GOSH! Magazine
Encyclopedia
GOSH! Magazine was a short-lived, but influential Los Angeles-based arts, entertainment, and fashion magazine published in eleven issues between October, 1978 and August, 1979. In its short history it became notable enough to be recognized by the Smithsonian Institution and included in their archives. In addition, GOSH! articles written by Dennis Cooper
have been archived as part of the Dennis Cooper Papers in the Fales Library and Special Collections of New York University. It was distributed free of charge in art galleries, alternative bookstores and music shops in the Los Angeles area. Articles ranged from interviews with experimental filmmakers like George Kuchar
, Sara Kathryn Arledge, and Ted V. Mikels
; influential radio announcers like Rodney Bingenheimer
; to reviews of art exhibits, like Susan Greiger's (now Susan Singer) controversial show at Aarnun gallery featuring life-sized nude photos arranged in a flip book and an exhibit about how celebrities and common folk relate to their own noses.
Also included in the magazine were punk
, jazz
, and alternative music reviews featuring musicians like "The Hipster" Harry Gibson
, Fred Frith
, Charlie Parker
, and Lester Young
; and reproductions of original art, illustrations, comics, and photographs from many avant garde contributors. Even the advertisements were very interesting, such as the artist Jack McIntosh's ads selling art trash from his studio for five to two hundred dollars. One Jack McIntosh ad offered his services as a speaker at your church or club for $20. Included in the ad was the picture of a bizarre, drooling man with bulging eyes and vampire teeth.
The magazine's legacy was publishing early work by a variety of writers, artists, and photographers who went on to considerable success in their respective fields. Dennis Cooper
, Michelle Huneven
, Kirk Silsbee, Doug Humble, Gusmano Cesaretti, Jules Bates, Karla Karin, Sid Griffin, Steve Escandon, and others contributed to GOSH! The legendary illustrator, Neon Park
, best remembered for his record album covers for the rock band Little Feat
and for the Mothers of Invention's Weasels Ripped My Flesh did cover art for the ninth issue, showing an atom bomb exploding through an open zipper in the surface of the earth, as if a nuclear explosion is the ultimate male erection.
GOSH! was printed on newsprint in black and white in a signature of 12 sheets. Some covers contained black and one color, usually red or blue, used on the magazine logo of the word GOSH! surrrounded by a circle. It was published in folio format on paper 17 by 22 inches and folded twice to appear 8½ by 11 inches. When unfolded to reveal the content, 24 pages were each 11 × 17 inches and facing each other. The editor and publisher of GOSH! was Terry Cannon, who is himself as notable as the other artists he included in the magazine. Cannon also founded the Pasadena
, and later, Los Angeles Filmforum which continues to be active in Hollywood showing the works of experimental filmmakers, and the Baseball Reliquary
, which presents exhibits showing an alternative view of the history and social impact of America's national pastime, and annually inducts prominent baseball figures into its 'Shrine of the Eternals'. In addition, Cannon served as an editor on his father's classic car mechanic's magazine Skinned Knuckles
. He currently works as Staff Assistant III at the Pasadena Public Library's Allendale Branch. The editorial office for GOSH! was located at 35 N. Raymond Avenue in Old Town Pasadena
during Pasadena's period of intense art making activities of the 1970s and 80s.
Dennis Cooper
Dennis Cooper is an American novelist, poet, critic, editor and performance artist.-Career:Cooper grew up the son of a wealthy businessman in Arcadia, California. His first forays into literature came early, focusing on imitations of Rimbaud, Verlaine, de Sade, and Baudelaire...
have been archived as part of the Dennis Cooper Papers in the Fales Library and Special Collections of New York University. It was distributed free of charge in art galleries, alternative bookstores and music shops in the Los Angeles area. Articles ranged from interviews with experimental filmmakers like George Kuchar
George Kuchar
George Kuchar was an American underground film director, known for his "low-fi" aesthetic.-Early life and career:...
, Sara Kathryn Arledge, and Ted V. Mikels
Ted V. Mikels
Ted V. Mikels is an American filmmaker of independent cult films. Mikels was also known for his home life, as he once lived with a harem in a Glendale, California castle that contained secret passageways....
; influential radio announcers like Rodney Bingenheimer
Rodney Bingenheimer
Rodney Bingenheimer, born December 15, 1947, is a radio disc jockey on the long-running Los Angeles rock station KROQ who is notable for helping numerous iconic bands become successful in the American market. His contribution to the music business has been described as important...
; to reviews of art exhibits, like Susan Greiger's (now Susan Singer) controversial show at Aarnun gallery featuring life-sized nude photos arranged in a flip book and an exhibit about how celebrities and common folk relate to their own noses.
Also included in the magazine were punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
, jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, and alternative music reviews featuring musicians like "The Hipster" Harry Gibson
Harry Gibson
Harry "The Hipster" Gibson was a jazz pianist, singer and songwriter.Gibson played New York style Stride piano and boogie woogie while singing in a wild, unrestrained style. His music career began in the late 1920s, when as the young Harry Raab, his birth name, he played stride piano in Dixieland...
, Fred Frith
Fred Frith
Fred Frith is an English multi-instrumentalist, composer and improvisor.Probably best known for his guitar work, Frith first came to attention as one of the founding members of the English avant-rock group Henry Cow. Frith was also a member of Art Bears, Massacre and Skeleton Crew...
, Charlie Parker
Charlie Parker
Charles Parker, Jr. , famously called Bird or Yardbird, was an American jazz saxophonist and composer....
, and Lester Young
Lester Young
Lester Willis Young , nicknamed "Prez", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist and clarinetist. He also played trumpet, violin, and drums....
; and reproductions of original art, illustrations, comics, and photographs from many avant garde contributors. Even the advertisements were very interesting, such as the artist Jack McIntosh's ads selling art trash from his studio for five to two hundred dollars. One Jack McIntosh ad offered his services as a speaker at your church or club for $20. Included in the ad was the picture of a bizarre, drooling man with bulging eyes and vampire teeth.
The magazine's legacy was publishing early work by a variety of writers, artists, and photographers who went on to considerable success in their respective fields. Dennis Cooper
Dennis Cooper
Dennis Cooper is an American novelist, poet, critic, editor and performance artist.-Career:Cooper grew up the son of a wealthy businessman in Arcadia, California. His first forays into literature came early, focusing on imitations of Rimbaud, Verlaine, de Sade, and Baudelaire...
, Michelle Huneven
Michelle Huneven
Michelle Huneven is a Californian novelist and journalist. Huneven was born and raised in Altadena, California, where she returned to live in 2001. She received an MFA from the Iowa Writers Workshop at the University of Iowa.- Fiction :...
, Kirk Silsbee, Doug Humble, Gusmano Cesaretti, Jules Bates, Karla Karin, Sid Griffin, Steve Escandon, and others contributed to GOSH! The legendary illustrator, Neon Park
Neon Park
Neon Park was an American artist and illustrator, best known for the images that have strongly defined covers for nearly every Little Feat album except for the band's self-titled first album. He also created the cover of Weasels Ripped My Flesh for Frank Zappa, as well as covers and graphics for...
, best remembered for his record album covers for the rock band Little Feat
Little Feat
Little Feat is an American rock band formed by singer-songwriter, lead vocalist and guitarist Lowell George and keyboardist Bill Payne in 1969 in Los Angeles....
and for the Mothers of Invention's Weasels Ripped My Flesh did cover art for the ninth issue, showing an atom bomb exploding through an open zipper in the surface of the earth, as if a nuclear explosion is the ultimate male erection.
GOSH! was printed on newsprint in black and white in a signature of 12 sheets. Some covers contained black and one color, usually red or blue, used on the magazine logo of the word GOSH! surrrounded by a circle. It was published in folio format on paper 17 by 22 inches and folded twice to appear 8½ by 11 inches. When unfolded to reveal the content, 24 pages were each 11 × 17 inches and facing each other. The editor and publisher of GOSH! was Terry Cannon, who is himself as notable as the other artists he included in the magazine. Cannon also founded the Pasadena
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
, and later, Los Angeles Filmforum which continues to be active in Hollywood showing the works of experimental filmmakers, and the Baseball Reliquary
Baseball Reliquary
The Baseball Reliquary is a nonprofit, educational organization "dedicated to fostering an appreciation of American art and culture through the context of baseball history and to exploring the national pastime’s unparalleled creative possibilities." The Reliquary was founded in 1996 in Monrovia,...
, which presents exhibits showing an alternative view of the history and social impact of America's national pastime, and annually inducts prominent baseball figures into its 'Shrine of the Eternals'. In addition, Cannon served as an editor on his father's classic car mechanic's magazine Skinned Knuckles
Skinned Knuckles
Skinned Knuckles is a monthly publication written by and for antique and classic automobile restorers. Fondly known to subscribers merely as "SK", it answers to either name. In its 32nd year of continuous publication this journal promotes authentic restoration of cars and trucks. It does not...
. He currently works as Staff Assistant III at the Pasadena Public Library's Allendale Branch. The editorial office for GOSH! was located at 35 N. Raymond Avenue in Old Town Pasadena
Old Town Pasadena
Old Pasadena is the original commercial center of Pasadena, a city in California, United States that arose from one of the most prosperous areas of the state, and had a latter day revitalization after a period of decay...
during Pasadena's period of intense art making activities of the 1970s and 80s.