This years MV Community Block Party will be on Sunday, September 25, 2022 from 1pm-6pm. Free Live Music and DJ, Fashion Show, Food, Drink, KidZone and more…
Go to www.famous4.net to hear the one and only Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead jam out with Audi DeLone and JeConte at the Mill valley Community Block Party in The Heart of Mill Valley, California. If you pay attention and listen well at 1:22, you can catch Weir giving a lyrical shout-out to Famous4 and its proprietor, Larry "The Hat" Lautzker!
]]>Lotsa folks ask me how I got the nickname Larry the Hat…..well, you that answer only when you visit my new shop. However, here’s a Hat story that forwarded the myth, the legend of the Hat. The background of this story begins with the Gestapo round-up of 97 of my Church of the Good Earth Commune sisters and brothers in 1972. There were a handful of powerbrokers in SF who were very pissed off (read Season of the Witch) at us for exposing the redevelopment agency scandal that would have resulted in the total destruction of the Haight Ashbury! Those city leaders lost a lot of money when we organized the community and stopped it from happening. The Swat unit literally kicked in the doors of 14 houses that were a part of our compound and just took everyone to jail.
Our first court appearance was a circus. It began with the police blocking our entrance to the courtroom and making us late, thereby giving the judge cause to charge that day’s defendants with contempt of court. That didn’t go to well for the judge as the first person he charged never let him finish the 30 days he tried to charge him with. Sag Steve let the judge know very clearly, “your threats of jail time don’t scare me, fuck you, you honkey pig, fuck you, it’s people like you who are ruining this country, I sentence you to life on this planet, you fucking pig. I have the commune archives, which include the transcripts form that day. The scene was sheer chaos, yelling, insults hurled at the judge, onlookers being removed from the courtroom and the judge repeatedly telling the bailiff to have the person in the back sit down and take their hat off or be charged with contempt and jailed.
Well that Hat was my hair with an Eagles feather in it! The scene in the court never quieted down and I was eventually thrown in jail for contempt, not taking my Hat/Hair off. When I was being booked, they wanted the feather. Did they think I was going to hurt myself, stick the feather up my nose into my brain? Well, I pointed out the Eagle was the symbol of peace and freedom in the USA as I broke the feather in half and let them know “this is what your peace and freedom looks like you fucking pigs!” The next morning I was brought to the same judge, sans feather and had to apologize to be released…which I did reluctantly.
]]>The Grateful Dead are a huge part of my story and the Dead Head family’s been a major influence in my life.
A pivotal moment in my life, GD Fillmore East circa 69, hanging with friends who were veteran trippers and I took way to (although looking back, maybe not) much, got really high and scared.
I was sitting next to beautiful women friend of the folks who brought me to the show. The band was great, folks were dancing all around me and I couldn’t stand up, way to high. Suddenly, the women grabbed my hand lifted me up and started me dancing. There was a great cheer at that exact moment and I thought it was for me, I was now a part of this sea of flowing beautiful people, seeming connected to each other’s hearts as one. It was the most wonderful moment of my life! What happened next, I can explain it in simple terms, yet to this day, I’m still in awe of my first Grateful Dead experience. It changed my life forever, I’m “Grateful” and sharing the magic and love I experienced that night is something I intend to do for the rest of this life and beyond!
A pivotal moment in my life, GD Fillmore East circa 69, hanging with friends who were veteran trippers and I took way to (although looking back, maybe not) much, got really high and scared.
I was sitting next to beautiful women friend of the folks who brought me to the show. The band was great, folks were dancing all around me and I couldn’t stand up, way to high. Suddenly, the women grabbed my hand lifted me up and started me dancing. There was a great cheer at that exact moment and I thought it was for me, I was now a part of this sea of flowing beautiful people, seeming connected to each other’s hearts as one. It was the most wonderful moment of my life! What happened next, I can explain it in simple terms, yet to this day, I’m still in awe of my first Grateful Dead experience. It changed my life forever, I’m “Grateful” and sharing the magic and love I experienced that night is something I intend to do for the rest of this life and beyond!
I became one with all my new friends, I started to feel very light, almost as if I was not in my body. Can you guess what happened next?
Suddenly, I was floating up out of my body, no idea what was happening and it was cool. I didn’t freak out at all, I was just real happy. I could literally see myself dancing wildly in the crowd below and at the same time, look up and see my face with the most angelic smile I had ever experienced. I floated up to the old ornate theater ceiling of the Fillmore and to cap it off, my face was in Christ the Babes body, straight out of the Cystine Chapel being bathed by angels. Again, watching myself dance below, looking up, biggest smile ever looking down.
Sure as you are reading this right now, this really happened, it felt so natural and changed my life forever.
]]>For Father’s Day please come visit my new shop or online at famous4.net
To all the Dad’s, Moms and Kids have a most blessed day celebrating family.
Thanks for all the love and support, LtHat ☮️❤️🎩
]]>I was a good kid, smart, playing sports and music. However, something was missing for me, at 12 I suffered a traumatic event that no kid should ever have happen and I couldn’t tell anyone! Drugs, alcohol and stealing was my way of dealing with the pain. On top of that, I blamed my dad for not being there to protect me.
As a kid growing up he was never around like the other fathers. I was sad, angry and felt cheated. I knew he loved me deeply and understood intellectually that as a restauranteur he was working all the time to provide for his family. Underneath that understanding were emotional scars that took a lot of work to heal.
I started acting out at 12, stealing cars, burglary, destroying property, getting high. At 15 I started a check cashing scam and my dad caught me.
As a father, what would you do?
To this day, I can only imagine the humiliation, pain and suffering I caused him and my mom as well. It took a tremendous amount of courage to do what he did next and I knew then as I do now writing this “there is nothing that compares to unconditional love” and my Pop stood by me as he….to be continued
]]>Being trusted to produce the Veterans Ceremony, Parade, KIDDO! After Parade Party and have my Fashion Police at all these events to protect our kids from serious fashion offenders is a great part of my life. The love and respect from all the great folks in Mill Valley is beyond words. Learning “to let it in” is another step away from the wreckage of my past and the biggest part of my spiritual growth and healing.
I hope that what I write resonates and can make a difference to those walking or have walked in similar tracks.
I hope to see y’all on Memorial Day, Much love, Lt Hat
]]>I opened Famous4 in1989 and never could have imagined it would become the foundation, a healing place for me and countless others. I learned about self compassion, (one day at a time) love and forgiveness. My partners gave me the space go on a journey of recovery, from drugs. alcohol, spiritual bankruptcy and an empty heart.
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Esteemable Acts saved me
I opened Famous4 in1989 and never could have imagined it would become the foundation, a healing place for me and countless others. I learned about self compassion, (one day at a time) love and forgiveness. My partners gave me the space go on a journey of recovery, from drugs. alcohol, spiritual bankruptcy and an empty heart.
Esteemable acts saved me, giving back to my community where it all started was a very big part of my healing,
This is my 30th anniversary as producer/participant of the MilI Valley Memorial Day Parade. To say the opportunity to be a part of the biggest event in town each year is not enough. From the community participation at the Volunteer Fire Department Pancake Breakfast, Veterans Ceremony, Parade and After Parade Party at the Rec Center, this is a very, very special day.
Starting in 1992 as co producer of the parade with the legendary Joe (Avenue Grill, Joes Taco Lounge) Leis and launching the Famous4 Fashion Police, it’s been a great honor bringing light to one of our country’s most important days. The Fashion Police’s role, “protecting our kids from serious fashion offenders” has been a great honor!
Please, if you see me around town or want to visit at my new shop, feel free, ask me to share all the great stories about the parade and fashion police these past 30 years.
Come to all these great events Monday May 30th and honor those “who gave their lives for our freedom”. Producing the parade is one of my great joys in life, Thanks allowing me to be of service, an Esteemable act that saved my life!
Much love, LtHat
]]>The Parade is the biggest and most meaningful event each year and is a very special part of my life.
Whether it’s the Veterans ceremony, honoring those who gave their lives for freedom, Fashion Police protecting our kids from the trauma caused by serious fashion offenders, to the After Parade Party raising money to support Arts Education in our schools, the city leaders and your trust to put these events together is the stuff my dreams are made of.
I hope everyone reading this can be a part, as a participant of watching. Check out mviloveaparade.com to learn more. My hope we can spend more time together and impact our town and the world around creating more love and positive change.
Only a life in service to others is worth living - Albert Einstein
]]>Our team was able to demonstrate the value of the PEP program during a presentation at the star PG Charlie ‘CJ’ Johnsons home in the Oakland Hills. Nine of the 12 players on the roster showed up and through a series of Kinetic energy exercises we were able to have most of the guys wanting to try it. Our offerings included Acupuncture, Nutrition, Supplements, Deep Massage/Bodywork/Kinetic Energy. Psychology and lotsa love.
We prescribed different programs based on individual history to enhance performance, daily recovery, long term fitness and how to quiet the mind from the pressures of their daily lives and competition.
We were independent contractors working with the players without the team blessings. In fact, even though our results were evident, eventually threats were made by higher ups in the front office, “stay away from our players” they were losing control over the body’s they owned. The players were revolting, refusing to be treated like pieces of meat…that’s another story.
This story is about a weekend I traveled with the team to Phoenix during the 1976 NBA Playoffs. There were games Friday night, Sunday afternoon and after the game on Friday we were all invited to Ricky Sobers house for a party. Ricky was the Suns starting point guard and loved by many for punching out Rick Barry during a game earlier that season. I knew Ricky from mutual New York friends as he grew up in the Bronx. A bunch of our guys were great friends with Ricky off the court, during games the competition was fierce, that’s another story.
Knowing we were going to party, I brought party favors along with my nutritional supplements I provided for the PEP players.
I flew into Phoenix late afternoon and arrived about an hour before game time. Exiting the airport, I saw the up-and-coming sports (now hall of Fame) announcer Brent Musburger and suggested we share a cab. He agreed, Brent new a lot about sports, had terrific stories, it was a great ride. I wasn’t prepared for the scene at McNichols Arena. I didn’t know Arizona was a Mormon state, no booze sold at games, whereas at Warrior games, we literally (thousands of people) smoked weed, drank beer in the open during halftime. I figured they got stoned before they entered the arena and were very, very hostile, and very straight! Now picture me, Bay Area stoner, floppy Panama straw hat, bright yellow (first of their kind) Oakley sunglasses, big Warrior button on my baby blue soft construction blazer lapel, jeans, orange Nike’s and carrying an anodized Halliburton large attaché case with party favors hidden inside.
I picked up a special pass provided by the players, found my seat, put the case under it and walked down to the floor as the team was shooting warm-up’s. It was about 15 minutes before game time. I chatted with the guys a bit and then decided to walk around the floor level before the game started. The hostility directed at me was as if I’d pissed on Brigham Youngs grave, it was Bad. Strolling along, kinda liking the bad boy #1 fan image of the enemy Warriors, I noticed that I was bring followed by two security (thinking it was for my protection) guards, it was weird. Approaching the richest section of the floor seats and the aisle up to my seat, I was confronted by this 300 pound, vein in neck bulging, redneck, who yelled at me “Go back to Oakland, we don’t want any drug dealers in Phoenix” I thought he was going to explode! It was all very surreal and was about to get much weirder. As I reached my seat, the two guards who’d been following me, were suddenly six surrounding me! Wow, they ordered me to get my bag and open it on the spot. I protested citing my team credentials etc. and they gave me an option, open it here, now, or I was being hauled down to their station in the sub-basement. I figured it wasn’t a good idea to be alone with this very agitated security group and proceeded to get my case and open it in public. My first thoughts were this could really ruin my weekend and the possibility of going to jail for 20 years if they find party favors was very real, like the guy sentenced to 30 years in Texas for possession of 2 joints. So, I grab my bag, put it on the floor surrounded by guards, spin the dual combination locks and flip the latches, the circle of guards steps way back. Hmmm, thinking to myself that’s strange, I quickly flip through the contents in the case, sensing no problem and silently praying as I snap the case shut and spin the combination locks closed, they’re satisfied with their investigation. Looking up at the apparent head guy, he simply says “thanks for cooperating, enjoy the game” wow, what just happened! I found out at halftime, seeing one of the younger guards I asked, “what was that all about”? His explanation starts with (go figure) my fashion look, saying they had never seen anyone that looked like me entering the arena, stashing my bag under the seat, leaving it there and walking away. He continues to tell me they had a bomb threat, found a bomb the year before…they thought I was a bomber!!! Now being in the clear, I asked what would have happened if they had seen pot in the case. His answer “they wouldn’t have known what it was.
Jail time averted, weekend intact, we won the game and off to Ricky’s place for the party. Pro athletes are Rock Stars, the women they attract are fit, intelligent and fine. I had status being part of the Warrior crew and that night met a beautiful woman inside and out, her name was Jimi Hendrix and that’s another story.
LtHat
]]>We jumped (Happy did) into my badass midnight blue, white interior 350 Rally Sport Camaro and off we went. From my time working in the Catskills as a waiter in the famed hotels of the day, I knew how to avoid a lot of the traffic and was making pretty good time. Happy was fidgeting in the backseat, as I quickly glanced back, I was shocked to see her giving birth! Change of plan to say the least, not going never entered my mind. I was being drawn to this moment that was going to change a lot of minds forever. My dad was running the food concession at a sleep away camp in Monticello, about 10 miles from the show. He had the family station wagon there and I was going to borrow it.
I just had to trust my new plan was going to work, little did I know that process would become the framework (to this day) for the rest of my life. My inner GPS guided me, avoiding the heavy traffic and closed roads right into the cool little town and to the camp. As I drove onto the grounds, there was my pops, as if waiting for me. I explained the situation, without a second thought he was helping make a soft blanket delivery room in the back of the station wagon and in no time I was off in the direction of White Lake. I’d never never been there before and can only say “I was directed by a power greater than myself”. I just headed on these little dirt roads just outside of town towards where I thought Woodstock was happening. Twenty minutes later and to this day I’m still amazed, I drove onto the back stage service road and was able to park 50 yards from the main stage and walk right into the most incredibly epic sea and scene of people I have ever seen!
My girl Happy was doing fine, she had given birth to 2 puppies at that point and was real comfortable in the station wagon. Most of the production crew was from the Fillmore East and I new some of them from my early days putting on shows. One of those guys was Michael Kleffner a buddy from Brooklyn, he was making announcements like “don’t take the brown acid” if you do, go to the medical tents, there were a lot of reports about good and bad drugs as well the weather. I ran into him near the stage on Saturday morning and told him my dog had given birth to 6 male puppies. A while later, Michael was making an announcement. “Larry the Hat’s dog Happy is the first mother at Woodstock” I’m still blown away, the love and adventures I shared with Happy will always be a big part my life. As will Everybody and Owsley. two puppies we kept that lived with Howard the Friz and my east coast family, the third puppy we kept “Tripper” I gave to a dude named Muskratt, a manager at the Fillmore East. He must have given him away, because I met my Woodstock son 4 years later, he was living the good life in Larkspur and was a really beautiful boy. That was an unforgettable reunion and a story for another post.
I hope to see everyone who reads this post at this years Mill Valley Memorial Day Parade with your best friend, the dogs have a great time marching for freedom and so will you!
Woof, LtHat
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To all those most loved, important people all around me now and who will join along the way, Please come visit, your stories are a part of mine and I’d like to share those stories as well.
I need your HELP, this is all about the well-being of our kids. To join the Fashion Police Force, please email me at famous4@comcast.net. Custom uniforms and training will be provided.
Pay ($50 store/online credit) nominal, for those who’ve been a FP officer in the past can attest, the joy you’ll experience is amazing and the difference you’ll make is huge.
Thanks, Larry ☮️❤️🎩
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The first musical adventure in San Francisco with my new found family was a concert at Chet Helms “Family Dog” concert hall at the famed Playland Amusement Park on the Great Highway alongside the Pacific Ocean.
About 30 of us dropped acid, piled into the back of a giant hollowed out Coors Beer delivery truck.
This multi use truck, imagine 15 tons of glass from our Haight St Recycling Center delivered weekly to Corning Glass in the East Bay, to in this case a hippie people mover, no seats just ropes along the sides to hold (not enough for all of us) onto or hold on to each other. Stoned as we were, it made for instant bonding and one of the (to this day) greatest nights of my life.
From the moment I walked in to this big gym like hall, the scent of incense thick in the air, the light show filtering through the fog like weed smoke, beautiful, psychedelic dressed hippie goddess’s dancing all around, twirling diaphanous scarves, embracing all within hugging distance. That first show, the sense of “One Love” being instilled with this sense of consciousness, was palpable. As the 3,000 of my new sisters and brothers streamed out of the hall onto the Great Highway, lit by the Full Moon reflecting off the Pacific Ocean, “I was home”!
Larry "The Hat"
]]>The early days,
My first taste of music production was in 1967 working for a NY rock band "The Group Image" they were Andy Warhol's house band at his legendary parties. From there I was hooked on the scene, the new freedom I felt and an understanding that music made a difference in people's lives. I wanted to be a part of that!
I worked with bands from New York to Miami and Key West in the late sixty's and came out to San Francisco in 1970. I became a part of the Good Earth Commune (read Season of the Witch) and managed the family band "Osceola". We played with Ike and Tina Turner, Jerry Garcia Band, The Rowan Brothers and lots of other great SF bands.
In 1971, I produced a George McGovern benefit in Speedway Meadows and a show at the Band Shell in Golden Gate Park. These were the first rock shows there since the 1967 Summer of Love and opened the door for the Good Earth to produce many more shows in the park. In 1973 I produced the California Marijuana Initiative Concerts to Legalize Pot cultivation and usage. The bands were, Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks, Hot Tuna w Papa John, Commander Cody, The Rowen Brothers, The Sons of Champlin and more. During my first three and a half years in San Francisco, I got to me meet and work with many of my idols and icons of the Bay Area music scene. Sam Cutler being one, the former road manager of the Stones was running ‘Out of Town Tours’, the Grateful Dead's national booking agency. Sam decided to move back to England and rather than see the agency fold he offered me, along with his head agent Ken Beals a chance to keep it going. What an honor as the GD had changed my life and was one of the reasons I came to San Francisco.
I moved to Mill Valley and opened our new agency "Joynous Musical Services", that was 1974. We lasted a couple years. I wasn't cut out to sit in an office booking bands. I wanted to be on the front lines, producing shows or managing bands and on the road with people who loved the live music experience.
Production was my first love and that's what I still love doing today. Connecting people in a visceral way, experiencing life in the moment. That's for me what Art is about. It started with music and has expanded to art, comedy, film, fashion, pretty much everything that brings people together to share a common goal, which is, making a difference in all our lives. That for me is the driving force behind all forms of art and entertainment.
]]>What are ya doing this weekend?
Maybe you could find a little time to check out my new shop?
I’ve been thinking that these posts could be a unique way to start writing my book.
It seems that everyone who knows me or has been in my old space, heard some of my tales, and tells me I have to write it down.
So, today I’ll share a part of my “Easy Rider” story.
It was May 1969, another of those warm your bones, bright and sunny days at Southermost Beach, the tip of Key West, Florida and the southern most spot in the good ole USA. Living in Key West for the past 7 months was like living in another country.
No rules, great fresh organic food daily, carefree easy living in our big southern style mansion right on Duval St, the main road through town.
However, this day was different, the chapter of this story book adventure was coming to an end. There was a party, a celebratory send-off for me and Indian Ron, a skinny, long stringy haired, dark skinned brother from Ceylon.
We were heading to New York, it was just time to go, not knowing what was next. We were traveling in Ron’s old British racing green Triumph Roadster with his wacky Irish Setter “Goony”.
All the folks at our commune decided to paint the car as a parting gift.
Well, can you imagine what it looked like, especially after everyone one of us took acid. Starting early in the day before it got too hot, Ron and I watched this hippy art car begin to take shape.
After hours of meticulous work and much to our great psychedelic joy, this dark racing green Triumph was adorned with the brightest colors of the most beautiful flowers, peace signs, rainbows and every other abstract design you can imagine.
Our trek up north began at midday, with hugs from all our sisters, brothers, lovers and friends we were on our way and very, very high.
About 50 miles into our 1400 mile leisurely, very stoned journey, we were suddenly being tailgated by an old beat up Chevy pick-up truck, being yelled at to pull over by what appeared to me, two of the biggest Red Necks I’d ever seen.
LSD induced Easy Rider moment for me to say the least. When I turned to Ron, completely freaked out, yelling “we gotta speed up and get away from these guys” Ron who was as chilled out a Hippy as you would ever meet just smiled.
In the most peaceful Rastaman type voice he said “don’t worry mon, it will be alright”.
I wasn’t convinced and as he began to slow down, I pleaded don’t stop, please don’t stop.
He just had this beatific smile on his face, as he slowed to a complete stop on a sand dune alongside the beautiful crystal blue Atlantic Ocean…. If you wanna hear the rest of the story, come visit me this weekend. Use the secret code “Goony” and get some amazing deals.
Famous4 open 12-5 Saturday and Sunday, 31 Sunnyside ( just around the corner from my old space) Ave.
If you can’t make it this weekend, call for a private shopping (hear the end of the story) spree anytime at 415-265-2550 and please checkout my online shop at famous4.net.
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Its Larry from Famous4! If you weren't able to join us for my Store Closing Party last year, check it out. (On our Facebook Page) You'll understand the immeasurable gratitude I have for and the blessings being a part of Mill Valley has provided me. For those who don't know, I've opened a new shop around the corner at 31 Sunnyside Ave #4, OPEN Fri-Sun 12-5 Visit or check out my online shop. ☮️ ❤️ 🎩
https://www.facebook.com/Famous4.net/videos/1385287685146991
Larry The Hat
]]>Hello Friends,
Clever as it might be, I can't do the reminder stroll up Sunnyside thingy again, invite you to visit me or the Famous4.net online shop thats been done enough! What I have and more importantly let's get through January "Stay Safe" be grateful, avoid crowded places and mask up. If you need help with that, I'm offering FREE KN95 filters to put in all your cloth, surgical, bandannas, gator masks and have REAL protection, for those who come in…With or without purchase FREE. From our schools, local shops, to bars and restaurants, we gotta pay attention. Check out BiOAid95.com for more info. You can come visit or purchase online from me or the BiOAid website. Either way, take care of your families and friends!
On the 3rd Day Before Christmas
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