The 45th Annual Goodis Memorial: Noir on Wheels

David Goodis, toiling on the Warner Bros. lot. (Courtesy Lou Boxer)

Forty-five years ago this January, Philadelphia novelist David Goodis died at the young age of 49. And for the past few years, a bunch of us hardcore Goodis-heads have gathered at his graveside near the anniversary of his death to pay tribute, followed by a tour of Goodis locations (his residences, neighborhoods featured in his novels).

This year, however, Lou Boxer and I have been kicking around something a little more ambitious: a bus tour that would include film clips, readings, and more Goodis-centric stops (including filming locations for the 1957 set-in-Philadelphia crime flick The Burglar), followed by cold beer and warm conversation at a river ward taproom. The date: Saturday, January 7, 2012.

So my question for my fellow Goodis-heads (and anyone else interested):

If a bus tour were to happen, would you be willing to pony up $15-20 to help cover transportation? We're not looking for a hard commitment... more a general head count of who might be interested. We both think a bus tour would be so much more enjoyable than our usual caravan of cars; we just want to make sure the numbers work out. This fee would also include snacks and a few drinks, and maybe even some bonus Goodis prizes.

Drop us a line at duane DOT swier AT verizon DOT net or noircon AT gmail DOT com if you'd like to join the party, with the subject line "Goodis Tour." And feel free to spread the word!