Acid Reflux

In 1943 Albert Hoffman,  a Swiss scientist working at Sandoz Pharmaceuticals, accidentally touched his fingertip on an experimental compound he had synthesized named lysergic acid diethylamide, or LSD-25.  Thus began the first acid trip.  Over the next 60 years Hoffman dropped acid hundreds of times, and synthesized several other hallucinogens like psilocibin and psilocin. The cumulative  impact of all that dope abuse finally killed Hoffman this week, at age 102. Let that be a lesson to you youngsters!

Hoffman may have passed into that big prismatic fractal pyramid eye in the sky, but left an important (if checkered) societal legacy. As my colleague Mister Coop noted a few weeks back, LSD had a profound and hilarious impact on music.  But let's not forget it also had a brief and equally hilarious impact on film. Evidence below.

So here's to you Al Hoffman. All is forgiven, and may you find peace out there in that big recursive  universe within a thumbnail molecule within another bigger universe.

The Hallucination Generation! In 1966 Technicolor acid trips were still in black & white.

Movie Star, American Style or LSD, I Hate You (1966)

Hippie Revolt (1967). Hippies are revolting!

Roger Corman's "The Trip" (1967). Featuring an all-star cast of Hollywood acid casualties - Fonda, Hopper, Dern!

And awaaaaay we go! Jackie Gleason trips out in Otto Preminger's "Skidoo" (1968)

The Monkees get sucked out of Victor Mature's hair in "Head" (1968)

And the shocking film that, along with Altamont, ended the Age of Aquarius: "A Very Brady LSD Special" (1970)

Comments

[COOP]

I still think that the Monkees' "Head" is a pretty amazing movie. I own the soundtrack.

[ryyannon]

"And then the hotdog started talking to me!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5TJApnJ8X8

Take it from Prof. Jonathan, you punks really missed out on the good times.