“The media reports are not accurate…the 60’s were way better than that.”

Posted by Karla Lofgren Davis, January 12, 2008

His long, lanky body pacing gracefully back and forth across the front of the stage, Art Garfunkel reminisced about his life in the 60’s, including things he experienced on tours with his partner, Paul Simon – throughout America and across Europe, both before and as they were becoming famous as the duo “Simon and Garfunkel”. He interspersed his remembrances with some of the duo’s classic songs: “The Sound of Silence”, “Scarborough Faire”, “Cecilia”, "Homeward Bound", “Bridge Over Troubled Water”, and others, sung in his beautifully fluid tenor voice. Before he launched into his newer repertoire, he sidled onto a stool near the fixed microphone, leaned in, and softly spoke these words, “The media reports are not accurate…the 60’s were way better than that”... That brought uproarious applause from the mostly vintage crowd, folks in their 50’s and 60’s – folks like us.

The concert to which I refer was held last night (January 11th, 2008) at Waco Hall on the Baylor campus. It was one of the special pops performances featured in the Waco Symphony Orchestra’s 2007-2008 Season Schedule.
Our celebration of my brother Randy’s 68th birthday started with a fine dinner out and concluded with attendance at this thrilling concert. The experience was especially significant for several reasons. Art Garfunkel is our contemporary. He came of age at the exact same time we did; he was influenced by all of the same events that influenced us during our first decade after high school graduation. The Simon and Garfunkel songs were some of our favorites during that decade and therafter. We had recently joined Randy and Jeanine in their surround sound, “hi-def” home theatre for a viewing of Simon and Garfunkel’s 2003-2004 “Old Friends” World Tour. Hearing them sing together again on that DVD gave us a thrill, but last night we were surprised to find that Art Garfunkel’s solo renditions were equally thrilling.

The venue - Waco Hall – holds special significance for us as we all witnessed many performances there while we were students at Baylor in the early 60’s. Ed sang there with his fraternity in an “All University Sing” skit, and Randy performed there numerous times with various musical groups. Jeanine played the flute in Waco Hall as a member of the Waco Symphony Orchestra during that group’s formative years. While students at Baylor, we all attended Chapel services in Waco Hall twice a week, and I was a Chapel Checker – sitting in the balcony with a chart, looking down to see who was or was not sitting in the assigned seats below. (Yes, attendance was mandatory!) And…Ed sat in the section I was checking.

And then there is the fact that I had a potentially serious accident this past week in the school parking lot, an unbroken fall straight backwards, hitting the back of my head on the asphalt with great force. The starburst wound was stitched together easily enough, and the copious amounts of blood that drenched my clothes even washed out (the nurse told me to use straight peroxide - a trick I had never known!). But the concussion was of greater concern. It looks as though I am going to be OK, and I know that I am blessed – it could have been much worse. So after that traumatic experience, sitting there in that special place with people who are very special to me, listening to a beautiful voice sing nostalgic songs from the past – all came together to give me a very memorable evening.

I thought of all of you as I sat there. We have not talked much on this blog about our experiences in the decade following our graduation. I would like to open the floor for such a discussion. What comes to your mind when you read this quote…“The media reports are not accurate…the 60’s were way better than that.”? Any topic will be of interest, so please, leave your thoughts about the 60’s in the comment section that follows (click on the word “comments" below – no e-mail address or URL required).

Click here to link to an excellent source of information about the events and culture of the 1950's; click here to link to an excellent source for the 1960's.

And here's a great juke box link to the tunes we loved to play! (Unfortunately, you may not be able to play the tunes at this time. Still, just reading the titles and the names of the performers brings back great memories!)

CLICK HERE to return to the top of the main section after reading comments below, and/or making your own comment.

Comments

[Mike Roberts]

Hi Karla , I hope your knot is small and going away and that the inners are functioning as they should. You are blessed because it could have been allot worse.

I just wanted to reflect on the ' 60's and concerts in general. I only went to 1 that comes to mind and I was sooo in awe that I do not remember where it was , who was with me, or the songs that were performed. It was Elvis's last performance in Houston !

I was not a flower child and definetly not a war protester but I loved all the music of our time. I can not remember a bad offering ! !

[John Echoff]

Elvis' last appearance in Houston, I believe, was at the Rodeo in the early 70's and it was fantastic. We had seats level with the stage and near his entry/exit. I later was assigned to work security at the Astrohotel where Elvis was staying-but didn't see him during my tour of duty, only at the show.

Karla, watch those bumps to the noggin, they are no fun, and the older we get, the longer it takes to get over them...

[Ray Prichard]

If we are talking about 60s concerts and Elvis, who I idolized from when I was 14 and started dancing to Rock & Roll, I would like to tell my story about seeing Elvis, in concert in Las Vegas at the International Hotel.

In 1969 I was single, living and working in Los Angeles. The 60s in California were unbelievably exciting. Early that year I heard that Elvis was going to be appearing for the month of August. The hotel was immediately booked solid for the whole month but I was in the travel business and had a travel agent client who knew the sales manager for that hotel. My friend made one call and got me a room for the weekend of August 16th.

I flew to Las Vegas and when I got to the hotel around 5PM the line of people waiting to get into the 8PM dinner show went all the way around the outer walls of that huge lobby.

In those days, you did not get specific seats reserved for the shows. You made a reservation and lined up and were expected to tip the Maitre'de and then the Captain so they would let you in and give you a decent seat.

I got dressed up and went down about 6PM to see an even longer line. I made a quick plan of action on the spot. I very boldly walked straight to the front of the line, approached the Maitre'de and told him I was the guest of that now nameless sales manager. Due to the prevailing hotel industry protocols of the times, the Maitre'de was obligated to refuse my offer of a tip. It would have been an insult to "my friend" the hotel sales manager. He snapped his finger to summon a Captain, telling him to "show Mr Prichard to a table".

The Captain started walking toward the front of the show room stopping about 10 rows from the back, still a long ways from the front of the room and the stage. I flashed a roll of $20's and very pointedly peeled off a couple, so he could see them, but I did not give them to him. I told him that would not do and to please move me further towards the stage. He moved forward a few rows stopping again, about three times. Each time I refused and peeled off another couple of bills, but not handing them to him. The promise of the large tip inspired him to great heights. When he got to the very front row, I gave him a handful of what he thought was $20 bills. What he did not see was that in the darkness I had palmed the $20's and was peeling off $1 Bills instead. For about 20 $1's I sat down and leaned on the stage and waited for the show to start.

When Elvis came out and started his act, I was leading the mob of screaming and hollering fans, after each song. When he passed in front of me, I was part of the thundering throng and leaned forward and shook his hand. That happened a couple of times during the show. What a show. What a thrill.

The next night, after gambling a few hours, I again cut to the front of the line for the midnight show and used the same ruse with the Maitre'de and conned another greedy Captain who took me to a front row seat where I again leaned on the stage and shook Elvis hand again during the show.

No one ever enjoyed Elvis concerts any more than I did that weekend. The dinner show cost $15 and included dinner. The midnight show also cost $15 but included three double drinks.

Now when you go to a show in Las Vegas, they give you tickets with your seat number pre-assigned. No more Maitre'des or Captains to get passed or bribe or con, or whatever it took, to get decent seats to a show. What a boor.

In earlier and subsequent trips to Las Vegas, I paid my share of tips to Maitre'des etc., and never got near as good a seat. I was determined this time that I was not going to miss the opportunity to see Rock'n Roll royalty up close and personal.

[60's Fashion Review]

I was tracking back on a search that led someone to our blog. The key words for the search were "fashions of the 1960's". Whenever I see our blog linked in that way, I always want to see what else relates to the search. This particular trackback took me to the following summary. Bring back any memories??? Karla

"The 1960's began with crew cuts on men and bouffant hairstyles on women. Men's casual shirts were often plaid and buttoned down the front, while knee-length dresses were required wear for women in most public places. By mid-decade, miniskirts or hot pants, often worn with go-go boots, were revealing legs, body wear was revealing curves, and women’s hair was either very short or long and lanky. Men's hair became longer and wider, with beards and moustaches. Men’s wear had a renaissance. Bright colors, double-breasted sports jackets, polyester pants suits with Nehru jackets, and turtlenecks were in vogue. By the end of the decade, ties, when worn, were up to 5" wide, patterned even when worn with stripes. Women wore peasant skirts or granny dresses and chunky shoes. Unisex dressing was popular, featuring bell bottomed jeans, love beads, and embellished t-shirts. Clothing was as likely to be purchased at surplus stores as boutiques."

Have you got any pictures of yourself in those lovely fashions? I'll be glad to publish them here. :-) Karla

[Back to the Sixties Link]

http://moreoldfortyfives.com/TakeMeBackToTheSixties.htm

John Hammerle submitted this link to some cool music and even cooler mental and visual images. Click on the link and then sit back and enjoy a nostalgic couple of minutes. Ahhhh...memories are made of this!!!