The Los Angeles Free Press
The Los Angeles Free Press (often called "the Freep") was among the most widely distributed underground newspapers of the 1960s, and it is often cited as the first such paper. Edited and published (weekly, for most of its existence) by Art Kunkin, the paper initially appeared as a broadsheet titled "Faire Free Press" in 1964, then became the LA Free Press newspaper in 1965. Notable for its radical politics when such views rarely saw print, the paper also pioneered the emerging field of underground comix by publishing the 'underground" political cartoons of Ron Cobb.
In about 1970, much of the newspaper's staff bolted from Kunkin to start a competing paper, The Staff. Just after this happened, however, the building the Freep was housed in mysteriously burned to the ground in a conflagration the arson investigators termed "remarkable". Noteworthy at the time, the Los Angeles Fire Department took over two hours to respond to the alarm. The cause of the fire has never been determined. Concurrent with this incident was the forced closure of the Freep's bookstore at the corner of Fair Oaks and Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena, on the grounds of "Health Code violations"; the bookstore sold no food, only printed material.
The newspaper also ran a weekly television column by noted fantast and screenwriter Harlan Ellison. After the Freep folded, approximately 104 of these columns were published by Ellison in two volumes, entitled The Glass Teat and The Other Glass Teat. Because of some remarks Ellison made concerning then-Vice President Spiro Agnew, the publisher was quietly informed by the Nixon administration that these works were not to be distributed in the United States, although they were freely available at the time in Canada. They were finally distributed in the 1980's by Berkeley Press, with a foreword by Ellison describing the suppression.
The Los Angeles Free Press was a founding member of the Underground Press Syndicate.
Revival (2005–present)
On 13 September 2005, the premiere issue of a revived Los Angeles Free Press was distributed. It embodied many of the same ideals and beliefs and was again spearheaded by Art Kunkin, albeit with an entirely new staff.
The Free Press maintains an independent view. It covers politics, health (including natural and/or holistic), spirituality, literature, media, food, and community issues. The paper has taken a stand against the Iraq War. Most recently The Los Angeles Free Press gave Tom Hayden a lifetime achievement award for his efforts as an activist both in his private life and during his 18 years in politics.
The Los Angeles Free Press was being published as a catalyst for social change. The mission statement of The Los Angeles Free Press is to be "a true alternative to "Corporate-Controlled Media". The basis of the paper is that names and the locations have changed, but the issues concerning personal rights and the action of an unjust war, are the same as during the Vietnam War era.
The print version was being published in the original five-column format with the "screamer" headlines of old including both current and vintage content in both the articles and ads. The look of the paper was true to its original format.
Steven M. Finger became the publisher of The Los Angeles Free Press in late 2006/early 2007. Finger also owns and manages AP&G, the marketing arm of The Los Angeles Free Press.
The Los Angeles Free Press is active and has current[when?] editions. The slogan is "We're Back. The True alternative to the corporate-controlled media." Archives of past editions are available to view online for historical reference and/or research.
Art Kunkin is now[when?] a regular columnist for the two local newspapers, the American Free Journal Weekly and the Desert Valley Star Weekly.
Chat rooms • What links here • Copyright info • Contact information • Category:Root