All posts by Patrick Edmondson

Hippie Tales

This is the place to collect your memories about Atlanta’s hip community from about 1967 to about 1977 .

“Something happening here. What it is ain’t exactly clear”. Whatta Decade!   How was it for you? 

We need other perspectives to get it right.

What was it like to be a gay man or woman in Atlanta before 1967?

What was it like to be a  hip African American in Lester Maddox Georgia?

What was it like to be a  biracial couple in Lester Maddox Georgia?

We don’t know, but you might be able to tell us.

Did the ch-ch-changes change your life?

Curious minds want to know.

Here is what we want to know to start- (digress freely)

1.When did you first come to Atlanta and what brought you here?

2. When did you first visit The Strip?

3. What was your best experience associated with The Strip and the hip community?

4. What was your worst experience associated with The Strip and the hip community?

5. Did your experiences at that time effect your life? If so, what did you learn or take away from it all?

6. It seems everyone around in that time and place has an Allman Brothers story. Share your Allman Brothers story if you have one please.

Tell us to what name you wish your story accredited. If you wish to use a “street name” or be anonymous, please give us a way to contact you for furthur information.

If you are in the Atlanta area, we can arrange to digitally tape your interview if you prefer.

Where are you now and whatcha doin?

 These were responses we received .

 

Boyd Lewis

Bill Hardin

Arlo

We’ve just met Arlo, as he wishes to be known. He was also on The Strip when it was aborning. But he had a good camera and knew how to use it. He has the only known picture of Middle Earth Headshop as well as the best pictures from July 7, 1969 when The Grateful Dead played a surprise concert in Piedmont Park with several bands that had played the just finished Atlanta Pop Festival.

Carter Tomassi

Carter Tomassi joined the Great Speckled Bird as a photographer simply because since he first arrived in Atlanta he had been on the scene taking pictures of everything. And Carter was a very good photographer. Jan Jackson was an Earth Mother I first met at Oxford College. She moved to Atlanta where she and husband Tom Jones moved into what they helped become The Zoo on 8th at Penn. She befriended Carter at Piedmont Park one Mescaline Sunday and he became a fixture at The Zoo and concerts.

Now Carter maintains a website to show his pictures of Atlanta’s hip community and musical events. His pictures of Byron Pop Festival are the best.

Here is his site www.messyoptics.com

Drop by, say hello from The Strip project and enjoy the views.

 

History of The Strip Project

Ever since the days when Freaks roamed Atlanta, whenever fellow travelers gather, tales have been told. We talked always of forgot, and the gift of a painting of The Strip, put Pat and Patti into action.hookerpic

First there was this site, then there were gatherings and shows at the Mitchell House on The Strip. videos:  2007 Midtown Mixer

 

 

Patti Kunkle 1974 with Richard
Patti Kunkle 1974 with Richard

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2008 Music in Midtown

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAThe Bird Bash 2008 reunion.

Gene Guerrero speaks.

Outside show

 

Speckled Bird AnnouncementA  joint show with The Great Speckled Bird, “The Turbulent Sixties in Atlanta, 1968-1976, a DeKalb Historical Society Exhibit opened May 18, 2011 –  closed April 20, 2012 (420-12) at the 2011 Summer Dekalb History. The Bird has landed in downtown Decatur. This was held over twice and was their largest attended event as of 2014.

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We assisted, through The Atlanta History Center, with a traveling exhibition called 1968. It has been at several locations around the country.

The future is still unfolding and we all continue as irregular verbs.

Electric Ballroom

The Electric Ballroom  was opened in the Georgian terrace by Alex Cooley.

The Turkey Trip was to be at the Duke Tire warehouse at 11th and Peachtree right on the Strip. As often happened, the night before the event the place was hurriedly condemned by the city. The concert was moved to the Georgian Terrace and the price was raised. Many were upset, but the music was fabulous. The Allman Brothers had just released their album and were in high form. The Hampton Grease Band was wonderfully greased. Special guests were Knowbody Else. Their lead singer kept his head down and long locks hanging as he hid beside the drummer. But his growl was like an old bluesman.  Soon after they changed their name to Black Oak Arkansas and the singer emerged with bleached hair, buff naked chest and buckskin pants to prowl the stage as Jim Dandy Mangrum.

The success of this event led to Alex Cooley opening the Electric Ballroom here.

Jim Stewart’s first entry into the Rock Music arena was his engineering/production work on the psychedelic band known as The Knowbody Else. A lucky break came when Phillip Rauls was promoting their STAX record and contacted by the management team of Iron Butterfly inquiring about an opening act for their forthcoming show coming in Memphis. As it turned-out, The Knowbody Else opened the Iron Butterfly’s show and created such a splash with the audience that Iron Butterfy’s band members became impressed and offered the local band a permanent position opening for their U.S. tour. The Knowbody Else then changed their name to Black Oak Arkansas and signed a long term contract with Atlantic Records.