Grateful Dead

Fillmore East Late Show supplementary notes

by Jesse Jarnow

The Fillmore East was only open for a bit longer than three years, but earned its legendary status as a music venue. Before then, the venue was known as the Village Theater, and--after Bill Graham left in 1971--a variety of promoters put on shows there, billing the space alternately as the New Fillmore East, the N.F.E. Theatre, the Village East, and the Villageast.

Allan Arkush was a Fillmore East usher stage crew member from just after the venue’s opening in 1968 through the venue’s closing in 1971. Allan would go on to an illustrious career in film and television, including the stone classic Rock ‘n’ Roll High School. As an NYU film student, he bonded with Jerry Garcia over their love of classic films, monster movies, and sci-fi. When Allan moved to Los Angeles and began his film career, the two convened at Allan’s place for movie nights. For viewing, consult YouTube or your local listings.

Movie night with Allan Arkush and Jerry Garcia:

The Old Dark House (dir. James Whale, 1932)

I introduced [Jerry] to this really strange but classic Universal monster movie.

Only Angels Have Wings (dir. Howard Hawks, 1939)

Hellzapoppin’ (dir. H.C. Potter, 1941)

The movie equivalent of the Kool-Aid Acid Test but like a Marx Brothers comedy. You must see what made Jerry and Steve roar. The greatest Lindy Hop dance number ever. Incomparable

Them! (dir. Gordon Douglas, 1954)

Seven Samurai (dir. Akira Kurosawa, 1954)

The Hidden Fortress (dir. Akira Kurosawa, 1958)

Kurosawa’s The Seven Samurai was one of Jerry’s favorites and when he got a Laser Disc player I gave him a gift of Kurosawa’s The Hidden Fortress because George Lucas got the idea for the characters of C3PO and R2D2 from two servants on a mission in this movie.

8 1/2 (dir. Federico Fellini, 1963)

Shogun (TV mini series, 1980)

Once when Jerry was in town he was completely addicted to the mini series Shogun. Without the VCR we all had to run back to his hotel to watch it in real time. He loved his Japanese Samurai action.

For more of Allan’s Picks, check out his Criterion Top 10.