Greg Mitchell is the author of more than a dozen books (see link) and now writer/director of three award-winning films aired via PBS, including “Atomic Cover-up” and “Memorial Day Massacre” which are still up at PBS.org. You can still subscribe to this newsletter for free.
When I helped revive Crawdaddy in the spring of 1971, James (then often known as Jim) Hamilton was still listed as staff photographer. He’d been doing that for a couple of years as the first stop in his storied career, after he submitted a few photos he had taken at a rock festival. I met him briefly at that time but by then he had left for other work (his fabled years at the Village Voice were just around the corner), although we continued to use pictures he had already taken for us. Here’s one of his photos for us, Patti Smith interviewing Rod Stewart.
And the trailer for the doc:
I was interviewed for the film, for half a day of filming at my home, but I did not make the final cut, now streaming on Prime and Apple TV. Still, I recommend a viewing, and it was good to see one of our frequent writers (before he collaborated on epic Voice features with James), Mark Jacobson, and a few other acquaintances. It does go on a bit too long—even without me!
Anyway, watching it inspired me to post below the latest in my special offerings featuring my own photography, a kind of tribute to the images for which James is still best known—just a small, varied, collection of my black and white shots in New York City. But first, a couple of timely cartoons.
New York, New York
By G.M.
Your photos are wonderful, full of darkness and light.