THE ROAMIN’ TATTLER !~*~______A Guide to the Happening Local Events and the Eventful Local Happenings ~*~! Issue 4 Special Double Summer Issue August 2018 ——————————————— Joel Peterson Editor-in-Chief —————————————- A Villa Roma Publication Always Free THE LONG ROAD BACK TO THE GARDEN: THE FORGOTTEN ROCK’N’ROLL HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY Mention the name Woodstock, and people the world over will wax rhapsodic about three blissful days of peace, love and music. Visions of half a million souls in communion, frolicking in muddy but bucolic pastures and turning on to endless electric guitar solos will swim through their minds. For one long weekend in August of 1969, Sullivan County New York was at the center of the burgeoning rock music scene. In an era of festivals, the Woodstock Music and Art Fair, billed as an Aquarian Exposition, and held in White Lake New York, would stand above all the others. It would become synonymous with such gath- erings. There were even rumors at the time that Jimi Hendrix was living in the town of Liberty NY (he wasn’t - he’d rented a house in Boiceville in nearby Ulster county to rehearse for the festival with his new band Gypsy Sun and Rainbows). Surely Sullivan County was well on it’s way to becoming a musical Mecca for the rock and roll faithful. And then...silence...for years and years. So shaken were local townsfolk by the event, which saw every shelf in the county stripped of food, drink, and various sundries, that a strong negative backlash in most municipalities was the ubiquitous sentiment on a near countywide level. Many considered it such an unmitigated disaster that they were in no hurry to see repeated. There would be occasional area concerts, most notably a stellar performance by the original Allman Brothers Band in April of 1970 at Sullivan County Community Col- lege, a venue that would become more accustomed to hosting acoustic singer/songwriters like Harry Chapin and David Brom- berg in later years. In the early 70’s, then SCCC student Gene Simmons, and his future KISS bandmate Paul Stanley, would play one of their earliest dates together at the Rivoli Theatre in South Fallsburg, under the moniker Wicked Lester. Around the same time, the Monticello Raceway presented “Rock-n-Racing” nights, featuring groups like Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons and the Ike and Tina Turner Revue. The area hotels would occasionally book acts like the Monkees, Ringo Starr, and Little Richard.
The notion of holding a festival to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Woodstock was in the air in 1979. Two separate festivals were announced, each to be held in Sullivan County. The first, “The Second Gathering,” was publicized with little men- tion of acts, but promising a 72 hour concert, a film, a soundtrack on CBS records, two books, magazine specials, and memora- bilia galore. A quarter of a million dollars was spent trying to secure a site. Unfortunately the idea of a festival still left a sour taste in the mouths of town board members and county legislators. Inevitably, the plans fell through. At the same time, a second summer festival dubbed “The Hamlet of Hurleyville” was announced. This one again secured film and album rights through major production companies. Big name acts of the day were slated to play the three day show. A $37.50 ticket would buy a weekend of Rod Stewart, Joni Mitchell, the Beach Boys, Bob Seger, REO Speedwagon, Cheap Trick, Hall and Oates, Foghat and The Village People. Once again, despite the best laid plans, with soft ticket sales and logistical problems, the weekend con- cert was cancelled. Ultimately, a “Woodstock ‘79” show, featuring a handful of veterans from the original festival, was held in New York City’s Madison Square Garden.
Two outdoor concert facilities were opened in Sullivan County in the ensuing years. Music Mountain began holding concerts in South Fallsburg in the early eighties. The shows at that venue would feature, among others, Woodstock alumni Santana & Grateful Dead members Bob Weir and Jerry Garcia with their respective solo bands. The Garcia Band would take the opening slot that day. Jerry would take advantage of his rare visit to the western Catskills by spending the early evening touring and exploring the grand ballrooms of the various old hotels of the “Borscht Belt.” Unfortunately, after two summer sea- sons (1981 & 1982), Music Mountain was closed for good.
Ten years later, during the summer of 1990, famed concert promoter Bill Graham and his son David partnered with a self styled hippie dude ranch located in Parksville New York. Graham had been involved in the production of the 1969 Wood- stock festival. He brought then new band Santana, whom he managed, with him from San Francisco for the festival, where they electrified the audience with their blistering performance. For two years, Arrowhead Ranch hosted concerts with quality acts like Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers, The Band (featuring Billy Preston), and future superstar group Phish. The venue would become known as the birthplace of the jam band scene. Members of Blues Traveler, Spin Doctors, Widespread Panic and others would first meet while playing the ranch, where they conceived the idea of joining together for the perennial travelling H.O.R.D.E. festival in the 1990’s. Bill Graham, who had his first jobs in the Catskills busing tables in the dining rooms at Grossinger’s and the Concord hotel, tragically perished in a helicopter crash in October of 1991,effectively ending the summer concerts in Parksville (note: Arrowhead Ranch has recently reopened, and will be hosting concerts again in 2019).
Some smaller venues in Sullivan County continued to provide an outlet for live music: The Pursuit of Happiness in Liberty NY presented acts with a 1960’s vibe, a latter day version of the Mamas and Papas among them. Callicoon’s Western Hotel had the occasional show in their historic ballroom, Harmonie Hall. Original Woodstock performer Richie Havens played Harmonie Hall, as did The Band’s Rick Danko. In the meantime, the original 1969 concert site continued to languish, despite people continuing to show up every August anniversary weekend. In 1989, a crowd 20,000 strong appeared during a lunar eclipse. A stage was quickly erected. Acts both amateur and professional (Savoy Brown) showed up and played for free. Jimi Hendrix’ father Al, and Wavy Gravy acted as masters of ceremony. Even scare tactics by local property owners such as trenches around the field and mountains of chicken manure on Hurd Road couldn’t keep the nostalgic sightseers away. Continued on page 3 Peter Max: Early Paintings Remember: The Museum at Bethel Woods April 30 - September 3, When they ask 7 days a week 10 am - 7 pm. The Max exhibit is in- you where you heard it,
cluded with general museum admission ($15 adults, tell ‘em “I read it in $13 seniors, $11 youth 8 - 17, $6 Children 3-7, chil- The Tattler!” dren under 3 free). Special exhibition only: $5 1
LOCAL
Events Calendar
Live Music & Entertainment!
Tug of Livestock Exhibits!
War! Demonstrations! Rides! Carnival Midway! Vendors! Fair Food! Tractors! Games! 139th Annual GRAHAMSVILLE LITTLE WORLD’S FAIR www.grahamsvillefair.com Aug. 17th - 19th 5th ANNUAL BAGEL FESTIVAL Sunday, August 12, Broadway Monticello, New York “The BAGEL CAPITAL” 9:00 AM until 4:00 PM - FREE! Vendors! Crafts! Food! Car Show! ...and BAGELS! Bagel Triathalon! Forestburgh Playhouse! Live Music from Nashville and Shades! FUN For the whole family! Delaware Valley Opera Presents
MOZART THE MAGIC FLUTE (Performed in English) August 18th, 19th, 25th & 26th Tusten Theater, Narrowsburg NY More Information: www.delawarevalleyopera.com
The Callicoon Theater Presents Disney’s Rated PG
Christopher Robin Friday August 3 - Thursday August 16 Fri. 7:30, Sat. & Sun. 2 & 7:30, Mon., Wed., Thurs. 7:30. Closed Tuesday Adults: $10 Mondays & Matinees Adults: $8 Children $7 2
Community Concert Calendar Just back from a successful tour of Australia and New Zealand! EILEN JEWELL
Special Guest CLIFF WESTFALL & HER BAND ONE NIGHT Western Hotel, Callicoon NY ONLY! Sunday August 19, 4:00 - 10:00 pm
A Pre-game warm up festival before Phish’s three day CURVEBALL festival: ~ Watkins Glen NY, Aug 17 - 19 ~ CURVEBALL WARM-UP Aug. 16 6:00 pm Arrowhead Ranch 461 Cooley Rd. Parksville NY Creamery Featuring The Station MiZ Walk ~A~ Bout With Refreshments from the Catskill Brewery! REEL HARMONY FESTIVAL SAturday aUGUST 18TH, roscoe brewing company All original performances by singers and songwriters all day long! Musical instruments, paintings, crafts, foods & beverages for sale! 12:00 Pm ~ 8:00 pm 45 rockland rd., roscoe, ny Long Road Back continued from page 1 In 1994, yet another festival was announced, and plans were made to hold it on the original festival site. This one would feature Richie Havens, Judy Collins, Iron Butterfly, Sha Na Na, and a rather poorly received lineup of Fleetwood Mac featuring Dave Mason and Bekka Bramlett. Ticket sales were slow, despite promoter Sid Bernstein’s efforts. The concert was cancelled, and a Woodstock ’94 concert featuring the biggest names in the music business drew over half a million people to Winston Farm in the town of Saugerties in neighboring Ulster County, as yet another opportunity for Sullivan County was lost. Still, Leslie West and Mountain arrived on the original Woodstock site, and played for free to the large crowd that showed up. For years the legacy of the Woodstock Nation kept it’s hold on the western Catskills, thanks to Roy Howard and Jeryl Abram- son. The couple owned the original Yasgur farm house and property, that had once belonged to Max Yasgur, the farmer whose alfalfa field provided the original 1969 concert site. Every August for years, they hosted hundreds, sometimes thousands, of campers who partied and rocked out to all manner of bands. Local acts often played as did well known performers like Melanie, Country Joe McDonald and evergreen jam band favorites Max Creek.
Finally, in 1998, Cablevision billionaire Alan Gerry, at the urging of his daughter, purchased the original Woodstock site and surrounding properties with the idea of preserving the image, ideals, music and, of course, the land to which the Wood- stock Nation had given birth nearly thirty years earlier. A three day festival was immediately announced. This time the show, “A Day in the Garden,” went off without a hitch. Donovan, Ten Years After, Stevie Nicks, Lou Reed, Joni Mitchell, Pete Townshend, and many more acts contributed to a very special event indeed on the original field. The Following year, original Woodstock performers David Crosby, Johnny Winter, Rick Danko, and others performed on the same spot for the 30th anniver- sary of the 1969 event. Both years the shows drew large, peaceful crowds. Fast forward ten years: the non profit Gerry Foundation has constructed the beautiful Bethel Woods Performing Arts Center, at 200 Hurd Road, just near the original Woodstock Festival field. The field is kept pristine and immaculate, and a monument to the original 1969 concert stands there today. There is an interactive museum that focuses on the decade of the 1960’s as well as an intimate indoor performance space. The first show in 2006 at the new state of the art amphitheater (capacity 15,000) featured the New York Philharmonic. They encored, appropriately enough, with an orchestral reading of Jimi Hendrix’ Purple Haze. In August 2009, the Bethel Woods Music Festival celebrated the 40th anniversary of Woodstock. Un- fortunately, some original 1969 performers who played that 2009 show, namely Jefferson Airplane’s Paul Kantner, The Band’s Levon Helm, and Richie Havens, who played the day before the BWMF, are no longer with us. continued on page 4 3
EXPLORE CRYSTAL LAKE Visitors to Sullivan County have DO YOU LOVE ANIMALS? always had a robust relationship with the Delaware River. They enjoy all of the activities that the Stop by the Villa Roma farm’s stables (on the hill above the river affords the outdoor lifestyle Monaco Speedway go kart track) and visit our petting zoo! Ethel and of those who love her. Lucy, the two gregarious goats will greet you, as will a friendly donkey, and an adorable miniature horse. The road less travelled, however, leads those with a taste for explora- Say hello to Hadley the Horsemeister while you’re there, and tion to the upper western corner of book a ride on Levi, Sundance or one of the other beautiful horses ($45 Sullivan County and to the wild for a fifty minute guided trail ride for those over ten years of age, $10 frontiers of Fremont Township. ten minute pony rides for ages 5-10). Easier yet, stop by or call the Villa Roma’s Service Desk (x7071), and let one of the courteous concierges There, their wanderlust will be satisfied with the unspoiled beauty set up rides for you, your family, or group. Five horses are available on that is the 497 acres of woodland most days, with multiple riding times from which to choose. Rides can of Crystal Lake Wild Forest. At the be booked at any time, day or night for the following day, and during heart of this state protected park is the morning for the same day. the 32 acre lake that is pure, clean, and crystal clear: perfect for swim- ming, canoeing and fishing. Nearly one and a half miles of the lake’s shoreline is incorporated into a well marked hiking trail.
The surrounding area is loaded with blueberry bushes, wild leeks and Jack-in-the-pulpits. The sprawling, wooded habitat is also home to all manner of animals. Long Road Back continued from page 3 www.grahamsvillefair.com Aug.Each Spring17th the hundreds - 19th of enor- Now, forty nine years after the original concert that put Sullivan County on the mous bullfrog tadpoles that swim rock and roll roadmap, the fiftieth anniversary of the event looms on the horizon. Bethel in the shallows are a sight to be- Woods and the surrounding fields have been added to the National Register of Historic hold! Places. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced state funding to the tune of Crystal Lake Parking Lot: From $690,000 to improve infrastructure, as the county readies itself for what is planned as a Route 97, take County Road 94 three day festival (and a year long celebration). Presumably, the anniversary weekend con- (becomes 93) to County Road 96 certs will be held on the original lawn, although specifics of the event have yet to be an- (Tennanah Lake Road) to Crystal nounced, including availability of camping, and a roster of performers. Lake Road, the entrance to the property, lake and parking area. Whatever the lineup, it’s nearly certain it will be a mix of acts from different eras, (41.869924°N, 75.019553°W) as only a precious few from the original Woodstock Festival are still performing today. A handful such as Arlo Guthrie, Melanie, Joan Baez and Country Joe may pepper the bill with their presence. Groups like Canned Heat, Mountain and Sha Na Na are still perform- Annual ing under their original names. An educated guess would point to four enormously popular bands still capable of performing today. Any one of them would be more than able to an- Jeffersonville chor the prime-time slots during the August anniversary weekend next year. Fire House The first is Santana. They have played Bethel Woods twice to rapturous reviews and sold out crowds. They have recently reformed the original Santana Band featuring their classic era lineup of the late 60’s and early 70’s to great commercial and critical acclaim. The sec- Book Sale ond possible headliners are The Who. Even as a duo (guitarist/songwriter Pete Townshend Thurs, Fri, Sat, & vocalist Roger Daltrey featuring a strong backing band), they still unleash enormous power in concert, and retain a rabid popularity among their fan base. Another possibility Aug. 9th, 10th, 11th are Dead & Company, featuring former members of the Grateful Dead and the Allman Brothers Band along with guitarist/vocalist John Mayer. The band is currently playing at peak form, and are selling out stadiums and arenas across the country (bassist Phil Lesh and his band are also a strong possibility to represent the Grateful Dead, and could easily be a Library huge draw on any given night). The fourth, and perhaps most intriguing alternative, is a reformation of super group Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Despite infighting - Graham Rocks! Nash and Neil Young in particular have issues, to say the least, with David Crosby - and Jeffersonville Library: familiarity having bred contempt, the members have stated that the current state of the August 8th political landscape in America could lead to them burying the hatchet and heading back out Lets Have a Parade! on the road, or at least reforming for some one-off shows. Anyone who has followed their 10:30am - 11:30am particular musical soap opera in the past will understand that this is not outside the realm of Storycup Theater possibility, as members breaking up and reforming in any and all various configurations 1:00pm - 2:00pm seems at times to add fuel to the fire of their collective creative muse.
One thing is certain: There’s something happening here. What it is ain’t exactly August 25th clear...yet...but it will be, and soon. Next year expect every hotel room in the county to be Summer Storytime Series booked. Expect heavy traffic. Expect the shelves of every store in the county to be cleared 10:30am - 11:30am of all their goods. Maybe even expect the traditional summer rain storm...and of course Jeffersonville expect the residents of Sullivan County to expect you, with open arms...and to welcome Branch Library - WSPL you home with pride in their musical history, and satisfaction in their legacy of their having hosted the festival of festivals in their very own back yard fifty long years ago. ~ The Editor 4