Handbill featuring an illustration by David Hodges of a multicolor circus wagon announcing The Invisible Circus.
[SF: Communication Company, 1967].
Item #SKB-4826
Scheduled to take place at the Glide Memorial Church the Invisible Circus was billed as "a 72-hour environmental community Happening" presented by the Diggers who wanted it to be the best party the Haight had seen. The Communication Company's gestetner machines were lugged to the church, and Richard Brautigan dubbed one room The John Dillinger computer room where he and Chester Anderson started cranking out a stream of spontaneous handbills featuring "news flashes," snippets of stoned conversation overheard at the event, and readings from the I Ching. There was music by The Orkustra, readings by Michael McClure and Lenore Kandel, and various types of Happening-style events spread throughout the many rooms of the church. Originally scheduled to last three days, the event was cancelled by the church after eight hours due to naked tripping hippies running amok including copulating on the altar. Perhaps the best of the many accounts of the Invisible Circus is in Jubilee Hitchhiker: The Life and Times of Richard Brautigan---this handbill is reproduced with a double-page spread in Notes from a Revolution: Com/Co, the Diggers & the Haight. Desirable item from one of the most legendary events of the "Summer of Love" and one of the most elaborately colorful Communication Company publications. Barely perceptible touch of red tint to the left edge from the printing process, else fine and bright.
Price: $175.00