July 21, 1975 review: Summerfest VI rained out

 


You know how Seinfeld is a show about nothing? Here’s a review of a show that didn’t happen.   

July 21, 1975 

Summerfest Gets Rained Out;

Same Lineup Scheduled Today 

          It’s 5 p.m. Sunday and you’ve found the rest of your party over in Section E-10. They’re huddled under what looks like a tent, eating chocolate chip cookies.

          It rained on the way out to Rich Stadium for Summerfest VI, but not like it’s suddenly starting to rain now. It’s like heavenly retribution for the corruption of neighborhood lawns and children by the rowdy denizens of Summerfest V last week.

          The stands become a good-natured, what-the-heck area of orange, yellow and green raincoats. A section of tarpaulin near the 50-yard line is lifted up and a couple hundred folks duck underneath. Everything gets wet. Matches, sandwiches, everything.

          The PA plays “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” It’s not long before dozens of dripping kids discover that wet tarpaulin is fun. They take running jumps and skid gleefully, knocking down unsuspecting bystanders like bowling pins.

          “The rain should end in 30-40 minutes,” the scoreboard flashes at 5:20. “Summerfest will begin with Judy Collins.”

* * *

THIRTY MINUTES later it’s raining harder. You see Judy Collins in a white, full-length dress in the tunnel backstage. Obviously, she’s not going out.

          You ask for the promoter. Seems everybody’s in a meeting. There’s a loud crash of thunder.

          The word is passed to security at 6:10. It’s all off. The official announcement comes 15 minutes later. They’ll try again Monday at 4 p.m. Everybody will be back – Judy Collins, Dan Fogelberg, Eagles, Seals & Crofts.

          “Yeah, we’ll be back tomorrow,” says one couple, their hair dripping. “So will our friends. They’re in from Rochester and they’re going to stay over with us.”

* * *

BUT NOT everybody’s so sure. “I don’t know,” says a dazed kid with curly hair as he gets elbowed in the chest. “I don’t even know if I’m going to get out of here.”

          Backstage again. Judy Collins is wearing a Seals & Crofts T-shirt and making a phone call. David Cahn, local radio personality and Warner Bros. Records rep, is figuring on taking all the musicians out on Elmwood Avenue.

          Festival East goes on WGRQ and reports that ticket stubs will be honored Monday for those who can come back. Everybody else with a stub gets cash refunds.

          You drive home wet from the hip pocket down. You pick up the phone and dial the weather. Variable clouds Monday, the accented voice advises. Thirty percent chance of showers or thundershowers.

* * * * *

IN THE PHOTO: Seals & Crofts T-shirt.

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