August 30, 2022

This morning, I was going through a box of writing I’d done over a half-century ago and found in the assortment of my very first poems and a piece of short fiction an envelope from William Iwamoto, the founder of Chatterton’s Bookstore, addressed to Mr. William Mohr and Friends at an address on 21st Street in Santa Monica. Inside the envelope was a small card inviting me to the official opening of his bookstore on August 30th, from 7 to 10 p.m.

Believe it or not, it actually took me a half-hour to realize that this card meant that today was the 50th anniversary of the store that became SKYLIGHT. I was so pleased at finding the invitation that I completely forgot that today was August 30th!

ONce I got home, I called Skylight and let them know that today was the 50th anniversary of that site being a bookstore — no small accomplishment in the postmodern city of Los Angeles.

My dear “Koki,” all you did for poets and writers remains treasured in my heart. Thank you.

— Bill Mohr / Long Beach, CA