Atl Con July 5, 1969 pg. 6A

Polite at Pop Festival

Music Fans Stay Orderly

Despite Heat, Wine, Drugs

By Paul Beeman

Atlanta Journal-Constitution Staff Writer

HAMPTON, Ga. - Except for the music, Atlanta international Raceway, scene of the Atlanta International Pope Festival, remained quiet as the two-day event featuring some of the top names in rock music drew to a close.

Sightseers and spectators continued to arrive until well after dark to view the final acts which included Janis Joplin and the Blood, Sweat and Tears, two of the event's star attractions.

The audience was reasonably well-behaved, despite several rumors circulating. One, presumably false, was that the water supply had been spiked (doped with the hallucinogen LSD).

Several arrests were reported, including one that allegedly involved a member of one of the musical combos.

None of the reports involved narcotics, officers said.

Festival officials estimated some 100,000 persons from many states and Canada attended the event to hear 22 of the top names in pop music.

They came despite temperatures as hot as Friday's which put at least 100 music fans under a .doctor's care for heat prostration.

SOME OF THE crowd were normal in appearance by anybody 's standards-reasonably trimmed hair, button-down shirts with pert little blondes in fraternity sweatshirts by their side. Others looked dressed for a Halloween party or fresh from San Francisco or the Village.

But despite the heat and the effect of to much beer and wine or drugs, they were a polite, orderly, responsive audience.

They said "excuse me" when they stepped on feet as they pushed their way through the mass of 50,000 sprawled brow-to-the bodies of fellow music fans Saturday.

The wide range of fans sometimes was apparent when the announcer read a list of the license tags of illegally parked cars which were about to be impounded.

They came from Maryland, Michigan, Illinois. California, Alberta. Kansas, Montana, and the whole Southeast.

THE CROWD remained settled even though the electric power failed three times during Friday's performance. Several youths were unsuccessful in their attempt to start an obscene chant deriding the Georgia Power Co. They got a big laugh, but the chant died quickly.

Tony Gasses did well by the spectators. He manages the Raceway Package Store about two miles north of the track and he said Friday the store had its biggest day in history.

"Musta had 30,000 of them come through here. I completely ran out of wine.” He said. "They were a better behaved crowd than they get for the races. They're real nice kids. Some of them look funny but they're real nice kids."

Some of the private police who were along with about 20 members of the Henry County sheriff's posse, in charge of security, affirmed Gasses's statement about their behavior.

There were occasional out-bursts in isolated pockets of the vast audience but most were unable to determine what brought them about.

"Somebody's probably nude again.” Was one spectator’s explanation for a shouting gathering at one part of the track infield. Another outburst rang out “Go, go, go.” A college boy was chug-a-lugging a fifth of wine.

The clothing or lack thereof was spectacular.

The announcers messages ranged from, "Don't use drugs there may be narcs (narcotics agents) among you, to “Sally meet Bobby by the main gate after the heat, referring to the Canned Heat. the last group to appear Friday night.

One announcer surprised fans with inspirational message-"Get hip to Jesus. You got to love Jesus, he said.

There was almost an emotional or social line drawn between parts of the crowd and others present. The press was establishment, hired police were establishment, college guys with fraternity sweatshirts and cans of beer were establishment.

The uncoordinated attire of the audience was surpassed by the musicians themselves. Jazz pianist Dave Brubeck. most often seen in a tuxedo, wore a sport shirt. The lead for the Canned Heat. who calls himself "Bear”, and easily weighs 300 pounds, wore no shirt at all. And the drummer with one of the other groups wore no shirt, shoes or trousers. His only bit of clothing was a light blue stretch swim suit.

Brubeck, who said he thought he’d been signed for a jazz festival, got a tremendous response. The audience which applauded raised, hands in the peace shouted for more. Some apparently learned for the first time that progressive jazz can be a groove, too.

POP FESTIVAL REAL SIZZLER; HIPPIES INVADE FARM POND

HAMPTON, Ga.-Pop music lovers here for the festiva1 staged a wade-in Saturday, all but taking over a cattle farmer's three-acre lake in an effort to beat the heat.

The lake where E. M. Fortson generally waters his cattle suddenly became a haven for hippies seeking relief from the July heat. Fortson said efforts to keep the lake clear of people failed.

"I'm afraid to let the cattle drink the water now" said the distraught farmer. "I bet for sure it's polluted."