A true life saga from
The Psychedelic Era of Love,
Drugs and Rock and Roll
by Reginald Eugene Williams
READ
The Straight on the Haight;
The Poster Artists
by Reginald Eugene Williams
READ
The graphic companion to the Haight’s art history and lore is available by ordering the The Straight Theater Graphics Booklet in Black and White.
Another Booklet that recalls the era is “10/666”, featuring movie stills and reprints from Oct 6,’66 the day they made acid illegal celebration in Golden Gate Park. Reg’s other films of Haight Street, the Diggers, the Human Be-in, the riots, the Congress of Wonders at Sky River Rock and others will be available in Booklets and on Video. Please indicate interest in future Video and Booklet updates.
The Mixed and Multimedia CELEBRATION OF THE PSYCHEDELIC 60’S IS AVAILABLE FOR TOURING AT CITIES AND UNIVERSITIES WORLD WIDE. Sponsors and promoters indicating serious interest should request the PROMOTER’S PACKAGE. The programs offered range from Lecture format narrating documentary movies to Mass Multi Media Concert Events. The sixties Light Show is available separately.
DANCE
THE STRAIGHT STORY
Article from SF Examiner June 23, 1967
Click image to enlarge
(L-R) Steven Virgil, Eric, Kevin, Caitlin Huggins Dance Director, James D Wilson, Ama the Poet, Actors and Directors Joe Gostanian and Oscar Criner
“Haight To Straight Theater” SF Examiner 6/28/67
Staff
Dance is pivotal to the legendary story of The Straight on the Haight. In May 1966, The Masonic Hall adjoining the 1500 seat theater on Haight Street was leased by James D. Wilson and Associates, DBA Straight Theater Enterprises, to use as office, studio space, housing for the Straight Ashbury Viewing Society, an in-house Graphics department, and The Straight Theater Acting Company. In June, modern dancer Caitlin Huggins and jazz dancer Annette Rice joined together to form the Straight Theater Dance Workshop. All these groups coalesced as the Straight Theater School of Performing Arts. Later brochures show the program growing to include Gloria Toolsey, teaching Ethnic Dance and Katherine Dunham technique, Jamila teaching belly dancing, Jane Lapiner teaching modern, Peter Swain teaching mime, and a children’s workshop led by Connie Williams and Megan Huggins. The Straight Dance Company grew out of Caitlin’s popular classes and performed at the Straight and other local venues. Later brochures show Straight Dance members leading many of the variety of classes offered.
The following summer, the Straight was ready for public dance concerts after the installation of a 5000 sq.. ft. dance floor, sound, lights and extensive renovation. An application was made for permits covering health, safety, and public assembly. After thorough inspection, the city permits were quickly granted.
Finally, we were ready to apply for a Dancehall permit. This hundred-year-old process brought Dancehall proprietors under the direct control of the Police Department (making bribery and collusion a likely part of the process) but this time, it would be a story of the “King Who Couldn’t Dance”, with the Chief of SF Police playing the role of the little mouse king. We were young entrepreneurs and plowed through the red tape. After several postponements, the hearings dragged on throughout the Summer of Love until finally the Chief denied the permit stating that, “Dance would be bad for the neighborhood”.
Front-page stories followed the proceedings as we applied to the Board of Permit
Appeals to overturn the Chief’s inexplicable decision. Dame Judith Anderson testified to the positive nature of the Straight Theater and its Performing Arts Workshops to the deaf ears of the all-white Board of aging political appointees. The politics of the neighborhood’s real estate and merchants stacked the deck as “The Straight on the Haight” reveals in detail. After several more postponements, which kept dancing illegal during the first few months of the Theater’s existence, The Board of Permit Appeals let the Chief’s denial stand.
Outside the hearing room in city hall’s marble corridor, Caitlin again pointed out that one did not need a permit to hold a dance class. Caitlin, Bill and I had discussed this previously as a possible strategy. We now agreed that with The Straight Theater Dance Workshop in business for over a year, it was time to bring these very popular classes to the Big Floor of the Straight, complete with live musical accompaniment.
We began the “dance classes” the weekend of Sept. 29 and 30, starring the Grateful Dead and featuring The Sons of Champlin. The predominately red poster showing the Grateful Dead flying had a banner simply stating “Dance” on both sides of the dates but there also was a companion handbill more to the point featuring a Courier and Ives man shouting the words” Straight Theater Dance Class”. Caitlin led the first public “dance class” at the Straight by inviting the audience/class to warm up and then led some stretches and brief exercises in dance improvisation. She then suggested that the class practice improvisation to the music of the Grateful Dead. Luther Greene’s friend. Ann Halprin, the world-renowned director of the San Francisco Dancer’s Workshop and originator of public “Happenings”, brought her troupe providing a kinetic segue into the “Sons” set the following week, “Environmental Dance Classes” were featured on the poster along with “Caitlin Huggins, B.A. Head Instructress”. Two weeks later The Ann Halprin Company returned to lead a three-part Kinetic Movement Happening series. This continued to enhance our claim that these were “dance classes”.
The police never challenged our claim that these were dance classes. After a few weeks, the claim disappeared off the posters, yet everybody kept dancing til the day the Straight closed. A year later, when Jane Lapiner and the Living Theater took the floor of the Straight to present cutting-edge works, one of which was danced nude, it still did not bring the police to stop dancing at the Straight.
Semantics Rule and Art Rocks.
The Original Straight Theater Logo by Rick Griffin. Marquee Art by Jim Phillips 2001
Straight Theater Presents
Date Artists
19 May 1966 Grateful Dead, Michael McClure, Wildflower, The Outfit, Lights by Reginald [held at the Avalon Ballroom]
05 March 1967 Country Joe and the Fish, Moby Grape, Big Brother and the Holding Company, Sparrow [Benefit for a New Stage and Straight Theater – held at the Avalon Ballroom]
05 April 1967 Kiva, Straight Theater, Church of One, Family Dog and Diggers [Communication Company Meeting]
15 June 1967 Straight Theater Christening Grateful Dead, Wildflower, Straight Theater Dancers, Lights by Reginald
July Straight Theater Opening Weekend Lights by Reginald
21 July 1967 Quicksilver Messenger Service, Mount Rushmore, Salvation Army Banned, Mother Earth,
22 July 1967 Country Joe and The Fish, Charlatans, Blue Cheer, Freedom Highway
23 July 1967 Grateful Dead, Big Brother and The Holding Company w Janis Joplin, Wildflower, Phoeni
22 July 1967 – 14 August 1967 The Dossier (Live theater – Straight Theater Company)
Every Sunday STP free music, Every Monday Night Poetry
August Every show Lights by Reginald
04 August 1967 Wildflower, Marlowe, Paul Arnoldi
05 August 1967 Wildflower, Second Coming, Paul Arnoldi
06 August 1967 Clover, Melvin Q Watchpocket, Colours, Preston Webster
11 August 1967 Patrick Sky, Mount Rushmore, Freedom Highway
12 August 1967 Patrick Sky, Morning Glory, Clover
13 August 1967 Patrick Sky, Mount Rushmore, Mad River
18 August 1967 Steve Miller Blues Band, Second Coming, Congress of Wonders, Julius Caesar (Live theater – Straight Theater Company)
19 August 1967 Steve Miller Blues Band, Second Coming, Congress of Wonders, Julius Caesar (Live theater – S.T.C.)
20 August 1967 Steve Miller Blues Band, Second Coming, Congress of Wonders, Julius Caesar (Live theater – S.T.C.)
September STP free Sundays Poetry every Monday night All shows Lights by Reginald
01 September 1967 Big Brother and the Holding Company, Southside Sound System, Freedom Highway
02 September 1967 Big Brother and the Holding Company, Southside Sound System, Colours
03 September 1967 Big Brother and the Holding Company, Southside Sound System, Phoenix
15 September 1967 Steve Miller Blues Band, Sopwith Camel, Billy Roberts, Hey Joe
16 September 1967 Steve Miller Blues Band, Notes from the Underground, Billy Roberts, Hey Joe
17 September 1967 Little Richard with an All Soul Revue, Big Daddy Spencer and his Blue Flames
21 September 1967 Magick Powerhouse of Oz, Kenneth Anger, The Amazing Charlatans, Congress of Wonders, SF Mime Troupe, The Duncan Company [The Equinox of the Gods]
29 September 1967 Grateful Dead, Sons of Champlin
30 September 1967 Grateful Dead, Sons of Champlin
October STP Free Sundays Poetry Reading each Monday Lenore Kendel
04 October 1967 Anonymous Artists of America (AAA), Initial Shock, Poets [Benefit for the Haight-Ashbury Free Medical Clinic]
05 October 1967 Dr David Smith, Mad River, Poets [Benefit for the Haight-Ashbury Free Medical Clinic]
13 October 1967 Kaleidoscope, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Martha’s Laundry
14 October 1967 Kaleidoscope, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Martha’s Laundry
15 October 1967 Kaleidoscope, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Martha’s Laundry
20 October 1967 Charlatans, Congress of Wonders, Ann Halprin, Original Soft Pretzel
21 October 1967 Charlatans, Congress of Wonders, Ann Halprin, Original Soft Pretzel
22 October 1967 Charlie Musselwhite, John Handy
23 October 1967 The Lady Aoi and Kantan (Noh Plays – S.T.C.)
27 October 1967 Charlie Musselwhite, Wildflower, Preston Webster and Company
28 October 1967 Charlie Musselwhite, Wildflower, Preston Webster and Company
November STP free Sundays Poetry Mondays Michael Mclure
03 November 1967 The Incredible Fish, PH Phactor Jug Band, Congress of Wonders, Ann Halprin [Kinetic Dance Happening]
04 November 1967 The Incredible Fish, PH Phactor Jug Band, Congress of Wonders, Ann Halprin [Kinetic Dance Happening]
05 November 1967 The Incredible Fish, PH Phactor Jug Band, Congress of Wonders, Ann Halprin, Kinetic Dance Happening
14 November 1967 Quicksilver Messenger Service, John Fahey
17 November 1967 Quicksilver Messenger Service, John Fahey, Indian Headband
18 November 1967 Emperor Jones, Jack De Govia (Live theater – S.T.C.)
18 November 1967 Quicksilver Messenger Service, John Fahey, Indian Headband
19 November 1967 Country Joe McDonald, John Fahey
December STP Free Sundays Poetry Mondays
01 December 1967 Mad River, Santana Blues Band and others
02 December 1967 Mad River, Santana Blues Band and others
03 December 1967 Mad River, Santana Blues Band and others
08 December 1967 Mt. Rushmore, The Phoenix, The Psycle, Larry and Sue-Rita
09 December 1967 Mt. Rushmore, The Phoenix, The Psycle, Larry and Sue-Rita
10 December 1967 Mt. Rushmore, The Phoenix, The Psycle, Larry and Sue-Rita
18 December 1967 – 23 December 1967 The Blossom (Play by Michael McClure – S.T.C.)
18 December 1967 Mt. Rushmore
19 December 1967 Mt. Rushmore
20 December 1967 Mt. Rushmore
21 December 1967 Mt. Rushmore
22 December 1967 Clover, Black Swan
23 December 1967 Clover, Black Swan
26 December 1967 Flying Tibetan Phurba [Grope For Peace]
31 December 1967 Charlatans, Salvation, Clover and others [Stoned New Year’s]
1968
January STP Free Sundays ,Poetry Mondays
09 January 1968 Notes from the Underground
10 January 1968 Notes from the Underground
11 January 1968 Notes from the Underground
12 January 1968 Allmen Joy, The Womb
13 January 1968 Allmen Joy, The Womb
16 January 1968 Clover
17 January 1968 Clover
18 January 1968 Clover
19 January 1968 Salvation, Indian Headband, Liberty Street
20 January 1968 Salvation, Indian Headband, Liberty Street
23 January 1968 Charlatans, Red Desert (film)
24 January 1968 Charlatans, Red Desert (film)
25 January 1968 Charlatans, Red Desert (film)
26 January 1968 Sons of Champlin, Mad River Band, Peace
27 January 1968 Sons of Champlin, Mad River Band, Peace
30 January 1968 Santana Blues Band, Mt. Rushmore, Phoenix, Martha’s Laundry, Doug Williams, La Dolce Vita (film)
31 January 1968 Santana Blues Band, Mt. Rushmore, Phoenix, Martha’s Laundry, Doug Williams, La Dolce Vita (film)
February STP Free Sundays ,Poetry Mondays
01 February 1968 Santana Blues Band, Mt. Rushmore, Phoenix, Martha’s Laundry, Doug Williams, La Dolce Vita (film)
06 February 1968 Blue Cheer, Cosmic Man (film)
07 February 1968 Blue Cheer, Cosmic Man (film)
08 February 1968 Blue Cheer, Cosmic Man (film)
09 February 1968 Mother Earth, Wildflower, Liberty Street
10 February 1968 Mother Earth, Wildflower, Liberty Street
16 February 1968 Sons of Champlin, Salvation, Allmen Joy, The Circus
17 February 1968 Sons of Champlin, Salvation, Allmen Joy, The Circus
27 February 1968 McDuck, Allmen Joy
28 February 1968 McDuck, Allmen Joy
29 February 1968 McDuck, Allmen Joy
March STP Free Sundays ,Poetry Mondays
01 March 1968 Charlie Musselwhite, Santana Blues Band
02 March 1968 Charlie Musselwhite, Santana Blues Band
12 March 1968 MT. Rushmore, The Womb, Films
13 March 1968 MT. Rushmore, The Womb, Films
14 March 1968 MT. Rushmore, The Womb, Films
15 March 1968 Allmen Joy, Phoenix, Flamin Groovies, Initial Shock
16 March 1968 Allmen Joy, Phoenix, Flamin Groovies, Initial Shock
19 March 1968 Kaleidoscope plus different films each night
20 March 1968 Kaleidoscope plus different films each night
21 March 1968 Kaleidoscope plus different films each night
22 March 1968 James Cotton Blues Band, Mint Tattoo, It’s A Beautiful Day
23 March 1968 James Cotton Blues Band, Mint Tattoo, It’s A Beautiful Day
24 March 1968 James Cotton Blues Band, Mint Tattoo, It’s A Beautiful Day
29 March 1968 Mount Rushmore, Freedom Highway, Liberty Street
30 March 1968 Mount Rushmore, Freedom Highway, Liberty Street
April STP Free Sundays ,Poetry Mondays
04 April 1968 The Amazing Charlatans, Curley Cooke’s Hurdy Gurdy Band, Marble Farm
05 April 1968 The Amazing Charlatans, Curley Cooke’s Hurdy Gurdy Band, Marble Farm
06 April 1968 The Amazing Charlatans, Curley Cooke’s Hurdy Gurdy Band, Marble Farm
07 April 1968 Charlatans, Flamin’ Groovies
21 April 1968 Malachi, Ashok Fakair [Holy Music]
24 April 1968 Janis Joplin with Big Brother and the Holding Company, Sons of Champlin, Congress of Wonders, Curley Cooke’s Hurdy Gurdy Band, Indian Head Band, Ace of Cups, Phoenix [Time Again to Save the Straight Theater]
May STP Free Sundays ,Poetry Mondays
03 May 1968 Sons of Champlin, Country Weather
04 May 1968 Sons of Champlin, Country Weather
07 May 1968 Kaleidoscope, Santana
08 May 1968 Kaleidoscope, Santana
09 May 1968 Kaleidoscope, Santana
10 May 1968 Santana Blues Band, Clover, Granny Goose
11 May 1968 Santana Blues Band, Clover, Granny Goose
12 May 1968 Charlatans, Flamin’ Groovies
12 May 1968 Amazing Charlatans, Flaming Groovies, Room Beyond The Closet (Live theater – S.T.C)
13 May 1968 Amazing Charlatans, Flaming Groovies, Room Beyond The Closet (Live theater – S.T.C)
14 May 1968 Malachi Favors
16 May 1968 Mad River, Frumious Bandersnatch
17 May 1968 Mad River, Frumious Bandersnatch
18 May 1968 Allmen Joy, Curley Cooke’s Hurdy Gurdy Band, Petrus
19 May 1968 Flamin’ Groovies, Curley Cooke’s Hurdy Gurdy Band, Petrus
24 May 1968 Charlie Musselwhite, Savage Resurrection, Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks
25 May 1968 Charlie Musselwhite, Savage Resurrection, Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks
28 May 1968 Allmen Joy, Indian Headband, Cleveland Wrecking Co
29 May 1968 Allmen Joy, Indian Headband, Cleveland Wrecking Co
30 May 1968 Allmen Joy, Indian Headband, Cleveland Wrecking Co
31 May 1968 Notes From The Underground, Ace of Cups, Liberty Street
June STP Free Sundays ,Poetry Mondays
01 June 1968 Notes From The Underground, Ace of Cups, Liberty Street
07 June 1968 Salvation, Mt. Rushmore, Tree of Life
08 June 1968 Salvation, Mt. Rushmore, Tree of Life
09 June 1968 Salvation, Mt. Rushmore, Tree of Life
14 June 1968 The New Charlatans, Cleveland Wrecking Company, Uncut Balloon
15 June 1968 The New Charlatans, Cleveland Wrecking Company, Uncut Balloon
July Movies all month
03 July 1968 Initial Shock, Allmen Joy, Indian Head Band, Phoenix
12 July 1968 – Room Beyond the Closet (Live theater – S.T.C)
August Stephen Gaskins Monday Night Class
Movies all month
02 August 1968 Congress of Wonders, Allmen Joy, Phoenix
03 August 1968 Congress of Wonders, Allmen Joy, Phoenix
04 August 1968 Congress of Wonders, Allmen Joy, Phoenix
September Movies all month
14 Sept 1968 Revolution Movie Country Joe, Quicksilver, Steve Miller, Congress of Wonders Live
October Stephen Gaskins Monday Night Class Movies all month
10 October Runaway Emergency Symposium, Huckelberry & Happening House
15 October 1968 – 30 October 1968 Carnival and Resurrection of the Blind God Orpheus Under the Tower in the Place of the Lost Souls (Nude theater by Monty Pike)
November Stephen Gaskins Monday Night Class
05 November 1968 The End of the War (Co-sponsored by The Diggers)
22-24 November The Beatles Magical Mystery Tour
24 November 1968 Freedom Highway, Clover, Psycle, Doug Williams
25 November 1968 Freedom Highway, Clover, Psycle, Doug Williams
December Stephen Gaskins Monday Night Class
18 December You Are What You Eat Film Peter Paul Mary
20-22 December AllMen Joy Indian Pudden Pipe
31 December 1968 Indian Pudden and Pipe, Allmen Joy, Freedom Highway, Congress of Wonders, Clover
05 March 1969 Congress of Wonders, Magical Mystery Tour (film)
06 March 1969 Congress of Wonders, Magical Mystery Tour (film)
12 March 1969 Mt. Rushmore, Flamin’ Groovies
13 March 1969 MC5, Zenta, Congress of Wonders, Clover
14 March 1969 MC5, Zenta, Congress of Wonders, Clover
15 March 1969 MC5, Zenta, Congress of Wonders, Clover
01 April 1969 Messiah’s One World Crusade: Sons of Champlin, Passion, Marvin Gardens, The Angels Own Band Chorus, Bicycle, Asoke Fakir, Morning Glory, Congress of Wonders, Rush, Last Mile, Glass Mountain
02 April 1969 Sons of Champlin, Passion, Marvin Gardens, The Angels Own Band Chorus, Bicycle, Asoke Fakir, Morning Glory, Congress of Wonders, Rush, Last Mile, Glass Mountain
03 April 1969 Sons of Champlin, Passion, Marvin Gardens, The Angels Own Band Chorus, Bicycle, Asoke Fakir, Morning Glory, Congress of Wonders, Rush, Last Mile, Glass Mountain
04 April 1969 Sons of Champlin, Passion, Marvin Gardens, The Angels Own Band Chorus, Bicycle, Asoke Fakir, Morning Glory, Congress of Wonders, Rush, Last Mile, Glass Mountain
05 April 1969 Sons of Champlin, Passion, Marvin Gardens, The Angels Own Band Chorus, Bicycle, Asoke Fakir, Morning Glory, Congress of Wonders, Rush, Last Mile, Glass Mountain
Photos by: Jerry Wainwright, circa late 1960s all rights reserved