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Donate Gas Money! Click Here 2007 Tours
Click on this picture to learn about The Beat Museum located in San Francisco.
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School Letters of Recommendation.
October 25 , 2004 Dear Garland, The Lokota East staff and students wish to thank you for providing a unique opportunity for students to learn about Beat authors, musicians, and influencers of that generation. The multimedia presentation was both entertaining and informative. One student commented, "It made me want to read ( On the Road ). And, " It seems like that generation had a lot of history." It was a combination of a history lesson and a literature lesson. Bringing poetry to life was a unique situation for our students. The Beat poets are read during the second semester of the junior year in English 11. The presentation and the visit to the Beat museum prepare them for future learning. It will be more meaningful and relevant to them. We appreciated the opportunity you gave to us and hope that you will come back to Lakota East next year. We would welcome your return. Sincerely, Ruth D. Barber.
November 5, 2004 Garland Thompson, Jr. Dear Garland- Before I get too far into reading Mexico City Blues, I wanted to thank you, Jerry, & John for including a chorus or two from that book in your recent performances here at SUNY - Geneseo. I assume even people who haven't read Kerouac or the other Beats already know something about them, and your show gave the audience what it needed, in some ways-an accessible, high-energy celebration of their fiction & poetry that confirmed what the big deal was all about. But I also appreciated your efforts to take students beyond the cliches of "Beatnik" lifestyle:the more experimental dimensions of their writing, their spiritual or mystical works like Mexico City Blues. It really gives Kerouac et al. more credit that way... And somehow you managed to make it all fun! I received many positive comments about your reading, and the 150 students, faculty, and community who attended learned a lot besides having fun. The students in my Beats course this semster must have especially enjoyed hearing some more about the books they've been reading. For my part, it reminded me how important it is to hear their words aloud and next to the sweating bodies of other people. So thanks again for visiting Geneseo; hope we'll see you another time. Best, Ken Cooper, Assistant Professor
of English.
November 22, 2004 To Whom It May Concern: On Friday November 12th the Beat Mobile made its appearance at Saint Mary’s School. Saint Mary’s is an all-girls Episcopal high school. I spoke in several English classes the week prior to the Beat Mobile coming to tell kids about the Beat Generation, and to introduce them to writers such as Kerouac, Burroughs and Ginsberg. The night before their arrival we had an evening of prose and poetry reading of various Beat writers. The day of the presentation, Jerry Cimino showed up in the RV and trailer, and set up a display in our library. Though the weather couldn’t have been worse, cold and rainy, he stayed out, talking with the students and answering their questions. English classes came by the library all day to see the exhibit. The actual presentation was wonderful! Jerry, John Allen Cassady, and Garland Thompson gave an entertaining and informative talk about the Beats, illustrated by photos from the time period. Garland read excerpts from Kerouac and Ginsberg while John accompanied him with jazz guitar. I can honestly say that it was one of the best performances we have had at Saint Mary’s. The guys were great and very cooperative. I can recommend them without hesitation. Please feel free to contact me about our experience; I would be glad to speak with you. Sincerely, Randall Lathan, English Department
November 28, 2004 Hi Garland, I would like to thank you, John, and Jerry for the outstanding presentation you gave at Lock Haven University on October 14. From the beginning to end, the experience was thoroughly professional. I greatly appreciate your willingness to work with us in making arrangements on such short notice. The bookstore was wonderful, and I was very impressed with the museum panels. But, of course, the highlight was the show itself. Everyone I talked to was surprised with how much interesting information you presented in such an entertaining manner. You held the audience's attention throughout the entire 90 minutes, and all of us felt that we learned a great deal. Finally, it was a pleasure for me to get to know three great guys. I look forward to working with you again on your next tour. Sincerely, Robert M. Myers, Chair of the Department
of English.
December 1, 2004 Mr. Garland Thompson Dear Garland: The Beat Museum on wheels was definitely the highlight of the season for the Riverbank Poetry Project. As you know, the Fitton Center has really become the mecca for poetry lovers in the Greater Cincinnati area, with varied program offerings, attracting large and diverse audiences, but the Beat Museum was a wonderful new experience for our followers. We were especially impressed by the professionalism of the production. I had expected a very casual event, with a couple of people sitting on stools, reading poetry, singing, etc.. but what we received was a sophisticated, slick presentation, including video news clips, recorded music, live music, and an interchange among the three performers, leading to a better understanding of the Beat Generation. Thanks for providing an excellent evening of entertainment and education! Sincerely, Paul E. Thoms, Public Relations
Director
January 7 , 2005 To Whom It May Concern: On the afternoon of October 20th, 2004, the Fairfield Lane Library had the great privilege of hosting The Beat Museum on Wheels. Emails were sent out to the local high school English teachers, posters were hung throughout the Lane Library branches, and the library’s Public Relations department contacted the various surrounding newspapers to spread the word that The Beat Museum on Wheels would be coming to the Fairfield Lane Library! I had been in email contact with Garland Thompson during the weeks prior to the arrival of The Beat Museum on Wheels and library staff was heavily promoting the event. The Beat Museum on Wheels’ website was also very helpful when library patrons wanted more information about The Beat Museum on Wheels tour. On the day of the presentation, Jerry Cimino arrived as promised in the RV with the attached trailer. Garland had given me the dimensions of the RV and trailer so our parking could be blocked off for the event. Inside the library, Jerry proceeded to set up the elaborate panels that would showcase various samples of the Beat Generation through writings, photos and history. I was also quite impressed to learn that these wonderful and informative panels, along with the inside of the trailer, were all designed by Jerry and Garland. As the afternoon turned into the evening, John Allen Cassady arrived and performed on his guitar and told insightful stories from the past. Garland and Jerry then joined in by reading and performing various excerpts from a few Beat Generation authors. I was enthralled by this point because though we are a public library, literature is not often performed and a small crowd of patrons had gathered to listen to the written words of Jack Kerouac come to life. Many patrons also ventured out into the cold October night to purchase and peruse the Beat Museum on Wheels trailer. Both outside in the trailer or inside the library with the panels, Jerry, Garland and John Allen Cassady were on hand to chat with interested patrons and talk of their travels. The Beat Museum on Wheels was a huge success for the Fairfield Lane Library and the surrounding community and I feel so fortunate that we were able to bring such a culturally enriching event to our patrons. Jerry and Garland were both professional and truly devoted to the Beat Generation and its importance on American society. I give my highest recommendation for The Beat Museum on Wheels and I hope that many more people will be exposed to the rich culture and history that this traveling tour brings when it pulls into those parking lots across the country. Please feel free to contact me for any further comments as I would be more than happy to share my experience with you. Sincerely, Karri Marshall
January 10, 2005 To Whom It May Concern: The "Beat Museum on Wheels Tour" is a hit! They passed through New York City in the fall and made a stop for our "Artsplash" event here in Rockaway Beach. We were excited to include the Beat Museum in our month-long line up of arts entertainment last October. When the Beat Mobile showed up and Jerry, John, and Garland took the stage, jaded New Yorkers had to stop, look and listen. We the RAA, pride ourselves in serving a true cross-section of arts & culture to our diverse audiences, from painting through performance to poetry, mixed media, music and Modern Dance. The Beat Museum on Wheels mixes it up with the best, prividing a historical background of 20th century "counter culture" with colorful, personal character studies personified by three talented performers and all the fascinating support material for "Beat Buffs" of all ages. The Beat Museum is truly a living, talking, singing, free-wheeling bus on the highway of Modern Americana. Don't miss this year's tour. Yours, Geoff Rawling
Lowell Celebrates Kerouac
Dear Jerry, John, and those who love you, I just wanted to thank you for coming all the way across
country to be a The opportunity to hear John¹s first person account
memories of Jack, Neal, It was so wonderful having the Beat Museum On Wheels,
or Beatmobile, right Please feel free to share this letter with members of
Lowell¹s secondary and And, besides, if it could be coordinated to fall on the
weekend of the 2005 Good luck with the project, and best wishes, Your¹s truly, Lawrence Carradini, President
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