John Hartford is playing OBS on fiddle and strolling through the crowd, making his way back to the stage. Once on stage, he plays fiddle, sings OBS (Orange Blossom Special), and tap-dances at the same time. And the crowd sings with him.
I believe I was at this show. I was living in Manitou Springs for a couple of years. That was when I was working as an electronics tech for Ampex, in Colorado Springs, in their Audio-Video Systems Division factory. Were these tapes recorded on Ampex video tape recorders? You can see multiple camera angles were shot by several cameramen on stage using hand-held cameras over-the-shoulder.
I was there that year and I lived in Manitou Springs at the time too. In fact, I went with my buddies also from Manitou who played the festival that year, The Reasonable Band. The highlight for me was that John Hartford set along with meeting Steve Goodman. That trip started a love affair with TBF that is still goin’ on!
Manitou Springs was a polar-opposite of Colorado Springs. A couple of other Ampex electronics techs also lived in Manitou Springs during this time. Chris Busby, who was from Maine; and Steve Maurucci (sp?; pronounced more-rooch-ee) both owned homes there. All three of us were friends and we worked on second shift. I lived in the old historic Cliff House. It had been recently remodeled when I moved in there in July 1979. My rent was $160 per month for a one-bedroom, completely furnished, all utilities included (except telephone), and parking space included (in rear lot).
I climbed to the top of Pikes Peak by walking out the front door of my apartment at the Cliff House with my backpack, spending the night at Barr Camp, and climbing to the summit (and hiking home) the next day.
About a year after I moved out of the area, there was a major fire at the Cliff House. This was about 1983. Today the Cliff House is rebuilt again. This time it’s been rebuilt as a 5-star outfit, and it costs $300 per night to stay there.
[center]Cliff House photo was taken shortly after fire - circa 1983 - photo by Chris Busby
well that was fun, then AND now! Thanks for sharing. I know I’m out there in that crowd; I remember so well him dancing on that board, and when he came out into the crowd. :thumbsup
Wow, that Let It Be was amazing. Kinda hard to believe that it was later that year that John Lennon was murdered. 1980 was so long ago, but it sure doesn’t seem like it when I see footage like this. Thank you so much.
