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Wednesday 15 August 2012

Woodstock, 15th August 1969...


Today, 15th August 2012, marks 43 years since the Woodstock Music and Art Fair took place , in Bethel, New York.


Bethel is a town in Sullivan CountyNew YorkUSA, whose name derives from Bethlehem. The population has been estimated at 4,255 in 2010.[1]
The town received worldwide fame after it became the host of the 1969 Woodstock Festival, which was originally planned for Wallkill, New York, but was relocated to Bethel after Wallkill withdrew.

(Taken from Wikipedia.)


The outdoor rock concert attracted many top performers, including Jimi Hedrix, Janis Joplin, and The Who. An estimated 300,000 people were expected to attend, however approximately 500, 000 turned up.




CLICK ON ABOVE TO SEE A 3 MINUTE FILM ABOUT THE ORGANISING OF WOODSTOCK.


Woodstock is known as one of the greatest happenings of all time and, perhaps, the most pivotal moment in music history.
Joni Mitchell said,
 "Woodstock was a spark of beauty" where half-a-million kids saw that they were part of a greater organism." 
According to Michael Lang, one of four young men who formed Woodstock Ventures to produce the festival, 
"That's what means the most to me – the connection to one another felt by all of us who worked on the festival, all those who came to it, and the millions who couldn't be there but were touched by it."
(Taken from www.woodstock.com)









• The festival created massive traffic jams and extreme shortages of food, water, and medical and sanitary facilities.

• No incidents of violence occurred at the Woodstock festival.

• Most of the 80 arrests at Woodstock were made on drug charges involving LSD, amphetamines and heroin.

• Marijuana smokers, estimated to be the majority of the audience, were not arrested at Woodstock.

• Three accidental deaths were reported at Woodstock.

• The Festival had been scheduled to be held in Walkill, New York.
• After Walkill townspeople objected, it was moved to the 600-acre farm of dairyman Max B. Yasgur.

• The organizers of the festival, John Roberts, Michael Lang and Joel Rosenman, had originally estimated expenses, to be covered by admissions fees, at $750,000.

• The crush of spectators, however, caused ticket-taking to be abandoned.

• Ultimately, Woodstock Ventures, Inc. spent $2.5 million while collecting only $1.5 million.

• The $1 million debt was to be offset by a film of the festival and recordings of the music.

• Acts at Woodstock included Jimi HendrixJanis Joplin, the Grateful DeadJefferson Airplane, Joan Baez, Santana, The Who and a nascent Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

• Festival featured 33 musical acts

• Janis Joplin was paid was paid $7,500 at Woodstock.

(Facts taken from www.foxnews.com)



Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2009/07/19/fast-facts-woodstock/#ixzz23bl5EMAs


CLICK ON LINK ABOVE FOR FOOTAGE OF SOME OF THE CROWD MEMBERS








7 comments:

  1. Wow.... another fab blog with so much info..!! I was 11 in 1969 & remember my mother & aunt 'tutu-ing' about the goings on at the festival - lol. I love the last cartoon.... we all grow old in the end. Enjoy the ride I say!!
    Jo. xx

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  2. I couldn't agree more!
    1969 was the year I was born, but I have heard so much about it! I guess it must have been shocking back then. Well, to be honest, it would probably still be today in some ways! I'd love to meet someone who was actually there! I smiled at the cartoon as well! My son is a musician and he would have loved to see those bands, especially Jimi Hendrix. We watched The Who on the Olympic closing ceremony, a few days ago, from the comfort of our home. I think I prefer that to wading in the mud!! Vicki x

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  3. I was 17 at the time... in hipster bell bottoms and halter tops and flowers in my hair and at art college!!! I was not there, but was there is spirit and attended our own kind of woodstocks in Bulawayo and Salisbury (now Zimbabwe, but was Rhodesia) thanks for the memories
    Calli of Callicious Cakes

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  4. Hi Calli,
    Thank you for your message. I am so envious!

    I would have loved that era I think. I'm glad I brought back the memories. Hope you'll pop back to my blog again!
    Vicki x

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  5. I was about to give birth to my first child, my husband was in Vietnam, and I owned a 1963 red Volkswagen bug. Those were the days.

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    Replies
    1. Wow Donna! That sounds kind of scary and kind of exciting at the same time!
      Vickix

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  6. I have an original poster like the one at the top of the page and a ticket for the 17th #00943 for $8.00. I haven't seen any other posters like this (with Grateful Dead, Joplin & Hendrix) Does anyone know how many there are?

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