Posted on 08/16/2023 4:19:41 AM PDT by 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:
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
The dawning of the age of entitlement.
I was there. I was 19 yrs old and new to the culture. Got tired of being wet and hungry and left Sat nite. But do remember Santana, Country Joe (give me an F), and John Sebastian.
In memory of this event, I’ll be playing my updated version of the “Fish Cheer” at a very well attended open-mic night. As it’s an all-ages show, I’ve cleaned it up, but just a little:
I Feel Like I’m Fixing to Die Rag (Ol’ Ukraine Version)
Gimme an “D”! Gimme a “U”! Gimme a “C”! Gimme a “K”!
What’s that spell? What’s that spell? What’s that spell? What’s that spell?
Well come on all of you women ‘n men, Uncle Sam’s in a terrible jam
He’s got us all in a pickle again, way down yonder in Ol’ Ukraine
So put down your phone and pick up a gun
We’re gonna have a whole lotta fun!
Chorus:
And it’s One, Two, Three, what are we fighting for?
Don’t ask me, ‘cause I can’t explain, the next stop is Ol’ Ukraine
And it’s Five, Six, Seven, open up the pearly gates
Well… there ain’t no time to wonder why, WHOOPEE!
We’re all gonna die!
Well come on generals, let’s move fast, your big chance has come at last
Gotta go out and get those reds, the only good Russian is one that’s dead
And you know that peace can only be won,
When you blast ‘em all with cluster bombs!
Sing Chorus:
Well come on Wall Street don’t be slow
Why man this is war au-go-go
There’s plenty good money to be made
By supplying their army with the tools of the trade
Just hope and pray that if they drop the bomb
They drop it on Putin’s knob!
Sing Chorus:
Well come on mothers across the plain, pack your boys off to Ol’ Ukraine
Come on fathers, don’t hesitate, send your daughters off before it’s too late
Be the first one on your block, to have your kid come home in a box!
And it’s One, Two, Three, what are we fighting for?
Don’t ask me, ‘cause I can’t explain, the next stop is Ol’ Ukraine
And it’s Five, Six, Seven, open up the pearly gates
Well… there ain’t no time to wonder why, WHOOPEE!
We’re all gonna die!
“we are stardust, we are golden”
KUDOS!
Last week, the first time I played it (at a much smaller venue) it was generally well-received, but you could easily spot the harpies by their dour, hang-dog facial expressions. Yesterday’s peaceniks are all gung-ho about this war, as long as somebody else’s kids are doing the fighting, so... rubbitin, I say.
“Plus ca change, c’est plus la meme chose.” as the Froggies are fond of saying.
And the Atlanta Pop Festival’s in 1969 and 1970 were bigger and more organized than Woodstock. The continuing Mythical Utopia of this event amazes me. It was a complete disaster on so many levels.
Lineup at the Atlanta Pop Festival 1969 one month before Woodstock:
The festival ran over two days and among the acts appearing were Booker T. & the M.G.s, The Dave Brubeck Trio with Gerry Mulligan, Delaney and Bonnie and Friends, Grand Funk Railroad, Ten Wheel Drive, Tommy James and the Shondells, Chicago Transit Authority, and Led Zeppelin. There were others, including Joe Cocker, The Butterfield Blues Band, Canned Heat, Sweetwater, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Johnny Winter, and Janis Joplin who would all appear at Woodstock a month or so later.
“This isn’t the Democratic party of our fathers and grandfathers. This is the party of Woodstock hippies. I was at Woodstock—I built the stage. And when everything fell apart, and people were fighting for peanut butter sandwiches, it was the National Guard who came in and saved the same people who were protesting them. So when Hillary Clinton a few years ago wanted to build a Woodstock memorial, I said it should be a statue of a National Guardsman feeding a crying hippie.”
― John Ratzenberger Cliff on Cheers
In 1969, Ratzenberger worked at the Woodstock Festival, as a heavy equipment operator and as part of the crew building the stage.
I was in Seminary at the time not VERY far from there in NY State - Binghamton area. We were so isolated that I heard nothing about it until much later.
Most of those who attended are in their mid to late 70’s.
They aren’t purposefully destroying anything outside of retirement communities.
Thanks, that is interesting.
It’s a great venue. The sound quality was great, the amenities were excellent, and it’s historical. I got to see the marker and the field where the 69 festival was held. The Museum was very groovy. It was a quasi-religious experience.
They do some very cool things year-round. One thing that was VERY awesome, was that they earmark certain evenings for Sensory-Friendly Museum Days when “individuals of all ages with autism, complex developmental disabilities, or sensory sensitivities are welcome to experience our Main Exhibit, gift shop, and cafe during special early-morning hours before the museum opens to the general public…the museum’s lighting and sound features being augmented and having trained staff on-hand to guide visitors through their experience”.
Bethel Woods may not staffed with Freepers, but I doubt many elite museums do that sort of thing. Kudos to them.
Trivia. The only group who appeared at Woodstock to have a TV show, Sha Na Na.
Double trivia…Sha Na Na were on the bill because of Hendrix (who loved them), and they played right before Jimi and the the Gypsy Sun and Rainbows.
No doubt, but we attend. My coworker is a member.
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