[Pictured: Bernice Bing in her North Beach Studio above the Spaghetti Factory (late 50s photo by C. R. Snyder)] 

A wave of free-spirited creativity emerged during the California Beat Era. Young, idealistic artists and poets made their own underground apart from the 50s mainstream. It was “art for art’s sake” —

San Francisco’s Wild History Groove is a rare glimpse into the lives of these individuals, their innovative work and aesthetics—“not selling out”–

“We started it (the 6 Gallery) because no place in the city would show our work.  Now, it’s all gotten kind of myth-like.  But it was a time, in my personal life and in my work, when I felt like I was in-control and out-of control simultaneously and it was a lot of fun—a hell of a lot of fun.” – Wally Hedrick

Live Jazz with Si & Max Perkoff!

Post screening Q&A with Filmmaker Mary Kerr