Church of the Good Earth 1963 and Beyond

Yes Maxie, Johnny was afro-americain.. the same guy.. I believe he got the AIDS and passed over..I remember him very well bc he stole all my expensive clothes I had gotten when I was working in LA as a dancer.. he was gay.. but the clothes looked better on me.

 

Hey Cole, Whatsup.. I am a member of The Church Of The Good Earth, and yes the White Panther Party was there on the south corner of Oak and Cole for a while un till John the Barbar came in and fucked it all up..Kid and a few others finely ran him out of town onna rail.. he almost started a war between the White Panthers and the Black Panthers around 73/74.. it was the end of days for the commune as we knew it.. everybody kinda flew in different directions, like shattered glass. The branch that took to the country stayed in the country and are still there.. THe house was huge, with apartments/flats on each story.. It was in two parts.. first stoop, first doorway was to Upstairs, the second doorway was to Underhouse, walk down the street a bit and then the second stoop, first doorway, went to the top, is where the Black Panthers lived and Indains from wounded knee, second doorway was Overhouse.. walk around the corner and there was a lower apartment that faced Panhandle Park..that was where I first lived, the I moved over to Underhouse then to Upperhouse... all in the same building.. there was also a basement like room but you had to go outside to get to it... The Blue House on Oak, two houses down from the corner of Cole n Oak on the other side of Cole was The White Panthers Headquarters.. that was also the Main House of The Good Earth n where we held our meetings.. Directly across from our house was Whitehouse... there was another House down from our house on Oak that was called The Down Home Nasties... then there was Page St House.. and lets not forget The Hole In The Wall on Haight Street and the Head Shop below... There were also a House or two on Upper Cole.

 

Maxey, I am in NE Texas livin' and lovin' large on our little farm in the country.

 

Thanks, sh.
Sorry to hear about Johnnie. However, he wasn't gay when I knew him. Must have been bi. We were together for a night or so. Glad that was before AIDS hit this country. Anyone still living in SF? I was there on a business trip this summer. Lots different now staying at a 5 star hotel than back in the day.....ahhh

 

There was also the Downy St. House and I think one on Collingwood (?) and Woodland House and did anyone mention Upper Cole St House? I think at one time I counted over twenty houses tied to the Church not counting friends and neighbors.
Was 'John the Barber' the fellow who decided he would teach the women just enough 'self-defence' to get themselves killed? He was holding classes in the Panhandle accross from the Blue House.
Funny thing happened. When I and my pard Lee (a hung-gar si-fu stopped by to tell him he was invited to meet with a group of elderly teachers in China Town he sent a girl to the front door of the Blue House and was last seen exiting the back door never to be seen or heard from again.

 

It was always my impression that Sag might have been bi, but as the women of the Down Home Nasties could tell you he was not gay in the exclusive sense and never approached any of the brothers that I heard of. He was a good man in many ways amnd put his all into getting out the family paper, the G.D.I. along with Sunshine and Scorpio Kenny.

 

Thanks for the info, SH. Ranger - are you currently in the Bay Area? My housemates and I are incredibly curious about the history of our place. We would love to invite anyone who is in the area come over to check out your old digs and walk us through the history of where we live. If anyone is around SF, please let me know.

Love, Light and Blessings from the present to the past!

Steph

 

I always got a kick walking up Downy ( Jerry Garcia also lived on Downy) I lived on downy in 70, then moved over to lower cole.. .. weather Johnnie was gay or bi, I still looked better in my sweater .. The last time I was in SF was in 77'.. by then most everyone had split the scene and only a few scattered individuals clung on. The Love had gone from The Haight, where flower pettals once covered our beloved neighborhood, now was littered in dog shit and broken beer bottles..the rainbow buildings no longer held their sparkle and black curtains hung in the windows to hide the dirty dealings of the rip offs, pimps and muggers, and lets not forget the speed freeks and the heroin addicts. Where once colorful blankets were spread.. ones wallowed in their own puke.. all the flowers had either all been picked or parished in the stampeed.. Only the hardcore element remained and some that had made a life of it and carried on.. all things change in their season. I think maybe Ranger, you were one of the last to leave The Haight, as of two yrs ago. I hear that The Haight is all bucuhwa nowadaze and the unsettled essates we called our homes are no longer condemed buildings but have been rentovated and changed around.. they were pretty sturdy foundations and sloid structure, beautiful old places, great architecture and a dynamic view of Pandhandle Park...there were hidden rooms and passageways and escape routes in the house I lived in.. an alram system in the back yard and barbwire on top of the 10 ft fence.. I had heard tell of a tunnel that went across cole to one of the houses across the street. I wonder how we survived it all..

 

I was glad that I found this site. I lived in Oak St house as well as upper and lower Cole. I was known as Picses Patty. I was part of the Good Earth from 69 to about 73. I remember Mouseman, Stacey, Kitten, Daryl and all. I lived in the basement of Oak St for awhile, next to Jerry the jewelry maker. I have been trying to get in touch with Mouseman and others who I still rmember fondly. I haven't had any contact with most of you for about 30+ years. Someone wanted to know about Steven Soffer and all. Stephen Hoffner and Rhondi were also part of the Guru Maharaj Ji scene and we kept in contact for a few years. They started a health food store in SF but don't think they are there anymore. Peter H and I have kept in contact over the years. Larry (the hat) owns a very successful boutique in Sausalito. He certainly looks different. Someone else also wanted to know about Kathy Boyce. After leaving the commune, we lived in the same apartment building on Page street until 1978. She lived with a man named Mike. she started a womne's band and had some emasure of fame. I believe she has moved to Southern Ca. I live in Berkeley again. Please contact me if you wish. What a long strange trip it's been.

Patty

 

Hello Patty.. Nailcakes here.. I remember you.. sounds like your doing good.. at least after all is said n been done your still with us.. blessed be.. glad you could make it in..most everyone is in Eugene.. Mouseman was there for 30+ yrs.. but there was a bust a little too close so he high tailed it to mexico.. some have posted here.. great to see you.

 

Hey Patty; Zev(Zih-ave) Wexler here. I lived at 1915 OAK when you lived there and at Cole Street. My brother Mark (who sometimes called himself Magic Leo Lightning Sunflowers) had his lady Sunny ( who later ended up with Ranger) I later moved to upper Cole with my Nancy near MAUDS. i LEFT IN 1974. Glad to see you also survived the times. You were a cute young thing and full of energy. What are you up to these days.

On another note Sag Johnny waas not bi. Unless he changed or got desparate, if he got aids it was either thru a needle, a transfusion or a lady.

I'm also from Brooklyn so I had a passing aquaintence witht the Sophers. They were friends and business associates of Larry (the hat) Loutzker a, Howie Rosen and Steve Stacey. I couldn't take their maharaji "perfect master" shit. Last I heard they were living up near Sears( but that was long ago).

How is every body out there. I just sent my son off to college and I'm trying to play more music. Stay well, live long, and prosper

 

I knew the Guru M followers. They all ended up going to India in 1972. I think the Hoffners still live in the Bay area. Don't know about Steve Soffer. The only one to benefit from that experience was Guruji himself who became a multi, multi millionaire with private jets, yachts, helicopters, a big Malibu estate, and numerous other homes thruout the world. How typical is that for these cult leaders?
The Brooklyn group at the church were all friends of my college fiancee which is how I ended up there back in the day.
Peace and blessings to all of you still out there.

 

Maxey;

Who was your fiancee? I'm also from BK. I was about 3 or 4 years older than all the restr of the Brooklyn people. Mark was my younger brother. That's how I got to know the GE family. As a matter of fact I'm back in Brooklyn again. I think there was a Sopher and a Hoffner but too many years have past. As for cults, the maharaji wasn't the worst. Remember Jim Jones( up on Geary), David Koresh and Charlie Manson (around the corner for a while). At least Maharaji only took your money and your time.

Peace out

 

wlzev,
Yes, the Brooklyn people and myself are about 5 yrs younger than you. My fiancee was Shelly Kraft. Funny, we are in touch now again after all these years. Maybe I know you, lol. So you're back in Brooklyn. I am actually going to be in NY next week. Going to a reunion from the summer camp I went to. I must be getting nostalgic or something.
As for the cults, didn't realize those wackadoos lived in the same hood.
I still have friends that follow Maharaji but he now has different packaging. Goes by real name of Prem Rawat and calls himself a motivational speaker. All about the $$ game.

 

Maxey

Call me when you get to NYC and we'll get together. you can find all my contact info at www.wlzev.com

ZEV
​

 

HELLO ALL!!! OMG I AM SO HApPY THAT PISCES PATTI FOUND US..PATTI I have been asking about you in these chats.. I do not know if u remember me.. but we spent alot of time hanging out.. i was living on oak st.with jerry the jewelry maker.. maybe u remember me now?./.he passed on the winter of 1971..i lived with him from june 71 untill i left in august 71..KATHY BOYCE.. was my best freind.. maybe u can let me know where she is now? and the n ame of her b and?i have been tryin to find kathy for years and yearss..at 1 point she wrote me and said she getting married.. then i never heard from her..please contact me patti? huggggggggg..are u stil in touch with RINI?.SHE WAS SUCH A BIG FAN OF JACK CASSIDY//..

 

Hi Lesley

I absolutely remember you. You were a very gentle soul. I remember you as a quiet and beautiful person. Just like Jerry. He was a very nice person who valued his privacy. When I lived in the basement of Oak Street, you had to pass through his room to get to mine. I always tried to be quiet and not disrupt his space. It was very bad that he got dosed at a party. He was no longer taking hallucinogens. I remember that he died in GG Park and was found in a fountain in the Lotus position. I hope his passing was peaceful.

Kathy and I traveled together everywhere for years. We ended up living in the same apartment building on Page Street near Masonic in 76. I lived upstairs from her. She met a great guy named Mike G. Things were a little rocky with Kathy and her man and I am not sure what happened to her after I moved out in August 78. They were not married at that time.

I met Kathy in strange circumstances!!!! A guy from SoCal came and crashed at Upper Cole (where I was living at the time). I let him stay in my room and we had a casual relationship. One day he gets all concerned and jumpy. He told me that his girlfriend from LA was coming up to see him and he didn’t want to see her and that their relationship was over. I told him that it was over in his mind but obviously not over in hers. He was really afraid of the confrontation that was about to occur between her and me. She showed up and it was Kathy Boyce!!!!!! I really liked her from the first minute I met her. I kicked the guy out of my room and Kathy became one of my best friends of all time. The guy was angry but in those days men came and went and there were always plenty of them to go around! But to find a great friend is always very rare

As far as Reeni, she sure LOVED Jack Cassidy!!!! When we were refinishing the Airplane’s house on Fulton Street, she started dressing like him. It was actually kind of bizarre. She dressed like him EVERY DAY. Very strange. Our friendship became strained when I found out that she was sleeping with my current man. As it tuned out, he became a heroin addict and died of an overdose. Definitely not a peaceful way to go. I was better off without him. Like I said before men came and went, sometimes rather quickly!

I am doing very well. I live in Berkeley. I was married for 33 years and have 5 kids. I lived abroad for about 15 years and lost all contact with Kathy and others. It is great to hear from you and all others from GE.

 

Well im glad i decided to check out this .usually wait a while.. maybe we can find kathy together? maybe u can give me info so i caan do a search?..just city and age..hard to find ppl who are married cuz search do not show maiden names..Was hoping u would mention the name of kathy's band? ............. abroad? oh great..somewhere i alwas:hat:y dreamed to go..

 

The house you refer to was called the "White House." The GE took it over from a group of junkies that were squatting there (the doors and windows were all boarded up). A bunch of the GE'ers from the 409 Cole Street house (right across the street) kicked in the door and ushered out the junkies. We took over the first floor (Under House) and eventually the second floor. Of course we paid no rent (the building was abandoned). I remember Mouseman punching out some funky dude, who lived on the 3rd floor who threw his garbage off the back porch. Mouse asked him politely to clean up his act. He refused and Mouse called him out. The dude came downstairs and out to the middle of Cole Street. Mouse and "Garbage Dude" squared off. Mouse threw one punch to the dude's face and that was it; no more garbage or junkies in the Hood. That's the genesis of the White House and Under House!

 

Hey Ya'll, Spud here. This is me with my son Danny in 1982 in Tiller, Oregon. I lived in the Good Earth Commune in 1969 - 70. I started out in the Downy Street House (remember Kelly?). From there, I graduated to 439 Cole (upper Cole). Wendy, Maura, Dennis & Diane, and Pieces Bob. After that, I moved up to Haight Street and lived in the garage next to the "Hole in the Wall." Kid, Cancer Nancy, me, Wild Bill, Taurus Larry (Bull). Lots of stories to tell. Peace out.