Berkeley Girls

[Roland Stone]

For me one of the most memorable scenes in "Jimi Plays Berkeley" has always been the finale where Jimi is playing on his knees for two young girls at the edge of the stage. While both of the girls are enjoying it, the girl on the left is nervously overcome and keeps looking away at her friend. The girl on the right, however is just soaking it all in and never shifts her gaze from Jimi. In the film they look like they're both very young, maybe 14 or 15.

I've always wondered who they are, where are they now, and do they even know they're in the movie?

Same goes for any of the other colorful characters in the film - the redneck, the "Boycott Woodstock, we made this movie!" girl, etc. Wish I could think of a way to track them down and interview them.

[E-Dubb]

interesting you bring this up...i had some correspondence with a fellow on youtube a few years back who claimed to date the exuberant girl on the left...i actually still have some of the discussion via PM's saved which i will share here with you all...

initially we were arguing over the location of the show in the discussion section of the "jimi plays voodoo chile live at berkeley" video as he was claiming the show was filmed at "provo park" in berkeley and when i corrected him he took offense as he thought i was calling him a liar and responded to me in a not so pleasant manner so after some back in forth in the discussion thread, he took it upon himself to PM me and this is where the conversation picks up...

03/20/07

Listen, I'm not going to argue the point with you. Hendrix performed at the "Berkeley Community Theater" the night before he did this free concert in Provo park. I was there along with my girlfriend Kathy Jageman (The gal in the front row).

Hendrix performed the free concert with Janis Joplin and Creedence Clearwater in Provo Park...

The "BCT" has a sunken orchestra pit just in front of the stage. It's not possible to get that close. I grew up in Berkeley and attended many events at the BCT. I also went to Berkeley High School from '69 -'72. The BCT is on Berkeley High School grounds... At least the entrance is.

My "buddies" and I used to break in there during school hours, hide in the orchestra pit, smoke dope and drink beer. I know that place inside and out. (or did then).

Kathy Jageman is the name of the gal in the front row. I'm just off camera directly behind her... I didn't even know anyone was filming that night. I was 15 at the time, Kathy was almost 16.

Kathy was killed in an auto accident on 02/21/71 in Georgia on her way off to school back east ... Her parents didn't like me and wanted to seperate us. They did that all right, forever.

Kathy is buried at the Sunset Cemetary in El Cerrito CA. Spot # 32. I still visit her every friggin' year.

I'm 51 now, divorced, have two kids, (21 & 24) and Live in *******. (about ** miles north of Berkeley).

I remember that night and that performance all too well. I don't know what sort of DVD you have but I'd be really interested in seeing it. Kathy and I didn't go to the concert at the BCT. We couldn't afford to.

I'm not calling you a liar, but you are mistaken. If your uncle tried to break into that show, he did so the night before. Savvy?

Regards,

Jon

here was my response

3/22/07

sorry jon...it has taken me a while to get back to you as my comp has been up and down...but you can go into any record store an get the jimi plays berkely dvd...i believe that was your girlfriend and just think maybe you might be a little confused at what show you attended as that was a long time ago...you can reference any hendrix bio or tour itinerary they will say that hendrix played 2 shows 5/30/70 at the berkeley community theatre plus being a huge hendrix fan i have a large collection of live boots including both those shows...i dont deny you saw hendrix possibly at an undocumented performance at provo park because he was known to do spur of the moment jams and my uncle has also told me he heard hendrix threw a free jam session in the area...so maybe your girlfriend attended both and happened to be caught forever on tape at b.c.t..anyways thanks for getting at me personally and i am sorry for your loss...she was a very beautiful girl and seemed to full alot of positive energy...also its a strange coincidence my uncle also lived in ******* up until about three years ago before retiring as he worked as an electrician and did alot of work on campus ...he himself is now 52 with kids age 26,25,20...i am the oldest cousin at the ripe old age of 30...sent sincerely and respectfully eddie

and here was his next response(some of this response is edited or left out because of personal content from Jon)

3/27/07

Hi Eddie and thank you for writing. I did finally get the DVD and had the images enhanced. You're right, the show was held at the BCT... It was a long time ago and I just remembered the concert that Hendrix put on at the park. I had forgotten that Kathy and I had gone to the concert at the BCT also. We were so plastered on weed and booze at that time, I'm surprised that I have any memory at all, LOL!

What was messing me up on this is that the BCT does have a sunken orchestra pit just in front of the stage. I couldn't figure out how we could have gotten so close. I called the manager there and was told that they are able to raise the pit to be flush with the floor for certain events... I didn't know this before.

It was a great show and back in the day you could get right up front like that. I believe that Hendrix died that Sept?

Kathy was a great gal and we went together for a couple of years. We were planning on getting married when we got older... I'm sure you know how those things go when you're that age... Everything is forever.

After Kathy was killed, I met a gal named ***** and we ended up living together for 6 yrs. We went our separate ways by mutual agreement.

I got married in '77 and divorced in '78 (Long story).

I have a masters degree from *************** in business and was the general manager of a company there from '84-'01.

I got married again in '82 and moved to ******* then. My wife and I divorced in '03. I have two great kids, 21 & 24 (girl and boy). I turned 51 last Nov.

I know a lot of electricians and hang out at a bar on ************* called ***************. (In ********) If you should talk to your uncle, I'd like to know if he's heard of it or possibly been there? I've been a regular there since '82 and know just about everyone who comes in there.

I'm on SS Disability these days. I had to have C-2 - C-7 replaced in '03 and have been unable to work until recently...

One last thing I'd like to share with you is that in '77 Led Zeppelin did a show at the Oakland coliseum. One of Bill Ghrams, "day on the green" concerts. My former girlfriend, *******, was able to get me back stage passes. I was sitting on an amp during the show not 20' from Robert Plant... That was GREAT!

If you ever feel like contacting me again, my real e mail address is: *************** Please do not give this out. I am giving it to you only because of the way you wrote to me. You seem a little smarter than the average jerk I usually run into here, Savvy?

Best wishes to you,

Jon

i never did correspond with him again mainly because my comp crashed and i didnt receive this last message until a few months later plus sending emails to and/or meeting stangers on the internet is not really my thing but the question was asked about "the girls" in the berkeley video and even though i dont know how much truth is actually here you can make of it whatever you will...

[Experiencereunited]

The Provo Park gig is interesting.

I am working on a similarly confusing eyewitness account now. My wife's stepmoms brother says he saw Jimi twice (and an attempted 3rd time). He insists he saw him once at the Atlanta Pop Festival and the other time in Lewisville, Texas July 1967. Never heard anything about that one and since I am hearing it second hand my wife may be confused. Going to ask him for more details and share once I get them.

The third attempt he claims was in Lubbock, Texas where there was an advertised festival but it was really just a hippie bust zone where they advertised a fake festival just to bust hippies!

[stplsd]

Provo park is obviously bollocks. The whole thing reeks of pish. As does the Texas 1967 gig

[Roland Stone]

Thanks so much for the story about Kathy Jageman. We now have a name and sad story to go with the face. At least her memory and name now have a permanent place in the annals of CTT.

But I still wonder about her girlfriend on the right! Hopefully her story has a happier ending.

[Experiencereunited]

Provo park is obviously bollocks. The whole thing reeks of pish. As does the Texas 1967 gig

I don't know why you dismiss Provo Park and the possibility of Jimi playing there out of hand. Clearly there were tons of impromptu shows that happened at Provo Park as documented in this blog link below and many of those shows contained big name bands. I am not saying it happened and not saying it didn't happen but am open to the possibility at least that it may have.

http://berkeleyfolk.blogspot.com/201...s-1967-69.html

Also check this link out where this girl lists her first concert as Jimi Hendrix in Provo Park Berkeley, CA. What reason would someone have to make that up as part of their profile?

http://www.yelp.com/user_details?use...cshO-Ie5W1WlEA

Lewisville, TX July 1967 sounds far fetched I do agree. Still getting more details.

[Experiencereunited]

After going through my wife's stepmom's brothers recount again I am convinced he went to the Texas Pop Festival in 1969 in Lewisville not 1967 but he still insists Jimi was there. However, there is no evidence of this or that Jimi showed up (although his schedule was open at the time). He was not on the bill either. So I believe it is just hazy memories from that festival. He did state pretty much all the other groups that were known to have been there during his recollection as well.

Another thing he recounts about the Atlanta Pop Festival is they closed the highway down so Jimi's entourage could land their Leer Jet. He also said he personally was pretty electrified on LSD in Atlanta and the girl he went with didn't wear any clothes at all for most of the Festival.

[dino77]

After going through my wife's stepmom's brothers recount again I am convinced he went to the Texas Pop Festival in 1969 in Lewisville not 1967 but he still insists Jimi was there. However, there is no evidence of this or that Jimi showed up (although his schedule was open at the time). He was not on the bill either. So I believe it is just hazy memories from that festival. He did state pretty much all the other groups that were known to have been there during his recollection as well.

Another thing he recounts about the Atlanta Pop Festival is they closed the highway down so Jimi's entourage could land their Leer Jet. He also said he personally was pretty electrified on LSD in Atlanta and the girl he went with didn't wear any clothes at all for most of the Festival.

Those were different times...
Festival was 30th August- 1st September. Jimi recorded at Hit Factory in NY on the 30th of August (the Gypsy Sun and Rainbows band).

[trampledunderfoot]

He also said he personally was pretty electrified on LSD in Atlanta...

^ This.

My girlfriend's mother has made similar claims to have seen a band perform when they were known not to have performed (Led Zeppelin in 1976) and she has also admitted to have been on LSD at the time. Clearly, it befuddles the memory.

[carlygtr56]

i was a little sad reading that guy's account of his girlfriend. Those two girls and others are part of the film. You would think they grew old, told there kids stories, etc, and that cute girl on the left didn't live much longer than Jimi. Only 15-16 years old with her whole life ahead of her.
She witnessed in front of her eyes the most amazing guitarist/ performer in music. If that's any consolation......just a sad story

[stplsd]

Thanks so much for the story about Kathy Jageman. We now have a name and sad story to go with the face. At least her memory and name now have a permanent place in the annals of CTT.

But I still wonder about her girlfriend on the right! Hopefully her story has a happier ending.

Any spaceman could claim some other maudlin twaddle, he thought the film was outside in a park where JH never played ha-ha-ha

[stplsd]

I don't know why you dismiss Provo Park and the possibility of Jimi playing there out of hand.

How about because the guy sounds like a psycho and there is absolutely no evidence of him playing there at the height of his fame apart from this. It's in your face

[stplsd]

Also check this link out where this girl lists her first concert as Jimi Hendrix in Provo Park Berkeley, CA. What reason would someone have to make that up as part of their profile?

People that were aquaintances of JH talk the essence of pish half the time, nevermind complete strangers. Joplin at Newport '69 springs to mind

[stplsd]

(although his schedule was open at the time). .

what does that mean?

[Roland Stone]

How about because the guy sounds like a psycho and there is absolutely no evidence of him playing there at the height of his fame apart from this. It's in your face

Well "absolutely no evidence" is not correct. As stated below:

"Also check this link out where this girl lists her first concert as Jimi Hendrix in Provo Park Berkeley, CA. What reason would someone have to make that up as part of their profile?

http://www.yelp.com/user_details?use...cshO-Ie5W1WlEA"

[stplsd]

Well "absolutely no evidence" is not correct. As stated below:

A couple of space cadets on the internet is not evidence

"Also check this link out where this girl lists her first concert as Jimi Hendrix in Provo Park Berkeley, CA. What reason would someone have to make that up as part of their profile?

See above posts.

[Experiencereunited]

Make that 3 Space cadets on Provo

1.) From edubb "i dont deny you saw hendrix possibly at an undocumented performance at provo park because he was known to do spur of the moment jams and my uncle has also told me he heard hendrix threw a free jam session in the area"

2.) "Jon's" account documented above

3.) The cooking lady with the Yelp profile. If you read her profile it doesn't say she is any kind of an avid Hendrix fan it is something you simply have to fill out as a yelp user kind of an "about me" thing and one of the topics is your first concert. Her primary activity is cooking not Jimi so I don't think she has any reason at all to out of the blue say she saw Jimi at Provo Park for her first concert.

I realize that the link I gave requires a login. So her actual Yelp profile is below along with a link to her cooking blog.

Valerie "The Dish Hot Chick" M.'s Profile

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"Culinary Artist & Storyteller - will travel for good food!"

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Location West Covina, CA
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When I'm Not Yelping... I'm cooking and travelling
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The Last Great Book I Read Never in My Wildest Dreams by Belva Davis
My First Concert Jimi Hendrix, Provo Park, Berkeley, Ca
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[Roland Stone]

I just sent her this e-mail:

Hello!

There is currently a bit of a controversy going on in the online world of Jimi Hendrix fans regarding whether Jimi ever played in Provo Park in Berkeley. Your Yelp profile states that you attended this concert.


You are not the only person who claims to have attended this show, but apparently, it was an undocumented, unscheduled appearance. So I am writing you to request ANY additional details you may recall about this show - and the more detail the better! Date? Setlist? Friends who were there with you? Remarks Jimi made? Clothing he wore? Did you take a camera with you? A tape recorder? Do you know anyone who did photograph or record it? Supporting acts on the bill? How you learned of the show? How close you got, etc. etc. etc.


And the big question - are you CERTAIN it was in Provo Park and NOT the well documented show at the Berkeley Community Center on May 30, 1970?


This may seem like a trivial question, but believe me, it is of great importance to Jimi's internet fans. I look forward to hearing your recollections.


Thanks a lot,

[Mark7]

I just sent her this e-mail:

Hello!

There is currently a bit of a controversy going on in the online world of Jimi Hendrix fans regarding whether Jimi ever played in Provo Park in Berkeley. Your Yelp profile states that you attended this concert.


You are not the only person who claims to have attended this show, but apparently, it was an undocumented, unscheduled appearance. So I am writing you to request ANY additional details you may recall about this show - and the more detail the better! Date? Setlist? Friends who were there with you? Remarks Jimi made? Clothing he wore? Did you take a camera with you? A tape recorder? Do you know anyone who did photograph or record it? Supporting acts on the bill? How you learned of the show? How close you got, etc. etc. etc.


And the big question - are you CERTAIN it was in Provo Park and NOT the well documented show at the Berkeley Community Center on May 30, 1970?


This may seem like a trivial question, but believe me, it is of great importance to Jimi's internet fans. I look forward to hearing your recollections.


Thanks a lot,

Oh, this poor lady is now in the crosshairs of us Hendrix nuts! God save her!!! (and nice work )

[stplsd]

The free concerts in Provo Park had faded away to just very few a year by 1970. A couple of bands, of little note, are documented as playing there in 1970, but not the biggest concert draw of this time the Jimi Hendrix Experience? Get real!

April 11 1970-Festival of Toads
April 18, 1970-Kentucky Suckers, Rhythm Aces, Artichoke Jones, Emily
May 19, 1970-Youngbloods (partially released on their album Rock Festival)
July 5, 1970-Osceola

Apart from New Yorkers almost no-one had seen them since Denver 69, nine months previous to the start of this tour and all that had been released new since ELL in 1968, was a single almost no-one was aware even existed, the Band of Gypsys LP and his two improvised instrumentals on the Woodstock LP. Surely a remarkable oversight by a public that was gagging to see him in concert

If he'd just played a free concert in this large park, why were so many still so despearate to see him that they were trying to smash their way into the hall and dangerously climbing up onto the roof to break in?

Funny no-one even commented until a couple of internet posters vague claims 40 years later!

As I said there are loads of stories about him and other stars playing/doing wherever/whatever that have proven to be entirely "unfounded" if not just bogus.

It just doesn't wash