Category: History

Legacy….

Legacy….

May 20, 2013 | By

The Suicide Club was an expression of an idea. It was an idea made concrete by the vision and genius of Gary Warne, but it was also an expression of its times and of an age. In the language of the Suicide Club, an ‘event’ was an experience to be appreciated and embraced as a […]

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R.I.P. David Warren

R.I.P. David Warren

January 2, 2009 | By

David died in 2009 after a most interesting life. A memorial service was held on Jan 2, 2010, fun was had!  David would have approved.    

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Cacophony Society

Cacophony Society

January 1, 1986 | By

Inspired by the Suicide Club, the Cacophony Society took its name from the Suicide Club’s motto of ‘entering into Cacophony’   More, faster, harder…. See:  http://www.cacophony.org/

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R.I.P. Gary Warne

R.I.P. Gary Warne

November 20, 1983 | By

Gary died in November 1983 of a heart attack at age 35.    

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Many Many Events ensued

Many Many Events ensued

January 1, 1982 | By

For 5 years from 1977 to 1982, the Suicide Club nooseletter rolled out every month and many events from mild to wild occurred. Go to the Events page for a complete list.      

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Gorilla Grotto

Gorilla Grotto

September 20, 1979 | By

The Gorilla Grotto was a play space created by Gary Warne in 1979  as an experimental 
store-front café and “adult play
environment,”. It was an ambitious
 attempt to engage thinking adults with
their world and their fellow humans in
playful and sometime shocking ways.
Each night of the week, a different theme
was presented. In-depth interviews
of “experts” on a wide variety […]

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Commando Raid on the Naval Reserve Fleet

Commando Raid on the Naval Reserve Fleet

December 25, 1977 | By

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Continental Detective Agency vs. The Legion of Crime

Continental Detective Agency vs. The Legion of Crime

December 17, 1977 | By

   

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Golden Gate Bridge Climb

Golden Gate Bridge Climb

September 30, 1977 | By

John Law recalls: 16 people went on this climb. This was way too many. Dmitri said to me at one point: “Gee John. I almost passed out back there.” I reassured him & never got outside of arms reach all night. This was the largest group I ever lead on the GGB. Plenty of chills! […]

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Enter The Unknown #2

Enter The Unknown #2

August 27, 1977 | By

  Aug 27, 1977 We ascended as a group of nearly 30 folks to a rooftop under a freeway bilboard, armed with materials required to modify the billboard. A group brainstorm resulted in a plan, and we created the modifications and applied them. We got arrested. “Free the Max Factor 26” !    

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Exploring a Dead Hospital

Exploring a Dead Hospital

August 15, 1977 | By

Harkness Hospital was a former San Francisco hospital located in the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, where many of us lived. We adopted it as a frequent destination for events such as dart gun games and climbing expeditions.     Peter Field rappelling a wall, and Bob Campbell traversing between wings        

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Oakland Bay Bridge

Oakland Bay Bridge

August 5, 1977 | By

John Law recalls: This event was in part (according to Gary) a welcome home to me upon my return from hitchhiking around the country (and Canada). This was the event where we had to threaten the guy (I forget his name) because he refused on principle to ditch his pot. We had to clandestinely park […]

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Patchwork Quilt Adventure

Patchwork Quilt Adventure

May 25, 1977 | By

This was a repeating event by Peter Field, and featured a collection of mini-events. Here is the announcement for PQ-II in Jan 78

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Food Fight

Food Fight

May 25, 1977 | By

Photographer Greg Mancuso captured the Suicide Club in a massive food fight that took place in a house rented by Pierre Barral in the Glen Park District of S.F. The house was to be torn down later that week; the opportunity to completely trash a house, Three Stooges style, was simply too great for the […]

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Merry Mouth Mental Health Tour

Merry Mouth Mental Health Tour

April 30, 1977 | By

This event took place in April 1977 – led by Ron Unger  

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Union Square Stunt

Union Square Stunt

April 1, 1977 | By

John Law recalls: “I think the same day as naked cable car we did the Union Square Stunt. We parked on the bottom level of the parking lot (4th level?) in 2 or 3 funky vehicles (Dave’s beanbag seat Ford Galaxy 500, a hippy type van-Bob C’s?) There are 3 elevators. The scenes I recall […]

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Naked Cable Car

Naked Cable Car

April 1, 1977 | By

Scariest thing I ever did. Many of us spent the night at Nancy Prussia’s apt. (I was dating her at the time-2 mos+/-) We got on the very 1st  (6AM?) car at the Cable Car Barn. 6-8 blocks later we stripped of all clothing and the grip and brakemen on the cable car just stopped […]

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Baby Beautiful Contest

Baby Beautiful Contest

March 11, 1977 | By

March 11, 1977 Baby Beautiful Contest Here is the announcement in the first SC nooseletter in Feb 1977 John Law recalls: Entered shill baby: Sweet Pea Sheffield: Ron & Shirley as folks, borrowed a real baby from someone. Dave W. Covered in pink Calamine lotion, paper mache head, big lolli-pop. Gary kept laughing so hard […]

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Sliding down South SF Letters

Sliding down South SF Letters

February 27, 1977 | By

John Law recalls: “We had refrigerator boxes which we cut up and used as sleds to go down the letters.” “This event was the capper of an incredibly arduous and mind bending, adventure weekend. Big fun.   This night Gary & Ron showed North by North-West at Circus of the Soul. I experienced an extreme example […]

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Treasure Hunt

Treasure Hunt

February 26, 1977 | By

  Rick Lasky recalls: “I was jogging in the Richmond District near where I lived when I had a flash of inspiration. Wouldn’t it be cool to organize a treasure hunt around the city? I knew just who to take this idea to: Gary Warne. So I went to Gary’s bookstore “Circus of the Soul” and […]

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