The New-York Historical Society has extended the duration of its exhibition "Bill Graham and the Rock & Roll Revolution" and I'm glad I had a chance to attend. My daughters and I went to see it and immediately noted that only about 20 visitors were allowed inside the galleries at one time. It was well worth braving pandemic restrictions to see this marvelous exhibition.

We were there primarily to see rock 'n roll memorabilia associated with the late Bill Graham, who promoted so many rock concerts and tours, ran famous clubs and concert halls such as the Fillmore East (in Manhattan's East Village) and Fillmore West, and managed some famous rock bands (Santana for a while, and others.) Graham was a savvy businessman who was tough in his dealings but also helped promote a wide variety of bands and performers, be they white, black, Latino, male or female. He introduced music fans to many ground-breaking acts. He helped put together and promote concerts that benefited charitable causes such as Live Aid. 

Graham had a painful youth: he was a Holocaust refugee who made it to the United States to become the foster child of a family in the Bronx. Although he was not observant, Graham (whose real name was Wolodi Grajonca) was a proud Jewish man who sponsored a publicly lit Hanukkah menorah in San Francisco. His biological father died when he was an infant, and his mother succumbed in a concentration camp. 

In New York, he attended DeWitt Clinton High School and City College, CUNY. As a young adult, he moved to San Francisco, where he lived for the rest of his life.

The exhibition has plenty of music memorabilia: concert posters from his shows, a few guitars played by stars (Carlos Santana, Pete Townshend, Duane Allman); personal correspondence of his (a letter to his sons, a note from folk singer Donovan, etc.). There was film footage from concerts he promoted, some vintage clothes (including a Fillmore East shirt), many photographs, and more.

There were artifacts from his childhood, including his high school yearbook, photographs, objects from his time in the US Army (he was a medal honoree) and such. There were items from his businesses, but many of his personal and business items were lost in a fire in the mid-1980s, when his office was firebombed by neo-Nazi sympathizers.

The emphasis was on Bill and the music, the musicians, and both NYC and San Francisco. It ended with items from his memorial tribute: he died in a helicopter crash in 1991. Graham's roles in the development of rock 'n roll, pop, blues and jazz were immeasurable. 

There was a photograph of the last concert at the Fillmore East, and I realized with a jolt that it featured a historic church that was down the block from the club. That church had a huge fire on December 5th and I documented it. I used to teach near there--and the Fillmore itself! Amazing.