A partially
successful attempt at a three-day multi-media event 48 years ago was also the
last of the Acid Tests (albeit a subsequent “Graduation” was held). The campus of San Francisco State College
became hosts to the Merry Pranksters, the Grateful Dead and a number of other
performers that weekend. Without going in to any great detail here, the likely
most significant point about the following list is the demystification of what
the Grateful Dead were doing that weekend. There are three separate confirmed
performances not properly documented elsewhere (as far as I know).
30 September 1966
Sculpture
Yard: Demon Lover, Anonymous Artists of America, The Infinite Painting
& The Universal Structure
International
Room: Grateful Dead, The Only
Alternative and His Other Possibilities with Mimi Farina, The Light Castle
Gallery
Lounge: Don Garrett, Chloe Schott, Poetry Reading , Paul Robertson Jazz Band,
Congress of Wonders, Ron Boise Musical Sculpture and Artwork of Dion Wright,
Bob Branaman, Bruce Connor and Karen Koslow
Women's
Gym: Bill Ham Light Show, Wildflower, Blue House Basement, J Baldwin's
Tensed Membrane Screen, Rock Workshop
Men's Gym:
Bernie Gunther (of the Esalen Foundation) Sensory Awakening, Robert Baker
Cosmic Comic, The Merry Pranksters, Don Buchla
Women's
Gym 125: Bob Beck Light Show
Education
117: Film Guild Movies
01 October 1966
Men's
Pool: Water Polo, Light Show and Open Swimming
Common's
Lawn: Wildflower, Anonymous Artists of America, Blue House Basement, The
Committee, Robert Baker, San Francisco Mimi Troupe perform "Olive
Pips"
Lowell
High School Field: SF State v Santa Clara (Football - The Little Big Game)
Sculpture
Yard: The Final Solution, Demon Lover, The Infinate Painting & The
Universal Structure
Gallery
Lounge: Don Garrett, Ron Boise Musical Sculpture and Artwork of Dion
Wright, Bob Branaman, Bruce Connor and Karen Koslow.
Women's
Gym: San Andreas Fault Finders, Dino Valenti, Universal Parking Lot,
Congress Of Wonders (John Lennon Readings), Ken Kesey (with Freewheelin' Frank
on harmonica and Kesey's cousin Dale on violin), Bill Ham Lightshow, Grateful
Dead
Men's Gym:
The Merry Pranksters, Don Buchla. A planned Jefferson Airplane and Paul
Butterfield Blues Band after midnight performance in the Men’s Gym was never
held due to Police intervention.
Education
117: Film Guild Movies
02 October 1966
Common's
Lawn: Grateful Dead, The Only Alternative and His Other Possibilities with
Mimi Farina, The Committee, Congress Of Wonders
Women's
Gym 125: Bob Beck Light Show
Education
117: Film Guild Movies
