The History of the Woodstock Festival

this was arguably the most important

this was arguably the most important concert in the history of music hi I’m

concert in the history of music hi I’m

concert in the history of music hi I’m Rebecca Brayton and welcome to

Rebecca Brayton and welcome to

Rebecca Brayton and welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’ll be

watchmojo.com and today we’ll be

watchmojo.com and today we’ll be learning more about the three days of

learning more about the three days of

learning more about the three days of music and peace that were Woodstock

music and peace that were Woodstock

music and peace that were Woodstock there are many events emblematic of

there are many events emblematic of

there are many events emblematic of hippies in the counterculture of the

hippies in the counterculture of the

hippies in the counterculture of the 1960s one of the most important and

1960s one of the most important and

1960s one of the most important and well-known was the Woodstock Music and

well-known was the Woodstock Music and

well-known was the Woodstock Music and Arts Fair at the time of the event the

Arts Fair at the time of the event the

Arts Fair at the time of the event the United States was steeped in racial

United States was steeped in racial

United States was steeped in racial discord and military conflict overseas

discord and military conflict overseas

discord and military conflict overseas Woodstock was not simply a music and

Woodstock was not simply a music and

Woodstock was not simply a music and arts festival and morphed into a

arts festival and morphed into a

arts festival and morphed into a counterculture microcosm at the outset

counterculture microcosm at the outset

counterculture microcosm at the outset hippie rock promoters Michael Lang’s and

hippie rock promoters Michael Lang’s and

hippie rock promoters Michael Lang’s and Artie Kornfeld vision was for an

Artie Kornfeld vision was for an

Artie Kornfeld vision was for an isolated recording studio planted in the

isolated recording studio planted in the

isolated recording studio planted in the middle of a forest John Roberts and Joel

middle of a forest John Roberts and Joel

middle of a forest John Roberts and Joel Rosenman were instrumental in the

Rosenman were instrumental in the

Rosenman were instrumental in the evolution of the idea from studio to

evolution of the idea from studio to

evolution of the idea from studio to outdoor concert but were also the money

outdoor concert but were also the money

outdoor concert but were also the money men behind the event since Woodstock

men behind the event since Woodstock

men behind the event since Woodstock cost well over two million dollars to

cost well over two million dollars to

cost well over two million dollars to put on these venture capitalists were

put on these venture capitalists were

put on these venture capitalists were important the event was held on a 600

important the event was held on a 600

important the event was held on a 600 acre dairy farm owned by max Yasgur

acre dairy farm owned by max Yasgur

acre dairy farm owned by max Yasgur in Bethel New York from August 15th to

in Bethel New York from August 15th to

in Bethel New York from August 15th to the 18th 1969 the land was a perfect

the 18th 1969 the land was a perfect

the 18th 1969 the land was a perfect natural venue the stage was set at the

natural venue the stage was set at the

natural venue the stage was set at the bottom of a hill allowing viewers

bottom of a hill allowing viewers

bottom of a hill allowing viewers sitting far away to at least catch a

sitting far away to at least catch a

sitting far away to at least catch a glimpse of the performers at the bottom

glimpse of the performers at the bottom

glimpse of the performers at the bottom of the slope was a pond which became a

of the slope was a pond which became a

of the slope was a pond which became a popular place for skinny-dipping while

popular place for skinny-dipping while

popular place for skinny-dipping while the event was opposed by local

the event was opposed by local

the event was opposed by local townspeople from the get-go eventually

townspeople from the get-go eventually

townspeople from the get-go eventually legal problems were solved and planning

legal problems were solved and planning

legal problems were solved and planning went ahead engineering a sound system

went ahead engineering a sound system

went ahead engineering a sound system for the event was another huge hurdle

for the event was another huge hurdle

for the event was another huge hurdle finally a solution was set in place for

finally a solution was set in place for

finally a solution was set in place for a potential crowd of 150 to 200 thousand

a potential crowd of 150 to 200 thousand

a potential crowd of 150 to 200 thousand little did the organizers know actual

little did the organizers know actual

little did the organizers know actual attendance numbers would more than

attendance numbers would more than

attendance numbers would more than double their estimates massive crowds

double their estimates massive crowds

double their estimates massive crowds descended on rural New York the day of

descended on rural New York the day of

descended on rural New York the day of the festival causing huge traffic jams

the festival causing huge traffic jams

the festival causing huge traffic jams even some of the acts scheduled to play

even some of the acts scheduled to play

even some of the acts scheduled to play the festival were caught up in the

the festival were caught up in the

the festival were caught up in the traffic and ended up being unable to

traffic and ended up being unable to

traffic and ended up being unable to play originally Woodstock was not meant

play originally Woodstock was not meant

play originally Woodstock was not meant to be a free event 186,000 tickets were

to be a free event 186,000 tickets were

to be a free event 186,000 tickets were sold beforehand and organizers only

sold beforehand and organizers only

sold beforehand and organizers only anticipated about 200,000 people would

anticipated about 200,000 people would

anticipated about 200,000 people would show up in total when it became apparent

show up in total when it became apparent

show up in total when it became apparent that they were way off in their

that they were way off in their

that they were way off in their estimations the fence surrounding the

estimations the fence surrounding the

estimations the fence surrounding the event was ceremonially cut down this

event was ceremonially cut down this

event was ceremonially cut down this step helps solidify the events vibe of

step helps solidify the events vibe of

step helps solidify the events vibe of Peace Love

Peace Love

Peace Love inclusiveness and also cause a lot more

inclusiveness and also cause a lot more

inclusiveness and also cause a lot more concert goers to show up in total about

concert goers to show up in total about

concert goers to show up in total about half a million people were in attendance

half a million people were in attendance

half a million people were in attendance at Woodstock meanwhile mainstream media

at Woodstock meanwhile mainstream media

at Woodstock meanwhile mainstream media wanted to report the worst about the

wanted to report the worst about the

wanted to report the worst about the festival the event took place on an

festival the event took place on an

festival the event took place on an extremely hot weekend torrential rain

extremely hot weekend torrential rain

extremely hot weekend torrential rain transformed the event site into a giant

transformed the event site into a giant

transformed the event site into a giant mud puddle drug use was rampant and the

mud puddle drug use was rampant and the

mud puddle drug use was rampant and the presence of unsanitary conditions and

presence of unsanitary conditions and

presence of unsanitary conditions and food shortages were all angles they

food shortages were all angles they

food shortages were all angles they wanted to play up ironically many

wanted to play up ironically many

wanted to play up ironically many sources today cite the amount of drugs

sources today cite the amount of drugs

sources today cite the amount of drugs consumed at the event as the reason for

consumed at the event as the reason for

consumed at the event as the reason for a lack of violence and considering the

a lack of violence and considering the

a lack of violence and considering the massive amount of people in attendance

massive amount of people in attendance

massive amount of people in attendance at the three-day event there were

at the three-day event there were

at the three-day event there were remarkably few serious problems no

remarkably few serious problems no

remarkably few serious problems no violent crime was reported a few deaths

violent crime was reported a few deaths

violent crime was reported a few deaths took place all of which were accidental

took place all of which were accidental

took place all of which were accidental however on a happier note Woodstock is

however on a happier note Woodstock is

however on a happier note Woodstock is also said to be the setting for two

also said to be the setting for two

also said to be the setting for two births and then there was the music

despite the four promoters relative

despite the four promoters relative inexperience they were able to book some

inexperience they were able to book some

inexperience they were able to book some of the most important acts of the day

of the most important acts of the day

of the most important acts of the day thirty-two musicians and groups played

thirty-two musicians and groups played

thirty-two musicians and groups played at the event including legendary

at the event including legendary

at the event including legendary performances by the WHO Janis Joplin Joe

performances by the WHO Janis Joplin Joe

performances by the WHO Janis Joplin Joe Cocker and Jimi Hendrix to name only a

Cocker and Jimi Hendrix to name only a

Cocker and Jimi Hendrix to name only a few this took a great amount of money

few this took a great amount of money

few this took a great amount of money and the promoters were virtually

and the promoters were virtually

and the promoters were virtually bankrupted by the event however they

bankrupted by the event however they

bankrupted by the event however they retained the movie rights and the 1970

retained the movie rights and the 1970

retained the movie rights and the 1970 documentary Woodstock more than made

documentary Woodstock more than made

documentary Woodstock more than made their money back

their money back

their money back the Woodstock Music and Arts Fair is

the Woodstock Music and Arts Fair is

the Woodstock Music and Arts Fair is considered by many a symbol of the age

considered by many a symbol of the age

considered by many a symbol of the age of innocence when young citizens from

of innocence when young citizens from

of innocence when young citizens from all walks of life and varying political

all walks of life and varying political

all walks of life and varying political associations got together and simply

associations got together and simply

associations got together and simply enjoyed music it has gone down in the

enjoyed music it has gone down in the

enjoyed music it has gone down in the annals of Rock and is arguably a turning

annals of Rock and is arguably a turning

annals of Rock and is arguably a turning point in the 20th century there is some

point in the 20th century there is some

point in the 20th century there is some debate as to its place in history books

debate as to its place in history books

debate as to its place in history books but some will simply remember it as the

but some will simply remember it as the

but some will simply remember it as the party of a lifetime