Matt Love, arguably the most important documentarian of Oregon’s social history, has just released a new book about the filming of Sometimes a Great Notion.
Sometimes a Great Movie: Paul Newman, Ken Kesey and the Filming of the Great Oregon Novel focuses on the summer of 1970. In Sunday’s Oregonian interview, Matt discusses how he decided to pursue this project.
“Not long after Ken Kesey died in 2001, I was in the Bayhaven, a bar on Newport’s Bayfront that was in the movie, and a man told me he witnessed a drunk Paul Newman come into a Toledo tavern one night during the filming and cut the legs off a pool table with a chain saw. Finding out whether this incredible story was actually true was the guiding editorial mission of the book and the story kept coming up over and over again, all over Lincoln County. Something did happen that night and I figure it out by the end of the book.”
Does that make you want to read this book or what?
I’ve been a fan of Matt Love’s work since I was managing editor of a newspaper in Lincoln County and Matt was the local high school journalism teacher. His zealous protection of oral history around the state earned him the Stewart H. Holbrook Literary Legacy Award in 2009 from Oregon Literary Arts. I interviewed Matt last summer as part of the Seven Questions series, so check that out if you want to learn more about his work, his small press and his amazing ability to promote his books.
You can buy Sometimes a Great Movie through Powell’s, and if you live in Portland, mark Matt’s appearance there on your calendar. It’s scheduled for 7:30 p.m. tomorrow, Friday, May 25, at Powell’s City of Books on Burnside. And check out the Nestucca Spit Press website for details on buying a deluxe edition.
Congrats on yet another important, and culturally fascinating, book, Matt!
Shortlink: http://wp.me/p1bhaB-Hp
Wow. This sounds fascinating, Laura! Thanks for sharing it.
Thanks for stopping by, Yuvi! (On the blog and in person!) I can’t wait to write about your novel’s release.
Laura, I love that you gave us just enough of a tease to prompt us to read the book
From the tenor of your review I can see that Matt has written his book with integrity and not grand standing. Thanks 
Hi, Florence! As usual, you’re very perceptive. I haven’t read this particular book yet, but Matt is full of integrity, and he does such a service to the state of Oregon and its residents by recording oral history like this.
I remember seeing Sometimes a Great Notion as a first-release. I would love to learn more about the filming. Great job, great post, Laura.
I haven’t seen the movie, Naomi, but I read Kesey’s amazing book ten years ago, when I first moved out to Oregon. It’s time for a reread!
I haven’t seen the movie, but I love learning about what goes on behind the scenes! Thanks for sharing.
I love behind-the-scenes stories, too, 4amWriter! Thanks for stopping by.