Esquire Gallery; The circus is back in town

http://www.esquire.com/cover-archive?year=1966&p=1

In the 1960s Esquire magazine began running a series of covers that startled and rocked the design world. There's been no equivalent since. The mid-Sixties and the Viet Nam war brought a fiery boldness to every aspect of media. Here's the best of it.


THE CIRCUS IS BACK IN TOWN

Ed here: Thursday the LA Times ran a long article assessing Phil Spector's chances of being found innocent. Not too good. But then, after OJ, who knows? Spector was
a rock and roll genius, no doubt about it, though for me Brian Wilson's music will last much longer than Spector's. I didn't pay much attention to his personal life until I heard the story about him locking the Ramones in a studio overnight. Eccentricity is one thing (Elvis once put a bullet into a TV screen) but locking somebody in a studio because they wouldn't do it your way? He's a sad man. But
the woman he killed is infinitely sadder.

From the Hollywood Reporter:

The murder trial of pioneering rock producer Phil Spector finally begins on
Monday, more than four years after a B-movie actress was found shot to death at
his castle-like mansion outside Los Angeles.

The trial, delayed repeatedly since Spector was indicted in 2003, will be shown on live television amid fascination with the 1960s musical genius turned recluse who once described himself as having "devils that fight inside me."

Fifty news organizations applied for a seat in the Los Angeles courtroom for the biggest celebrity trial since pop star Michael Jackson's 2005 acquittal on child molestation charges.

Proceedings start on Monday with jury selection involving 300 potential jurors and questionnaires to assess how much media coverage of the case they have absorbed.

Spector, 67, is best known for his innovative "Wall of Sound" recording technique and work with The Ronettes, The Righteous Brothers, The Beatles, Tina Turner and Cher.

Spector, who is free on $1 million bail, denies the charges that he killed actress Lana Clarkson in February 2003.

He told Esquire magazine in an interview shortly after his arrest that Clarkson "kissed the gun" in a bizarre suicide for reasons he did not understand.

Los Angeles judges have been reluctant to allow cameras in court since the 1995 acquittal of actor and former football star O.J. Simpson on murder charges after
a trial telecast live that brought sharp criticism of the city's justice system.