The best reviewed (thus far) documentary of 2021, Summer of Soul tells the story of a 1969 Harlem music festival – one that got zero attention in the media. Its Black promoters, having drawn 300,000 exhilarated spectators to the event, were angry about the blatant snub before realizing they may have been lucky: Another festival, Woodstock, was about to open its doors 100 miles away, and its white promoters were destined to suffer the most savage coverage ever accorded any event of its kind.
The two festivals were, in fact, a historic study in contrasts. While Soul was happy in Harlem, Woodstock was hammered by the New York Times as “the nightmare in the Catskills.” The mayor of New York City personally pledged support and friendship to his Black festgoers, while the governor of New York State dispatched National Guard troops to cope with “hippie hell” in Woodstock.
The buoyant performers didn’t seem to notice these intrigues.
The two festivals were, in fact, a historic study in contrasts. While Soul was happy in Harlem, Woodstock was hammered by the New York Times as “the nightmare in the Catskills.” The mayor of New York City personally pledged support and friendship to his Black festgoers, while the governor of New York State dispatched National Guard troops to cope with “hippie hell” in Woodstock.
The buoyant performers didn’t seem to notice these intrigues.
- 7/15/2021
- by Peter Bart
- Deadline Film + TV
Moments after cameraman David Myers finished filming a couple having sex in the tall grass at the Woodstock festival in 1969, he happened upon a middle-aged sanitation worker cleaning out an overflowing toilet with a giant suction hose. “It’s hard to keep up,” he says. “I’m glad to do it for these kids. My son’s here, and I got one over in Vietnam too. He’s up in the Dmz right now flyin’ helicopters.” As the Port-o-San man moves on to his next toilet, a tall hippie staggers...
- 8/3/2019
- by Andy Greene
- Rollingstone.com
Lgbtq activists document how they translated oppression into “joyous” rebellion in a trailer for Generation Woodstock, an upcoming ABC News special about the late Sixties counterculture movement that spawned both the titular music festival and the Stonewall Uprising.
“I had worked late that night, walked up Christopher Street, and I saw a police car in front of the Stonewall,” eyewitness Jim Fouratt says in the clip — recounting the origins of the violent confrontations that occurred in late June 1969, when patrons of New York City’s Stonewall Inn gay bar rallied to fight back against police.
“I had worked late that night, walked up Christopher Street, and I saw a police car in front of the Stonewall,” eyewitness Jim Fouratt says in the clip — recounting the origins of the violent confrontations that occurred in late June 1969, when patrons of New York City’s Stonewall Inn gay bar rallied to fight back against police.
- 5/20/2019
- by Ryan Reed
- Rollingstone.com
The Woodstock music festival, the multi-act concert that took place in Bethel, N.Y., in 1969 is celebrating its 45th anniversary today.
Woodstock Turns 45
Throughout the weekend of Aug. 15 – 19 in 1969, Woodstock played host to a number of acts that hold significant stature in the history of music. When co-creators Joel Rosenman and John Roberts came up with the plan for the festival, they had no idea of the cultural impact it would go on to have. Woodstock was certainly the first of its kind, and now decades later copycats like Bonaroo, Coachella, Governor’s Ball and Firefly are summer fixtures.
“There has to be a granddaddy—and this was certainly it for the festival business,” said Rosenman. “There’s something about festivals that is timeless and indestructible.”
After the 1969 enterprise, Woodstock was held twice more in 1994 and 1999. A fourth Woodstock could potentially be in the cards, according to co-creator Michael Lang,...
Woodstock Turns 45
Throughout the weekend of Aug. 15 – 19 in 1969, Woodstock played host to a number of acts that hold significant stature in the history of music. When co-creators Joel Rosenman and John Roberts came up with the plan for the festival, they had no idea of the cultural impact it would go on to have. Woodstock was certainly the first of its kind, and now decades later copycats like Bonaroo, Coachella, Governor’s Ball and Firefly are summer fixtures.
“There has to be a granddaddy—and this was certainly it for the festival business,” said Rosenman. “There’s something about festivals that is timeless and indestructible.”
After the 1969 enterprise, Woodstock was held twice more in 1994 and 1999. A fourth Woodstock could potentially be in the cards, according to co-creator Michael Lang,...
- 8/15/2014
- Uinterview
Director Ang Lee ("Brokeback Mountain," "Lust, Caution") returns with "Taking Woodstock," an adaptation of Elliot Tiber's autobiography "Taking Woodstock: A true story of a riot, a concert and a life."
Adapted by James Schamus for the big screen, I suggest you take a far out trip with "Taking Woodstock." Peace!
(For a full written movie review of "Taking Woodstock," click here. For interviews with the cast including Emile Hirsch, Liev Schreiber, Demetri Martin, and Jonathan Groff, click here)
Persons of interest
* Demetri Martin .... Elliot Tiber aka Eliyahu Teichberg
* Liev Schreiber .... Vilma
* Emile Hirsch .... Billy
* Eugene Levy .... Yasgur
* Imelda Staunton .... Mrs Tiber
* Katherine Waterston .... Penny
* Kevin Sussman .... Stan
* Skylar Astin .... John Roberts
* Kevin Chamberlin .... Jackson Spiers
* Gabriel Sunday .... Steve
* Jason Antoon .... Abbie Hoffman
* Henry Goodman .... Mr Tiber
* Jonathan Groff .... Michael Lang
* Boris McGiver .... Doug
* Michael Zegen .... Bernie
* Will Janowitz .... Chip Monck
* Clark Middleton .... Frank
* Adam Pally .... Artie Kornfeld
* Andy Prosky...
Adapted by James Schamus for the big screen, I suggest you take a far out trip with "Taking Woodstock." Peace!
(For a full written movie review of "Taking Woodstock," click here. For interviews with the cast including Emile Hirsch, Liev Schreiber, Demetri Martin, and Jonathan Groff, click here)
Persons of interest
* Demetri Martin .... Elliot Tiber aka Eliyahu Teichberg
* Liev Schreiber .... Vilma
* Emile Hirsch .... Billy
* Eugene Levy .... Yasgur
* Imelda Staunton .... Mrs Tiber
* Katherine Waterston .... Penny
* Kevin Sussman .... Stan
* Skylar Astin .... John Roberts
* Kevin Chamberlin .... Jackson Spiers
* Gabriel Sunday .... Steve
* Jason Antoon .... Abbie Hoffman
* Henry Goodman .... Mr Tiber
* Jonathan Groff .... Michael Lang
* Boris McGiver .... Doug
* Michael Zegen .... Bernie
* Will Janowitz .... Chip Monck
* Clark Middleton .... Frank
* Adam Pally .... Artie Kornfeld
* Andy Prosky...
- 8/28/2009
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
Woodstock was a business. A very poorly run business. The four organizers, John Roberts (who died in 2001), Joel Rosenman, Michael Lang, and Artie Kornfeld were all in their 20s when they formed a company called "Woodstock Ventures" with the original intention of building a recording studio and retreat in the upstate New York town where Bob Dylan lived. They were in it to make money, but it didn't quite work out that way. It wasn't for lack of trying, though, and two things were definitely in their favor early on: they had a great idea and they knew their audience.The festival's early "Aquarian Exposition" catch phrase was a calculated reference to the musical "Hair," which was popular with Woodstock Ventures' target audience. The final slogan of "3 Days of Peace & Music" was meant to link the concert to...
- 8/14/2009
- by Shawn Amos
- Huffington Post
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