Original 6 x 9 postcard handbill promoting “Bill Graham Presents in New York” concerts held in July through August 1970, featuring bands like The Who and Jethro Tull (at Tanglewood), a special four nights of the Grateful Dead at midnight, Fleetwood Mac, Santana, Miles Davis, Joe Cocker, Grand Funk Railroad, Hot Tuna, Leon Russell, and more. Postal section on reverse bears an affixed address label and an advertisement for “The Fillmore at Tanglewood.” In very good to fine condition, with some creasing and stains, and a pin hole to upper portion.
This year is the 50th anniversary of the closing of the now legendary Fillmore East. Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, The Grateful Dead, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, John Lennon, Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention, Ray Charles, Miles Davis, Joni Mitchell, The Band, Derek and the Dominos, the Allman Brothers Band and so many more performed at the Fillmore, most on several occasions. Unlike its counterpart the Fillmore West in San Francisco, which was a ballroom (it was a former dance hall) like most music venues were at the time, the Fillmore East was a theatre and it was a totally different experience for both the artist and the audience. Going to the Fillmore East was going to the theatre... a theatre that was built originally for vaudeville shows, which was perfect acoustically and seating wise for rock concerts. With the addition of a custom-made sound system and the visually mesmerizing Joshua Light Show (Joe's Light's later), it was a concert experience like no other. The Fillmore East itself is gone now, though its legend lives on and anyone who was ever fortunate enough to perform or attend a concert there can attest to the magic that occurred in that much missed theatre.
