Grateful Dead - NYC Pavilion '69

Guest Boot #7 - Online Ceramics The Grateful Dead's shows on July 11-12, 1969, marked the opening weekend of a summer-long Music Festival at the Pavilion in Flushing Meadow Park which was created for the 1964 NY World’s Fair - all shows were $3. With little advance publicity, the Grateful Dead drew almost 5,000 fans. During the late '60s/early '70s period, the Pavilion was actually in use, first as a cultural institution, then as a roller rink called "Roller Round." Then a few rock shows were held there in '69. The Pavilion was a unique place to listen to music, with the multi-million-dollar unisphere in plain view and a huge map of New York State painted on the floor of the Pavilion creating a surrealistic atmosphere. The ground level of the Pavilion served as a huge round dance floor; on the balcony there were tables and chairs, the food concession (the main culinary attraction was tacos, a beautiful idea, though the reality was mediocre), and a nice view of the park.  The atmosp