Incomplete Requiem for W. C. Fields

by Al Hansen

1966 A Great Bear Pamphlet New York

ubuclassics 2004

INCOMPLETE REQUIEM FOR W. C. FIELDS

Al Hansen

ubuclassics 2004

Incomplete Requiem for W. C. Fields Al Hansen

Originally published in 1966 as a Great Bear Pamphlet by .

ubuclassics www.ubu.com Series Editor: Michael Tencer This work is dedicated to my daughter Bibbe Anne Hansen (who in so many ways is just like me) as was the original performance at the E.pit´o.me Coffee House 165 Bleecker St. Greenwich Village

4 ubuclassics ubu.com me. . pit´o . Diane Di Prima, if could call it you _ _ . Spotlight on a small Canzona occurred. Thepoem 55 Don (Max) McAree, Lawrence (Larry) Poons and (Larry) Poons Lawrence Don (Max) McAree, me used to be) in front ofme used to be) in front the across liquor store the . _ Introduction me Coffee Shop at 165 Bleecker Street in Greenwich 165 Bleecker Street me Coffee Shop at . pit´o . pit´o . ran the E _ Where are Turk and the rug kids who lived in the sub-basement of lived and the rug kids who Turk are Where the Sullivan Three neo-plastic painters Whatever became ofWhatever Pugliese? Jaimee of number A large Dada had all the doorways through going artists were young became ofWhatever Hurley? Sharon and others were Bellamy Karp, Grooms, summer. that almost drowned Kaprow coming back to New York? Ford Hazel When is lovely under Rev. Gallery, the Judson over and Jim Dine had taken Claes Oldenburg ran the E Smythe and Howard Larry Poons Max McAree, As I was saying, I have no idea during what week or day or month of day or week no idea during what I have original performance 1958 the Incomplete Requiem for W. C. Fields C. for W. Incomplete Requiem was written sometime during the preceding year. The coffee shop boom had peaked year. during the preceding was written sometime _ incomplete requiem for w. for requiem incomplete c. fieldshansen al Street Playhouse? Street and the New York backwash from the San Francisco Poetry Revolution was terrific. Kenneth Revolution Poetry San Francisco the from backwash and the New York Ginsberg, Corso, and Avenue, Spot on Third the old Five to jazz at was reciting Rexroth everywhere. were and Lamantia Kerouac Howard Smythe Smythe Howard of owner killed the later who an old man named Pepe it from rented They Village. the Cafe the E where is now (which Rafio. that that street. Hans Hoffmanned who at Everyone yet. posited, though no one had called it Neo-Dada Earlier, the Sun Gallery there. at Grooms’ Red was talking about Provincetown the Hansa Gallery on Central at Happening-environment the rage had been ’s land- then they the Hansa until it folded, at Karp (Ivan worked and Dick Bellamy West. Park and 14th Street was under construction at And the Living Theatre ed in Martha Jackson’s.) Sixth Avenue. was full of It Provincetown. making a film at shots, Italian shots, German Russian shots, part was to come up out of Allan’s shots. Japanese shots, French made up like the the bay him. He shot up out of wrapped all around He had chains the deeps. from creature the water, him under. bore chains and the heavy backwards it was beautiful, then toppled over that Bud Scott, was quite sure The assistant minister, Church. Judson Moody’s Howard and myself Jim, Kaprow Claes, Cage’s returned was John devils to earth. And there were Earle Brecht, George Addiss, I met Steve where the New School, class in composition at Maxfleld, Dick Segal and many George Kaprow, , Feldman, Morton Brown, and I had a series of Kaprow year that Later others. about a workshop- intense conversations ideas became the old Reuben these wonderful Somehow gallery. atelier-cum- only the surface of where Avenue, Fourth Gallery on lower to I love the ideas was scratched. digress. All the coffee shoppes at the peak ofAll the coffee shoppes at so Don asked poetry readings, featuring the boom were Most ofme to get some poets. since we but male, predominantly cliques were the reading poets I could find out and got all the girl straight eclectics I went were used experimen- further pep things up we To others. and many Diane Wakoski Ford, Hazel tal performance One of pieces. these was Dick Higgins’ of the table. Higgins is announced, enters, sits down at the table, takes a notebook out of the table, at Higgins sits down announced, enters, is table. brief- a ubuclassics ubu.com View began. me, painted me, . pit´o New York New York 1966 May Al Hansen . Requiem __ without rehearsals, splicing without rehearsals, 66 Incomplete Requiem for W. C. Fields C. for W. Incomplete Requiem from the Gotham art book archive repository on 46th Street. Poons repository on 46th Street. the Gotham art book archive from And like that.... I did the Larry Poons used to go to the “” (the toilet of used to go to the “John Larry Poons the E transition incomplete requiem for w. for requiem incomplete c. fieldshansen al and editing the films that were to be projected on my chest up to the last minute. No time up to the last minute. chest on my to be projected were and editing the films that was turned out. The The projector lights went on. I I was ready. the text. to memorize of a word read couldn’t because it letters, though it was typed out in capital even the text, I kind of eyes. beam and the light was in my the movie was silhouetted by held the man- and squinting to try neck to make out the words. twisting my awkwardly uscript overhead, with a sense ofThen Poons, handed me a flashlight was beautiful, that timing and low- and the eyes, the light was no longer in my so that the projector ered always ended his readings with “Roar,” the Tristan Tzara poem. During one recital, Tzara the Tristan with “Roar,” his readings ended always and ordered A big policeman entered shoes to the table. Poons’ nailed Smythe Howard “My feet are not?” asked the cop. “Why said Poons. “I can’t,” to the floor. down Poons nailed to the table.” and case, opens book on table, keeps eyes on book, reaches into briefcase, takes out left glove, into briefcase, reaches on book, keeps eyes table, opens book on case, briefcase, from takes another glove snugly on left hand, glove on book, fits fixed still eyes takes off still on book, then it to right hand, eyes fits carefully replaces it in brief- left glove, closes brief- it in briefcase, it, closes notebook, replaces replaces right glove, removes case, exits. stands, case, performance: his for and green his head, my on dress stripes) and “Op” in red plastic bowl and the toilet seat down neckties hanging up to his chin, buttoned Harris overcoat tweed he could- complain that type would some timid uptown his neck. (Once in a while around then go to a table, would his neck.) Poons around had the seat Poons use the potty while n’t an Dada book for the Motherwell from and read down sit up, on it, climb place a chair been caught swiping copies of had all and we That book was our Bible, hour. and it ubuclassics ubu.com A & P 77 COMICS TRAIL CLOUD WENT UP CLOUD DIED READ THE MESSAGE READ THE MESSAGE OF THE CONEY ISLAND LINE OVER DEVASTATED FLATBUSH FLATBUSH DEVASTATED OVER BROOKLYN DRINK AUSTRALIAN SATURDAY AFTERNOONS SATURDAY AUSTRALIAN AND WHEN THE BIG MUSHROOM AND WHEN THE BIG MUSHROOM IT SPELLED PAYING DUES FROM THE JUGGLER BIT DUES FROM PAYING LAWN THE CANE-SPLIT CLOTH TO POOL TABLES STAGE OF A MILLION BURLY AND IN LONG-AGO AUSTRALIA WILLY WILLY AUSTRALIA AND IN LONG-AGO UP THE BINDLESTIFF DRANK HIS WAY THE WRITING IN THE SKY SAW AND THE TWISTED WRECKAGE HANDS WHERE SANDPAPER-SKINNED THE SITE OF THE LAST SCRATCHED INCOMPLETE REQUIEM FOR W. C. FIELDS C. FOR W. INCOMPLETE REQUIEM OF NAILS A BUCKET WHO DROPPED A SHOVEL OR MAYBE HEAD ON HIS FATHER’S AND LEFT PHILADELPHIA CRIME BE COMMITTED WHAT GOD KNOWS GO HIDE OUT TO AUSTRALIA IN LONG-AGO HE BECAME A CARNY STIFF MITT CAMPS A BEEFY GUY HIP TO HURLY-BURLY JOINT AND NAIL DEFTLY JUGGLING CIGAR BOXES AY SHARP EYE ON THE MEARZ ID WEARZ IN ALL THOSE GRAPE SUNSET DEALS OUT BACK DESERT YELLOW ALL HIS HUMOUR YESTERDAY incomplete requiem for w. for requiem incomplete c. fieldshansen al ubuclassics ubu.com 88 A BUCKET OF NAILS OF NAILS A BUCKET “SPIRITUS FERMENTI” ENVELOPES AND NAPKINS AND NAPKINS ENVELOPES PHIAN PRE-ATOMIC FARM FARM PHIAN PRE-ATOMIC ” YES! SNEERED BECAME incomplete requiem for w. for requiem incomplete c. fieldshansen al THE OMNISCIENT CASTRATED OF US ALL FATHER WHEN THE SIPPING SICKNESS CAME SAID “ YOU FAT FUNNY MAN FULL OF HELL FAT I DUG YOU DRINKING OR DIE STOP THE DOCS SAID AND YOU YOU STEERED FOR THE BAR FOR FINGERS YOUR SNAPPING QUIT!” HAD IT, THEY SAID “YOU’VE AND YOU WILLIAM DUKINFIELD CLAUDE OF PHILLO-DELPHI-A THE ORACLE ON WRITING FILM TREATMENTS THEM ONE FOR THE ROAD MIXED YOU ABOUT DYING SOME PEOPLE TALK IT DID YOU OLD MAN IN WITH YOUR DID YOU ROOF THE BARN FROM SHOVEL IT A COAL OR WAS PHILADEL- ON SOME POST CIVIL WAR AND DEVELOPING THE SUCKING SICKNESS DEVELOPING GETTING FUNNIER CHARGE ON MILES OF CELLULOID ubuclassics ubu.com CLOWN CLOWN OF MAN 99 SISSY PHALLUS IN THE SIDE POCKET FATHER FULL OF HATE OF HATE FULL FATHER SISSY BALLET DANCER SISSY BALLET OF NEIGHBORHOOD ITCHES OF NEIGHBORHOOD PARENT-INDUCED HYSTERIA PARENT-INDUCED DIDN’T FEEL GUILTY OR ANGRY OR ANGRY DIDN’T FEEL GUILTY WE YOU THE FAT MAN WITH THE LONG FAT THE YOU WE LAUGHED OUR UNSURE WE LAUGHED THOUSANDS FROM YOU OUT AT SATURDAYS SUNTAN ON BARROOM AS A DISMISSED CHAPLIN YOU CANE POOL CUE LOOKING DANGEROUS DAGGER PENAL LIKE A LONG WHICH BENT IMPOTENTLY RUBBERLY THE EIGHT BALL WANTED WHEN YOU HAT STRAW BELT BLACK MENACING US THE IMPOTENT SHOWED YOU SEE HIM MOST TO WHEN WE WANTED AND incomplete requiem for w. for requiem incomplete c. fieldshansen al YOU WORE THE BELLS IN OUR FAMILY WORE YOU JUST SNEERED YOU ROUGH IF THINGS GOT IT A LITTLE DIRTIER AND PLAYED THEN THE SIPPING SICKNESS WON A TURN FOR THE NURSE TOOK YOU BUT TEATS BIG BROWN FOUR-FIFTHS FULL OF WHISKEY STEPPED IT UP MONOTONE KARATE SONOROUS USED YOUR ON EVERYTHING ubuclassics ubu.com UNIVERSE 1010 WHISKEY TEARS THUNDERCLOUDS THUNDERCLOUDS MIDNIGHT TABLES LAFFMOVIE WILDNESS LAFFMOVIE incomplete requiem for w. for requiem incomplete c. fieldshansen al GREAT COMIC GOD OF THE CENTERLESS GREAT THE BODY STARTED TO GO TO STARTED THE BODY THE ROUTE BECAME GOUT WITH COMPLICATIONS LIKE ERUPTING FEET SWOLLEN TAPE OF GAUZE NIGHT OUT OF BED AT YOU ROLLING PAIN SCREAMING THE FIRING SQUAD AT LAST WISH THEY ASKED YOUR CALMLY MURMURED YOU FOR THE IMPOSSIBLE SEE PHILADELPHIA TO WANTED “I ALWAYS BEFORE I DIE...” A KING-SIZE CRIB FROM BACK FOUGHT YOU THE BARS AND BOUNCED AGAINST YELLING THE LANDLORDS!” “ELECTROCUTE CRYING BIG DRINKING FUNNY BABY SOBS AND GIN-SOAKED WHITE CAP AND NIGHTGOWN SCENE IN THE PAIN VICTORIA QUEEN IN THE GALAXY OF ALL-NIGHT JOHNS STREET MOVIE IN FORTY-SECOND BOTTLES AND KETCHUP WALDORF ON SALMON-TOPPED ubuclassics ubu.com 1111 FROM THE LOT THE LOT FROM HIS ORANGE JUICE SNARLING BROTHER BROTHER SNARLING NEON RUSTY BALCONY NEON RUSTY THE PARANOID DADDY MARX DADDY THE PARANOID QUIT QUIT GROUCHO OF THE BROKEN-BACKED OF THE BROKEN-BACKED SCUFFLING SHUFFLING CRAB WALK FRIGHTENED SHOULDERS OVER LOOKING HIS SPINE FOR THE CHILD WHO BROKE RETURN OUT FOR THE SON’S LOOKING THE JOB FINISH TO KIDS HATED YOU CARRIED LEROY LITTLE BABY PARALYZED PARALYZED SLIPPED INTO THE GIN YOU FROM SNEERING AFTER HIM “THE KID’S NO TROUPER, SEND HIM HOME...” IN DRAG DE WOLFE UNCLE OF BILLY SIM AND SUMPTUOUS ALASTAIR GROUCHO OUR FATHER IN FIELDS COUNSELS US: IN FIELDS COUNSELS OUR FATHER DON’T SUCCEED FIRST YOU “IF AT AGAIN TRY TRY THEN incomplete requiem for w. for requiem incomplete c. fieldshansen al WE DRANK WINE IN ROW ONE WE DRANK WINE IN ROW GIANT NOSE UP YOUR SO WE COULD LOOK DOUGH-FACED THOU GREAT OF NO USE BEING A DAMN FOOL ABOUT IT” DAMN NO USE BEING A US TOLD ALL YOU WE REMEMBERED SATURDAYS AGO ON SUNLIT LONG IN THE SMACK AND SKINPOPPED ubuclassics ubu.com 1212 “TAXI, TAXI?” “TAXI, WITH HIS CANE BYPASSER’S WALLET WALLET BYPASSER’S FROM A LIQUOR STORE STORE A LIQUOR FROM incomplete requiem for w. for requiem incomplete c. fieldshansen al HE SNARLS AT KINGS AND KIDS AT HE SNARLS AND MAKES A VISCOUS SWIPE HIM WHO BUGS AN OLD LADY AT GIGANTIC ENFANT TERRIBLE GIGANTIC ENFANT TRICKING CRIB IN A PAIN UP THE GOUT SNEAKS BABY ON THE SLEEPING TUSCHE TO TOE FROM SHAZAMING PAIN THE BARS AGAINST BIG BABY RATTLES A TUBE INSERTS THE VALET LEFT BREAST IN THE LARGE VELVET FOR THE SLIPPING SOOTHING GIN INTRAVENOUS WITH A HI AND A HO AND A HEE HEE HEE TURN THE TRICK THE TIP IS IN IT WITH WAS WILLY WITH HIM TILL IT GOT CHICKADEE? MY LITTLE THAT, HOW’S C. W. COOL AS MORNING GRASS WHILE SAFES FALL WHISTLE BULLETS TOPPLE AND BUILDINGS BOOSTS A FIFTH WIMPY’S FATHER DOES THE MARYELLEN WITH A DOES THE MARYELLEN CALLING HOTEL ENTERS A FANCY ubuclassics ubu.com _ 13 ON HIM OF LONDON OF LONDON HANDS ON IT THE MAYOR THE MAYOR NOT MEETS HIM ON THE CORNER _ incomplete requiem for w. for requiem incomplete c. fieldshansen al CHASE HIM DOWN THE STREET CHASE HIM DOWN WIFE GORGEOUS THE BARTENDER’S THE TILL ALL THE MONEY FROM PINCHING OUT OF HER BOSOM GRABS THE DOUGH C. FIELDS W. KNOCKS HER DOWN TWITCHING FACE HE HOPS A STREETCAR BAR IRISHTOWN ROCKAWAY SOME TO BIG WILL LEFT HIS MONEY IN EIGHTY MANY HOW GOD KNOWS AND ELSEWHERE BANKS S. U. NAMES UNDER FALSE THEIR COULD GET SO NO RELATIVES THE HOUR KNOW SAID IF HE COULD BUT ARRIVE WOULD DEATH HIS DOUGH IN BIG BILLS HE’D STACK ASSEMBLE HIS KIN CONFETTI AND TEAR IT TO FIND OUT HE’S YASSS...” IT HAD EVERYBODY’S THEY PUT THE WHOLE FREE LUNCH THE FATHER OF JACKIE GLEASON OF JACKIE THE FATHER MULLINS AND WILLY BELLIES THE BAR AND SPINS A QUARTER PRETTY LEGS HAVE “CHICKENS DO IN KANSAS incomplete requiem for w. c. fields al hansen ubu classics

JUST AS THAT FELLOW IN THE BRIGHT NIGHTGOWN STEPPED OUT OF THE CHECKER CAB FROM HELL

THE DOC SAID “YOU’RE DYING, DAD” W. C. FIELDS SAID “LET ME FIX YOU ONE FOR THE ROAD, CHUM. SOME PEOPLE TALK ABOUT DYING _ I’M GONNA DO IT.”

LAFFRIOTS IN HEAVEN, STARRING W. C. FIELDS

TEXAS GUINAN ROTATES HER BELLY IN A SLOW-MOTION TWIST AND HOWDY-SUCKERS EVERYBODY

MARILYN MILLER IN A BILL AT THE PALACE DIKE’S TEDDY ROOSEVELT’S SISTER FRED ALLEN IN HIS ALLEY AL JOLSON ON ONE KNEE NOSEDIVES BY FATTY ARBUCKLE THE ICEPACK KID JOE PENNER AND HIS CELESTIAL DUCK SLOW-BURN KENNEDY SONGS BY FANNY BRICE

THE LITTLE GIRL ON THE PIANO IS HELEN KANE MAKING BOO BOO BA BOO

SANFORD WHITE SAYS “I DON’T MIND YA FOOLIN’ AROUND BUT IF YOU MARRY THAT GUY I’M GONNA SHOOT YOU RIGHT OFF YOUR VELVET SWING ONE OF THESE NIGHTS” ubu.com

14 incomplete requiem for w. c. fields al hansen ubu classics

ALTERNATING RHYTHMS BY GLENN MILLER AND HAL KEMP

W. C. FIELDS ON A LADDER OF LOVE CLIMBING UP A LADDER OF LOVE (“GOT A DATE WITH AN ANGEL”) TO FIND AN ANGEL’S ASS TO PINCH

OR A KID TO KICK

W.C. FIELDS SITS UP IN A FUSTY DRUMMERS HOTEL BRASS BED LOOKS AROUND FOR HIS SOCK

DIG IT, HE CAN ONLY FIND ONE SOCK

SO DIG IT: HE SAYS

“THAT DAMN ONE-LEGGED MAN HAS BEEN THROUGH HERE AGAIN” ubu.com

15 ubuclassics ubu.com , man- (Something Else Press), a (Something Else Press), New Trends in Art Today New Trends 16 A Primer of Happenings & Time/Space Art incomplete requiem for w. for requiem incomplete c. fieldshansen al chatty, copiously illustrated document that has been called a “journal by the chieftain of the chieftain has been called a “journal document that copiously illustrated by chatty, on a new book, work He is currently at the art underground.” was born in 1927 in Queens, New York, and educated publicly from an early age in the an early from publicly and educated was born New York, in 1927 in Queens, ofways 1946 to 1948 From machinery. sea-families and heavy Norwegian filling stations, artist and bohemian Sam Turnbull, period during which Army, S. in the U. he served the pioneer of recalls extraordinaire, Happenings pushing pianos off stories of third open- Frankfurt. in bombed-out walled buildings Bill, on the GI as possible schools After he left the Army as many in 1948 he attended of University University, New York the Art Students’ League, College, including Brooklyn of and the Hans Hoffman School Tulane Coral Gables, Miami at Art. When his taste for became a special communications and slaked in 1951, he joined the Air Force education parachutist. art and graphic design. In 1958 in commercial working In 1955 he was back in New York, his first and launched happen- Group, the Audio-Visual with Dick Higgins, he founded, constructions. and pre-pop projections multiscreen ings, Rail Gallery the Third ofIn 1962 Hansen founded Art. Current Gallery in the winter of Judson the at A one-man show New the 1964 and a second at his reputation Bar wrapper collages) established his Hershey first featured (which Six York collections. private hangs in the Chrysler Museum and in many as a pop artist. His work Hansen is the author of Al Hansen ages a New York gallery, and remains the most active practitioner of the most active and remains gallery, ages a New York Happenings in America. ubuclassics ubu.com