Thursday, July 29, 2010

Bill Ray wasn't the Lone Ranger.........

While Bill Ray was down South photographing the Hells Angels from Berdoo, there were also two photographers in San Francisco not only chronicling the Hippie movement, but also the Frisco Charter of of the Club.

Bill Brach and Gene Anthony were photographers that along with photographing the Hells Angels, are probably responsible for 80% of all the San Fran hippies, bands, people, concerts, and event images that survive today from the Haight-Ashbury "Summer of Love" period. Here's a sampling of their HA photos.....

Hells Angels Frisco and Daly City Charters group shot, on The Great Highway, San Francisco, 1966. You might recognize the HA just to the left of the center bike. He's shown pretty consistently in the beginning of Hells Angels On Wheels, look for him next time you watch the movie. - Bill Brach

A couple Frisco Charter members arriving at the Panhandle, Golden Gate Park, 1967. Notice the HA's bike in the foreground is also centered in photo #1 (with its owner straight behind the sissy bar) by Bill Brach, and in photo #4. - Gene Anthony

Not sure who the two HA's on the trike are, but that's Hairy Harry Kott in the upper L/H of the photo, shortly after he got out of the Joint. Haight & Cole, 1966. - Gene Anthony

Hells Angels and El Forasteros in the Panhandle, Golden Gate Park, 1966. - Gene Anthony
Frisco Charter relaxing on Hippie Hill, Golden Gate Park, just off Kezar Dr. 1967. Chocolate George (w/helmet) is at the far right in the picture. George died a few months after this photo was taken, hit by a runaway car in front of the Straight Theatre on Haight St. - Bill Brach

6 comments:

Mitch Cotie said...

Awesome!! thanks for posting this Rich.

mindpill said...

wow.........

grant said...

and to think that people today don't give a proper wideglide frontend the repect they deserve!
the first time i saw these pics helped cement my growing love for these not narrow frontends.

Anonymous said...

is that dick allen on the left of the second pic or am i tripping out?

max schaaf said...

crazy post. rad

BlueDreams said...

I have and original of this picture, rather a close up of Chocolate George in this pic. Who took it? Where did it come from? I have never known. Hi again Rich :-)