Remembering the Woodstock mucic festival on its 54th anniversary with interesting stories and facts

MSN ^ | August 15, 2023 | Rene Hanson

[DoodleBob]

Billed as “three days of peace and music," The Woodstock Music and Art Fair began on August 15, 1969. Overall the event was considered a success despite many setbacks. On the 54th anniversary of the event, we explore the long list of interesting stories and facts from Woodstock.

Although it is difficult to accurately calculate, up to half a million people attended the “Aquarian Experience: 3 Days of Peace and Music,” held Friday, August 15 through Monday, August 18, 1969. Referred to as Woodstock, the event began when four men, all in their 20s, John Roberts, Joel Rosenman, Artie Kornfeld, and Michael Lang, were interested in an investment opportunity. Initially, they planned on starting a recording studio, which quickly transitioned into the music festival of the century.

Woodstock - interesting facts about the famed music festival

Originally set to take place in Woodstock, NY, the event actually took place 70 miles away in Bethel, where the festival was held on Max Yasgur’s 600-acre dairy farm. Reports claim Yasgur was paid between $50,000-$75,000 for the use of the farm.

Approximately 186,000 tickets were sold before the event began, with event organizers speculating that about 200,000 would show. The failure to set up ticket booths at the event site led to a free concert for those who showed up.

The event was almost shut down on the first day when performers asked for cash before they would perform. John Roberts, the heir to a pharmaceutical fortune, used his clout to procure a loan on a Saturday.

Event organizer Michael Long, in his book The Road to Woodstock, discussed the food vendors, which would run out of food for the attendees due to the unprecedented attendance:

[DoodleBob]

I’ve been to Bethel Woods (the current facility built near the festival site) and it’s worth the trip.

And before the bashing commences, just remember that the Boomers are one of the most conservative voting blocks now.

[DoodleBob]

Remembering the Woodstock mucic festival on its 54th anniversary with interesting stories and facts

The headline writer must have taken the brown acid.

[IamConservative]

Unfortunately, wasn’t big enough to go to Woodstock, but I survived two weekends of Steve Wozniak’s US Festival.

[Larry Lucido]

If you can remember it, you weren’t there.

I don’t remember a damn thing. I must have been there.

[ArtDodger]

The heck with the stories and the facts. Let’s see the photos of the hippie chicks in the birthday suits! :/

[EEGator]

You read my mind.

[JonPreston]

[Bullish]

I remember the music festival quite well, the mucic one, not so much.

[Bullish]

Belly laugh!

Thanks

[Vaquero]

I was there in 69. Amazing! At least what I can remember. (That’s the joke)

I do remember walking many miles from where I left my car to get to the festival

[Psalm 73]

Jefferson Airplane's set was not just great, but great for a notoriously bad live band.

"Sorry about those of you who got the green, we've got a whole lot of orange. And it was fine. Still is fine..."

[dfwgator]

Sly and The Family Stone had the best set of all. They were on fire.

[Bounced2X]

Back in the day when I was in the concert biz I got to work with Chip Monck once. The guy warning about the brown acid. He had come up with what was called a roll on roll off show with the Beach Boys. The day before the show was a Woodstock anniversary day, don't remember which one. I got a call from our office that the local paper had found out Chip was "in the house" at the stadium and wanted to do an interview with him. Told them I'd call them back. Told Chip about it and he said that would be OK with him. I called the reporter directly and told him to come on out.
BTW That stadium was home to a professional sports team and the local AAA baseball team was playing that day. They normally only drew a couple thousand fans. That day we sold out at a bit over 75,000 seats. The show was to be after the game. Crazy thing was weather was moving in, we didn't know if we could get the show in. The stage wasn't covered, it was on wheels as were the sound carts. They called the game in the 5th inning so we get the Beach Boys on. What a day. ;O)

[Fair Paul]

And the event organizer was Michael Lang, not Michael Long.

[AppyPappy]

I was working an Emmaus Walk and the leader casually mentioned to me that he had been at Woodstock. He had just left the Air Force and he and some buddies drove down to it from Maine

He has Alzheimer’s now

[ansel12]

“”””And before the bashing commences, just remember that the Boomers are one of the most conservative voting blocks now.””””

In 1968 the Democrats won 47% of the (21) to 29-year-old vote, in 1972, they won 46% of the 18 to 29 age group.

In 1969 the under-30 age group was the strongest Vietnam War-supporting age group.

[Hot Tabasco]

In Aug. 1969, I was in Army AIT at Ft. Gordon, GA. Never heard of Woodstock at the time since we didn’t have access to a TV or radios......

[NetAddicted]

I met a woman who went at age 17. Lived in Vermont.

[bert]

The freaks attending Woodstock are presently purposely destroying America

[Lizavetta]

The freaks attending Woodstock are presently purposely destroying America

You took the words right out of my mouth. They're grown up now and running all of our institutions ... right into the ground.