The Grateful Dead played in a casino a few times, the Aladdin in Vegas, and they played Disneyland in 1968 (there’s no tape), and at least one other theme park. Several fairgrounds, though it should be noted that the band did not actually play any State Fairs.
And they played a zoo. Not in the zoo. Like, at no point was Billy within punching distance of hippo dick, but he was much closer than at most shows. This is 9/2/85 from the Zoo Amphitheater in Oklahoma City, and it is 85ish as shit. Garcia’s voice sounds like torn styrofoam, and the drummers are in their “close enough” mode.
But, hey: it’s a Dead show. Whattya gonna do, watch the fucking news and hang yourself? Listen to the Dead; it’s good for ya.
Two shows before this they played Six Flags Astroworld in Houston. I only just read (thanks to your post) that Astroworld was destroyed in 2005. Bummer. The Dead Heads took the park over that day and the family touristy types were pretty freaked out by all the freaks. So there’s a theme park show for you. I just can’t believe they didn’t play Promised Land.
Then we head to Austin for the next show and have a great time. Apparently the Dead had close friends who managed Manor Downs and they played there quite a few times. Then we decide to come home to Florida because Hurricane Elena is bearing down on the Texas coast, instead of heading to Oklahoma for the Zoo show. Unbeknownst to us as we are driving back (this was before the internet), the hurricane makes a loop in the Gulf and heads straight back to NW Florida. So we arrive home and get a hurricane that night, when we could have been at the Dead at the Zoo.
The picture of Bobby on a merry go round horse is from a RatDog show at a state fair in Rochester New York.
Keen eyes enthusiast will notice the two “Steal Your Face” yamakas in the right side of the crowd.
ah, fellow lantzkreutzmenn
But, hey: it’s a Dead show. Whattya gonna do, watch the fucking news and hang yourself? Listen to the Dead; it’s good for ya.
Doesn’t quite have the succinct ring of “Good Ol’ Grateful Dead” – but would still make for quite the sticker, I’m thinking.