tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195590583641426943.post6363998422690957878..comments2024-03-26T23:10:34.814-07:00Comments on Grateful Dead Sources: October 6, 1966: The Panhandle, San FranciscoLight Into Asheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06943335142002007213noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195590583641426943.post-88706103600559347312024-02-12T14:08:07.014-08:002024-02-12T14:08:07.014-08:00I added another article on the Love Pageant Rally,...I added another article on the Love Pageant Rally, this one from the SF State College paper the Daily Gater. It drips with contempt for the whole scene, and fails to mention the Dead. (The Gater could be rather hostile toward hippies & new rock bands, sounding more like a mainstream paper - one student editor's only comment on the "Greatful Dead's" appearance at the college the previous week was that their musical career depended on "their flowing locks.") <br /><br />A letter to the editor rightfully complained about the piece, and pointed out that the Dead and "members of the Electric Symphony" also played at the rally (this was the original name of the Orkustra, aka the Electronic Chamber Orchestra). Other bands also appeared - in the film clip you can see a brief glimpse of a black jazz band (maybe the Joe Henderson Quartet?).Light Into Asheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06943335142002007213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195590583641426943.post-39414144330006940742017-03-10T01:39:38.703-08:002017-03-10T01:39:38.703-08:00Another article setting the context for a Dead per...Another article setting the context for a Dead performance in the park, this one also doesn't say anything about the Dead. <br />It's a very distant perspective - "the visitor from Omaha," as it were, the middle-American representative looking with condescension on these unreal wildly-clad weirdos, these "tourist attractions." This reporter sees the scene from the outside - traffic jam, bemused cops, passersby, demonstrators - but doesn't have any interest in why this "happening" is going on. <br />He gathers that LSD had been illegal for a year, but his reporting skills failed him - it was made illegal that day, and this event was something of a protest/celebration announced by the Oracle. It seems only hundreds of people came, rather than the thousands of later legend, but enough to make an impression. This reporter sees them rather sarcastically, struck by the "glassy-eyed adults" and dogs in "psychedelic gear," and he seems amused by the "advocates of love, freedom, and trust" who "let loose their spontaneous feelings of joy and love for everything and everybody" and send a "token of affection" to the mayor. (He doesn't openly say that this is a pro-LSD crowd, but makes it obvious.) <br /><br />The only thing said about the "throbbing rock" music is that it drives a young nurse wild. <br />At this point Kesey and his bus were much more well-known than the bands. Kesey was then on the run from the law, but popping up here and there to tease the authorities and to announce his "acid graduation ceremony" at the end of the month. <br /><br />The Oracle had printed "A Prophecy of a Declaration of Independence," stating that people must "cease to recognize the obsolete social patterns which have isolated man from his consciousness and to create with the youthful energies of the world revolutionary communities of harmonious relations," and that everyone had the right to "the freedom of body, the pursuit of joy, and the expansion of consciousness," and that "we the citizens of the earth declare our love and compassion for all conflicting hate-carrying men and women of the world."<br />Their announcement: <br />"The first translation of this prophecy into political action will take place October 6, 1966. (666... The mark of the ascension of the beast.) The date that the California law prohibiting the possession of L.S.D. comes into effect, the day of the fear-produced legislation against the expansion of consciousness.<br />At 2:00 in the Panhandle at Masonic and Oak, we will gather in a love-pageant rally...to affirm our identity, community, and innocence from influence of the fear addiction of the general public as symbolized in this law. <br />Copies of the prophecy of our Declaration of independence, living morning glory plants and mushrooms will be presented at 2:00 P.M. to San Francisco Mayor Shelley at City Hall [and an attorney general and police captain]... <br />Bring the color gold...bring photos of personal saints and gurus and heroes of the underground...bring children...flowers...flutes...drums...feathers...bands...beads...banners flags incense chimes gongs cymbals symbols costumes...bring joy." Light Into Asheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06943335142002007213noreply@blogger.com