SUMMER JAM at WATKINS GLEN
THE DOCUMENTARY
Summer Jam at Watkins Glen was an outdoor rock concert that occurred 50 years ago in upstate New York on July, 28th 1973. It featured The Allman Brothers Band, The Grateful Dead, and The Band. 150,000 tickets were put on sale at $10 apiece, which included parking and camping. Even though there were only 150,000 actual ticketholders, over 600,000 young hippies descended upon the small town of Watkins Glen, shutting down the New York State Thruway and causing absolute gridlock on the local roads.
It made the Guinness Book of World Records as the
LARGEST CROWD EVER FOR A PAID CONCERT !
FOR THOSE WHO MADE THE TRIP TO WATKINS GLEN, IT WAS A SHARED ADVENTURE AND AN IMPORTANT MOMENT IN HISTORY.
Young people from all over the country flocked to upstate New York to spend a nice weekend camping with friends and listening to the music of
​
The Grateful Dead, The Allman Brothers, and The Band.
© Louis Welsh
It was also THE largest audience EVER for a public gathering in the United States. It's estimated that one in every 350 people in America attended Summer Jam at Watkins Glen!
Petu Duperron
The year was 1973. Pop culture was dominating the arts. The Vietnam War was ending - the Paris Peace Accord was signed; troops were coming home. Watergate was in the news daily. American youth fought against "the establishment" but were connected in purpose with each other - with great togetherness and harmony. Hippiedom was widespread, yet many who might not have termed themselves hippies a few years before, now shared the sensibilities of that movement: peace, love, and rock n roll, with long hair and drugs. Music itself was peaking, and Jam Bands were particularly popular. Young people loved the music, and they loved these three bands. And the bands loved them back.
© Suki Coughlin
Summer Jam promoters Jim Koplik and Shelly Finkel saw the size of the crowd descending on the town of Watkins Glen. Bill Graham advised them: "Open the gates." They did. Many fans walked 8 or more miles from where they had parked or abandoned their cars. Walking a long distance to the show - together - became part of the experience. Despite the record-sized crowd (way larger than Woodstock), and intense summer heat, people were patient and peaceful. There were very few altercations.
"Watkins Glen Summer Jam was the hippies' greatest success."
-Sam Cutler, Tour Manager for the Grateful Dead in his final interview.
"Thanks for everything. Rest Easy, Sam!" — 3/20/43 - 7/11/23