I went about my day yesterday in the usual fashion – getting up, having coffee and getting to work. Of course like 98% of people I know I stopped to check facebook and a blog or two during the day and stumbled over this treasure trove of goodness about a gentleman named William Seward Burroughs.
Yes, I’ve written about him before.
This is different though because I was halfway to writing a letter to Tyler Green and Greg Allen because Allen had recently written a small bit about Mary Meyer (JFK’S mistress) and the relation to the Truitts. It’s funny because I know a bit more about that whole thing than I should, mostly because of a job I had earlier in my life. But the connection here is clearly conspiracy. Let’s be blunt about this one thing – WSB did conspiracy better than anyone.
Anyway I decided not to send a letter – because I really shouldn’t, and started reading some of the most interesting things I’ve ever read about Burroughs in a long time. I’m serious, really quality writing. (not like the drivel I write) I am fascinated by an article called “Burroughs and Beats in Men’s Magazines: William Burroughs Appearances in Adult Men’s Magazines” (URL). Even more interesting is an article about his writing for the magazine Swank. (URL) The article starts from this little passage;
Q: What is with all the men’s magazines?
A: Oh, I read them for the articles.
But here’s the punch line. In July 1961, Swank publishes a first section of what would go on to become Naked Lunch. Naked Lunch would go on to be published about a year later. Even further Burroughs was not the only writer to be doing this; Kerouac, Ginsburg and a host of others were publishing in these magazines. Burroughs would later go on to publish as many as 26 articles for the men’s magazine Mayfair.
Here is a quick rogues gallery of titles Burroughs published in in the 60’s and 70’s:
Playboy, Penthouse, Suck, National Screw, OUI, Club, Playgirl, Blueboy, Mayfair, Cavalier, King, Jaguar, Swank. Makes me almost wish that the sleazier parts of our culture would publish with a bit more variety between the cover.
For more information http://realitystudio.org/