Susie Bright’s Journal

Susie Bright’s Journal

Share this post

Susie Bright’s Journal
Susie Bright’s Journal
20th Century Book Tour Diary
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More

20th Century Book Tour Diary

Paul Krassner, Tina Turner, Henry Miller, Kennedy, Dan Quayle, Susan Dey, an Empowerment Zone, Joan Jett — there wasn’t much I missed.

Susie Bright's avatar
Susie Bright
Jul 30, 2024
∙ Paid
16

Share this post

Susie Bright’s Journal
Susie Bright’s Journal
20th Century Book Tour Diary
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More
2
2
Share

Your fans will ask for things. You will be touched.

Labor Day, Los Angeles, 1996

This is where my tour began, on the freeways where I grew up. I lost my virginity in Los Angeles, sexually and politically.

I lived in LA in the 70s, when Hollywood was still only an esoteric colony. The County of Los Angeles thrived on shipyards, aerospace, tourism, oil fields, education. I could hitchhike from the Strip to Topanga Canyon Beach and get a different ride every time, a new set of eyes.

Now the whole sprawl is a company town, as surely as Harlan County, USA. If any other industries exist, it is only to feed Hollywood. A shipyard can make some real money as a location. A university is a postproduction fat farm. You can make real money in servitude to the stars.

So how is L.A.'s love life?

I went to Skylight Books in Los Feliz, and my old high school Spanish teacher, Mr. Gomez, showed up for my reading. I hadn’t seen him in 20+ years! Ben was so handsome, with his silver hair and orange guayabera,…

This post is for paid subscribers

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in
© 2025 Susie Bright
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start writingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture

Share

Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More