Why is it that moviegoers, filmmakers, the press, lovers of live music and tons of other people flock each year to the Woodstock Film Festival each year?
Well, first off, it's the films. There are lots of them. Second off, it's the scene, which is very inviting. And there is also the fall colors, which manage to entice even when the sky is gray and the air is damp, as it is today in Woodstock.
But there is also the magic of Woodstock....that rebellious, artistic spirit from the last two centuries, that drew mavericks and artists of all types to this very special spot of global coordinates.
But in 1969 there was this little festival about 80 miles away, called the 1969 Woodstock Music and Art Fair, that changed America forever, gave the counter-culture their opportunity to draw a line in the sand and delivered three days of pretty incredible music.
The Town of Woodstock, where promoter Michael Lang lives, and whose goal for holding the festival was to raise capital to open a recording studio in Woodstock, has been, for better or worse, living off the reputation of that festival for nearly 40 years. I think that's a great thing. I've done an awful lot of writing and reporting on that festival and it seems to me that just about all the reports, from musicians, organizers, cops who worked there and even a guy I met whose job it was to escort a sandwich truck in each day, while packing heat, are that it went off swimmingly.
Peace. Love. Music. (Or movies!)
Those are good things.
And peace and love were what Grandpa Woodstock was talking about just a few minutes ago at the edge of the village green in Woodstock, where Tinker Street meets Mill Hill Road. He was decked out like a wizard, hand in the air, two fingers outstretched making the peace sign.
I asked him for his name. "Grandpa Woodstock," he tells me. He is 63 and comes from "the other side of the mountain."
I then asked him what was the one thing he remembered the most about the Woodstock festival....his reply, "If you remember Woodstock, you weren't there!"
I asked him what he was doing at the edge of the village green in downtown Woodstock, fingers stretched in the air, with the peace sign..
"Spreading peace and love."
Why?
"That's what the world needs today and that's what Woodstock was all about."
36 comments:
I met Grangpa Woodstock, and he is a wonderfull friendly man, we sat and had lunch 2gather, I learned alot from him, as well as from people who know him. He grew up right here in Bristol Ct, he use to drive a bus and has plenty of family here, and I come to learn he loves Lemon Merange Pie. He had 2 pieces when we enjoyed lunch togather, I am sure glad I met him, cause he gave me plenty to think about and look 4ward 2 in life... jerseyjem@hotmail.com
I was told that this "Grandpa Woodstock" is no more then a bum and that yes he has family in Bristol, but that he left his children and never payed a penny of support for any of them. I also was told that he likes to pick up young girls. All is never quite what it seems to be.
He abused all of his children and they all have psychological problems because of it. He's nothing more than an over-drugged bum.
fuck all of you in brstol ct miss and love red love angel
I've known this man all my life
he's the most thoughtful wonderful person. He loves all his children and others as well. You all know him as Grandpa Woodstock and I know him as Allen Richardson aka Red. He drove Willy and Little Willy and his Bus. I have great memories of him. and He will always be my friend. I love you more then ever
My best friend Red
Love
Angel Starr
grandpa woodstock stayed with me for several months last year. he is a beautiful person with a heart of gold. i will be a lucky man to make more friends as wonderful as he.
He is a loser that is a piece of crap
I met Grandpa at nationals this year and he is the shit!! Such a nice guy, I talked to him several times throughout the gathering and he always had a smile on his face and was always throwing his peace sign. He showed me an old newspaper article with a picure of him on it riding his bike (that was all decked out and had different little carts pulled behind it) across the country. He's awesome **REALITY IS MERELY AN ILLUSION**
great grandpa woodstock is on Route 6 on the day of June 16th 2008 in Wyalusing Pa and is heading to wyoming state to an event and if anyone is going and driving through route 6 hes stuck && would appreciate a ride. he has enough gas money to help
everyone drop your peace pipe grandpa woodstock is stuck in wyalusing pa and needs a ride to the gathering he has money for gas , lend a hand to man with a good cause
Grandpa Woodstock is still stuck in Wyalusing PA, he has been stranded there since Saturday June 14th. His moped is broken down, he is hoping that someone will come by that knows how to fix it so that he can be on his way once again. I was able to visit with him for a while yesterday. He is a wonderful man full of happyness and always has a smile on his face. I feel blessed to have met him. He posed for a vew photos always with the piece sign and always with a smile. He loves to have his photo taken and enjoys meeting new people. If anyone can help him fix his moped please drop by and help or if going his way i am sure he would enjoy a ride.
You people have no clue as to the monster this guy really is. I heard the truth right from his ex-wife! So you think you know someone just because he appears to be one way. You people need to open your eyes and heed the facts. If not, thats on you all!
i read alot about G.Woodstock some good and some bad but hey you never know what some one is like till you know them like really know them and to the Ex-wife coments well how menny people do you really know that talk all nice about the other one there is always hate there so really give it a brak all the people that i have talked to and that i have read it like 90% good to 10%bad so all i have to say is good luck G.woodstock in all you do from some one in laceyvill PA and to any one out ther if your going his way give a hand you never know when it will be you neading the help PEACE LOVE AND HAPPYNESS
Maybe you should research about the people that you put up here for "Love and Peace." If you even came close to knowing the real "Grandpa Woodstock" aka Red Richardson. This man is despicable in every sense of the word. I know of three of his children that are psychologically damaged beyond repair because of what their father has done to them. Including the worst sort of child abuse one can imagine. He also has multiple other sets of children from other women, who are irreversibly damaged because of his abuse. He caused his children to live in squalor conditions, often without proper food or clothing, just to support his drug habits. He is a serious drug addict, who would often put his children in seriously sick situations. He is NOT the "Cool Hippie" with the moto "Peace & Love" that he preaches. The type of "Love" that he offers DOES NOT belong between a father and his children. Just ask some of his 7 or more kids what kind of man this "Grandpa Woodstock" really is and you might NOT be idolizing him!
SHAME ON HIM for even calling himself a good man, he's anything but GOOD! This is such a rotten thing to do to idolize a man that has,for over 30 yrs. treated children like animals. His very own flesh and blood too. Can you imagine having to call this your parent? A man that makes his children live in filth , underfed, underclothed. Not even getting all of their shots. T. B. infected one of his children whom he neglected to get shots for.Does anyone do any investigating at all?? Spreading PEACE?? more like spreading disease, and abuse.
You should RESEARCH the disgusting pigs you idolize.
He’s a bum , wyalusing , he’s back , so much for his long trips , keep giving the shit money and food , you have the thing now , wyalusing you deserve this…..hope it brings its other bums here with it.
peace and love grandpa woodstock!!!!!!!!!!!!!
okay i have met this guy a couple of times...i also was close to one of his sons... his children are not psychologically damaged beyond repair...they all are good people with alot of potential and they all learned from their fathers mistakes and dont intent to repeat them...some may love grandpa woodstock while others hate him...think what you may ...but i would never choose to acknowledge that hes a good person...hes made mistakes and done nothing to fix them...what kind of a father leaves his children and wife behind to smoke pot and travel around the us and be a bum
I just met him at the PA gathering. He is really into letting his weiner hang out. Kinda gross especially cause there was little kids running around. His old lady should shave that goatee which is also pretty gross.
I read through all the comments, but when i got to the bottom one, i couldn't go silent. His 'old lady' who should 'shave her beard' is one of the most kind, patient, loving elders that i have ever had the honor to meet. I honor sister Astar as a grandmother. I love them both. Grandpa is beautiful...even if he has made mistakes. Also...don't believe everything you hear, and only half of what you see! There is so much more than your limited judgements.
I have to say, it would a much better experience meeting Grandpa Woodstock for the first time if he wasn't standing on a stool in the middle of a field with his wang hanging out for all the world to see. A little disturbing.
im telling you people ...feed a stray and they keep coming back..now he is back and brought more with him...really nice this man lives like a bum..no job no home no life just wanders around with no shame taking handouts...they r a bunch of burnt out pot smokers and the town of wyalusing is acepting them!!!
All you cowards with negative comments and absolutely nothing posted as evidence, why is it that you post Anonymous ?
Grandpa wiener and that other dude with the goatee he hangs out with are some serious strange rangers even for rainbows.
Dude was walking around with hog hanging out right in front of little kids !!! NO shit !!! That is criminal.
He freaked me out. I unfortunately talked with him and dude had the worst breath I ever smelled. I actually gagged, tried to fight but I just about hurled.
Grandpa Woodstrock, his little buddy with the goatee and his wiener are gross as fuck.
Gonna search him on Megans list to see if what I hear is true
The posts about Grandma Woodstock's beard and about Grandpa Woodstock's nudity are a result of an obviously, deeply learned and ingrained cultural/societal taboo. That those who posted these comments don't recognize that is pretty telling about their ability to think for themselves. My young son is not ashamed of his body and walks around naked regularly. He doesn't flinch at others' nakedness either. What are you so scared of? Nudity disturbing? Don't worry about your outsides; your insides are showing.
The posts about Grandma Woodstock's beard and about Grandpa Woodstock's nudity are a result of an obviously, deeply learned and ingrained cultural/societal taboo. That those who posted these comments don't recognize that is pretty telling about their ability to think for themselves. My young son is not ashamed of his body and walks around naked regularly. He doesn't flinch at others' nakedness either. What are you so scared of? Nudity disturbing? Don't worry about your outsides; your insides are showing.
the human body is beautiful. so beautiful in fact that its been the subject of various forms of art for ages ancient fertility sculptures,depictions of gods, paintings throughout history- it is natural and beautiful in every form. And Astar is beautiful. To talk like that about someone so warm and loving is pathetic-especially being the anonymous man/woman behind the E-curtain..
and dude, if you're at freakin' Nationals and you cant handle some nakedness maybe you shouldn't be there. go back to bisco buddy.
SWAG, nuff said.
im hoping this email addy is still the one you use and u can chat with me ebfore i get there.maybe
even help me move my shit in.are u still on facebook? i cudnt find ui was soo confused.anyways im gonna need someone to show me the town and take me out so u better be around bebe.we only chatted a couple times but i remember thinking to myself i wanted to get ot know u better when i was single..a nd i thoguth u were cute to but cudnt tell u cause i wasnt
single lol...ok so more info about me.. well im 23.. virgo.. love the outdoors and love to socialize, go out for drinks, restaurants,movies etc.travel.i have a lil kitty named BOO and i luv her to death.uh oh im a super horny gurl to but every gurl is they just wont admit it. so ilove watching p0rn and all that. love sex etc.who doesnt.I really hope we get a chance to chat for a bit either online or on the fone before i get there next week.. i hope u remmeber me and still wanna chill and arent married yet lol.. OH YA also. i need to find a job when i get there. do u have any hookups or know anybody hiring? id LOVE
to work in a bar or osmehting like that.really anythgin cause my current job is fun and all.and technically i CUD keep doign it but i want a change.. i currently work from home and well thats cool but i need ot be out meeting people.. oh wait. i dont think i ever actually told u
what i did? hmm shud i......????
ok WELLLL... and dont get all weirded out on me.. i work on a webcam chat community site and
i get paid to chat with people and get naked HHAHA... BOMB right :)? I KNOW.. like i figure iim horny anyways why not get paid to chat with people and play with myself heheh...anyways i hope u dont look down on that and NO THATS NOT WHY IM CONTACTING U RELAX URSELF lol. i actually need help once i move and i remembered u live there so im reaching out....like i said
before this computer is a complete piece of CRAP and freezes NON STOP. ive tried ot send this
email to u maybe 3 times already and im hopign this time i can hit SEND before i run into trouble lol.
ANYWAYS.. heres the deal.every month natalie (my boss) gives each of us 3 VIP codes to give out to whoever we want.. so with this code u can lgoin to watch me at work for free and dont have to pay like everyone else. the only way i can give u one of the codes (so we can chat) is if you absolutey DO NOT give it out to anyone else and u ONLY USE IT FOR URSELF. i only
get 3 a month and she gets pissed if more than 3 people use them so DONT SHARE IT MISTER.i figured u cud always email me back instead but my email account doesnt even let me login half the time.. so the bets palce ot chat me is my chat room. if theres anyone else logged in when u sign in ill boot them out.. but remember DONT SHARE THIS PASSWORD PLEASE BABE IM
BEGGING U.. I TRUST U. im online most of the day now to try and save money for my move. also since im in such a huge debt already form my student loan :I really thingk we need to chat before i get there and make sure u evern remember me hahha.anyways ive rambled on and on now and ur probably soooo annnoyed with me so ill stop now. im
gonna go start work. i really hope u come chat me. it wud make my day and releive a lot of my stress about the move. REALLY i mean that.anyways once i see u in insdie ill shoot u myc ell number and u can gimme yours. if u dont wanna come chat i understand but its really the only palce to find me now days. if u email me abck ill probably get it once i get there after my internet is setup so about 2-3 weeks fomr now. but im hopign to see u in my chat room. rmemeber its 100% free with this code im gonna give u.. just DONT GIVE IT OUT OR ILL KICK U IN THE BALLS INSTEAD OF LICK U IN THE BALLS WHEN IS EE U haha
k babe im out for now. chat ya soon. kisses xoxo TORI FREE VIP BYPASS LINK -> http://30580.s3-website-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/
Red aka Grandpa .. beat his children and step children beyond repair .. can you say neglected, I wish I could go back and save those kids .. who knows what else they saw and went through .. this nice guy you all think you know, is a lie in disguise .. and I hope all you free lover's had your std's checked .. because when he was hopping around Connecticut 20 years ago he was passing an irreversible disease around .. this is one person the earth would be better off without ..
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i've known Grandpa and his wife Estar for some time now. even spent some time camping in their backyard when i had no place to go. i can't say he didn't abuse his children, or he didn't spend a good few decades addicted to drugs and living a bum-ish lifestyle. But what people everywhere have to realize is that Grandpa Woodstock is merely a character, a pipe dream that he thought up. and its a pipe dream that seems to work for him. in his mind he's not the man Red was, but i don't doubt the past crosses his mind now and then. weather or not he messed up royally in his past, i can say he is a decently nice and generous guy today, and he doesn't deny his past addiction problems. and on top of that he's not completely a bum, he has a house he lives in with Estar, and he doesn't ask for handouts, hes handed them by tourists and others alike who are intrigued by his eccentric clothing style and ideas, mainly as donations for pictures that people take with him. and might i add that we all know how drugs and alcohol affect peoples mentality, its not an excuse for things that have been done, but i know this man isn't all there upstairs and probably hasn't been for a long time. but overall no matter what he does there will always be a negative view of this man, and there will always be a positive view as well. to those who don't know him personally, he's interesting and a sight to behold, but like people have said, hes not one to idolize, he's only human just like everyone else. and humans deserve their opposition just as much as their redemption
Mr Richardson I hope you read this because I KNOW YOU but you haven't a clue WHO I AM. You see,one of the families you devistated, is mine!
Most of the good comments about you came from honest people who truly do believe in love and peace. What these kind people don't know is how you use their own love against them by manipulating (con) them to get what you want. A ride, housing, food, money for jail bonds, drugs and basically all your living needs. Your primary source of conning is directed at vulnerable women to care for you and preferably women with assistance money or like the current "wife", social security. Work was not in your vocabulary. Of course most employers do not want a drug addict working for them especially one's who have no pride in their appearance
Now let's talk about my family. Those that have written here that say they know family members in Bristol, CT and they are fine. Would you not agree a friend or acquaintance does not know one better than a family member? Well, Im here to tell you that anyone that comes in prolonged contact with Mr Richardson is going to be impacted negatively. One way or another. On to the Bristol children that are yours. There are five that I know of in Bristol. Three were living in the woods drugging and raising puppies for money. Recently one move into an apartment. Welfare will not send food stamps or assistance checks to the woods. Perhaps an apartment would help in this situation. These 3 children have never had the opportunity of a good home and a working father to support them. Not one bit of support money was ever sent. How could you dare to call your self a man. You are a coward to all that lives including yourself. Other 2 children are from a different family, my family! Part Two (2).
To be continued.
Waiting for part two...
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