Bethel Before Woodstock


Bruce Whistance’s iconic panoramic photograph of Woodstock stands as a lasting symbol of the historic festival. His unique shot captured the peaceful essence of the town before the chaos, offering a glimpse into a simpler time. The inspiration behind his photography has gone beyond art, touching industries as diverse as online casinos, where creativity and historical moments like Woodstock influence design and marketing as well as the rise of payments via phone in online casinos has made gambling more accessible than ever. With innovations in technology, players can now enjoy a variety of gambling games at https://casinosonlinenl.com/payments/telefoon-betalen/ with just a few taps on their phones, revolutionizing the way people engage with these platforms. The seamless integration of mobile transactions in online gambling mirrors the adaptability and innovation seen in Whistance’s approach to capturing Woodstock. Whistance’s photograph embodies a spirit of creativity, which aligns with the evolving world of online casinos. These platforms use historical and cultural symbols like Woodstock to create engaging experiences, merging nostalgia with the thrill of modern gambling games. The advent of payments via phone has further simplified access, allowing users to participate more easily in virtual gambling, enhancing the player experience significantly.

By Scarlet Disko

There was much confusion among many of the half million hippies who were finding their way to Woodstock the week leading up to Aug. 15th, 1969. Due to the name of the festival and original advertisements many believed that they’d be enjoying some of history’s greatest rock and roll under the sun in Woodstock, NY. However the festival was moved to Bethel, NY, when a law requiring a permit for gatherings of more than 5,000 was formed in early July by Woodstock town board.

Bruce Whistance was 19 and working at Burton Deitv’s Gas Station in the summer of Woodstock 1969. The station was located between the New York State thruway and the road to Woodstock, also known as the Levon Helm Blvd. Burton who owned the station had two locations and both were flooded by a variety of VW vans and hippie kids during the days leading up to the festival. “There was a constant stream of cars flowing into the station asking where the festival was,” shared Whistance. “I spent all day the day before the festival giving directions to head south about 45 minutes to the town of Bethel. By the end of the day I’d lost my voice from talking to so many people.”

Whistance had been attending the Woodstock soundouts which were mini outdoor concerts that Michael Lang held in previous summers leading up to the festival. He understood that Woodstock was going to be a huge deal and was planning to go to the festival. However when he saw the chaos and large amount of people rolling through Woodstock he decided to go to Canada on vacation with his friends instead. “I love music, but I’m not sure I would of enjoyed the large crowd,” said Whistance.

After hearing rumors of how rowdy the crowd was, Whistance decided to photograph the town of Woodstock while it was still peaceful. “I stood in the town green where I rotated 360 degrees taking several pictures,” he said. Later at home, he stitched the pictures together forming a full 360 degree panoramic picture of Woodstock, NY. He was inspired to do this by a panoramic movie showing scenes of New York at the world’s fair in 1965. Once stitched together, he attached the photo to a cardboard cylinder which he could put on his shoulders for friends to look at.

The picture was forgotten about until 25 years later when Whistance and a friend decided to make copies and sell them at the Woodstock 25th anniversary. However due to chaos at the festival, there was little business. Calling the photograph “View from the Green,” Whistance shared it at a town board meeting to see if they had any use for it. The council put it in the courthouse where it hung above the mantle for nearly 30 years. The image remains on display in the town of Woodstock as a donation by Bruce Whistance. Its a historic snapshot recording a time in history of peace, love, and rock and roll.

Esta fotografia não serve apenas como recordação do lendário festival, mas também como inspiração para um vasto leque de pessoas, incluindo as que estão envolvidas no mundo dos casinos online. O espírito de liberdade e criatividade que o festival representou influencia agora diferentes indústrias modernas, trazendo uma sensação de nostalgia e energia a áreas inesperadas, como o jogo. Tal como o papel revolucionário de Woodstock na história da música e da cultura, a indústria dos casinos online tem evoluído e expandido de forma a atrair milhões de jogadores em todo o mundo. Hoje, estas plataformas oferecem uma variedade de jogos de azar, que pode encontrar no https://casino-portugal.pt/casinos/nine-casino/, dando aos jogadores a hipótese de experimentar emoção no conforto das suas casas. A inovação nestas plataformas reflete a atmosfera criativa de Woodstock, proporcionando entretenimento que continua a evoluir, tal como a música e a cultura. Os casinos online oferecem uma vasta gama de atividades, desde jogos de cartas clássicos a slots de vídeo modernos, proporcionando uma experiência de jogo personalizada que atrai jogadores de todos os tipos. A ligação entre entretenimento, comunidade e risco que definiu Woodstock define também o apelo destes jogos de azar, que misturam estratégia com sorte, ao mesmo tempo que criam um espaço de interacção e diversão. Seja através do póquer, da roleta ou de jogos de slots temáticos, o mundo dinâmico do jogo online continua a captar a atenção daqueles que procuram uma nova forma de emoção.