Grateful Dead

I thought about this as a new topic because I watched the movie again the other day and was just wondering where we all drifted off to over the years. I was twenty years old in Oct '74 and lucky enough to have gone to the shows although I didn't catch the full run. After hearing rumors the boys might be going into retirement I knew I had to catch the last shows. I was living in Huntington Beach (in Southern Cal) at the time so I grabbed my backpack, a pocketful of change and hitch hiked to San Francisco. I took me three days to get there, which was unusual. In those days it was fairly easy to catch a ride in one long day, but it took me a whole day just to get through LA to Santa Barbara, another day to get to Big Sur and then the third day to get into The City for the last 3 shows. I got lucky and scored tickets for Fri Sat and Sun from a head with some extras (yes, miracles definately do happen!). I don't remember too much of the shows (due to exaggerated happiness) but I do remember cameras and film crew. I didn't want to be on camera or be interviewed (shyness and mild paranoia!) so I did my best to dance off into the crowd whenever they were heading in my direction. I do recognize a lot of the folks in the movie, not by name of couse but by their happy faces. Winterland will always hold special memories for me because it was such a magical building. The balcony would seem like it was bouncing when everyone was really rockin' and the spiral stairwells had their own unique acoustics that really reverberated with sound. And of couse it had it's own smell! And the bathrooms!! Probably the worst bathrooms on the planet but that's another story! If you can find a copy of the movie "Get Crazy" it's pretty close to the Winterland experience. Also the Kaiser in Oakland is almost identical to Winterland except it's a little bigger. Anyway if you were in the movie, either interviewed or just filmed flipping and flopping with the music it would be interesting to know who you are and a little bit about yourself and where life has taken you over the years. "Unusual travel suggestions are dancing lessons from God" ... ... the Books of Bokonon

and the girl who went outside but left her ticket inside - - - - - - - - - - - - - - http://spanishsunshinedaydream.blogspot.com/ http://www.facebook.com/photos.php?id=633338979 Spanish Jam

We were sitting here watching the film and thought it be an awesome story to hear how those people are! It' might not have been their shining moment, but still! I missed seeing the Dead, but have been to many other shows where I've felt as amazing as them- especially the dancers! Any news? I'd love to hear about the royalties guy too! :) l8 k8

I would love to see that guy who complained about being filmed make an appearance. I wonder if his attitude has changed?

That movie was filmed before I had ever heard of the Dead!!! Everyone looks so young and fit!!! It would be grate to hear from some of the players!!! Good idea!

I've actually had more than one person ask me it I was the Phone Call Guy. There was some physical resemblance, and on certain occasions I suspect there may have been Other Resemblances as well. Really, how many of us haven't felt like that guy at one point or another? But the truth is nope, it ain't me. I wonder if he's gotten his space together yet? Conversation is always more interesting than recitation, so speak your mind and not someone else's.

... the guy who did the Grateful Dead rap thing. Mama ate a diesel so bad.... Brings a smile to my face each and every time I hear that!

I just like the opening animation. In fact, I think I much prefer animation in general to realism. The motorcycling skeleton, all that good stuff. My friend's husband ran around outside of RFK in August '95 taping people and interviewing them for his own little GD movie. it really hadn't changed all that much in some respects, and the responses to his questions were hilarious. Characters everywhere, and he has great footage of the drum scene under the overpass. it was my next to last show : ( but he captured a bit of it. Ami

I remember seeing the dude who rolled the doobie in the movie at a show in Chapel Hill back in 1993 running around with an all access laminant. I was like "damn, I know that dude from somewhere" and then when I watched the VHS tape (back then) I remembered it was him. SKIya Alfred If you get confused, listen to the music play.

I always thought some of Bill Murray's SNL characters (or even Carl Spackler) was based, in part, on that one scene of Parish onstage when they brought the crew up and he yelled out: "Yer the best damn audience ever!!" I wonder what become of that little girl with the kaleidoscope eyes whose mother was spinning away nearby. She must be about my age (43).

i agree with that one-murray's character(s) reallly remind me of steve, or at least his voice nothing left to do but smile, smile, smile

great idea for a topic, as an in the darkie, i was not on the scene before it was inundated with party revellers ( Hampton '86 gave me a taste of it, but alas no ticket, and 50 girls standing on the fountain with their finger in the air led me to dispair...not getting into this show) Good luck !

....to get my space together before I go to the show" "they promised they'd play....shit...man" coupla favorite quotes :) "In a bed, in a bed, by the waterside I will lay my head. Listen to the river sing sweet songs, to rock my soul."

I want to meet chiclets guy and give him a high five and nom on some chiclets with him all the colorful heads are always one of my favorite parts of the film

I was there for the 2nd night in the Dean Dome that year. Yeah, so I missed the Here Comes Sunshine opener, but seem to recall hearing it played on the radio live? (Or did I make that up?)

Amazing story, granfalloon! I would love to help create a documentary with this topic. Anybody with mad filmmaking skills interested in assisting me in this endeavor? {~};=}

I probably saw that dude in 1981 at Oak Civic Aud. - 12-31-81. It could probably be confirmed. He is very significant in the GD Movie. It must be known who that guy is, but it doesn't really matter, it's just nice to say what a cool character he is. I imagine he was in Bill Graham's employ... I saw him about 7 years later in Oakland Civic Auditorium.

He was just working the exit to the southwest stairs after the third set - I started out with my gear from the coat room, the band had done three sets after all, but he had the skinny and hipped me - don't leave, buddy they're coming back out - huh? another set... really? yeah, and look, he said pointing to the sign, no in's/outs "and it's really cold and rainy outside".

Needless to say I stayed.

To the, "Have your ticket out and ready, guy" - Thank you - you know who you are.
You got me to stick around to see and that Dark Star>Bertha >GoodLovin'.... 4th set.
Mike.

I just watched this movie again... and Really?? Have all those people/heads in the movie moved on to greener pastures?? There had to have been like 20 folks they either interviewed, had close-ups of dancers, spinners, randos, air guitar dude, etc.. No one is around anymore? Don't they know that they are stars in our eyes? I miss them all!