City Lights Anniversary

Columbus avenue in front of City Lights and Vesuvio Cafe was closed Sunday, June 8, for a street fair to celebrate the bookstore's anniversary. In 1957 City Lights publisher Lawrence Ferlinghetti was the defendant in a landmark obscenity case over the publication of Alan Ginsberg's poem "Howl." Ferlinghetti's victory in this case allowed for greater freedom of speech in publishing.
Top Photo: The audience in front of City Lights.
Second: Lawrence Ferlinghetti, poet, publisher, painter and co-founder of City Lights.
Third: Author and California state Librarian Kevin Starr with Ferlinghetti.
Fourth: The crowd in front of Vesuvio Cafe.
Bottom left: The party spilled over into and out of Vesuvio's.
Bottom right: There were many speakers including poet Andrei Codrescu; " What is there to smile about."