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Invasion of the Longhairs

And so it was. With the blow of the Judge’s gavel and the stoke of the Governor’s pen, the “Alternate Culture” gained a degree of legitimacy, and the first and only LEGAL Rock Festival would commence. If Woodstock was the beginning of the story, Satsop was the end.

After Woodstock, a series of festivals broke out under Sky River Productions. There were 4 total with ours being the last and only legal one.

Satsop River Fair and Tin Cup Races was held the 3, 4, 5, and 6, of Sept. 1971 on our farm in Satsop Washington. There were over 150,000 attenders who enjoyed an impressive list of performers.

The promoter, Gary Friedman had worked on PR and sales for Woodstock, and he was well connected in the business and entertainment end of things. He believed that Rock Festivals could be a lucrative business, and had presses on with the 3 attempts before us hoping to make them a legal venue.

However, there was not a voluntary body large enough to do the footwork needed to change the laws, nor was there a voluntary body large enough to do the manual work that would be required even if the laws were changed.

Then came us. It was no accident that the Festival took place on our farm. My family had actually been groomed for such a time as that for many many years.

You see, my great grandmother was a charter member of the Communist Party USA. Her daughters followed her example, as did several of her grandchildren, and so on. For generations, my family had cut its teeth on social rebellion and change.

From when I can remember until I was about 10, we lived with my great grandma. In fact, I hardly remember seeing my parents through those years. Every morning I would wake up, Grandma would have my clothes laid out, there would be a bowl of hot mush on the kitchen table, and our family would plan the day around some protest, strike, convention, or something of the sort.

Really, us kids didn’t know that we were Communists! We just had a lot of really big get togethers, and other kids didn’t have to lick 1,700 envelopes every Thursday night, or run a mimeograph machine until their arms fell off, or spend hour upon hour at the Capitol building doing research for some lobbiest. In fact, we thought that everyone lived like us and valued love, honesty, peace and all of  those other admirable things as much as we did.

All of our years of service did not go unappreciated. Our family was well loved and respected by our community and the political world in general. We were connected to a working class group of people like no other, and were a household name in government.

When I was about 10, we moved into town away from Grandma. It was like an Amish family that had never seen the REAL world. It took us no time at all to connect to the Sins of the day. My parents bought Mini Skirts and Patchwork Jeans, partied every weekend, and parenting became a thing of the past. Our home became a flop house for every kid and adult alike. All that they had to do was worship the words that my dad spouted about the virtues of Communism and act like they were interested in supporting the so called “Alternate Society.”

Within 3 short years, the first of the Sky River Festivals arrived in Eatonville Washington. Of course, all of us kids went. I experienced my first hit of Acid, and lost my virginity. “Far Out Man”.

Shortly thereafter came the Festival in Tenino. My girlfriend and myself were still only 13. I think that they let us in for free just for laughs.

Then came the Washougal Festival. By now my dad was interested in what was going on at these things. We had a man living with us who was going to the Festival early to volunteer his services as a carpenter, so we all packed up and went to the event.

I fell in love with the 28 year old carpenter, and we came home as a couple. My dad came home with this brilliant idea. He decided that this “Alternate Culture” needed a place of permanence. He felt that hiring out a large piece of land to be used by the well intended working class could be a lucrative business.

The only problem was, Dad had no money and his credit sucked. So he set out to pitch his idea to other families. We would collectively buy some land, and all adult couples would have an equal share. Of course, Dad would have an equal share because he was the brains of the operation and took all responsibility to run the business.

In the end, 4 families, my mom and dad, my then husband and myself, and 2 other couples took ownership of  77 acres in Satsop Washington. We became incorporated, and were recognized as Reality Farm.

It was just a few short months after we bought the farm that my husband, who was a heroin addict, drug pushing, biker guy got a proposal from a bigger dealer friend in Maple Valley. He knew this guy Bill O’Niell who wanted to ask the members of Reality Farm if they would meet with another guy named Gary Friedman to discuss the possibility of leasing the farm for a “Legal” Rock Festival.

The members of the Farm thought “Hallelujah!”  That was just what we were all about. We were going to build this beautiful city that all could come to and find peace, love, freedom, and let it all hang out.

My dad thought that this was finally his chance to become rich and famous and be praised for the rest of his life for creating a utopian society.

Gary Friedman saw in us the remedy to the fatal flaws that plagued the 3 festivals before us.

We were a perfect match. Gary had the financial and entertainment connections. We had a piece of land, all the muscle needed, and political clout. The social pressure to make Rock Festivals legal was at an all time high.

Unfortunately, this shot at fame caught my dad  unprepared. This all happened too quick, and he had not had time to properly create a mission statement for Reality Farm. We held a meeting for that purpose, and decided that we would add the “Professional Festival Hosters”  to our list of  services, as we had all intention from that beginning to have many more Rock Festivals in the future.

1)    The first article, in my collection, is the hand written notes that my dad jotted down at that meeting.

We found a lawer that handled our case for dirt cheap, came up with a contract, and went to court with it.

2) The next article is an original certified copy of the 4 day lease of our property between Gary Friedman and my parents Shirley and Bob Plaja. (2 pages) Also an original letter from our lawyer talking about some concerns he has over the wording of the lease.

3) The next bunch of articles include:

A copy of the application for permit submitted to Grays Harbor County Court By Gary Friedman. (includes Preface, Statement, and Key Personnel). 5 pages

The original layout plans for the electrical as there was to be over 300 power poles and numerous other electrical things installed. 3 pages

A copy of the law that was adopted as an emergency act on the part of legislature to legalize Rock Festivals. This act became effective upon approval of the Governor. 3 pages

A copy of the sanitation regulations for outdoor music festivals also adopted as emergency regulations. 6 pages

A document outlining:
The Tin Cup Races
Promotions and Advertising
Ancillary Services (VD Clinic, Counseling Services, Workshops, Seminars)
Emergency Backup
Schedule of Performances
Misc. (Ride Stations, Identification Check)
Security Bond
Insurance
Shelter
Dust Control
Bathing Facilities (Lifeguards for the 1.5 miles of Satsop River)
Lighting
Fire Control and Prevention
Layout for Typical Concession Stand
Plan for access roads
12 pages

Another Health and Regulations (Water Supply, Sewage Disposal, Water Waste Collection, Toilet Facilities, Solid Waste Collection and Disposal, Insect and Rodent Control, Food Service) 2 pages

Parking layout. 1 page

Another electrical layout.1 page

A report on the Sky River Rock Festival by the Thurston Mason Health District and the Washington State Department of Health. 20 pages plus hand written notes on the back of the last page.

4) Copy of letter from the Open Door Clinic saying they’ll provide services. 1 page

5) Copy of letter from Allied Security saying they’ll provide services. 1 page

6) An original letter addressed to my ex-husband from The Seattle Times talking about position of article in the paper and pushing for extensive coverage.

7) Original letter from King TV addressed to David Ray (Official Health Officer, Partner in operations of Reality Farm, and Friend) Not sure what they are discussing. 1 page

2 Original letters from The Department of Ecology concerning the water rights and the drilling of a well and installation of a holding tank. 2 pages and official permit

9) Original letter from The Department of Game discussing easement rights for the river. 1 page

10) A copy of the legal agreement between David Ray and Gary Friedman concerning David’s duties and pay as the official health officer. 1 page

11) The last document in this grouping is a second original certified copy of the lease agreement. Gary Friedman and Bill O’Niell claimed that there was a banking error which caused them to miss a filing deadline with the court proving that they had adequate liability insurance and had set up a $30,000.00 security bond. The court made them re-submit for a permit which called for a second filing of documents. (2nd copy of lease, an amendment, a list of names of all who lived at Reality farm) 6 pages

Because it was a legal operation, The Department of Labor and Industries first made us make a list of everyone who worked on the property paid or otherwise. Then The Dept. decided that just a list of names wasn’t good enough, so we had to re-do the master list and include the birth dates of everyone. Some of these lists even have the SS numbers of the person listed.

12) The first listing is the Officials List. There are 77 names with birth dates and another 47 without. 118 names total. These names are photographers, productions employees, radio, TV, ambulance, county commissioner, mayor, and so on.

13) The Master List has over 850 names with at least 90% of which are accompanied with a birth date. However, this list doesn’t have the job title along with the name.

14) Work schedule for manning the Outpost. 21names (list of 41 hand written names on back)

15) Work schedule for manning intake. 17 names (also 84  hand written names on front and back)

16) Work schedule for the MDs. 22 doctors, 12 med. students, 7 pharmacy. (also 46 hand written names on back)

17) Work schedule for Counseling. 37 names (also 34 hand written names on back)

18) List of Security crew. 183 names

19) List of Concessions and concession employees. (34 concessions, 276 names)

20) List of day care workers. (38 names)

21) Original Master list of names before the birth dates were added. (13 pages)

22) Misc. lists of names. (7pages)

23) 3 pages of names most of which also have their SS# included. (49 names with SS#, 19 names without.)

24) 3 hand written passes for 3 concessioners and how many passes would be allowed per concessioner.

25) Master list of passes. Some were standing passes, while others were for a specific period of time. (87 names complete with vehicle license #.)

26) 4 pages of communication notes concerning different things.

27) A copy of the Public Notice declaring an opportunity to meet the promoters and discuss the up coming festival held July 11th 1971.

28) Notice of a Press Conference to be held at the Seattle Hilton August 4th, 1971. Topics include; list of significant events to date, festival facts, of special interest, statement of the promoters. (4 pages plus hand written notes on back)

29) 5 pages of hand written notes of communication during festival.

30) A copy of the the Saturday Newsletter that was circulated daily at the festival giving the Band Schedule, Health Dept. News, OD Clinic news, News About The Satsop Nation, site map on the back so people knew where the Open Door Clinic was.

31) An index sized card with a note on it given to my dad encouraging him to get on stage and change the Spirit of things and praising him for doing a great job. Signed Major Abo and Bill. I’m assuming that “Major Abo” was Gary Friedman and “Bill” was Bill O’Niell.

32) The last article in this grouping is a letter addressed to Reality Farms from a Barbara stating her gratitude for her heightened understanding of what “Love” is and how she wished she could become a member of our family. Signed Secretary, Radio Operator, Runner, Ticket Seller, and Friend.

After the festival, we were all fired up to start making plans for another festival to be held the next year. The next group of articles have to do with our efforts to accomplish that end.

33) A questioner  ?? Another Festival ??. Meeting Sept. 10th 1971

34) 2 copies announcing another meeting to be held Sept. 15th 1971 to discuss better rock festival legislation.

The next grouping of items have to do with memorabilia:

36) Hand written list of the bands that played. (31 bands) (not a complete or official list)

The bands that played for sure were:

Steve Miller, Wishbone Ash, Flash Cadilac, Young Bloods, Dalaney and Bonnie, Eric Burdon-Jimmy Weatherspoon, Charles Lloyd, Billy Preston, John Hammond, Steve Miller, War, and the Bouys.

Also on the list but not verified yet if they played was: Albert Collins, Country Joe, Motherhood, Spencer Davis and Jameon, Quick Silver, Neil Young, Gram Nash, Mandella, Elton John, George Harrison, Restoration, Jacob’s Ladder, High voltage, One Hand Clapping, Rhythm Dukes, Somebody I can’t read and the Fish, Butterfat, Buffalo, United Buck Board, and Sky Brothers.

I also know that Ike and Tina Turner were waiting at the hotel in Olympia where we were flying the entertainers in from. They somehow got word that the festival was having some financial troubles, and became concerned that they weren’t going to get paid. They packed up and left.

37) 34 color pictures (5×5) and 53 black and white pictures (8×10) depicting the creation of our production.

38) A copy of a publication titled Satsop copyright 1971

39) An original T-Shirt wore by staff.

The last grouping of documents have to do with the legal actions that were brought against Gary Friedman because he didn’t pay up. While we were all interested in peace, love, and everything beautiful, the promoters and the money behind them were crooked as the day was long. They had plans from the very beginning to make sure that they left the event with their pockets lined. Hundreds of thousands of dollars disappeared into the pockets of a group of Canadian Mafia members, bankers, and business people. The only ones that got paid were people who had demanded their earnings up-front. The gross earnings easily exceeded a million, but it was reported to the press that the festival lost somewhere in the neighborhood of $350,000.00 dollars.

40) A copy of the form letter that Bill O’Niell sent to all of the vendors, renters, suppliers of equipment, labors and materials stating that there was a solution to the problem of the great monetary loss that the festival had suffered. In fact, there were negotiations in the works for movie rights that would cover the debt that was owed to them all. (1 page)

41) A letter from the prosecuting Attorney’s office addressing my mom about a check that Gary Friedman had given her on the 1st of October to cover wages that he had promised to members of the Farm. The check was no good.

42) A copy of the check.

43) A account of the statement that the Thurston County Sheriff made to my mom when she tried to file a formal complaint against Friedman for passing the hot check.

44) A hand written account of wages owed, damages incurred, and promises broken concerning Reality Farm and Gary Friedman. (8 pages)

45) 3 letters from our lawyer concerning the taking of legal action against Gary Friedman for nonpayment, breach of contract, damage to the farm, and so on.

46) A sewage disposal permit. We had to apply for special permits to discard the mountain of garbage left behind.

47) May 1972, A copy of the legal application by one of the purveyors to establish a lien against Bill O’Niell, Gary Friedman, and Reality Farm for non payment of services and materials rendered. (16 pages)

48) 2 letters from our lawyer concerning the aforementioned lien.

49) In 1979  a class action suit was filed against everyone possible on behalf of Grays Harbor County for costs incurred. They ate up most of the $30,000.00 bond. (14 pages)

50) Also in 1979 David Ray successfully sued Gary Friedman. The last document is that filing. (5 pages)

51) I also have over 100 news paper clippings. Several of these are doubles. I’m sure that more then half of them are of a different story.

52) Of course, there is much more to this story then can be told in a summary.

The last item for sale is the exclusive right to our stories.

I can be reached at (360)357-9311 or (360)280-0141.

Thanks, Leann Paul.