These are some of the events important to the forming community around The Strip. Not in chronological order.
1964 brought The Beatles to Atlanta for the first pop concert with monitors, thanks to inventive local soundman.
February 7, 1964 Bob Dylan concert at Emory University. he returns October 9th and 10th, 1965 at Atlanta Civic Auditorium.
The Jimi Hendrix Experience at the Municipal Auditorium. Hendrix even enamored my mother though she thought he could ‘turn it down a bit’.
Cream came to Chastain Park and inspired local musicians. One account
The Bird Review
2001, the ultimate ‘see it tripping’ movie, was first showing next to the IBM Sales office on Peachtree. Scary to elude HAL, come out of the theater and see IBM bragging about bringing you the future. IBM transposes back one letter into HAL. You regularly saw folks staggering back down Peachtree to 14th lost in discussion of philosophy.
And the Jefferson Airplane brought San Francisco to the Muncipal Auditorium.
Hair invaded the consciousness of everyone. Many like myself eagerly followed the lyrics as we listened and learned of the new culture being born.
Then STOMP brought us a Southern version of Hair out of Texas. The Combine, the Texas acting commune that was STOMP, grew into and influenced the local community. It was headed for Broadway lights. Until it was firebombed in Buckhead.
Cosmic Carnival at Atlanta Stadium
Miller Francis’ Cosmic Rip-Off.
July 7, 1969 The Grateful Dead play Piedmont Park for FREE!
1970 Atlanta/Byron Pop Festival
I ran the General Store, our corporation was Human Improvement Project, Inc. We were on 10th Street across the alley from Cops and Robbers, across 10th Street from Cherokee Fields. 404.312.5166 cell
One integral event not mentioned is the discovery of electricity in the park. IIRC, it was one of the Grease Band [Glenn Phillips] who noticed an electrical outlet by one of the stone walls, put there for the convenience of maintenance folk. The next weekend found him plugged in and playing guitar. As more joined and more listened, the city threw in a portable stage. Sundays would find anywhere from hundreds to thousands gathered about the stage. Not many recall the Allman Brothers’ first appearance led to boos and cries requesting Hampton or Spirogyra instead. We quickly learned to like them, but the initial reaction was, “Who are these guys?”, and “What is that they’re playing?”,
“How many guitar players?”. Many will argue, but judgment and recall were and are
impaired by time and pharmaceutical conditions. I was one of the maybe 14 people
with functioning perception that day.
Was Jimi Hendrix scheduled to play at chastain park? I have a ticket stub but don’t recall seeing him play
1964 did not bring The Beatles to Atlanta. 1965 did. On my birthday. I was there. 😉