Les Claypool's Los Angeles Free Press Publication

Les Claypool's Free Press first began publication on January 28, 1955. The newpaper was sponsored by the Los Angeles Chapter of Americans for Democratic Action. Kent Pillsbury, chaiman of the chapter, served as publisher while Leslie E. Claypool Sr., who the newspaper was named after, served as editor along with Lucien Haas. Leslie E, Claypool Sr. served as a long-time political commentator in the Los Angeles area, including his role as the political commentator for the Los Angeles Daily News (1941-1954).

By November 1955, Leslie E. Claypool Sr. sold the newspaper to an independent members of Americans for Democratic Action, and the publication changed its name to the Los Angeles Free Press. The publications would run for two more years and end publication on May 23, 1957. The publication would serve as a liberal voice in the Los Angeles area covering the Democratic Party and up-and-coming democratic politicans in the 1950s.

Staff of the periodical include: Les E. Claypool Sr., Lucien Haas, Kent Pillsbury, William Fitzgerald, Henry Lee, Herman Lenzner, Art Whizin, and future Lt. Governor and Congressman, Glenn Anderson, who served on the newspaper's board.

The name of the publication would be adopted several years later by Art Kunkin for the well-known underground/alternative newspaper, the Los Angeles Free Press. In Vol. 1, No. 4, Les E. Claypool Sr. writes to Art Kunkin in saying:

“So you and your associates are reving the Los Angeles Free Press. Let me, as the self appointed doyen of the press patsies hereabout, extend you my welcome. If yo do what I believe you plant to do, the town needs you.

.... You will either put out a dull newspaper in which case no one will read it after the first two or three issues or you will go out a sprightly, biting journal that will invited readers, but will also invite the gendarmes of various kinds. In case your publication is readable and critical of human foibles you will be denounced, haunted, investaged and given an all abd time.... somewhere short of being jailed and becoming bankrupt you will have to pause, cease and maybe even desiste. Maybe not. It all depends on your technique.

.... You will learn that the state, county and city hall boys play for keeps and anyone who menaces their dynasties or hierarchies are in for extermination.

....Therefore, Editor Kunkkin, be sure to gird your loins tightly. Keep your heart stout and your determination high. If you go down - and you may survice for quite a spell as some of the famous pamphleteers of your did - go down with colors flying and shouting your slogans for all to hear. No voice, a poet has said, is wholly lost. Be sure your cause is just and if you have grandchildren they can at elast tell the neighbors' kids that like Tom Paine, Juarez and Patrick Henry their grandppapy tried and caused many people to think.

Yours Truly, Leslie Claypool Sr.“

Leslie E. Claypool Sr. Letter to the Editor. in Los Angeles Free Press Vol. 1, No. 4. (page 4) August 13, 1964