History UsefulNotes / Woodstock

In the Summer of '69, a couple of extremely rich young men wanted to create something they could invest in related to entertainment, art, and creativity. After initially planning a TV series and an artists' colony, they decided to hold an outdoor festival in a field, with a few big-name acts. After a long fight to secure a venue, they made a deal with dairy farmer Max Yasgur for the use of his 600-acre property in Bethel, New York. The festival, held on the weekend of August 15–17, 1969, was called the Woodstock Music & Art Fair.

In the Summer of '69, a couple of extremely rich young men wanted to create something they could invest in related to entertainment, art and creativity. After initially planning a TV series and an artists' colony, they decided to hold an outdoor festival in a field, with a few big-name acts. After a long fight to secure a venue, they made a deal with dairy farmer Max Yasgur for the use of his 600-acre property in Bethel, New York. The festival, held on the weekend of August 15–17, 1969, was called the Woodstock Music & Art Fair.

* In the ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'' episode "[[Recap/StarTrekVoyagerS2E18DeathWish Death Wish]]", it is revealed that, after receiving a lift from a member of the Q Continuum later known as Quinn, the tower three spotlight operator Maury Ginsburg noticed that an extension cord had been disconnected and reconnected it. [[ForWantOfANail Had he not noticed it, the festival would not have been able to go ahead as the entire sound system had failed.]]

!!References in fiction:

In the Summer of '69, a couple of extremely rich young men wanted to create something they could invest in related to entertainment, art and creativity. After initially planning a TV series and an artists' colony, they decided to hold an outdoor festival in a field, with a few big-name acts. After a long fight to secure a venue, they made a deal with dairy farmer Max Yasgur for the use of his 600-acre property in Bethel, New York. The festival, held on the weekend of August 15–17, 1969, was called the Woodstock Music and Art Fair.

The festival was filmed and turned into the documentary [[{{Film/Woodstock}} of the same name]], which proved so big a box office hit that its earnings more than paid off the losses from the festival itself. Besides the famous original three-record vinyl album and the followup two-record set ''Woodstock Two'', there have been several CD box sets, multiple DVD and Blu-ray releases of the film (the latest version is 2014's, which presents all the footage in HD and includes interviews, radio coverage and art), and the independent, unauthorized ''[[https://woodstock.fandom.com/wiki/Woodstock_Complete Woodstock Complete]]'' project.

The festival's original location is currently home to The Bethel Woods Center For the Arts. When visiting, be sure to check out its [[http://www.bethelwoodscenter.org/the-museum honest-to-goodness Woodstock Museum]], which gives an in-depth look at the '60s counter-culture that birthed the event, as well as the events leading up to it.

The festival was filmed and turned into the documentary [[{{Film/Woodstock}} of the same name]], which proved so big a box office hit that its earnings more than paid off the losses from the festival itself. Besides the famous original three-record vinyl album and the followup two-record set ''Woodstock Two'', there have been several CD box sets, several DVD releases of the film, and the independent, unauthorized ''[[https://woodstock.fandom.com/wiki/Woodstock_Complete Woodstock Complete]]'' project. The latest version is 2014's which includes interviews, radio coverage and art.

But, at the same time, the festival was heralded for its sense of peace and community. The crowd was so well-behaved over the three days that even mainstream media like ''[[UsefulNotes/AmericanNewspapers The New York Times]]'' and ''Magazine/{{Time|Magazine}}'' magazine praised the event for being so orderly. People were getting along and showing love to each other. And, of course, the roster of musical artists was impressive, including Music/TheWho, Music/JimiHendrix, Music/JanisJoplin, Music/CrosbyStillsNashAndYoung, Music/JoeCocker, Music/{{Santana}}, Music/TheBand, Music/TheGratefulDead, Music/JeffersonAirplane, Music/SlyAndTheFamilyStone, Music/CreedenceClearwaterRevival, Music/JoanBaez, Music/RaviShankar, and Music/ShaNaNa to name a few.

But, at the same time, the festival was heralded for its sense of peace and community. The crowd was so well-behaved over the three days that even mainstream media like ''[[UsefulNotes/AmericanNewspapers The New York Times]]'' and ''Magazine/{{Time|Magazine}}'' magazine praised the event for being so orderly. People were getting along and showing love to each other. Not only that, but the roster of musical artists was impressive, including Music/TheWho, Music/JimiHendrix, Music/JanisJoplin, Music/CrosbyStillsNashAndYoung, Music/JoeCocker, Music/{{Santana}}, Music/TheBand, Music/TheGratefulDead, Music/JeffersonAirplane, Music/SlyAndTheFamilyStone, Music/CreedenceClearwaterRevival, Music/JoanBaez, Music/RaviShankar, and Music/ShaNaNa to name a few.

But, at the same time, the festival was noted for its sense of peace and community. The crowd was so well-behaved over the three days that even mainstream media like ''[[UsefulNotes/AmericanNewspapers The New York Times]]'' and ''Magazine/{{Time|Magazine}}'' magazine praised the event for being so orderly. People were getting along and showing love to each other. Not only that, but the roster of musical artists was impressive, including Music/TheWho, Music/JimiHendrix, Music/JanisJoplin, Music/CrosbyStillsNashAndYoung, Music/JoeCocker, Music/{{Santana}}, Music/TheBand, Music/TheGratefulDead, Music/JeffersonAirplane, Music/SlyAndTheFamilyStone, Music/CreedenceClearwaterRevival, Music/JoanBaez, Music/RaviShankar, and Music/ShaNaNa to name a few.

In many ways, Woodstock was a giant catastrophe. The various artists couldn't get to the concert site and had to be flown in. Food and other facilities were ostensibly planned for 50,000 (even though the aforementioned 100,000 tickets had been sold), but city councilmen and others noted that the provisions weren't even sufficient for that number, leading to the National Guard airlifting in food and water by helicopter. There was lots of rain and a giant thunderstorm struck, shutting things down for hours, and two people accidentally died[[note]] plus one from a burst appendix, but that probably would have happened anyway[[/note]].

** Melanie[[note]]Folkie whose BreakthroughHit came in 1970 with a song she wrote about Woodstock, "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)". She is still around as of 2020 and still performing, often with her children.[[/note]]

In the Summer of '69, a couple of extremely rich young men wanted to create something they could invest in related to entertainment, art and creativity. After initially planning a TV series and an artists' colony, they decided to hold an outdoor festival in a field, with a few big-name acts. After a long fight to secure a venue, they made a deal with dairy farmer Max Yasgur for the use of his 600-acre property in Bethel, New York. The festival, held on the weekend of August 15–18, 1969, was called the Woodstock Music and Art Fair.

But, at the same time, the festival was noted for its sense of peace. The crowd was so peaceful over the three days that even mainstream media like ''[[UsefulNotes/AmericanNewspapers The New York Times]]'' and ''Magazine/{{Time|Magazine}}'' magazine praised the event for being so orderly with a well-behaved audience. People were getting along and showing love to each other. Not only that, but the roster of musical artists was impressive, including Music/TheWho, Music/JimiHendrix, Music/JanisJoplin, Music/CrosbyStillsNashAndYoung, Music/JoeCocker, Music/{{Santana}}, Music/TheBand, Music/TheGratefulDead, Music/JeffersonAirplane, Music/SlyAndTheFamilyStone, Music/CreedenceClearwaterRevival, Music/JoanBaez, Music/RaviShankar, and Music/ShaNaNa to name a few.

Originally tickets were sold by mail and through magazine ads, with plans to sell more at the door. Over 100,000 tickets were sold, but people started arriving several days early, before the fence and ticket gates were completed; faced with the choice between completing the stage and completing the fence, the promoters decided to get the stage in order and call it a free concert. With such an open invitation in place, over 500,000 people are believed to have shown up. Then {{it got worse}}.

Woodstock was a giant catastrophe: The bands couldn't get to the concert and had to be flown in. Food and other facilities were ostensibly planned for 50,000 (even though the aforementioned 100,000 tickets had been sold), but city councilmen and others noted that the provisions weren't even sufficient for that number, leading to the National Guard airlifting in food and water by helicopter. There was lots of rain and a giant thunderstorm struck, shutting things down for hours, and two people accidentally died[[note]] plus one from a burst appendix, but that probably would have happened anyway[[/note]].

But at the same time the festival was noted for its sense of peace. The crowd was so peaceful over the three days that even mainstream media like ''[[UsefulNotes/AmericanNewspapers The New York Times]]'' and ''Magazine/{{Time|Magazine}}'' magazine praised the event for being so orderly with a well-behaved audience. People were getting along and showing love to each other. Not only that, but the roster of musical artists was impressive, including Music/TheWho, Music/JimiHendrix, Music/JanisJoplin, Music/CrosbyStillsNashAndYoung, Music/JoeCocker, Music/{{Santana}}, Music/TheBand, Music/TheGratefulDead, Music/JeffersonAirplane, Music/SlyAndTheFamilyStone, Music/CreedenceClearwaterRevival, Music/JoanBaez, Music/RaviShankar, and Music/ShaNaNa to name a few.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/{{Animaniacs}}'' short "Woodstock Slappy", Slappy Squirrel and her nephew Skippy go to spend a quiet weekend in a tree in the country in 1969, not knowing that it's on the Woodstock concert site. Awoken by the cacophony, an incredibly-annoyed Slappy tries to end the concert, memorably getting into an extended WhosOnFirst argument with Skippy over the names of Music/TheWho, Music/TheBand and Music/{{Yes}} (who Skippy kept pointing out wasn't even at the festival). Besides The Who, it also features NoCelebritiesWereHarmed versions of Music/JoeCocker, Country Joe [=McDonald=] and Melanie (and a very brief appearance of a Music/JimiHendrix caricature).

Originally tickets were sold by mail and through magazine ads, with plans to sell more at the door. Over 100,000 tickets were sold, but people started arriving several days early, before the fence and ticket gates were completed; faced with the choice between completing the stage and completing the fence, the promoters decided to get the stage in order and call it a free concert. With such an open invitation in place, over 500,000 people are believed to have shown up. Then it got worse.

Woodstock was a giant catastrophe: The bands couldn't get to the concert and had to be flown in. Food and other facilities were ostensibly planned for 50,000 (even though the aforementioned 100,000 tickets had been sold), but city councilmen and others noted that the provisions weren't even sufficient for that number, leading to the National Guard airlifting in food and water by helicopter. There was lots of rain and a giant storm struck, shutting it down for hours and two people accidentally died[[note]] plus one from a burst appendix, but that probably would have happened anyway[[/note]].

But at the same time the festival was noted for its sense of peace. The crowd was so peaceful over the three days that even the mainstream media like ''The New York Times'' praised the event for being so orderly with a well behaved audience. People were getting along and showing love to each other. Not only that, but the roster of artists was impressive, including Music/TheWho, Music/JimiHendrix, Music/JanisJoplin, Music/CrosbyStillsNashAndYoung, Music/JoeCocker, Music/{{Santana}}, Music/TheBand, Music/TheGratefulDead, Music/JeffersonAirplane, Music/SlyAndTheFamilyStone, Music/CreedenceClearwaterRevival, Music/JoanBaez, Music/RaviShankar, and Music/ShaNaNa to name a few.

[[quoteright:310:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/woodstock_1969_poster.jpg]]

In the Summer of '69, a couple of extremely rich young men wanted to create something they could invest in related to entertainment, art and creativity. After initially planning a TV series and an artists' colony, they decided to hold a festival in a field, with a few big name acts. After a long fight to get it done, they got a deal with farmer Max Yasgur. The festival, held on the weekend of August 15–18, 1969, was called the Woodstock Music and Art Fair.

But at the same time the festival was noted for its sense of peace. The crowd was so peaceful over the three days that even the mainstream media like ''The New York Times'' praised the event for being so orderly with a well behaved audience. People were getting along and showing love to each other. Not only that, but the roster of artists were great. These included Music/TheWho, Music/JimiHendrix, Music/JanisJoplin, Music/CrosbyStillsNashAndYoung, Music/JoeCocker, Music/{{Santana}}, Music/TheBand, Music/TheGratefulDead, Music/JeffersonAirplane, Music/SlyAndTheFamilyStone, Music/CreedenceClearwaterRevival, Music/JoanBaez, Music/RaviShankar, and Music/ShaNaNa to name a few.

But at the same time the festival was noted for its sense of peace. The crowd was so peaceful over the three days that even the mainstream media like ''The New York Times'' praised the event for being so orderly with a well behaved audience. People were getting along and showing love to each other. Not only that, but the roster of artists were great. These included Music/TheWho, Music/TheBand, Music/JanisJoplin, Music/CrosbyStillsNashAndYoung, Music/CannedHeat, Music/TenYearsAfter, Music/JoeCocker, Music/{{Santana}}, Music/TheGratefulDead, Music/CreedenceClearwaterRevival, Music/JoanBaez and Music/JimiHendrix, to name a few.