The Scroll and its Zeitgeist
September, 1965 - June, 1966
The Scroll's intention was to serve as a vehicle for The Artist's own Enlightenment.
Photo of Stephen Bornstein, Brooklyn, June, 1969
Photo of Allen Ginsberg taken by the Artist at Allen's East Hill Farm, Cherry Valley NY 1968
Famous photo of the "Last Gathering of the Beats",
Staged by Lawrence Ferlinghetti in November of 1965, in front of the
City Lights Book Store. North Beach, San Francisco. Stephen Bornstein,
17 years old, is to the immediate right of Allen Ginsberg.
Photo of Allen Ginsberg taken by the Artist at Allen's East Hill Farm, Cherry Valley NY 1968
The Psychedelic Era Begins, November, 1964
Coopers Union, NYC, site of Leary's speech, November, 1964 . I was there as part of Allen Ginsberg‘s Entourage, along with His life-Partner, long haired Peter Orlofsky. Allen was a at this point, a universally recognized, highly respected poet and an unofficial leader of America's Youth Counter Culture. I had just met him a month before through Barbara Rubin, after my time with Kerista, a free love group just beginning to form in the neighborhood. Some of my high school friends were there as well and it was a source of great pride for them to see me sitting with Allen’s group.
Timothy Leary as he looked at speech, November, 1964 . At this lecture, Leary's famous, “Turn on, tune in and drop out” was first articulated. By 1969, President Nixon will have publicly referred to him as the "Most Dangerous Man in America".
Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out!
Timothy Leary's 1964 lecture at Coopers Union, NYC
The Scroll Period Begins, September, 1965
Actual Bornstein Scroll, October 1965
Actual Page from Bornstein Scroll, October 1965 showing Karmic Winds.
Visionary painting from Bornstein Scroll, October 1965 showing Karmic Winds.
Berkley Anti-War Protest, October, 1965
Allen Ginsberg and Jerry Rubin at the lead of the Berkley Anti-War Demonstration, Saturday, October 16, 1965, Oakland - Berkley city line.
Berkley Anti-War Demonstration, getting started in front of campus with Allen Ginsberg and Jerry Rubin on speaker truck in foreground. Saturday, October 16, 1965,
Berkley Anti-War Demonstration, encounters a phalanx of Oakland City Police at the City line.
Oakland Police, at City Line with Hell's Angles on side taunting Anti-War Demonstrators.
Hell's Angles and their chapter President Sonny Barger violently attacked Anti-War Demonstrators.
Anti-War Demonstrators begin to fight back.
After being attacked, the Berkley Police, in tan hats, finally waded in with night sticks into crowd in front of platform truck with speakers at front of March. Hell's Angles attacked the crowd at city line. Oakland Police just stood by. Allen and Jerry Rubin were on truck trying to calm the situation by Chanting OM!
Oakland Anti War Protest, confrontation with Hell's Angles
Scroll to 2 minutes in video.
Allen's Poem of Kesey party with Hell's Angles, La Honda, November 1965
Stephen's Scroll Project earns Allen's admiration and a respected place in his traveling Entourage. Nov. 1965
Stephen Bornstein now had a front seat in Allen Ginsberg's VW Bus, along with Peter and Julius Orlovsky, Neal Cassidy and Meretta Greer, November, 1965
ll Allen Ginsberg, his VW Bus, along with Meretta Greer, November, 1965
Neal Cassidy with Allen's VW Bus, November, 1965
Ken Keasy also joined Allen's VW Bus group, November, 1965
Stephen Bornstein with Allen Ginsberg, Peter Orlovsky, Neal Cassidy, Meretta Greer, Ken Kesey, November, 1965
San Francisco, Fell Street. Oct.-Dec. 1965
The "Haight District" in 1965, was just beginning to coalesce. With its very large, Wooden Mansions, at reasonable rents, it was perfect for large scale communal urban living.
The corners of Haight and Ashbury became a Mecca for the Youth Counter Culture. The World's First Head Shop opened in Dec. 1965 there. We were all Flabbergasted!
In the Fall of 1965, The Jefferson Airplane was still a neighborhood band. Their song "Volunteers of America" will soon energize the nation.
Jefferson Airplane sing live at Woodstock in 1969 the "Volunteers of America".
In the Fall of 1965, Big Brother and the Holding Company, just started playing at the Avalon Ballroom. Janis Joplin arrives in July, 1966.
The Big Brother and the Holding Company,
Neal Cassidy, a Hero of the Beat Generation and an Icon with "Dead Heads" was a regular visitor to Allen's Fell Street apartment, along with his girl friend, Anne Murphy.
Dylan was coming to town with his newly created, very controversial electric mix of music. Shown here with Allen, Julius, Peter's brother and Larry Ferlinghetti behind City Lights Book Store. Dec. 1965.
Allen, Mirretta Greer, a Tibetan Monk, also in 1965 video of group, chanting with Gray Synder
An Example of the Rock Concert Posters of the Time. This one for a Historic Charity Event Rock Mantra Concert, Jan. 29, 1967. Allen returned to San Francisco, for this event, for the founder of the Hare Krishna Movement, whom, Allen had helped get established in NYC
Allen Ginsberg welcoming
Swami
Prabhupada, Founder of the Hare Krishna Movement to San Francisco, for
the historical Rock Mantra Concert in the Avalon Ballroom, Jan. 29, 1967 
Lenny Bruce as he appeared at our chance meeting in 1965.
Merry Pranksters, October, 1965
l
Prankster Bus October, 1965
Prankster Bus October, 1965
Leary and Neal in the Prankster Bus "The Futher"
A Rickety wooden bridge, is the first thing you see when arriving at Kesey's La Honda Compound. The bridge, immortalized in one of Allen's poem, had an very ominous Hanging Man Sculpture just above it.
Kesey's Log Cabin in La Honda October, 1965
The Warlocks, soon to be the Grateful Dead lived half way up the mountain at Kesey's La Honda compound. Oct. 1965
Neal in car with Ann Murphy, October, 1965
Neal having a conversation with two people at the same time, October, 1965
Dylan Goes Electric, Nov. 1965
Allen with Dylan and Micheal McClure in Alley behind City Lights Book store December, 1965
This is the Electric guitar song that Dylan debuted in Nov. 1965, that proved so controversial. "Everybody Mmust Get Stoned" performed by Bob Dylan and Tom Petty at Farm Aid July 1986.
Uhur portable tape recorder Dylan gave Allen, it changed his writing style, got him more into singing. December, 1965
Allen Ginsberg's 5 hour tape he made with his new tape recorder of Dylan visit to San Francisco, during his controversial Electric switch over. Dec. 1965
Acid Test Period Begins, Oct. 31, 1965 through Feb. 1966
Babs' Party, First Acid Test, Oct. 1965
Kesey and Neal at Babs Party October, 1965
Ken Babs, Ken Kesey's trusted Lieutenant at his place, Oct. 1965
Babs' Party October, 1965
l Babs' Party October, 1965
Tape Deck Delay Device at Babs' Party October, 1965
The Grateful Dead at first Public Acid Test, December 1965, They were also at Babs' Party on Octoer, 1965
The Hermit at Babs' Party October, 1965
Having a bad trip at Babs' Party October, 1965
Tripping at Babs' Party October, 1965
Neal at Babs' Party October, 1965
Sonny Barger and a few of the Hell’s Angels, who had tripped with us before, now easily intermingled as part of the group, Babs' house, October 1965
The Acid Test, Goes Public, Dec. 1965
Actual Flyer for first Public Acid Test, Longshoreman's Hall, Dec, 1965.
Actual Public Acid Test audio recording with Grateful Dead in their first appearance. Dec. 1965
Poster for three day Trips Festival, January, 1966, This marked the end of the Psychedelic Concert Series sponsored by Ken Kesey and Owsley Stanley, the famous source of all the west coast's endless LSD supply. Allen and I were already in LA by then.
On the Road Again
Big Sur, December, 1965
Allen's entourage, San Francisco - Big Sur - Los Angles,
Oct. 1965- Jan. 1966
Ferlinghetti's cabin, Big Sur, December, 1965
Larry Ferlinghetti and Caroline Cassidy, Neal's ex. She shot the short 8mm footage of all of us, on the way to Big Sur. December, 1965
Bixby Canyon, Big Sur, December, 1965, photo shows the small beach well.
Stephen and Julius at Bixby Canyon Beach, Big Sur, December, 1965
Richard Alpert, Leary's associate at Harvard, came by and hung out at the Bixby Canyon beach, Big Sur, December, 1965. This is shortly before his life-altering trip to India, to return as Ram Das.
Bixby Canyon Beach, Big Sur, December, 1965
Bixby Canyon and Bridge, Big Sur, December, 1965. Photo shows that just a few feet off the road and you're in real wilderness.
Bixby Canyon Bridge, Big Sur, December, 1965. View driving on the bridge.
Esalen Institute, Big Sur, December, 1965, great hot tubs.
Esalen Institute, Big Sur, December, 1965, steps down to beach. Good shot of rocky coast.
LA, Topanga Canyon, January, 1966
Where Topanga Canyon Road meets Pacific Coast Highway. Blink and you'll miss it!
Topanga Canyon Road is pure wilderness.
Gerorge Herms at his place in Topanga Canyon, January 1966 
Gerorge Herms at his place in Topanga Canyon, a real wilderness in January 1966
Gerorge Herms, Artist from Topanga Canyon, LA, January 1966
Wally Berman, Artist, LA January, 1966
The Scroll helps Stephen intrigue a Lover, Jan. 1966
Suzanne Carrie- Stansberry, a Woman of The World, quickly became intrigued by this cocky young NYC Artist, who was painting a long, mystical Scroll. Venice Beach, Los Angles, January, 1966
Suzanne Carrie- Stansberry, and her dog Tiger, Venice Beach, Los Angles, January, 1966
I always felt that this song personified Suzanne and described our relationship.
Dylan's Just Like a Woman, 1965
A chance Phil Spector encounter changes Allen's future. January, 1966
Phil Spector as he appeared in January 1966, meeting.
Phil Spector Home in LA in January 1966. The Woolworth Mansion.
Inside Phil Spector Home in LA in January 1966. The Woolworth Mansion.
The lessons Allen Ginsberg learnt that night at Phil Spector's Home in LA in January 1966, helped him later arrange, several successful Musical-Poetic Collaborations, including with Paul McCartney in 1993.
Allen
Ginsberg, and Paul McCartney, performing "Ballard of the Skeleton". at
Albert Hall, London, 1993. Allen's evening in 1966 with Phil Spector in
which he practiced reciting his works to Rock led to several successful Musical Collaborations.
Visiting Isherwood and my Teenage Indian Fantasies.
iiChristopher Isherwood being painted by partner, Don Bachardy, 1966
pBornstein's passport Visa to East Germany, July 1964
Bornstein passport photo, 1964 for trip to Euorpe
Poster
from chapter of Bagadvad Gita. Shows Vishnu manifesting in his cosmic
form. Given to Stephen by Allen Ginsberg in 1964 for his first apartment
behind his on E 5th Street , NYC. Still hangs in his studio 2021.
llActual letter for application to study Sanskrit in India, April 1965
Actual letter for application to study Sanskrit in India, April 1965
Venice Beach Period, March, 1966
Painting I made as a farewell gift to Suzanne. Back has apologetic message. March, 1966
Actual Goodbye Letter I wrote to Suzanne. Never sent, probably subsequent communication made this note Mute. March, 1966.
Rent Receipt. 420-B Carroll Canal, Venice April, 1966.
Page from sketchbook showing living room at small studio on Carroll Canal, Venice Beach, LA, May 1966
Page from sketchbook showing view of kitchen at small studio on Carroll Canal, Venice Beach, LA, May 1966
Carroll Canal had a run down look and the water in the canal was poisonous, Venice Canals, LA, May 1966
Venice Beach, LA, CA, is a strange juxtaposition of a sunny Pacific Ocean beach and an ugly Urban Oil Field.
Downtown Venice Beach, LA
Venice Beach, was a very run down area in 1966
The place looked so run down and ominous, that it was actually used, at the suggestion of Aldous Huxley no less, as the location of an Orson Welles Film Noir in 1957. They even modified the ending because of its noir looks.
Venice Beach, hasn't changed in 50 years!
The Scroll landed Stephen a job, a Military Deferment and possible career path. Feb. 1966
At the job, which I got solely because of the Scroll, I was learning "Leroy Lettering". Before the computer, it was how text was added to Technical Illustrations. It was considered an "Essential Occupation" and qualified for a military deferment. I eventually mastered it, and it provided me a steady stream of income for the rest of the Vietnam War.
As it turned out.... The Scroll served as The Vehicle to the path that would become the rest of my life.
For now...Fare thee well LA.
And... I Disappear Into Mexico, June-Sept. 1966
I had Visions of Mexican palm fringed beaches, painted, Venice, 1966
Palm Roofed Hut on beach in Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, Mexico, which I actually lived in, July - Aug, 1966
And now...The Benefits of Hindsight
And a hidden truth?
Photos from a Retrospective Symposium:
Psychedelics Colloquium,
LSD - A Generation Later.
Santa Cruz, October 14 and 15th 1977. Sponsored by The Psychological Board of the University of California.
Could this be where Hoffman told Allen about the Soviets mistaken translation?
Albert Hoffman and Allen Ginsberg at a Retrospective Symposium on LSD, sponsored by The University of California, 1977,
Timothy Leary and Allen Ginsberg at Retrospective Symposium on LSD, sponsored by The University of California, 1977
In Hindsight, could this 1967 news report have been right?!!
In 1986, I myself, would voice to Allen, my doubts as to Leary's actual sincerity and a possible tactical understanding between him and a darker Pro-Vietnam War Conspiracy to sap the political will and energy of a potential mass civilian resistance movement.
The Grateful Dead shown performing at a street concert.
Mainstream Media "Sounding the Alarm" about burgeoning Youth Counter Culture Movement in San Francisco,
7 minute video, 1967.
The Real Secret,
The Lesson We All should've learned.
Our Entire Experience was an Altered State of Consciousness, not a Higher one. Our Straight and Our Psychedelic Realities are two of many.
"The West vs The East"
Polarity vs Tai Ji
Digital Art. Stephen Bornstein, 2021