Bukowski's Hollywood

An excerpt from Barbet Shroeder’s Charles Bukowski Tapes (1985), in which the crusty and hilarious old alcoholic writer (and inspiration to countless terrible would-be alcoholic writers) rides around Los Angeles — specifically, the intersection of Hollywood and Western — in a convertible and shows us where all the crazy people sit, where you can purchase lethal powders for 15¢ and who the hookers and dope dealers are. It’s a telling sign of Los Angeles’ depressingly unchecked development that one of the only buildings that’s still recognizable in 2009 is the dilapidated Le Sex Shoppe just east of Western on Hollywood. (via LA TACO)

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About Jay Babcock

I am an independent writer and editor based in Tucson, Arizona. I publish LANDLINE at jaybabcock.substack.com Previously: I co-founded and edited Arthur Magazine (2002-2008, 2012-13) and curated the three Arthur music festival events (Arthurfest, ArthurBall, and Arthur Nights) (2005-6). Prior to that I was a district office staffer for Congressman Henry A. Waxman, a DJ at Silver Lake pirate radio station KBLT, a copy editor at Larry Flynt Publications, an editor at Mean magazine, and a freelance journalist contributing work to LAWeekly, Mojo, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Vibe, Rap Pages, Grand Royal and many other print and online outlets. An extended piece I wrote on Fela Kuti was selected for the Da Capo Best Music Writing 2000 anthology. In 2006, I was somehow listed in the Music section of Los Angeles Magazine's annual "Power" issue. In 2007-8, I produced a blog called "Nature Trumps," about the L.A. River. From 2010 to 2021, I lived in rural wilderness in Joshua Tree, Ca.

2 thoughts on “Bukowski's Hollywood

  1. Pingback: Arthur Magazine Email Bulletin No. 158 (Aug 5, 2009) | ARTHUR MAGAZINE - WE FOUND THE OTHERS

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