How much rock would a Woodstock stock if

Published July 23, 2009 at 2:42 p.m.
Three-day festival of peace and music
Hopes are high among the quartet of rock entrepreneurs – John Roberts, Joel Roseman, Michael Land, and Arnie Kornfeld – who think they can succeed where George Wein, Newport promoter, has not...

Crews set up the stage at Woodstock 1969

This article originally appeared in the July 23, 1969 issue of the Boston Phoenix

Can a Pop Festival, in its first year, find happiness and success as a "three-day festival of peace and music"? Can the Woodstock Music and Art Fair present "An Aquarian Exposition" in Wallkill, N.Y. August 15-17 and avoid the riots and near-riots which have plagued the Newport (California and Rhode Island) Festivals, and which caused the town of Newport, R.I. to cancel the premiere of Blind Faith? Can Woodstock Ventures, Inc. "do something right"?

READ: Woodsock rock schlock. By Ken Emerson  Sex, Drugs, Rock and Peace. By Al Giordano  Interview: Michael Lang. By Rob Turbovsky

Hopes are high among the quartet of rock entrepreneurs – John Roberts, Joel Roseman, Michael Land, and Arnie Kornfeld – who think they can succeed where George Wein, Newport promoter, has not.

"Sure, we're worried, because you always worry when there are that many people," says sales representative Salvatore Scaltro. The festival has collected $225,000 in ticket subscriptions so far: "no festival has ever done the advance sale this one has," says Mr. Scaltro. There will be an anticipated crowd of 100,000 fans per night. (Brochures are available by writing Box 966, Radio City Station, New York. Tickets are on sale in Boston at Krackerjacks, Headquarters, Freaque, Boutique.

The problem of handling overflow crowds is one that has seriously plagued the Newport Festivals. Woodstock Ventures hopes to correct some of the tension-making situations in advance. Space will be available – and easily accessible. The festival promoters have appropriated 60 acres of land in Wallkill (6 miles from Middletown, N.Y.).

The site was moved from Woodstock in consideration of city ordinances. There will be approximately 12 gates where tickets will be sold, but the crush at the gate to get in to the concert will be eliminated by transporting people from the parking lot to the music site via a fleet of 120 buses.

"Everything we'll need is on the grounds," according to Mr. Scaltro. About 200 acres have been allocated for camping sites, and some area hotels and motels have agreed to welcome the crowd. At the festival site electricity and sanitary facilities will be provided, and there will be concessions selling everything from food to clothing to camping equipment. There will even be an information and service booth to accommodate people with problems and complaints.

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