Wednesday, February 5, 2014

William S. Burroughs was born 100 years ago today


[Burroughs in 1965 via the Evening Standard/Getty Images]

In honor of this… let's revisit an EVG post from January 2010 … where we looked at 222 Bowery (aka The Bunker), where the writer lived off and on starting in 1974 … the post was about Brooklyn-based photographer Peter Ross and his collection "of weird, touching, and often unexpected" photos of the possessions found inside the bunker … including items such as blow darts and nunchucks that once belonged to Burroughs.

At this time in 2010, the building's owner, John Giorno, had left Burroughs' apartment intact. In 1998, Giorno succeeded in getting landmark designation for the 1885 brick loft building, according to the Times.

Meanwhile, if you're in the mood, then here's a video short with Burroughs titled "The Bunker" …



Per YouTube:

Set in William S. Burrough's New York City apartment, the Bunker, this experimental film mixes images and audio of the nuclear holocaust from Hiroshima, Burroughs, and real confessions.

In February 1984, Burroughs celebrated his 70th birthday at the Limelight… where some up and comer sat next to him…


[Photo via Dangerous Minds]

Find the Official Burroughs 100 website here.

2 comments:

shmnyc said...

Landlord and tenant, John Giorno and William Burroughs, reading at UC Berkeley, 11-7-74

chris flash said...

Bravo, John Giorno for protecting 222 Bowery from future real estate vultures who I'm sure have been salivating over it.

I heard that 222 was once a YMCA -- it's quite beautiful....