On Thanksgiving Day in 1965, Alices Restarunt was brought to life. It all started in Barrington, Massachusetts at a small restarunt, owned by a woman named Alice Brock. Ironically, the restarunt was named after Alice herself. Alice was a painter, designer and lived in a church bell tower with her husband Ray down the road from her restarunt. Alice had a friend named Arlo Gurthie who was a free spirited hippy musican, and little did anyone know, whould make history by trying to do a friend a simple favor on thanksgiving. Arlo who was eighteen at the time along with his friend Richard Robbins who was 19 went to Alices restarunt thanksgiving day 1965 and saw that alice had alot of garbage piled up. They decided to be friendly and take her trash to the city dump. As Arlo and Richard got to the dump a big sign was strung across the fence reading "closed for thanksgiving day" They were fustrated and drove to the edge of town to a cliff side, seeing other garbage already dumped over the cliff, the boys illegally dumped the trash to the ground below.
The next morning they recived a phone call from the police station saying that an envelope had been recovered from the trash pile with arlos name on it. They were asked to come to the station. Arlo and Richard were honest and said they had dumped the trash. In turn they were arrested and taken to jail by Officer William "Obie" Obanhein for illegally littering on a holiday. Alice was at the jail soon, and bailed the boys out. The returned to alices church home, sat down to dinner, and began writing a song. Two days later they plead guilty in court before a blind judge. They were fined $50 and were told to pick the trash up. This ordeal happened in the heat of the Vietnam war draft. A few weeks after their arrest, Arlo was sent to see a military psychiatrist, who questioned him about the draft. Arlo exclaimed "Im ready to kill, KILL KILL!" It was then that the sargent came over and pinned a medal on Arlos shirt saying "Your our boy!" As he proceeded along the draft questioning he was found to have a criminal record. It was said that boys who were to be drafted, were not supposed to have a criminal record, so he was turned down for the draft for littering. Arlo quoted, ""I'm sittin here on the Group W bench 'cause you want to know if I'm moral enough to join the army, burn women, kids, houses and villages after bein' a litterbug?"
Arlo became inspired after his arrest and began composing a song, speaking out about his arrest and the fact he was kicked out of the draft for such a small offense as littering. While thousands of boys were fleeing to Canada, and burnig their draft cards to avoid the war, Arlo was kept from the war for littering. In his eyes he had the morals to fight in vietnam for his counrty, but was denied the for the simple offense of littering.
Arlos song Alices Restaurant, became a whoping 18 minutes and 20 second blues based song protesting the draft, and the war in Vietnam. He was so mad that the fact that he littered was going to keep him from the war, when what he called "father rapers and "mother reapers" who were in his eyes mean and nasty crime-type men, were going to get to fight. The final part of the song is where Arlo tells the audience that if they find themselves facing the draft they should walk into the military psychiatrist's office and sing, "Shrink, You can get anything you want, at Alice's restaurant," and walk out. The original alubum rose to #17 on the Billboard charts. Its also regulary played on thanksgiving on many radio stations especially around the New York and Boston areas. A movie version of "Alice's Restaurant" was released on August 19, 1969, a few days after Guthrie appeared at the Woodstock Festival. His musical talent and strong words made a huge dent in music and history in general.
I believe Mr. N chose this because he digs the activism era of the 60's genaration. Arlo was obviously a tripped out hippy who dumped some trash, got caught and was arrested. He then was kept from the Vietnam draft for the small offense of littering. He had the courage to go to war but was not accepted to fight for his country. In turn, he stood up for what he believed in by writing a song. Mr N. was inspired by his movement against "the man" and unfairness.
I hope you enjoyed your read :)
Keep Rockin.
http://www.fortunecity.com/
http://www.arlo.net/
www.google.com/definations
http://www.abstracked.com/
http://www.wikipedida.com/
The next morning they recived a phone call from the police station saying that an envelope had been recovered from the trash pile with arlos name on it. They were asked to come to the station. Arlo and Richard were honest and said they had dumped the trash. In turn they were arrested and taken to jail by Officer William "Obie" Obanhein for illegally littering on a holiday. Alice was at the jail soon, and bailed the boys out. The returned to alices church home, sat down to dinner, and began writing a song. Two days later they plead guilty in court before a blind judge. They were fined $50 and were told to pick the trash up. This ordeal happened in the heat of the Vietnam war draft. A few weeks after their arrest, Arlo was sent to see a military psychiatrist, who questioned him about the draft. Arlo exclaimed "Im ready to kill, KILL KILL!" It was then that the sargent came over and pinned a medal on Arlos shirt saying "Your our boy!" As he proceeded along the draft questioning he was found to have a criminal record. It was said that boys who were to be drafted, were not supposed to have a criminal record, so he was turned down for the draft for littering. Arlo quoted, ""I'm sittin here on the Group W bench 'cause you want to know if I'm moral enough to join the army, burn women, kids, houses and villages after bein' a litterbug?"
Arlo became inspired after his arrest and began composing a song, speaking out about his arrest and the fact he was kicked out of the draft for such a small offense as littering. While thousands of boys were fleeing to Canada, and burnig their draft cards to avoid the war, Arlo was kept from the war for littering. In his eyes he had the morals to fight in vietnam for his counrty, but was denied the for the simple offense of littering.
Arlos song Alices Restaurant, became a whoping 18 minutes and 20 second blues based song protesting the draft, and the war in Vietnam. He was so mad that the fact that he littered was going to keep him from the war, when what he called "father rapers and "mother reapers" who were in his eyes mean and nasty crime-type men, were going to get to fight. The final part of the song is where Arlo tells the audience that if they find themselves facing the draft they should walk into the military psychiatrist's office and sing, "Shrink, You can get anything you want, at Alice's restaurant," and walk out. The original alubum rose to #17 on the Billboard charts. Its also regulary played on thanksgiving on many radio stations especially around the New York and Boston areas. A movie version of "Alice's Restaurant" was released on August 19, 1969, a few days after Guthrie appeared at the Woodstock Festival. His musical talent and strong words made a huge dent in music and history in general.
I believe Mr. N chose this because he digs the activism era of the 60's genaration. Arlo was obviously a tripped out hippy who dumped some trash, got caught and was arrested. He then was kept from the Vietnam draft for the small offense of littering. He had the courage to go to war but was not accepted to fight for his country. In turn, he stood up for what he believed in by writing a song. Mr N. was inspired by his movement against "the man" and unfairness.
I hope you enjoyed your read :)
Keep Rockin.
http://www.fortunecity.com/
http://www.arlo.net/
www.google.com/definations
http://www.abstracked.com/
http://www.wikipedida.com/
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6 comments:
Hey Gracie Lou Freebush-
You did a sweet action job on the blog you posted! Keep up the good work and keep rockin'!
From: Katie & Kayla =]
I loved how you started your blog. I like the way you write! It's always a trip! :)
Arlos song Alices Restaurant, became a whoping 18 minutes and 20 second blues based song protesting the draft, and the war in Vietnam. I think its very interesting that the song is 18 minutes 20 seconds thats a very long song. I dont know of any other songs that are that long. Thats why i think its interesting good job.
This was amazing..i loved it you have an amazing way of writing..
One thing i didnt mention in my post that you did is that there was a movie made about it. Good job
I liked how you go in depth with the draft and the reason he was unable to be drafted.
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