Smoking Typewriters : The Sixties Underground Press and the Rise of Alternative Media in America

How did the New Left uprising of the 1960s happen? What caused millions of young people-many of them affluent and college educated-to suddenly decide that American society needed to be completely overhauled? In Smoking Typewriters , historian John McMillian shows that one answer to these questions can be found in the emergence of a dynamic underground press in the 1960s. Following the lead of papers like the Los Angeles Free Press, the East Village Other , and the Berkeley Barb , young people across the country launched hundreds of mimeographed pamphlets and flyers, small press magazines, and underground newspapers. New, cheaper printing technologies democratized the publishing process and by the decade's end the combined circulation of underground papers stretched into the millions. Though not technically illegal, these papers were often genuinely subversive, and many of those who produced and sold them-on street-corners, at poetry readings, gallery openings, and coffeehouses-became targets of harassment from local and federal authorities. With writers who actively participated in the events they described, underground newspapers captured the zeitgeist of the '60s, speaking directly to their readers, and reflecting and magnifying the spirit of cultural and political protest. McMillian pays special attention to the ways underground newspapers fostered a sense of community and played a vital role in shaping the New Left's highly democratic "movement culture." Deeply researched and eloquently written, Smoking Typewriters captures all the youthful idealism and vibrant tumult of the 1960s as it delivers a brilliant reappraisal of the origins and development of the New Left rebellion. How Did The New Left Uprising Of The 1960s Happen? What Caused Millions Of Young People--many Of Them Affluent And College Educated--to Suddenly Decide That American Society Needed To Be Completely Overhauled? In Smoking Typewriters, Historian John Mcmillian Shows That One Answer To These Questions Can Be Found In The Emergence Of A Dynamic Underground Press In The 1960s. Following The Lead Of Papers Like The Los Angeles Free Press, The East Village Other, And The Berkeley Barb, Young People Across The Country Launched Hundreds Of Mimeographed Pamphlets And Flyers, Small Press Magazines, And Underground Newspapers. New And Cheap Printing Technologies Had Democratized The Publishing Process, And By The Decade's End The Combined Circulation Of Underground Papers Stretched Into The Millions.^ Though Not Technically Illegal, These Papers Were Often Genuinely Subversive, And Many Who Produced And Sold Them--on Street-corners, At Poetry Readings, Gallery Openings, And Coffeehouses--became Targets Of Harassment From Local And Federal Authorities. With Writers Who Actively Participated In The Events They Described, Underground Newspapers Captured The Zeitgeist Of The '60s, Speaking Directly To Their Readers, And Reflecting And Magnifying The Spirit Of Cultural And Political Protest. Mcmillian Gives Special Attention To The Ways Underground Newspapers Fostered A Sense Of Community And Played A Vital Role In Shaping The New Left's Movement Culture. By Putting The Underground Press At The Forefront, Mcmillian Underscores The Degree To Which The Political Energy Of The 1960s Emerged From The Grassroots, Rather Than The National Office Of Students For A Democratic Society (sds), Which Historians Of The Era Typically Highlight.^ ^deeply Researched And Eloquently Written, Smoking Typewriters Captures All The Youthful Idealism And Vibrant Tumult Of The 1960s As It Delivers A Brilliant Reappraisal Of The Origins And Development Of The New Left Rebellion-- What Caused The New Left Rebellion Of The 1960s? In Smoking Typewriters, Historian John Mcmillian Argues That The Underground Press Contributed To The New Left's Growth And Cultural Organization In Crucial, Overlooked Ways-- Machine Generated Contents Note: -- Introduction -- Chapter One: Our Funder, The Mimeograph Machine: Print Culture In Students For A Democratic Society -- Chapter Two: A Hundred Blooming Papers: Culture And Community In The 1960s Underground Press -- Chapter Three: Electrical Bananas: The Great Banana Hoax Of 1967 And The Underground Press -- Chapter Four: All The Protest Fit For Print: The Rise Of Liberation News Service -- Chapter Five: Either We Have Freedom Of The Press--or We Don't Have Freedom Of The Press: Thomas King Forcade And The War Against Underground Newspapers -- Chapter Six: Questioning Who Decides Participatory Democracy In The Underground Press -- Chapter Seven: From Underground To Everywhere: Alternative Media Trends Since The Sixties. John Mcmillian. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [249]-260) And Index. How did the New Left uprising of the 1960s happen? What caused millions of young people--many of them affluent and college educated--to suddenly decide that American society needed to be completely overhauled? In Smoking Typewriters, historian John McMillian shows that one answer to these questions can be found in the emergence of a dynamic underground press in the 1960s. Following the lead of papers like the Los Angeles Free Press, the East Village Other, and the Berkeley Barb, young people across the country launched hundreds of mimeographed pamphlets and flyers, small press magazines, and underground newspapers. New and cheap printing technologies had democratized the publishing process, and by the decade's end the combined circulation of underground papers stretched into the millions. Though not technically illegal, these papers were often genuinely subversive, and many who produced and sold them--on street-corners, at poetry readings, gallery openings, and coffeehouses--became targets of harassment from local and federal authorities. With writers who actively participated in the events they described, underground newspapers captured the zeitgeist of the '60s, speaking directly to their readers, and reflecting and magnifying the spirit of cultural and political protest. McMillian gives special attention to the ways underground newspapers fostered a sense of community and played a vital role in shaping the New Left's "movement culture." By putting the underground press at the forefront, McMillian underscores the degree to which the political energy of the 1960s emerged from the grassroots, rather than the national office of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), which historians of the era typically highlight. Deeply researched and eloquently written, Smoking Typewriters captures all the youthful idealism and vibrant tumult of the 1960s as it delivers a brilliant reappraisal of the origins and development of the New Left rebellion.-- Résumé de l'éditeur Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Contents......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 10 A Note on Sources......Page 14 Introduction......Page 18 1 'Our Founder, the Mimeograph Machine': Print Culture in Students for a Democratic Society......Page 30 2 A Hundred Blooming Papers: Culture and Community in the 1960s Underground Press......Page 48 3 'Electrical Bananas': The Underground Press and the Great Banana Hoax of 1967......Page 83 4 'All the Protest Fit to Print': The Rise of Liberation News Service......Page 99 5 'Either We Have Freedom of the Press ... or We Don't Have Freedom of the Press': Thomas King Forcade and the War against Underground Newspapers......Page 142 6 Questioning Who Decides: Participatory Democracy in the Underground Press......Page 167 7 'From Underground to Everywhere': Alternative Media Trends since the Sixties......Page 199 Afterword......Page 213 Notes......Page 218 Index......Page 288 What caused the New Left rebellion of the 1960s? In SMOKING TYPEWRITERS, historian John McMillian argues that the "underground press" contributed to the New Left's growth and cultural organization in crucial, overlooked ways.-- Résumé de l'éditeur