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Series
USA: Poetry
Episode Number
2
Episode
Allen Ginsberg and Lawrence Ferlinghetti
Producing Organization
KQED-TV (Television station : San Francisco, Calif.)
National Educational Television and Radio Center
National Educational Television and Radio Center
Contributing Organization
Thirteen WNET (New York, New York)
KQED (San Francisco, California)
AAPB ID
cpb-aacip/55-x34mk66206
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Description
Episode Description
This film, featuring two important and outspoken contemporary poets is a study of poetic engagement and direct involvement with events in the contemporary world. The first portion deals with Allen Ginsberg and documents his way of life - we see him in San Francisco's City Lights bookshop, in the studio of painter Bob Levyne, at his home, and as he embarks by microbus on a nationwide trip. Against this background he discusses the San Francisco Renaissance and reads some of his poetry. Poems read include excerpts from "Who to Be Kind To," "From New York to San Fran" and "The Guru" - all three unpublished works - also excerpts from "Howl and Other Poems" and "Notes for Howl and Other Poems." Lawrence Ferlinghetti, who is dealt with in the second portion of this episode, holds an MA from Columbia University (1947), and a Doctorat du l'Universite de Paris (1950). He is the principal owner and editor of City Lights Booksellers and Publishers, San Francisco, where he is filmed in his office and in the street for this episode. Like Ginsberg, he too reads his own poetry, including "Dog" and an excerpt from "The Situation in the West." USA: Poetry - Allen Ginsberg and Lawrence Ferlinghetti is a 1966 production of KQED and National Educational Television. KQED production unit: Richard Moore, Philip Greene, Stanley Kronquest, Irving Saraf. Episode Running Time: 29:02 (Description adapted from documents in the NET Microfiche)
Series Description
USA: Poetry is part of an assessment of the state of the literary arts in the United States, which concentrates on contemporary poets, with the opening episode on the late William Carlos Williams serving as an introduction to programs that follow. The 14 half-hour episodes that comprise the series were originally recorded on film.
Broadcast Date
1966-03-06
Asset type
Episode
Genres
Performance
Documentary
Topics
Literature
Biography
Rights
Copyright National Educational Television & Radio Center March 6, 1966
Media type
Moving Image
Credits
Executive Producer: Howard, Brice
Executive Producer: Howard, Brice
Interviewee: Ferlinghetti, Lawrence
Interviewee: Ginsberg, Allen
Performer: Ferlinghetti, Lawrence
Performer: Ginsberg, Allen
Performer: Ginsberg, Allen
Performer: Ferlinghetti, Lawrence
Producing Organization: KQED-TV (Television station : San Francisco, Calif.)
Producing Organization: National Educational Television and Radio Center
Producing Organization: National Educational Television and Radio Center
AAPB Contributor Holdings
Thirteen - New York Public Media (WNET)
Identifier: wnet_aacip_5078 (WNET Archive)
Format: Digital Betacam
Generation: Master
KQED
Identifier: 06265 (Barcode Number)
Format: Digital Betacam
Duration: 01:34:00
Indiana University Libraries Moving Image Archive
Identifier: [request film based on title] (Indiana University)
Format: 16mm film
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Citations
Chicago: “USA: Poetry; 2; Allen Ginsberg and Lawrence Ferlinghetti,” 1966-03-06, Thirteen WNET, KQED, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC, accessed October 20, 2025, http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-55-x34mk66206.
MLA: “USA: Poetry; 2; Allen Ginsberg and Lawrence Ferlinghetti.” 1966-03-06. Thirteen WNET, KQED, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC. Web. October 20, 2025. <http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-55-x34mk66206>.
APA: USA: Poetry; 2; Allen Ginsberg and Lawrence Ferlinghetti. Boston, MA: Thirteen WNET, KQED, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC. Retrieved from http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-55-x34mk66206