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Poetry Windows, produced by Karen Berge
In the mid-to-late 1970's Karen Berge, a student at the time, worked as a Production Assistant at KRAB, doing numerous remote recordings and producing a series of programs from them. "Poetry Windows" was produced from a series of recordings of readings by regional and visiting poets, and other writers, appearing at literary venues such as The Book Project, Otto's Coffeehouse, Classic Coffeehouse, Cause Celebre Café, Different Drummer Bookstore, Bumbershoot, the Women's Cultural Center, University of Washington, and the KRAB studios. The program originally titled "Poetry Showcase" aired from Spring 1977 to Fall of 1979, when it was incorporated into the "Morning Reading". Starting in Apr of 1979 Della Hennessee assisted with preparing some programs for broadcast.
Karen has shared these recordings from her private collection. The descriptions below, in italic bold, are from KRAB program guides. Arranged in chronological order of KRAB airdate. For some of the poet readers I have been able to find information. Others are a mystery. If you know any of them or have information to share, please send it along.
You may also find these other pages of interest: |
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Poetry Showcase - Readings by Six NW Poets at Otto Borsodi's Coffeehouse - Rec Feb 8, 1977; KRAB May 31, 1977
Readings by six Northwest poets: James Vieira, Satya, Sylvia Consuello, Len Goodman, Gary Marshall, Michael Magee. Recorded Feb 8, 1977 at Otto Borsodi's coffee house, by Karen Berge.
The final reader, Michael Magee, was part of the 2009 Jack Straw Writers Program. You can also learn a little more about him here. If you have any information about the other readers, please send it along.
There are several tapes in Karen Berge's Poetry Windows collection made at Otto's Coffeehouse at 5509 University Way NE. Otto's did not last too long, only a year, but it is worth sharing a bit about it and Robert Otto Borsodi. According to the Seattle Sun, Aug 17, 1977, (attached) this was Otto's ninth or tenth coffeehouse since 1960 between New Haven, Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. Seattle's ("Otto's - A Poetry Showcase") opened Halloween 1976 and closed Oct 1977, with the last reading on Oct 11. See also Seattle Times article Feb 25, 1978 about the successor to Otto's.
After leaving Seattle, Otto went to New Orleans, where he settled down and lived for the next twenty-five years. See the memorial at the Chicken Bones Journal: Remembering Borsodi by Rudolph Lewis.
Recording courtesy Karen Berge, KB0037, KB0034
Sean Bentley, Patricia Ver Ellen at Otto's Coffeehouse May 10; and Jim Heynen at the Book Project May 20 - KRAB Jun 7, 1977
The description in the guide wasn't quite right, so the following is from the tape label: Readings by three Northwest poets. Sean Bentley and Patricia Ver Ellen recorded May 10 at Otto's Coffeehouse. Reading by Jim Heynen author of "Notes for Custer", recorded May 20 at the Book Project.
See listing of May 31, 1977 for more about Otto Borsodi and his Coffeehouse.
Recording courtesy Karen Berge, KB0039
Diane Wakoski at the University of Washington - Rec May 5, 1977; KRAB Jun 14, 1977
Another reading by poet Diane Wakoski - recorded May 5 at the University of Washington.
According to the Seattle Times (click on tape label on right), Diane Wakoski was poet in residence at the UW for Spring and Summer quarters 1977.
Recording courtesy Karen Berge, KB0040
Six Poets in Three Days: Prydz, Olson, Frontside, Satya, Consuelo, and Burks - Rec Feb 8, Mar 18, and May 10, 1977; KRAB Jun 21, 1977
Three northwest poets: Fred Prydz, Fanny Frontside, and John Olson, reading from their own works. This is part 2 of the reading given May 10th of this year at Otto Borsodi's coffeehouse. Followed by Satya and Sylvia Consuelo recorded Feb 8, 1977, also at Otto's. Last is Charlie Burks reading Mar 18th at The Book Project.
The reading at Otto's Coffeehouse in the University District opens with an excerpt of Michael Gagnon playing harpsichord while people are gathering for the start of the reading.
Recording courtesy Karen Berge, KB0041
Colleen McEroy at the Women's Cultural Center - Rec Jun 3, 1977; KRAB Jul 5, 1977
Today the featured writer is Colleen McElroy. June 3rd, she read from some of her work at a reading held at the Women's Cultural Center of the University YWCA. Recorded and Produced by Karen Berge.
Recording courtesy Karen Berge, KB0042
A Reading at Otto Borsodi's Coffeehouse - Rec Jun 14, 1977; KRAB Jul 19, 1977
Recorded June 14 at Otto's Coffeehouse, today's program features a showcase of six Northwest poets: Otto Borsodi, Christina Em, Hank Curley, Bard Dahl, Al Norman, and Jimm Richards. Produced by Karen Berge.
See listing of May 31, 1977 for more about Otto Borsodi and his Coffeehouse.
Click on the tape label at right to find out who the KRAB Beepers were.
Recording courtesy Karen Berge, KB0043
Dick Bakken at The Book Project - Rec Jun 26, 1977; KRAB Aug 2, 1977
A
performance by Dick Bakken, poet and cofounder of the Portland and National Poetry Festivals. Recorded June 26, 1977 at The Book Project. Produced by Karen Berge.
Recording courtesy Karen Berge, KB0045
Steven Jesse Bernstein reading at The Book Project - Rec May 8, 1977; KRAB Aug 23, 1977
Poetry Windows, featuring Steven Jesse Bernstein, who read May 8, '77, at The Book Project. Selections from The Eye of the Vulture. "Mr. Bernstein's work reads like an obscene auto repair manual...a promotional gag for a bedpan company." "He's definitely deranged...a literary monstrosity." "A great shipwreck of a writer." "...sunken treasure." "This bottomless reading cannot be topped!!!" Recorded and produced by Karen Berge.
See Regina Hackett's article in the Seattle PI, Oct 9, 2003, A legacy of poetic provocation.
Recording courtesy Karen Berge, KB0048
Keith Abbott - KRAB Sep 13, 1977
A reading by Keith Abbott, author of Gush and The Book of Rimbaud, recorded July 31st at The Book Project. Produced by Karen Berge.
Listen now: Poetry Windows - Keith Abbott - KRAB Sep 13, 1977 (40:12)
Recording courtesy Karen Berge, KB0049
Jody Aliesan at the Women's Cultural Center - Rec Aug 5, 1977; KRAB Oct 4, 1977
Excerpts from a reading by Jody Aliesan, author of Soul Claiming, recorded August 5, 1977 at the Women's Cultural Center at the University Branch of the YWCA. Produced by Karen Berge.
Recording courtesy Karen Berge, KB0054
Diane Wakoski and Ishmael Read at Bumbershoot - Rec Sep 5, 1977; KRAB Oct 18, 1977
Readings by Diane Wakoski and Ishmael Reed, recorded at the 1977 Bumbershoot festival on Sept 5. Wakoski is the author of, among other books, The Motorcycle Betrayal Poems, Smudging, and Dancing on the Grave of a Son of a Bitch. Reed was the recipient of the 1973 Pulitzer Prize for poetry, is the author of Yellow Back Radio Broke Down, Mumbo Jumbo, and other books, and is the editor of Yardbird. Produced by Karen Berge.
Recording courtesy Karen Berge, KB0055
Jim Heynan and Colleen McElroy at Bumbershoot - Rec Sep 3, 1977; KRAB Nov 15, 1977
Jim Heynen reads from his forthcoming book, "The Boys" and Colleen McElroy, author of "Letters from Home", reads some of her newer poetry as the readings from Bumbershoot '77 conclude this week. Recorded and produced by Karen Berge.
Recording courtesy Karen Berge, KB0056
Carol Orlock reading at The Book Project - Rec Sep 11, 1977; KRAB Dec 6, 1977
Carol Orlock reads from her forthcoming and as yet untitled novel. This was recorded Sep 11, 1977 at The Book Project and produced by Karen Berge.
Recording courtesy Karen Berge, KB0060
Charlie Burks at A Different Drummer Book Store - Rec Oct 2, 1977; KRAB Dec 13, 1977
Charlie Burks performs a ONE MAN SHOE! He is a Seattle poet, author of the play "Marvin, the Nephew of God", and coordinates Western Edge, a writers publication put out by Arts Resource Services. This 
feat was afoot on Oct 2nd at the Different Drummer bookstore and recorded by Karen Berge.
Recording courtesy Karen Berge, KB0061
Karen Waring reading at The Book Project - Rec Nov 11, 1977; KRAB Jan 3, 1978
A reading by Karen Waring, author of "Exposed to the Elements", given at The Book Project on Nov 11, 1977. Produced by Karen Berge.
"From the 1960s until 1979 I lived the life of a poet and you can take that any way you want to."
"I had not found the mountains. Or perhaps the mountains had not found me yet. I still believe that the mountains chose me to write about them."
The two quotations above of Karen Waring come from the blog site Old Fitzroy - - Dreaming blues, karlos? .
It seems that a few years after this reading Waring found the mountains waiting for her, and became an avid hiker and climber. And, in 2014 she died in those mountains.
See also Cassandra Overby's Lessons from Karen Sykes, and Waring's own blog, Karen Waring Lives.
Recording courtesy Karen Berge, KB0064
Poetry by Raul Salinas at the conference of the Coordinating Council of Literary Magazines - Rec Nov, 12, 1977; KRAB Jan 24, 1978
Poetry by Raul Salinas, author of "Un Trip Through the Mind Jail y Otras Excursions". Recorded Nov 12, 1977 at the CCLM Conference.
Recording courtesy Karen Berge, KB0067
Christina Pacosz and Barbara Wilson (Barbara Sjoholm) reading at the Women's Cultural Center - Rec Jan 13, 1978; KRAB Feb 28, 1978
Poetry by Christina Pacosz, author of SHIMMY UP TO THIS FINE MUD and artist-in-residence with the Portland Metropolitan Arts Commission and a short story by Barbara Wilson, writer for NORTHWEST PASSAGE and co-owner of Seal Press. Recorded 01/13/78 at the Women's Cultural Center and produced by Karen Berge.
Christina Pacosz: "I had started out on the path of becoming a writer early. My mother wrote my stories down and the nuns encouraged us to write rhyming poetry, as well as memorize some, including Joyce Kilmer's "Trees". My father told me stories about his life in Missouri and Poland. In high school my poems won honorable mentions in the National Scholastic Writing Awards. I read Rachel Carson's Silent Spring and was convinced that my strong desire to not have children was the wisest choice, considering what future loomed for the earth. I took Journalism I and II and was elected Feature Editor of the Cass Technician. My Journalism instructor recommended me for a new venture: summer arts camp at Olivet College in Olivet Michigan for creative teens. William D. Snodgrass was a guest poet on several occasions. I see now that I was a young shoot of green about to be mowed down."
Barbara Wilson: "I’m a writer of memoir, mysteries, fiction, and travel books, and an editor of anthologies and nonfiction. My travel articles and other essays have appeared in Smithsonian, Slate, and American Scholar, as well as many other publications. I’ve written under the names Barbara Wilson (my father’s adoptive name) and, since 2000, Barbara Sjoholm (which means sea island). I answer to both. I grew up in a Christian Scientist family in California and wrote about it in my memoir Blue Windows and the novel If You Had a Family. I now live in the Pacific Northwest."
More can be learned about Christina Pacosz at PoetsOnAdoption and at the Missouri Center for the Book, and about Barabara Wilson at her website and at Counterpoint Press.
Recording courtesy Karen Berge, KB0071 and KB0072
Kathleen Fraser Reading at Women's Writers Conference - Rec Feb 11, 1978; KRAB Mar 21, 1978
Kathleen Fraser, author of "Change of Address", "Little Notes to You", "What I Want" and professor ofcreative writing at San Francisco State Univ. reads from her own works. This was recorded Feb 11, 1978 at the Women Writers Conference at Shoreline Community College. Produced by Karen Berge.
Recording courtesy Karen Berge, KB0074
Olga Broumas Reading at Women's Writers Conference - Rec Feb 12, 1978; KRAB Mar 28, 1978
A reading by Olga Broumas, the author of "Beginning with 0", and last year's winner of the Yale Series of Younger Poets. Recorded Feb 12th at the Women's Writer's Conference at Shoreline Community College. Produced by Karen Berge.
Recorded by Della Hennessee.
Recording courtesy Karen Berge, KB0075
Mary Ellen Addington, Elizabeth Monk, Mary Hansen, Dorothy Shellorne, and Kalinda Ericksen - Rec May 5, 1978; KRAB Jun 6, 1978
Readings by Mary Ellen Addington, Elizabeth Monk, Mary Hansen, Dorothy Shellorne, and Kalinda Ericksen. Recorded May 5 at the Women's Cultural Center. Produced by Karen Berge.
Listen now: Poetry Windows - Rec May 5, 1978; KRAB Jun 6, 1978 (59:11)
Recording courtesy Karen Berge, KB0084 (cassette)
Paul Hansen and Robert Sund at Skagit Voices (Excerpts) - KRAB Aug 8, 1978
Readings by Robert Sund and Paul Hansen, recorded at the Skagit Voices reading series by Bob Rose, the series organizer. Produced by Karen Berge.
Paul Hansen reading Feb 12, 1978; Robert Sund reading Nov 13, 1977. Click on the tape label thumbnail on the right to see a letter from Bob Rose to Karen Berge that accompanied the tape.
Recording courtesy Karen Berge and Bob Rose, KB0087
If you possess any souvenirs (program guides, tapes, or photos) or have a story about your experience with KRAB you are willing to share, please email archive@krabarchive.com