William Schnabel

Haight-Ashbury 1965-1967 William Schnabel

The Haight-Ashbury and the Summer of Love are words that almost everyone has heard of. But what lies beneath the surface? The Haight-Ashbury was the epicenter of a revolutionary, avant-garde community in the mid-sixties, where the counterculture explored communal living, marijuana, lysergic acid diethylamide and different ways of being. Well known for its low rent and spacious Victorian houses, this modest neighborhood spelled hope for a generation that rejected war and the affluent wasteland of consumer capitalism. Many believed that LSD could save the world by bringing peace and love into the hearts and minds of millions. Yet no sooner had a generation begun believing in its newfound freedom and sharing its utopian vision than the once peaceful community began to disintegrate. By the time the Summer of Love arrived in 1967, the dream was all but over, and a parade would celebrate the Death of Hippie. Haight-Ashbury 1965-67 discusses the major events leading up to the Summer of Love, outlines the social and historical context and reviews the cultural significance of the period.