Woodstock 1969 Mac OS

Woodstock 1969 - Full Festival (Friday). Before Woodstock was a cultural phenomenon, it was a financial fiasco. Organizers behind the legendary music festival in upstate New York, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this summer, said they wound up $1.3 million in debt after the historic 1969 event—roughly $9 million in today’s dollars. But they eventually broke even years later thanks to album and movie ticket sales.

Max Yasgur at the Woodstock Festival in 1969 which was held on part of his dairy farm in Bethel, New York
Born
December 15, 1919
New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedFebruary 9, 1973 (aged 53)
Alma materNew York University
OccupationFarmer
Years active1949−1971
Known forLeasing a field of his farm for the purpose of holding the Woodstock Festival
Political partyRepublican
ChildrenSam, Lois
Max Yasgur's Farm (1999) 27 Yasgur Rd, Cochecton, NY 12726, USA

Max B. Yasgur (December 15, 1919 – February 9, 1973) was an Americanfarmer. He was the owner of the 600-acre (240 ha) dairy farm in Bethel, New York, at which the Woodstock Music and Art Fair was held between August 15 and August 18, 1969.

Personal life and dairy farming[edit]

Yasgur was born in New York City to Russian Jewish immigrants Samuel and Bella Yasgur.[1] He was raised with his brother Isidore (1926–2010) on the family's farm (where his parents also ran a small hotel)[2] and attended New York University, studying real estate law. By the late 1960s, he was the largest milk producer in Sullivan County, New York.[3] His farm had 650 cows, mostly Guernseys.[4]

At the time of the festival in 1969, Yasgur was married to Miriam (Mimi) Gertrude Miller Yasgur (1920–2014) and had a son, Sam (1942–2016) and daughter, Lois (1944–1977). His son was an assistant district attorney in New York City at the time.[4]

In later years, it was revealed that Yasgur was in fact a conservative Republican who supported the Vietnam War.[5][6] Nevertheless, he felt that the Woodstock festival could help business at his farm and also tame the generation gap.[5][7] Despite claims that he showed disapproval towards the treatment of the counterculture movement,[5] this has not been confirmed.[6] Woodstock promoter Michael Lang, who considered Yasgur to be his 'hero,' stated that Yasgur was 'the antithesis' of what the Woodstock festival stood for.[8] Yasgur's early death prevented him from answering questions about why the festival took place.[6]

Woodstock 1969 Mac OS

Woodstock Festival[edit]

After area villages Saugerties (located about 40 miles (64 km) from Yasgur's farm) and Wallkill declined to provide a venue for the festival, Yasgur leased one of his farm's fields for a fee that festival sponsors said was $10,000.[4] Soon afterward he began to receive both threatening and supporting phone calls (which could not be placed without the assistance of an operator because the community of White Lake, New York, where the telephone exchange was located, still utilized manual switching).[9] Some of the calls threatened to burn him out. However, the helpful calls outnumbered the threatening ones.[4]Opposition to the festival began soon after the festival's relocation to Bethel was announced. Signs were erected around town, saying, 'Local People Speak Out Stop Max's Hippie Music Festival. No 150,000 hippies here' and 'Buy no milk'.[10]

Yasgur was 49 at the time of the festival and had a heart condition. He said at the time that he never expected the festival to be so large, but that 'if the generation gap is to be closed, we older people have to do more than we have done.'[4]

Yasgur quickly established a rapport with the concert-goers, providing food at cost or for free. When he heard that some local residents were reportedly selling water to people coming to the concert, he put up a big sign at his barn on New York State Route 17B reading 'Free Water.' The New York Times reported that Yasgur 'slammed a work-hardened fist on the table and demanded of some friends, 'How can anyone ask money for water?'[4] His son Sam recalled his father telling his children to 'take every empty milk bottle from the plant, fill them with water and give them to the kids, and give away all the milk and milk products we had at the dairy.'[11]

At the time of the concert, friends described Yasgur as an individualist who was motivated as much by his principles as by the money.[4] According to Sam Yasgur, his father agreed to rent the field to the festival organizers because it was a very wet year, which curtailed hay production. The income from the rental would offset the cost of purchasing thousands of bales of hay.

Yasgur also believed strongly in freedom of expression, and was angered by the hostility of some townspeople toward 'anti-war hippies'. Hosting the festival became, for him, a 'cause'.[11]

On the third day of the festival, just before Joe Cocker's early afternoon set, Yasgur addressed the crowd:[12]

'I'm a farmer. I don't know how to speak to 20 people at one time, let alone a crowd like this. But I think you people have proven something to the world — not only to the Town of Bethel, or Sullivan County, or New York State; you've proven something to the world. This is the largest group of people ever assembled in one place. We have had no idea that there would be this size group, and because of that you've had quite a few inconveniences as far as water, food, and so forth. Your producers have done a mammoth job to see that you're taken care of... they'd enjoy a vote of thanks. But above that, the important thing that you've proven to the world is that a half a million kids — and I call you kids because I have children that are older than you are — a half million young people can get together and have three days of fun and music and have nothing but fun and music, and I – God bless you for it!'

His speech was met with a massive cheer from the audience.

After Woodstock[edit]

Many of his neighbors turned against him after the festival, and he was no longer welcome at the town general store, but he never regretted his decision to allow the concert on his farm.[11] The local postmaster reportedly turned against the Yasgurs, so they opted to change their address from Bethel to Cochecton, another nearby town.[13] On January 7, 1970, he was sued by his neighbors for property damage caused by the concert attendees. However, the damage to his own property was far more extensive and, over a year later, he received a $50,000 settlement to pay for the near-destruction of his dairy farm.[14] He refused to rent out his farm for a 1970 revival of the festival, saying, 'As far as I know, I'm going back to running a dairy farm'.[9]

In 1971, Yasgur sold the 600-acre (240 ha) farm, and moved to Marathon, Florida, where, a year and a half later, he died of a heart attack at the age of 53.[9] He was given a full-page obituary in Rolling Stone magazine, one of the few non-musicians to have received such an honor.[15]

In 1997, the site of the concert and 1,400 acres (570 ha) surrounding it was purchased by Alan Gerry for the purpose of creating the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts. In August 2007, the 103-acre (42 ha) parcel that contains Yasgur's former homestead, about three miles (5 km) from the festival site, was placed on the market for $8 million by its owner, Roy Howard.[16]

In popular culture[edit]

  • Joni Mitchell's song 'Woodstock', made famous by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (also covered by Matthews Southern Comfort, Richie Havens, James Taylor, Eva Cassidy, and Brooke Fraser), sings about 'going down to Yasgur's Farm'.[17]
  • In addition, Mountain (who were also at the concert) recorded a song shortly after the event entitled 'For Yasgur's Farm'.
  • The Beastie Boys 1989 album Paul's Boutique samples Yasgur's Woodstock speech on the track 'Car Thief'.
  • The progressive rock band Moon Safari has a song titled 'Yasgur's Farm' on their album Blomljud.
  • Yasgur is portrayed by Eugene Levy in Ang Lee's film Taking Woodstock.

Sam Yasgur wrote a book about his father, Max B. Yasgur: The Woodstock Festival's Famous Farmer, in August 2009.[18]

See also[edit]

  • Michael Eavis, British farmer who has hosted the Glastonbury Festival since 1970

References[edit]

  1. ^U.S. Census, January 1, 1920, State of New York, County of New York, enumeration district 701, p. 8-A, family 200.
  2. ^Green, David B. (9 February 2016). 'This Day in Jewish History // 1973: The Farmer Who Defied His Neighbors and Hosted Woodstock Dies'. Haaretz.
  3. ^'Max Yasgur Tribute Page'. woodstockpreservation.org. Archived from the original on August 16, 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
  4. ^ abcdefg'Farmer With Soul:Max Yasgur'. The New York Times. 1969-08-17.
  5. ^ abc'Daily TWiP – Max Yasgur, who rented out his farm as the site of Woodstock, dies today in 1973'.
  6. ^ abcColumn, Guest. 'Max Yasgur: The Conservative Republican Who Saved Woodstock'. Canada Free Press.
  7. ^'Max Yasgar Dies; Woodstock Festival Was on His Farm'. February 10, 1973 – via NYTimes.com.
  8. ^'Woodstock producer: Roy Rogers, not Hendrix, could have closed'. Washington Examiner. August 8, 2009.
  9. ^ abc'Max Yasgur Dies; Woodstock Festival Was on His Farm'. The New York Times. 1973-02-09.
  10. ^Shepard, Richard F. (1969-07-23). 'Pop Rockl Festival Finds New Home'. The New York Times.
  11. ^ abcWeaver, Friz (October 30 – November 5, 2008). 'County attorney waxes historic'. The River Reporter. Retrieved 2009-09-07.
  12. ^'Yasgur on Woodstock'. YouTube. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
  13. ^'Woodstock Changed The World. Here's The Inside Story Of How Max Yasgur Made It Happen'. Forward. 2019-08-07. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
  14. ^McDougal, Dennis (22 June 1989). 'Living Off Woodstock : WOODSTOCK 20 YEARS AFTER : The aging of Aquarius : Whether for Memories or Money, Some Strange Bedfellows Harken Back to That August Weekend'. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  15. ^'Max Yasgur : The Real Woodstock Story'. Woodstockstory.com. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
  16. ^'Yasgur's farm for sale ... for $8 million'. Associated Press. 2007-08-08. Retrieved 2009-06-13.
  17. ^'Joni Mitchell - Woodstock - lyrics'. Jonimitchell.com. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
  18. ^Cohen, Howard (2009-08-15). 'Woodstock books bring readers back to Yasgur's farm'. The Providence Journal.

External links[edit]

  • Sam Yasgur website at the Wayback Machine (archived September 13, 2009)
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Max_Yasgur&oldid=1019139534'
August 12, 2019 Posted in: 1969 Anniversary News Saratoga, Blog, History

August 15-18, 1969 Bethel, NY

Five decades ago, young people began flocking to a dairy farm in Bethel, NY for “3 Days of Peace & Music.” Originally expected to draw a crowd of just 50,000, nearly half a million people ended up making their way to the The Woodstock Music Festival, which became one of the most iconic events in music history.

Source: The New York Times

Source: The New York Times, Sunday, August 17, 1969

The star-studded lineup consisted of 32 performers over four days:

Woodstock Day One: August 15, 1969

  1. High Flyin’ Bird
  2. I Can’t Make It Anymore
  3. With A Little Help
  4. Strawberry Fields For Ever
  5. Hey Jude
  6. I Had A Woman
  7. Handsome Johnny
  8. Freedom

Swami Satchidananda Opening Ceremony
Surprise blessing by yoga guru, Swami Satchidananda:

Opening Ceremony at Woodstock with Swami Satchidananda, August 15, 1969

  1. I Find Myself Missing You
  2. Rockin’ All Around the World
  3. Flyin’ High All Over the World
  4. Seen A Rocket
  5. Fish Cheer/I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixing-To-Die-Rag
  1. How Have You Been
  2. Rainbows All Over Your Blues
  3. I Had A Dream
  4. Darlin’ Be Home Soon
  5. Younger Generation
  1. What’s Wrong
  2. Motherless Child
  3. Look Out
  4. For Pete’s Sake
  5. Day Song
  6. Crystal Spider
  7. Two Worlds
  8. Why Oh Why
  1. Invocation
  2. The Letter
  3. This Moment
  4. When You Find Out Who You Are
  1. Jennifer
  2. The Road To Travel
  3. I Wondered Where You’d Be
  4. She’s Gone
  5. Things Are Going My Way
  6. And When It’s Over
  7. Jeanette
  8. America
  9. A Note That Read
  10. Smile
  1. If I Were A Carpenter
  2. Misty Roses
  1. Raga Puriya-Dhanashri/Gat In Sawarital
  2. Tabla Solo In Jhaptal
  3. Raga Manj Kmahaj
  4. Iap Jor
  5. Dhun In Kaharwa Tal
  1. Beautiful People
  2. Birthday Of The Sun
Woodstock
  1. Coming Into Los Angeles
  2. Walking Down The Line
  3. Amazing Grace
  1. Oh Happy Day
  2. The Last Thing On My Mind
  3. I Shall be Released
  4. Joe Hill
  5. Sweet Sir Galahad
  6. Hickory Wind
  7. Drug Store Truck Driving Man
  8. I Live One Day At A Time
  9. Sweet Sunny South
  10. Warm And Tender Love
  11. Swing Low Sweet Chariot
  12. We Shall Overcome

Woodstock Day Two: August 16, 1969

  1. They Live The Life
  2. BBY
  3. Waitin’ For You
  4. Jam
  1. Spanish Fly
  2. Believe In You
  3. Rock Me Baby
  4. Medley
  5. Leavin’ Trunk
  6. Halfbreed
  7. Just To Cry
  8. Sinnin’ For You
  1. Waiting
  2. You Just Don’t Care
  3. Savior
  4. Jingo
  5. Persuasion
  6. Soul Sacrifice
  7. Fried Neckbones
  1. A Change Is Gonna Come/Leaving This Town
  2. Woodstock Boogie
  3. Going Up To The Country
  4. Let’s Work Together
  5. Too Many Drivers At The Wheel
  6. Little Red Rooster
  1. St. Stephen
  2. Mama Tried
  3. Dark Star/High Time
  4. Turn On Your Lovelight
  1. Blood Of The Sun
  2. Stormy Monday
  3. Long Red
  4. Who Am I But You And The Sun
  5. Beside The Sea
  6. For Yasgur’s Farm (then untitled)
  7. You And Me
  8. Theme From An Imaginary Western
  9. Waiting To Take You Away
  10. Dreams Of Milk And Honey
  11. Blind Man
  12. Blue Suede Shoes
  13. Southbound Train
  1. Born On The Bayou
  2. Green River
  3. Ninety-Nine-And-A-Half (Won’t Do)
  4. Commotion
  5. Bootleg
  6. Bad Moon Rising
  7. Proud Mary
  8. I Put A Spell On You
  9. Night Time Is The Right Time
  10. Keep On Choogin’
  11. Suzy Q
  1. M’Lady
  2. Sing A Simple Song
  3. You Can Make It If You Try
  4. Everyday People
  5. Dance To The Music
  6. I Want To Take You Higher
  7. Love City
  8. Stand!
  1. Raise Your Hand
  2. As Good As You’ve Been To This World
  3. To Love Somebody
  4. Summertime
  5. Try (Just A Little Bit Harder)
  6. Kosmic Blues
  7. Can’t Turn You Loose
  8. Work Me Lord
  9. Piece Of My Heart
  10. Ball And Chain
  1. Heaven And Hell
  2. I Can’t Explain
  3. It’s A Boy
  4. 1921
  5. Amazing Journey
  6. Sparks
  7. Eyesight To The Blind
  8. Cristmas
  9. Tommy Can You Hear Me?
  10. Acid Queen
  11. Pinball Wizard
  12. (Abbie Hoffman Incident)
  13. Fiddle About
  14. There’s A Doctor I’ve Found
  15. Go To The Mirror Boy
  16. Smash The Mirror
  17. I’m Free
  18. Tommy’s Holiday Camp
  19. We’re Not Gonna Take It
  20. See Me Feel Me
  21. Summertime Blues
  22. Shakin’ All Over
  23. My Generation
  24. Naked Eye

Woodstock Day Three: August 17, 1969

  1. Somebody To Love
  2. The Other Side Of This Life
  3. Plastic Fantastic Lover
  4. Volunteers
  5. Saturday Afternoon/Won’t You Try
  6. Eskimo Blues Day
  7. Uncle Sam’s Blues
  8. White Rabbit
  1. Delta Lady
  2. Some Things Going On
  3. Let’s Go Get Stoned
  4. I Shall Be Released
  5. With A Little Help From My Friends
  1. Barry’s Caviar Dream
  2. Not So Sweet Martha Lorraine
  3. Rock And Soul Music
  4. Thing Called Love
  5. Love Machine
  6. Fish Cheer/I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixing-To-Die-Rag
  1. Good Morning Little Schoolgirl
  2. I Can’t Keep From Crying Sometimes
  3. I May Be Wrong, But I Won’t Be
  4. Wrong Always
  5. Hear Me Calling
  6. I’m Going Home
  1. Chest Fever
  2. Baby Don’t Do It
  3. Tears Of Rage
  4. We Can Talk
  5. Long Black Veil
  6. Don’t You Tell Me Henry
  7. Ain’t No More Cane
  8. Wheels On Fire
  9. Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever
  10. The Weight

Woodstock Day Four: August 18, 1969

  1. More And More
  2. I Love You Baby More Than You Ever Know
  3. Spinning Wheel
  4. I Stand Accused
  5. Something Coming On
  1. Mama, Talk To Your Daughter
  2. To Tell The Truth
  3. Johnny B Goode
  4. Six Feet In The Ground
  5. Leland Mississippi Blues/Rock Me Baby
  6. Mean Mistreater (with Edgar Winter)
  7. Tobacco Road (with Edgar Winter)
  8. Mean Town Blues
  1. Suite: Judy Blue Eyes
  2. Blackbird
  3. Helplessly Hoping
  4. Guinnevere
  5. Marrakesh Express
  6. 4+20
  7. Mr Soul
  8. Wonderin’
  9. You Don’t Have To Cry
  10. Pre-Road Downs
  11. Long Time Gone
  12. Bluebird
  13. Sea Of Madness
  14. Wooden Ships
  15. Find The Cost Of Freedom
  16. 49 Bye-Byes
  1. Everything’s Gonna Be Alright
  2. Driftin’
  3. Born Under A Bad Sign
  4. All My Love Comin’ Through To You
  5. Love March
  1. Na Na Theme
  2. Jackety Jack
  3. Teen Angel
  4. Jailhouse Rock
  5. Wipe Out
  6. Who Wrote The Book Of Love
  7. Duke Of Earl
  8. At The Hop
  9. Na Na Theme

Woodstock 1969 Mac Os Catalina

  1. Message To Love
  2. Hear My Train A Comin’
  3. Spanish Castle Magic
  4. Red House
  5. Master Mind
  6. Here Comes Your Lover Man
  7. Foxy Lady
  8. Beginning
  9. Izabella
  10. Gypsy Woman
  11. Fire
  12. Voodoo Child/Stepping Stone
  13. Star Spangled Banner
  14. Purple Haze
  15. Woodstock Improvisation/Villanova Junction
  16. Hey Joe

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