The Last Waltz 45 Years On
25 November 1976
The full page ad exploded out of Rolling Stone.
Bill Graham Presents
The Last Waltz. Winterland. Thanksgiving. The Band and Friends.
(Photo by Larry Hulst/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
I was on the wrong side of the continent and although my friends and I would fantasise about such a Turkey Day celebration dreams were not going to form into a reality. Tickets for the concert were a humongous 25.00 bucks! Who even knew what airfare woudl cost? Could we hitch?
Fast forward to April 1978 and the movie of the concert was to premier in N.Y.C. at the majestic Ziegfeld Theatre. Tickets for this showing were not available to the hoi polloi.
Foiled again.
Alas, there was to be a viewing of the movie on the day of the premier at The Ziegfeld.
With my love Diane, we decided we would enjoy the film and NYC like we never had before.
“Have you ever stayed in a hotel in the City?”
The Hotel Collingwood seemed affordable based on these ads we saw on late night TV.
Things were going well, we checked in and there was some problem with our reservation. They gave us two young long hairs a suite.
We filled the fridge with some beverages, rolled some numbers and primed ourselves for the event, just as we would for a concert.
No waiting online at the box office. No one around at all, actually.
The Ziegfeld could seat over 1100 people. There were a 1/2 dozen people there by the time we found our seats.
Positioned well in front of the huge screen I stretched my legs over the seat in front of me. We chatted excitedly. Some dude sat in front of me and tried to play with my leg. I kicked the back of his chair and he scurried off.
There were still only a few dozen people in the joint as the light dimmed, the curtains opened and the screen had a title card saying
“This Film Should Be Played Loud”
Almost like being there….
PS-And then sometime in the next 1/2 dozen years the film was re-released in some other format at some theatre in Greenwich Village. As was my thing ,I won free tickets to the opening of this redux.
As the film commenced, a couple of dudes behind me whispered earnestly about the film and sound. I was curious and wanted to see these uber fans.
Alas, I did not make it to San Francisco for the concert and Thanksgiving meal provided by Bill Graham, but I did get to turn around and give a big illegal smile to Robbie Robertson and Marty Scorsese.
Happy Thanksgiving. Hug the ones you’re with.