by John Wilcock

ALMOST HALF A CENTURY ago, I began publishing Other Scenes, the first international underground newspaper. It was sold on New York City newsstands and distributed spasmodically around the world. I had correspondents in Greece, Italy, France, India, Japan, England and Australia. This 25¢ tabloid was barely noticed outside underground circles but it recorded that particular socio-political history well enough for it to become a collectors’ item. Among my contributors were Andy Warhol, Yoko Ono, John Chamberlain, Ed Ruscha, Gilbert Shelton, Hunter Thompson, Abbie Hoffman, Tim Leary, and Phil Proctor (whose cover collage after the Watts riots was so sensational that newsstands refused to display it).