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American Experience

The Sound of Woodstock

Bill Hanley made Woodstock sound system that forever shaped our collective memory.

Aired 08/06/2019

American Experience

The Sound of Woodstock

Clip: Season 31 Episode 6 | 6m 27sVideo has Closed Captions

Bill Hanley made Woodstock sound system that forever shaped our collective memory.

50 years ago, organizers of the historic Woodstock Music and Art Fair in upstate New York searched for someone who could handle the unprecedented challenge of running their sound system. Luckily for them, “this crazy guy in Boston,” Bill Hanley, was available. Hanley’s innovative setup and the resulting recording forever shaped our collective memory of this generation-defining concert.

Aired 08/06/2019

Corporate sponsorship for American Experience is provided by Liberty Mutual Insurance and Carlisle Companies. Major funding by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

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Chapter 1 | Woodstock

Video has Closed Captions

Watch chapter 1 of Woodstock. (9m 59s)

Joel Rosenman: Woodstock Producer

In 1969, Joel Rosenman and his partners met to brainstorm what would become Woodstock. (1m 13s)

Official Trailer | Woodstock | PBS

They came for the concert of their lives, but most experienced something far more profound (30s)

Max Yasgur: Woodstock’s unexpected champion

Max Yasgur, a dairy farmer agreed to host Woodstock on his property. (1m 7s)

Wavy Gravy: “Please Chief” of Woodstock

Hugh Romney, aka Wavy Gravy, was an American figure of the 1960s counter culture. (1m 13s)

Trailer | Woodstock

In 1969, about half a million people gathered at a farm in upstate New York to hear music. (2m 1s)

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Corporate sponsorship for American Experience is provided by Liberty Mutual Insurance and Carlisle Companies. Major funding by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

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