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TechnographSpotlight: The lost protester
By Maureen Wilkey
Posted: 8/31/05 Section: Features
"It was a sort of psychedelic Camelot for these people," Raycraft said. "There were almost no police there, and the only ones that were there were undercover and had cameras."
The festival also acquired an air of mystery when its organizer and promoter David Lewis disappeared with the proceeds from the concert.
About half of the people who attended the showing of the film had attended either the concert in Heyworth, the protests at the University, or both. Perry Hamilton and James Klingelhoffer were both members of the band Bluesweed, which was slated to play at the festival, but was delayed by rain.
"Just as we were about to play, there was a giant deluge," Klingelhoffer said. "We all split up and went different ways, and eventually (the organizers) found us and told us we had been bumped."
Hamilton said he and his band had enjoyed their time at the concert.
"By the time they found us, we were really in no condition to play anyway," he said, laughing.
Peter Kimble, a resident of Champaign, had been a sound technician at the festival.
"I really enjoyed the screening, it was really nostalgic for me," he said. "I was hoping for more shots of the bands, though, because I might be able to see myself in the background. Older people were really shocked that I had had anything to do with it at the time."
Raycraft selected footage from several sources, but there is not much tape of the actual bands, he said. Another cut of the film includes 17 more minutes of mostly music footage, and he is considering re-editing it into the film, he said.
Much of the film shows the festivalgoers enjoying themselves by wading nude in the Kickapoo Creek, using recreational drugs or dancing with each other. Interviews in the film reveal that festivalgoers camped for several days and concessionaires made large profits as a result. There was no police control, instead, festival organizers asked the Grim Reapers motorcycle gang to attend and keep order.
The festival also acquired an air of mystery when its organizer and promoter David Lewis disappeared with the proceeds from the concert.
About half of the people who attended the showing of the film had attended either the concert in Heyworth, the protests at the University, or both. Perry Hamilton and James Klingelhoffer were both members of the band Bluesweed, which was slated to play at the festival, but was delayed by rain.
"Just as we were about to play, there was a giant deluge," Klingelhoffer said. "We all split up and went different ways, and eventually (the organizers) found us and told us we had been bumped."
Hamilton said he and his band had enjoyed their time at the concert.
"By the time they found us, we were really in no condition to play anyway," he said, laughing.
Peter Kimble, a resident of Champaign, had been a sound technician at the festival.
"I really enjoyed the screening, it was really nostalgic for me," he said. "I was hoping for more shots of the bands, though, because I might be able to see myself in the background. Older people were really shocked that I had had anything to do with it at the time."
Raycraft selected footage from several sources, but there is not much tape of the actual bands, he said. Another cut of the film includes 17 more minutes of mostly music footage, and he is considering re-editing it into the film, he said.
Much of the film shows the festivalgoers enjoying themselves by wading nude in the Kickapoo Creek, using recreational drugs or dancing with each other. Interviews in the film reveal that festivalgoers camped for several days and concessionaires made large profits as a result. There was no police control, instead, festival organizers asked the Grim Reapers motorcycle gang to attend and keep order.
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