Wow, no kidding, that was the experience. You triggered a lot of Forida memories.
I was there in 1978 after the Cleveland Seed folded, so I wonder if we ever crossed paths. I had different staff but some were the same - Cliff, Libby, Robert visited from time to time.
I guess when I joined the Florida Seed is when I really got to know Art, although he always will remain a mystery to me. Was he sincere? i thinkg so. Was he also a power-hungry charletan? I think that is also true. Here's what I think I know about him:
Born about 1925, to a single poor mom in Brooklyn, NY (something like that)
Tough street kid, wanted to be an actor or vaudville-type performer. Learned to do the soft shoe, play the ukelele.
Joined the Army Air Corps in WWII and was a navigator on a bomber - won the Purple Heart.
After the war, came home in his uniform, and started drinking. Said that at his lowest point he was living in his car. At some point, joined AA, stopped drinking ("but I was a dry drunk") and became a Playboy Club comedian. Claimed to have worked at Bellview in NYC. Friends with Art Carney, Don Rickles, Jackie Gleason. Living on a 1920s yacht somewhere up north on the coast - New York? New Jersey? Claimed to be successful, but not happy, because he "needed to help more people."
Shelly Barker, 20 years his junior, joined him on the boat and he helped her to get straight - the First Seedling, he called her. Eventually broke with AA and sailed down coast, founding the Seed somewhere in Florida (St. Pete? The Blimp Hangar?)
Art claimed that he had "the gift of instant knowing." That he could see through people and know what they were thinking. Seedlings were going to change the world and Art was the source of the Seed. For many the Seed, or "the group," was their Higher Power.
I am guessing that Art was raised Catholic, because although he rejected religion he used a lot of its symbols, and he seemed to have a fear of the human body, denial of human needs, and that seems consistant to me. But that could be my own prejudice. If you were straight, you weren't supposed to think about sex.
I think Art was narcisistic and needed to be the Daddy. Remember playing football or baseball with Art, and he always had to win? First of all, his team always had all the senior staff and best athletes. Once in a while a newcomer would inadvertantly block a pass to Art and then there'd be a rap about it.
Art was charming. He was funny in an old-school way. Because I was estranged from my own father, I really craved his attention (but didn't get it!) Probably most of the staff had father issues too.
To me it's really kind of sad that the potential of all of these kids, their idealism and drive was really just drained into supporting Art and senior staff egos. I got a lot out of the program too, as you did, but I got a lot out of my divorce too! We learn from our mistakes.
Wally Gator