff
and drive to LA
or show your friends the free car you got
without expecting someone else to come by
& take off with it.
Also you can get free gas for a free car.
One gas station attendant was moved
to give 25¢ worth & another 65
passengers made money free
until little by little it had a free
full tank
Also accumulated some free newspapers
from newspaper sellers
although nobody was seen reading one.
After a while Bob got out of the car
on Oak street
& a girl who didn't know how to drive
a stick shift very well
drove off pretty well
until she & the car disappeared
& that's the last he seen or heard of it.
although you may have the news
or soon get it.
We'd like more free cars
until there's enough
so you don't have to own
one of the damn things anymore
you can just get into the nearest free car
& turn it on & take off
& when you get out
you don't have to park it
somebody else will get right in.
Then we'll have the free city transpor-
tation system
w/ hitchhiking for those who don't drive.
& free gas & mechanics.
In the meantime

one's fun and more's more if you want some go find the free car make another car free where are the cars nobody wants to own anymore?

====

Dating: ca. March 1, 1968

Note: compare to the Provo's White Bike program.
 

Ca. March 4, 1968

[Recto:]

FREE NEWS

[in Italic, embedded in graphic]

FREE SNAILS

When Jon & Sara told us about free snails today, it brought to mind we used to go down to Frascati's & eat snails for a buck and half […] I don't remember. And the snails tasted of despair. To get free snails you do down to any of San Francisco's beaches & check out the large […] along the shoreline. Pick out the biggest snails & wash them in sea water. It'll probably take a few dozen to make a meal. Avoid hermit crabs, which are larger & move much faster.

When you get them home, cover them w/ about an inch of water & boil for twenty minutes or so. Make sure there's a lot of salt in the water […] a couple of handsful, or use sea water. Tarragon or fennel can be added at this point. Pour off the water and take the door off & take the snails out of the shells with a nut pick.

Melt about half a pound of government surplus butter in a pan with lots of garlic & some bread crumbs. Put the snails in there.

Stick the pan under a broiler until the mess is sizzling & you're ready to eat.

[Verso:]

FREE BARTER ON FREE (haight) STREET SUNDAY.

WATCH FOR SIGNS
BRING YOUR STUFF
CLOTHES AND FABRICS
FOOD
KIDS TOYS
FREE NEWS
ETC

BRING DOWN WHAT YOU DON'T NEED AND TAKE AWAY WHAT YOU WANT

HAIGHT STREET WILL BE FREE STREET SUNDAY CELEBRATE THE STREET

CELEBRATE THE DAY CELEBRATE

A bunch of us went out back today and tore down the fence surrounding the yard. The neighbors, attracted by the sound of our laughter and shouting, gathered around to watch us in amazement. Some of them seemed to become infected with our delight and began to finger the claw hammers and crowbars which were scattered about. Suddenly one man leaped at his fence screaming "Cancer wood" and that set it off.

Before you knew it, all the fences in the block were torn down and all our neighbors were racing up and down the park they had built congratulating each other for their boldness and imagination. We built a big fire to roast the turkey legs which Jon had brought over that morning. By mid-afternoon, people were fucking in the rose bushes, children were maurauding [sic] in the turnip patch, and visionary conversations were going on in every corner of the garden. It was a hell of a day.

TRAVEL: hawaii: the island of MAUI, a 22 minute 5$ plane ride from Honolulu.

on MAUI there is a colony of longhairs in & around the town of LAHAINA. the brothers & sisters find it easy living off the trees & wild, free vineyards of the area. and the heat don't bother you much because there aren't really that many tourists around the town.

further into the hills, where the paradise fruits & trees are dense, there is absolutely no political trouble & you soon learn to live off the land without even having to plant a thing. just reach up & pluck it off a tree. all you need to take along: a hammock, strong will to live with insects, a knife: sleep in the hill towns & bathe in the morning surf.

and, once in a while, drink a bottle of beer & remember a baseball game you saw when you were a kid & wanted to be a lawyer.

FREE MONDAY STRIKING TEACHERS DECLARE M-F 8:00 til 3:00 FREE TIME

In China last year closing of schools permitted youth to create a cultural revolution. With 2200 of the city's 4000 teachers on strike, free classrooms will erupt on the streets and in the parks. There will be a CELEBRATION in Mission Dolores Park (18th and Dolores) on FREE MONDAY, March 4 at 12:30 p.m.

FREE STREET IS A REVOLUTIONARY CLASSROOM

FREE YOUTH + FREE TIME = FREE CITY

FREE MONDAY YOUTH CITY CELEBRATE FREE [?] TIME FOOD LUST DOLORES NO MONEY MONDAY

====

Dating: Ca. March 4, 1968. (Date of the "Free Monday" action.)
 

Ca. April 14, 1968

FREE NEWS:

Breakthroughs spread hope in San Francisco.

Widescale redistribution of goods and services through energy banks in San Francisco ... Free energy banks are being set up for massive redistribution ... Churches now weighing role in spiritual crisis ... Announcements near 24 hour open church possible ... Kennedy-McCarthy headquarters on Market St. to serve as free "stores", S.F. society "Potlatch" to mark opening (further news soon) ... City religious figures to meet to discuss opening church buildings (check with your church for details) ... Sunday to be a day of redistribution, Easter Sunday public giving

Community plans under way S.F. welcome home troops celebrations, Rio carnival via S.F. to prevail ... Festivities will begin at various troop disembarkation points and spread throughout the city (assistance with floats, larger props etc. contact Mrs. June Dunn, S.F. Art Commission) ... Plans for exact time and locations contingent on arrival dates ... Make plans now

Alkatraz Island to be declared (legally) international territory in honor of Dr. King. Plans for international religious retreat among those being considered ... Send ideas to: Mayor's committee for civic renaissance, c/o Mike McCone, Mayor's office, City Hall

Bulk food for free distribution can now be brought to 15 Lafayette St. This location is intended primarily for rice, flour, powdered milk etc.

Second coming attracting international planetary celebrities … Polo grounds, Golden Gate Park April 14 to be public giving ground for the event ... Organizers are asking for participants to bring as much as possible, "to give of yourself" …

Redistribution trucks are touring neighborhoods ... Look for them! "Put in what you can, take what you need'' … Free distribution of goods and services goal …

Electric trams, neighborhood run and operated, will be providing free transportation ... Initial area may be Haight-Fillmore ... The emphasis will be party and participation ... Trams to be decorated by neighborhood ... Send ideas suggestions materials to: Free electric transportation, U.C. Community Design Center, 55 Laguna ...

S. F. International Exposition, the human city ... The June exposition preparations include plans for a free music festival which will include events at the Palace of Fine Arts, the Goldbn Gate Music Concourse, and Stern Grove … Theme will be S.F. sound and beyond! ... "Our exposition will feature human beings rather than technology, it will mark a transition for American cities ... The whole city will be the fairground, the human giving ground, open for manifestations of life" ... Call in ideas etc. to K.C.B.S., K.N.E.W., or K.G.O.

Bulletins about new outbreaks of public sharing issued at once

====

Dating: ca. April 14, 1968. See Berkeley Barb, April 12, 1968, p. 5 for announcement of plans for Easter celebration at the Polo Grounds in Golden Gate Park.

Ca. April 15, 1968

free news

Dear Herb Caen:

Briefly on my nude exit. Re: The Oakland shootout mentioned in your column. It was based on long and continuous observation of Pigs while in prison. All Pigs are homosexuals, latent if not active. When confronted with a naked male body totally by surprise, the homosexual's basic impulse is to carress [sic] it. Instead of shooting me, the Oakland Pigs kicked and stomped my naked body. In the circumstances, a kick or a stomp may be interpreted as a carress [sic] when contrasted with shooting. There were about 50 frenzied Pigs around me with guns in their hands. Had just one of them been "straight," I'd be one dead black cat.

Truly,
-Eldridge Cleaver
Minister of Information
Black Panther Party

====

Dating: ca. April 15, 1968

Note: Herb Caen mentioned the Oakland shootout in his column on this date. "When young Bobby Hutton and Eldridge Cleaver were trapped by the cops in that Oakland house, the experienced Cleaver told the kid: 'Take off all your clothes before we walk outside — that way they can't claim you were trying to pull a gun and shoot you." Cleaver thereupon stripped but Hutton was too shy: he kept his shorts on. And was shot dead. The naked Cleaver was wounded."

April 25, 1968

FREE NEWS

A modest proposal:

San Franciscans, in the interest of eternity, & out of respect for their mayor, will recommend the following course of action to that office this afternoon, April 25, at 4PM:

1) that city-owned buildings remaining empty be restored to the people for reconstruction embellishment, & refurbishment so that those people might live there freely

2) that all foodstuffs & materials in surplus not accounted for in current welfare distribution be returned to the people for redistribution free through ten autonomous neighborhood free stores whose rent shall [be] paid by the city

3) that presses & trucks be made available for the dissemenation of free news throughout the city so that the people will come to know one another & make channels of access available to each other

4) that the city provide resources for autonomous neighborhood celebrations of the city, the planet, & their own free beings

5) that parks & other public spaces be returned to the people for free life acts: all permit authority to be rescinded

These are visions which will be realized by the people of San Francisco. The mayor's office is invited to share in that vision. Citywide celebration of the summer solstice will mark the entrance of free San Francisco into eternity.

Welcome home.

 

Late April, 1968

free news

Free Redevelopment; 
Free Housing Being
Readied In So. Of Market.

May "Strike For Free"
Beginning May 1
Free Convention

Public Giving Daily
(Free) City Center Plaza
Noon-One, Give It Away

The Mayor's Committee for Civic Renaissance invites you to participate in a daily (week days) pot-luck lunch in the park at the southwest corner of City Hall Plaza. Get to know your neighbors. 

Surplus food to be distributed from free food warehouses... Prime the pump Bring surplus food to 15 Lafayette St. off Mission nr. Van Ness

S.F. International New Music Festival June
Palace of Fine Arts

The Sun is in Taurus
Eat and enjoy.

Free transportation
Free your car for a day
Give everyone a ride
And see how high you can get.

Realize your spine. Man, woman, reborn Free.
Grow into a Free Form. A Free City is a gathering of free people.

The truth concealed from the priest and revealed to the warrier: that this world always was and is and shall be ever-living fire. Revealed to the lover too: every lover is a warrier: love is all fire.

The real fire, the chariot of fire, the fiery chariot of his contemplative thought. The real fight: poetry, a sword of lightning, ever unsheathed, that consumes the scabbard that would contain it.

Free People Unite!

The tyranny is real. The tyranny is within us. Act as men and women. Purge the tyrant from within you. We can do what needs to be done. Stand. Be aware of your spine. We are Free People.

Free Cities are where free people gather. Revolution around the spine. Be Free and live with your brothers and sisters. The Revolution is within you.

Praying and voting are not symbolic. Vote for a Free City by being Free. Praying is whatever provides the strength to be free.

Give. Giving is an overflowing of energy. Learn to trust your impulses. Only through trust (letting go) can we be Free.

Our holding back has brought about a tyranny: the centralized government (incorporating mass media, mass religion, mass education et mass). It is necessary to decentralize. In San Francisco we are making a transition from a U.S. mass city to an international Free City. Allliances between free men, free villages, free cities, free minds, free countries, free clouds, free children, free women are happening at this moment.

Gather in and create places of public giving. Save your constipated soul. Give and take and take and give. Places for public giving have been established in San Francisco. Take what you need, give what you can. Free Eternity.

Institutional administrations repress energies and cause distrust. Organic spinal administration creates environments where individual energies are realized and overflow. Over flowing energies!!! Constantly overflowing energies are the dynamic of the revolution. The revolution is an evolutionary party. Let go.

(Debauchery is selective letting go)

Free or dead. There is no alternative. We've created a monster in our imagination...That's the most difficult to slay. Slay it by letting go.

(Literally slaying "demons" commies, gooks, whites, blacks etc. is not letting go)

Yin Yang. In accepting our weakness we realize our strength. Our enemy is within us. Give up the war within. Stand. Dance. Heros. Overflow the government.

Those who can't let go (learn by carnal participation) won't survive: forever.

Grow into a Free Form. A Free City is a gathering of Free People.

[Graphic of a leaf in middle of each side of sheet. Handwritten notation: "leaves to be dumped under trees in San Francisco. COUNTERFEIT to be printed (faintly) upon each leaf. FREE CITY"]

May 8, 1968

masked lunch

FREE NEWS
R
E
E

[image]

Noon Today City Hall Steps

The outcome of yesterday's cops and robbers game (cops 40—robbers 0) might suggest to those alive to the nature of the game, the importance of agility and motion.

====

Dating: May 8, 1968

Note: this Free News sheet announced a mass "mask-in" at City Hall to protest the "Poetry Bust" the previous day when Ron Thelin was arrested when Judge Axelrod confronted him for wearing a bandanna covering his face. Four others were also arrested, including Ama (aka Thomas C. Baker III) of Willard Street Commune (for wearing an American flag); Israel Jackson, also of Willard Street (for interfering with a police officer); Phyllis Wilner (for interfering with a police officer); and, Charles Perkel (for using profanity).

Ca. June 1, 1968

[Recto:]

free news

THE CITY IS YOURS.
YOU ARE THE CITY.

F
R
E
E

C
I
T
Y


ONE % FREE
ONE % FREE

Over and over again I have said that there is no way out of the present impasse. If we were wide awake we would be instantly struck by the horrors which surround us … We would drop our tools, quit our jobs, deny our obligations, pay no taxes, observe no laws, and so on. Could the man or woman who is so thoroughly awakened possibly do the crazy things which are now expected of him or her every moment of the day?
—Henry Miller

FIRST INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITION OF THE FREE CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO JUNE 21 1968 IN THE PARKS ON THE STREETS THE DOCKS ON TOP OF THE HILLS WHERE WILL YOU BE?

[Verso:]

SHOW ME A ROSE OR LEAVE ME ALONE

Mrs. Loretta Paulowitz, mother of four, attained enlightenment today during the rinse cycle at the Sudsy-Dudsy Laundromat. The police report failed to mention which soap powder Mrs. Paulowitz was using, though representatives for FAB are claiming that their product turned the trick. Mayor Alioto was not available for comment.

In Peking today, in response to rumors that anti-Maoist forces were attempting to delay the proposed 5 minute plan for the Cultural Revolution, Red Guards filled the streets chanting, "NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW." Chairman Mao was not available for comment.

Mary Hendricks, 15, a runaway from Mason City, Iowa, was raped today in Buena Vista Park by four men claiming to be n*****s. From her bedside Miss Hendricks said, "I shoulda known. I shoulda listened to the I Ching. Shit." Chief Cahill was not available for comment.

Meanwhile, in Viet Nam today….

Scientific authorities, meeting at Berkeley for an interdisciplinary study of the apocalypse, agreed today that all previous data indicated that serious study might or might not be useful. The meeting was interrupted by 60 student demonstrators shouting, "NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW." In the light of the apocalyptic rumors, Pope Paul VI will convene an ecumenical council to rule on the size of the eye of a needle. Meher Baba was not available.

Meanwhile, in Viet Nam today….

The National Council of Churches convened today in New York to discuss the Existence of God. Leading theoloians [sic] from all parts of the planet were present but a power failure in the Greater New York area forced a delay of the decision. Pope Paul was not available for comment.

Meanwhile, in Viet Nam today….

HELPHELPHELPHELPHELPHELPHELPHELP

NOBODY WAS AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT

====

Dating: ca. June 1, 1968

Note: either the events mentioned are fictitious or too insignificant for news coverage. The one hint for the dating is the mention of the upcoming June 21 celebration in San Francisco.