Letter from Wallace Fowlie (1908-1998) at Chapel Hill to Erik France at Powelton Village, Philadelphia, Thanksgiving (November 25), 1993.
Dear Erik,
Never would I think of judging you harshly on what has happened. As you present them, . . . and your . . . make you appear a lucky man. 1992 must have been a hard year for you. You deserve your present happiness which will continue. I congratulate you and send you and . . . my love and blessings.
After all those sections of writing and research skills at Temple, your present T.A. teaching in U.S. history, and grading exams in an American Studies class must be more to your liking.
The Doors Complete was never published. Thanks to that, Frank Lisciandro has helped us get some pictures of J.M. for the book.
Since I did not teach this present semester, I have done a bit more work with my other profession which I may never have mentioned to you. I am a "lay psychiatrist" from Mass. General Hospital in Boston. Worked there 3 years (when I taught at Bennington). Then for two winters in Paris. I worked with Otto Rank. He began giving me a few Catholic patients (Since he makes nothing out of "that stuff"[)]. And here in N.C., it has continued. I work for 3 doctors, 2 in Durham and 1 in Chapel Hill, who send me (when I have time) Catholic patients. I have right now 2 hard cases: a student (boy) from Duke and a girl from UNC . . . (Rank gave me one similar case in Paris) . . .
My health is good -- and if it continues, I will give my Dante course in January: both sections are filled (130 students.) I look forward to it.
Your letter was dated a few days after my 85th birthday (Nov. 8)-- a big day in my life. Brenda Brodie had me for lunch with 3 good friends of hers and mine. The evening was a meeting (banquet) of the Duke Catholic Community: 250 students, faculty, and administrators. Coach K was to be the after-dinner speaker. I had always wanted to meet him and tell him the good work two of his players did in my classes (Mark Crow and Mark Alarie.) I saw him at the entrance of the dining room. I shook hands with him, as he said, "Wallace, I know all about you from my players." We had a good chat. At dessert time,a waiter carried to my table a huge cake: "To Wallace on his 85th" -- and they all sang "Happy Birthday." I had to cut 150 small pieces of cake for the other tables. Mike K's speech was the best I have heard at Duke: witty, highly spirited -- at the end he spoke of a few professors who were present, and then, pointing at me, said "And that man publishes a new book every year!" (not accurate!) Erik, excuse this egoism. Let's keep in better touch.
love,
Wallace
Letter from Wallace Fowlie (1908-1998) at Chapel Hill to Erik France [at Powelton Village], Philadelphia, August 27, 1993.
Dear Erik,
Beside me I have your last letter written March 26, 1992! Will this reach you? Are you still in Philadelphia? Is Liz with you? How is it I am confused about your present site and work?
When I wrote about my ms. Rimbaud and Jim Morrison: the rebel as poet, I wanted your permission to give Duke Press your name as a possible reader for a report to the Press. They held the ms. for one year -- and then accepted it a month ago. It is scheduled for publication spring 1994. (a 2 year wait!) We are choosing pictures now. How I wish you and Liz were here to help with these problems. Frank Lisciandro, the principle photographer, is difficult.
I am preparing a new lecture on the book and hope to have a few chances to help launch the book: a few requests have come in: Chapel Hill, New Mexico, Texas . . . Do you know of any group in Philadelphia? (if you are still there on Spruce Street?)
In my discussion of Rock, I limit myself to The Doors. I don't have your extensive knowledge of Punk Rock. Many new Rock bands seem to appear in Chapel Hill.
The Dean at Duke gave my classroom to someone else this fall -- and I am without a job. He has scheduled me for Dante in the spring of 1994. January seems far away.
The book on The Doors Complete (with my preface) was never published. Like your sister, I enjoyed Stone's film. I felt it accurate in depicting Jim's self-destruction. Did you know that Jim wanted to do a film on Rimbaud's life -- and planned to play Rimbaud himself (when he was at film school UCLA)[?].
I have missed you and Liz -- and hope we can have a reunion soon. If this note reaches you, please reassure me.
love
Wallace
Quo Modo, or QM, was a Philadelphia-based journal that I worked on with a slew of other people in late 1992 and early 1993. Dan Kay was in charge of layout: he came up with the above imagery, and the table of contents page visible below. For the Spring 1993 edition, the primary staff consisted of Peter Wilson, Erik D. France, Wendy Rosenfeld and Dan Kay. Others that helped out in various ways: Shara Gordon, Taso Mouhteros, John Martin, Brian Campbell, Nga Mai, Steven Ducownay, Janet Hoefling, Rich Wiener, Jonathan Apothaker, Dirk Peterson and Margaret Cooper.
Some of the showcased writers: River Algiers, Hillary Esta Field, Robert Spivek, Leonard Gontarek, Sarah Dunn, Otis Zachary, Brent Askari, Kristan Hickey and Vance Lemkuhl.
This was produced in the last days before the internet truly took hold. For those who remember, the words "1200 baud" must still register somewhere in your conciousness. Not to put too fine a point on it, but communications were slower then.
The original Café Diva was at 12th and Spruce, Center City Philadelphia -- right across from my garret apartment. Talk, chess, readings, musings and occasional fillings-in found me here. I loved the area, and urban living. Nga (Nga like "National Golf Association," as she put it) Mai, way cool proprietor and "serial entrepreneur," moved Diva over to 140 S. 20th Street, Rittenhouse Square, across the park from the Free Library branch where I saw Queimada / Burn (1969) and La battaglia di Algeri / The Battle of Algiers (1966), two great films that have stuck with me over the years.
