Final Month of Watkins Glen Exhibition at Bahr Gallery

What was bigger than Woodstock? The Summer Jam at Watkins Glen! 50 years ago this past summer, the Grateful Dead, The Band and The Allman Brothers Band played to more than 600,000 fans in an epic one-day concert, July 28, 1973. To commemorate the event, the Bahr Gallery in Oyster Bay, New York has been running an Exhibition on Watkins Glen featuring the original poster used to sell tickets, and other vintage posters featuring the three bands that made it happen.

The Exhibition runs through December 31 and is open Friday and Saturday afternoons and other times by appointment.

Original Watkins Glen poster, 1973, with directions on how to get there and where to buy tickets

So, why was this particular concert so big? First, live rock and roll, which emerged as a cottage industry in 1966 and became big business after Woodstock, had taken over the landscape. The Allman Brothers were at the peak of their powers, surviving the loss of their leader Duane Allman and bassist Berry Oakley and were soon (August 1973) to have their first Top Ten single in “Ramblin’ Man.”

The Dead had been steadily expanding their dedicated fan base of Deadheads while people were still playing their acclaimed live triple album, Europe ’72. Additionally, their extensive touring history of 64 shows in the northeast and middle Atlantic states over the past two and a half years certainly didn’t hurt.

In the meantime, The Band had established a reputation for rare live performances, having not played any shows in the previous 19 months. This further contributed to their considerable mystique, and added to their allure.

Meanwhile, by mid-1973, the youth of the nation had grown tired of being politically active. Many had tasted the partial victory of seeing some peace in Vietnam (ceasefire was declared January 28, 1973 although, as we know, it wasn’t quite over) and felt it was enough. The word most commonly associated with the Watkins Glen festival, according to those reporters who covered the event, was “party.” For some young people, Watkins Glen was an opportunity to experience a rock festival in an abbreviated fashion, and they relished every minute of it. Plus – if you missed Woodstock….you HAD to be there!

Some of the more important posters hanging in the Bahr Gallery exhibition include a first printing 1969 Aoxomoxoa, the 1980 Radio City poster, an original Skeletons & Roses poster from 1966, a 1974 Wall of Sound-era poster for the Dead in Philadelphia and an ultra-rare first print 1968 Hawaiian Aoxomoxoa, of which only about 30 exist in the world.

First print 1969 Aoxomoxoa concert poster by Rick Griffin that the Dead liked so much they asked the artist to repurpose it for their third album cover!

First printing Skeleton & Roses poster by Stanley Mouse & Alton Kelley, 1966

Rare Allman Brothers posters include 1970 Boston Tea Party and Fillmore West posters when the Allmans still had Duane and Berry Oakley, and a rare 1972 Macon City poster for the first shows the band played after losing founding member Duane Allman in a motorcycle accident.

Allman Brothers and Marshall Tucker Band poster from 1973 by David Singer

The Band posters include pre- and post-“Last Waltz” posters and the 1969 Fillmore West poster for their first ever live shows.

Exhibition curator and gallery owner Ted Bahr noted, “Every one of these posters is full of history and we love telling the stories that bring this amazing art – and the period – back to life for visitors.”

Poster by Randy Tuten for The Band at Winterland, 1969, their first live concerts ever

All of the works in the Exhibition are available for sale and may be viewed on the Bahr Gallery website under the “band” menu tab.

Visiting the Bahr Gallery is free. More information is available on their website www.bahrgallery.com or from Curator/Owner Ted Bahr ted@bahrgallery.com 516-283-1967. 95 Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay, NY 11771

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[Sponsored content: Bahr Gallery is a JamBase partner.]