My Trip to Woodstock

[Frank DeFreitas]

Looking out from the stage area to the rolling hills that held a "sea of people".

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This week marks the 40th anniversary (1969-2009) of the Woodstock music and arts festival, held in Bethel, New York. I thought it was time to visit the site, which now houses a 30-million dollar museum and center for the arts, dedicated to the event. You can visit their website HERE. What does this have to do with ephemera? I was very interested in observing how they went about setting up their exhibits. What was the flow? What topics did they choose to highlight? What physical objects did they include? What story did they try to tell? Most of all I was interested in how ephemera played a role in the exhibits, and much to my delight, it was widely represented throughout. Pieces of paper that long ago could have become part of a landfill now had their own displays. Unfortunately (yet understandably) photography was not permitted at all. What type of ephemera was included? Well, one of the original stage hands' clipboards, still containing the piece of paper that listed, in order, the performers. Check marks of completion were placed next to the names (imagine seeing a check mark next to the name of Jimi Hendrix for instance, knowing that that was the original piece of paper that was right there at the time). There were also original legal (contract) documents; correspondence between the organizers and local police departments; press releases, etc.

Another exhibit area contained ephemera from the public, such as an old hand-ripped cardboard sign saying "3 chicks need ride. OK if only 2"; another that was nailed to a pole (at the time) that said (paraphrasing): "To Jen from West Chester, I was too stoned, please get back to me, Rick"; all of it a fascinating look into those three days.

Of course, the exhibits also contained the usual (and original) promotional brochures and materials, posters, tickets, and such. All of this mixed in with more substantial exhibit pieces, such as an original bus that made the trip, clothing (both from the public and performers from the event), instruments, amplifiers, etc. All completed with each area having a multimedia presentation of it particular topic.

I won't comment on the social side of things, as I always felt that there were incredible things happening at both ends of the social spectrum. True, there was civil unrest and war was raging, but there were incredible achievements too. In all fairness, they cover both ends openly and evenly. They were just as fair to Apollo as they were to Birmingham.

While I was certainly interested in Woodstock itself, I was also interested in seeing how -- historically -- it was all put together to be presented to a general public. Many of whom were not even born yet. I feel that something like this is long overdue -- even if only on a much smaller scale -- with the Nobel prize-winning field of my own: holography. But at the same time, I also know it probably wouldn't be sustainable. Would you visit? I didn't think so! Perhaps in the future.

We took a lot of photos while at Woodstock, but I'll spare you having to view them. The one below is more of a "tourist" type of photo. The area to the mid-left in the photo, beyond the wooden fence, is the remains of the original stage area. My wife picked a dandelion from the field and placed it into her hair, and off we went, returning to 2009.

P.S. The museum accepted my American Express card. Now THAT was unexpected!

[Frank DeFreitas]

At 13 years of age, it was past my bedtime as well! It was cool to finally be there . . . although kinda strange being there without any other people. I thought it would be packed. I was half joking with my wife that we wouldn't be able to find anyplace to park . . . that the lot would be full. I swear it was so quiet that we could hear the leaves of grass moving in the wind. I thought "this can't be the place". But it was. I bet this weekend will be busy, though.

[Ray Kirchmeyer]

That sure does bring back some memories. Whikle I was a little too young to attend the event I do know some people not much older gthan myself that were there and I remember hearing radio jocks talk about it. I have been fortunate enough to see concerts with many of the Woodstock performers. Something in history that can never be repeated. Thanks for the memories.