CLASS OF 1969 - GOLDEN EAGLES REUNION ORAL HISTORY PROJECT

WASHINGTON, DC

Oral History Interview

with JOYCE HOSPODAR and WINIFRED “WINNIE” REED by HALEY STEINHILBER

AMERICAN UNIVERSITY October 4, 2019 CLASS OF 1969 - GOLDEN EAGLES REUNION ORAL HISTORY PROJECT

NARRATOR: Joyce Hospodar and Winifred “Winnie” Reed DATE: October 4, 2019 INTERVIEWER: Haley Steinhilber PLACE: American University

SUMMARY KEYWORDS rock concerts, concert, winnie, organized, chuck berry, remember, played, au, cafeteria, met, wonderful, outdoor amphitheater, talk, washington post, friends, college roommate, memory, gym, sebastian, Garfunkel

Joyce Hospodar 00:04 Okay, so Winnie Reed and myself, Joyce Hospodar, we'd like to talk to you about the rock concerts that she and I just attended so much through our time here at university. And so with that, Winnie's going to talk about some of the groups we saw.

Winnie Reed 00:25 I remember seeing Simon and Garfunkel at the outdoor amphitheater was almost nobody else there was a wonderful concert. And I also saw john Sebastian of the lovin spoonful, there was almost no one else in the audience and it was very good. Here I'll pass it back to Joyce and she can talk about something she saw.

Joyce Hospodar 00:48 And because I love to dance, Chuck Berry was unbelievable. And so but again, Winnie and I, we just were partners all the time going to these rock concerts and we really miss doing that now. And so with that you have any questions for us.

Haley Steinhilber 01:06 Yeah. So how did you guys feel when you were there? Did you get to meet the artists?

Winnie Reed 01:14 Yes. When Chuck Berry came to AU, he played at a cafeteria in Arlington, Virginia, and I got there very early, because my husband, Tim Murray, had organized the concert. So we got to meet Chuck Berry in this cafeteria. And I asked him for his autograph. And then he played with, you know, one of his usual pick up bands, so that was very interesting and good. One of my favorite concerts

1 I remember was the Chambers Brothers, who were here at one point where they they played in what is now the Katzen Arts Center, but that used to be the gym.

Joyce Hospodar 02:01 Winnie has a better memory than mine. So, do you have any other questions?

Haley Steinhilber 02:06 Yeah. So where were the other concerts, at the amphitheater? Were they all at the amphitheater?

Joyce Hospodar 02:18 Well, they weren't all outdoors, no. I don't remember really where the concerts were. Do you remember, Winnie?

Winnie Reed 02:28 A couple of them we saw were in the gym. Like I said, another one was a concert by [?]. And of all of the rock concerts I went to were just so loud that my ears hurt. It's really really loud. But AU had a wonderful program getting performers to the campus.

Haley Steinhilber 02:50 Who did it? A club?

Winnie Reed 02:54 I'm not sure who did it.

Joyce Hospodar 02:59 I think probably was any of the employees who would organize some of the theater or any of that, and it was not that it were put on by studios. I think it was more than they had staff who organized. And you know, being in Washington DC, it was a big draw to bring some of these names that time people to come in for us, but they were usually sold out or crowded.

Winnie Reed 03:42 I'm not sure but I think this might have been in college.

Haley Steinhilber 03:49 Do you have any other memories you'd like to share? Either your rock concert days or just any time in a year.

2 Joyce Hospodar 04:00 Well, the fact that we are here for our 50 years, and my college roommate is here, Elisa, and those of us that are here, have maintained friends since we met each other. And in fact, when you read, then [?] was sold the Washington Post, and she came to my room at Lets Hall, and said do you want to purchase the Washington Post, and then she sat down and chatted and we are best friends ever since. And we are connected with each other.

Winnie Reed 04:42 This is very true. I think that the time I spent here at AU university was wonderful, not only for most of the courses I've had, but for the people I met. I learned a lot and being here today, a lot of it is coming back.

Haley Steinhilber 05:02 Thank you guys so much for sharing.

Joyce Hospodar 05:05 Thank you.

Winnie Reed 05:05 Thank you.

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