Duplex Planet is a ’zine in which: “For more than a quarter century David Greenberger has been talking with old people in nursing homes, mealsites and senior centers, collecting conversations and stories.”
It’s also a radio series and set of CDs. DG performs these people’s stories, backed by original music from the likes of Los Lobos, 3 Leg Torso, Birdsongs of the Mesozoic , Terry Adams (NRBQ), and here’s David Greenberger & The Shaking Ray Levis from their CD Mayor of the Tennessee River with “Blood n the Pulpit” (3:06 mp3):
THE DUPLEX PLANET issue #38, July, 1982:
GENE EDWARDS: I don’t like nothin’ about summer, it’s too hot. I know it’s better than winter, but that’s all I can say. I like spring and fall.
RODNEY BRAGG: I swim in cold water, I always go swimmin’ in cold water. I dive right in the water and go swimmin’ under the bridge. One time my sister fell in a mud hole out in the woods. I pulled her out of the mud hole, I had to get a rope and pull her out. Had to buy a rope at the store, it cost money. You can’t get nothin’ for nothin.’
BILL SEARS: In summer you go to beaches, go swimmin,’ go fishin,’ go to the amusement park. You go on the roller coaster and you go on the Dodge-’ems. You go on the Whip, you go for a boat ride. You go on a train, a train ride. You go on the Ferris Wheel. you go blueberry pickin.’ And, ah, you go ridin’ horses. You take a tramp in the woods. that’s about all.
WALTER KIERAN: I used to go from Salem Willows to Nantasket Beach in a passenger boat. It was about two hours and cost two dollars. you buy your food on the boat, that cost you a dollar or two. they had movin’ pictures on the boat, and a six piece orchestra would play. You could dance, there were girls there. you’d take a girl out to dinner on the boat and then you’d hire a room outside the boat and give her a little lovin.’ and after that you’d take her to the movin’ pictures. then after that you’d take her to Salem Willows and give her popcorn and kisses — candy kisses, homemade ones by the Woods Brothers of Salem, candymakers. Besides that work they were salesmen for the Kennedy Clothing Company. you could buy a suit of clothes from them for fifty dollars, no hundred dollars. they had a tailor, used to fix you up, Bill Hanson his name was. He left Clark & Friend Clothing Company and went to Kennedy & Company clothing Company. I worked at Clark & Friend’s as an errand boy. I got all my stuff for nothin’ from Clark & Friend’s, I didn’t have to pay for it. for workin’ for ’em, instead of just gettin’ money, I’d get clothes.
THE DUPLEX PLANET: The truth about coffee, money, dogs, sandwiches, vampires, television, toasters, haircuts, romance, dancing, faith, hope, trust, and the part of us each that moves forward into and through the final years of life.
You can hear more David Greenberger pieces and music reviews on NPR.
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