The Rag
Encyclopedia
The Rag was an underground paper published in Austin, Texas
from 1966-1977. The sixth member of the Underground Press Syndicate
, The Rag was one of the most influential of the early underground papers, known for its unique blend of radical politics, alternative culture and humor.
and Carol Neiman were the original editors of the paper. (They were called “funnels” in keeping with the paper’s democratic structure) The Rag was closely associated with SDS and played a major role in bringing together the anarchist-leaning New Lefties and Austin’s rich countercultural
community, helping to merge them into a major political force.
Former staffer Alice Embree recalls that “The Rag covered what was not covered by the ‘straight’ press. The writers participated in the political and cultural uprising and also wrote about it. And they told you where to get a chicken dinner for 35 cents.” The Rag featured the writing of major New Left figures like Gary Thiher, Jeff Shero, Robert Pardun and Greg Calvert. It covered the Austin rock scene which was one of the birthplaces of the psychedelic music
phenomenon.
The Rag would become virtually indistinguishable from the community it served, helping to coalesce and mobilize the movement in Austin, both as a news source and as a direct agent of change. It would exert significant influence nationally as well, becoming what historian Laurence Leamer called “one of the few legendary undergrounds.”
The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers
, Gilbert Shelton’s iconic sixties comic strip, was born in The Rag. Artist Jim Franklin -- whose surrealist armadillos helped to place the ugly little armored critters right up there with the longhorn as a symbol of Texas -- designed many of the paper’s covers. God Nose, a strip by the late Jack Jackson (Jaxon), ran in The Rag. (Jaxon is attributed by many with having created the first underground comic book.) Alan Pogue was staff photographer for eight years. Alan Pogue
is now acclaimed for his vast body of work, marked by striking social commentary.
Over its life span the paper evolved with the times, for a while becoming one of the strongest voices of the women’s liberation movement and later focusing on local politics, covering Austin city government, neighborhood protests and the labor movement. As Glenn Scott recalls about the later Rag, one “could not have imagined a more democratic process than a Rag copy meeting. An all volunteer group of self-taught editors and copy writers debated the sexism and violence in pornography, the corporate influence in utility policies, and the CIA’s involvement in Chile. And how much space went to the Free Clinic
benefit and the Freak Brothers.”
Many of the underground newspapers met with establishment opposition, harassment and even legal action. In Austin, the regents at the University of Texas sued The Rag to prevent circulation on campus. David Richards, attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union, successfully defended The Rag’s First Amendment rights before the U.S. Supreme Court.
(later Space City!) in Houston, one of the most accomplished of the second generation of underground papers. Dreyer, Gary Thiher and Jeff Shero (later known as Jeff Nightbyrd) worked with KPFT-FM, the Pacifica radio
station in Houston. Shero started Rat
in New York and Alice Embree joined him there. Carol Neiman later edited New Left Notes, the national SDS newspaper.
The Rag held a reunion on Sept. 1-4, 2005. The event was a rousing success, attended by over 70 former staff members who came in from all over the country for Rag art and photography exhibits, a rousing retro-rock concert and a series of group discussions. Many had not been in touch for 35-40 years. The reunion resulted in a renewed alliance among many of the ex-Ragstaffers and birthed a group of websites including The Rag Blog, The Rag archives site, which includes full scans of the early issues, a Rag Reunion site and a Rag Authors’ Page. And several Rag vets have reunited in Austin and are once more involved in political activism through the Movement for a Democratic Society (MDS/Austin), associated with the newly revived SDS.
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
from 1966-1977. The sixth member of the Underground Press Syndicate
Underground Press Syndicate
The Underground Press Syndicate, commonly known as UPS, and later known as the Alternative Press Syndicate or APS, was a network of countercultural newspapers and magazines formed in mid-1966 by the publishers of five early underground papers: the East Village Other, the Los Angeles Free Press, the...
, The Rag was one of the most influential of the early underground papers, known for its unique blend of radical politics, alternative culture and humor.
Early history
The Rag first hit the streets in Austin on October 10, 1966. Thorne DreyerThorne Webb Dreyer
Thorne Webb Dreyer is an American writer, editor, publisher, and political activist who played a major role in the 1960s-1970s counterculture, New Left, and underground press movements...
and Carol Neiman were the original editors of the paper. (They were called “funnels” in keeping with the paper’s democratic structure) The Rag was closely associated with SDS and played a major role in bringing together the anarchist-leaning New Lefties and Austin’s rich countercultural
Counterculture of the 1960s
The counterculture of the 1960s refers to a cultural movement that mainly developed in the United States and spread throughout much of the western world between 1960 and 1973. The movement gained momentum during the U.S. government's extensive military intervention in Vietnam...
community, helping to merge them into a major political force.
Former staffer Alice Embree recalls that “The Rag covered what was not covered by the ‘straight’ press. The writers participated in the political and cultural uprising and also wrote about it. And they told you where to get a chicken dinner for 35 cents.” The Rag featured the writing of major New Left figures like Gary Thiher, Jeff Shero, Robert Pardun and Greg Calvert. It covered the Austin rock scene which was one of the birthplaces of the psychedelic music
Psychedelic music
Psychedelic music covers a range of popular music styles and genres, which are inspired by or influenced by psychedelic culture and which attempt to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues-rock bands in the...
phenomenon.
The Rag would become virtually indistinguishable from the community it served, helping to coalesce and mobilize the movement in Austin, both as a news source and as a direct agent of change. It would exert significant influence nationally as well, becoming what historian Laurence Leamer called “one of the few legendary undergrounds.”
Featured content
The Rag featured news coverage and commentary on the War in Vietnam and the movement opposing it, the civil rights struggles, the student freedom movement, the development of the New Left and SDS, the psychedelic rock and folk music scenes, and the sixties counterculture movement, of which Austin was a major outpost. It also carried national and world news and opinion from Liberation News Service (LNS) and from other underground newspapers around the country.The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers
Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers
The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers are a trio of underground comic strip characters created by the U.S. artist Gilbert Shelton. The Freak Brothers first appeared in The Rag, an underground newspaper published in Austin, Texas, beginning in May 1968; and were regularly reprinted in underground papers...
, Gilbert Shelton’s iconic sixties comic strip, was born in The Rag. Artist Jim Franklin -- whose surrealist armadillos helped to place the ugly little armored critters right up there with the longhorn as a symbol of Texas -- designed many of the paper’s covers. God Nose, a strip by the late Jack Jackson (Jaxon), ran in The Rag. (Jaxon is attributed by many with having created the first underground comic book.) Alan Pogue was staff photographer for eight years. Alan Pogue
Alan Pogue
Alan Pogue is a photojournalist who works exclusively in black-and-white still documentary photography. His career focuses on social justice and Texas politics from the early 1970s to the present....
is now acclaimed for his vast body of work, marked by striking social commentary.
Over its life span the paper evolved with the times, for a while becoming one of the strongest voices of the women’s liberation movement and later focusing on local politics, covering Austin city government, neighborhood protests and the labor movement. As Glenn Scott recalls about the later Rag, one “could not have imagined a more democratic process than a Rag copy meeting. An all volunteer group of self-taught editors and copy writers debated the sexism and violence in pornography, the corporate influence in utility policies, and the CIA’s involvement in Chile. And how much space went to the Free Clinic
Free clinic
A free clinic is a medical facility offering community healthcare on a free or very low-cost basis in countries with marginal or no universal health care. Care is generally provided in these clinics to persons who have lower or limited income and no health insurance, including persons who are not...
benefit and the Freak Brothers.”
Many of the underground newspapers met with establishment opposition, harassment and even legal action. In Austin, the regents at the University of Texas sued The Rag to prevent circulation on campus. David Richards, attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union, successfully defended The Rag’s First Amendment rights before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Impact on alternative media
Many of the forces behind the founding of The Rag later played major roles in developing other alternative media. Thorne Dreyer worked with Liberation News Service and, along with The Rag’s Dennis and Judy Fitzgerald, started Space City NewsSpace City (newspaper)
Space City was an underground newspaper published in Houston, Texas from June 5, 1969 to August 3, 1972. The founders were SDS veterans and former members of the staff of the Austin, Texas underground newspaper, The Rag, including Thorne Dreyer, Victoria Smith, Cam and Sue Duncan, and Dennis and...
(later Space City!) in Houston, one of the most accomplished of the second generation of underground papers. Dreyer, Gary Thiher and Jeff Shero (later known as Jeff Nightbyrd) worked with KPFT-FM, the Pacifica radio
Pacifica Radio
Pacifica Radio is the oldest public radio network in the United States. It is a group of five independently operated, non-commercial, listener-supported radio stations that is known for its progressive/liberal political orientation. It is also a program service supplying over 100 affiliated...
station in Houston. Shero started Rat
Rat (Newspaper)
Rat Subterranean News, New York's second major underground newspaper, was created in March 1968, primarily by editor Jeff Shero, Alice Embree and Gary Thiher, who moved up from Austin, Texas, where they had been involved in The Rag.-Beginnings:...
in New York and Alice Embree joined him there. Carol Neiman later edited New Left Notes, the national SDS newspaper.
The Rag held a reunion on Sept. 1-4, 2005. The event was a rousing success, attended by over 70 former staff members who came in from all over the country for Rag art and photography exhibits, a rousing retro-rock concert and a series of group discussions. Many had not been in touch for 35-40 years. The reunion resulted in a renewed alliance among many of the ex-Ragstaffers and birthed a group of websites including The Rag Blog, The Rag archives site, which includes full scans of the early issues, a Rag Reunion site and a Rag Authors’ Page. And several Rag vets have reunited in Austin and are once more involved in political activism through the Movement for a Democratic Society (MDS/Austin), associated with the newly revived SDS.