Pan at Ann’s Delicatessen in the ’60s
In 1938 D.H. Lawrence wrote in The Phoenix, a Woodstock publication, “still in America, among the Indians, the oldest Pan is alive.” This is a fitting tribute to the bacchanalian energy that was present during the Maverick Festivals in the early 1900s. This spirit re-surfaced in the late sixties at the Woodstock Sound-Outs, where festival goers co-habituated with nature in weekend-long parties under the open skies.
What is not so well known is that the host of the Woodstock Sound-Outs was none other than Pansy “Pan” Drake Copeland (1910-1994). Pan was, by turn, a tough, feisty lady and a sweetheart. Bill West, a long-time politician, remembers taking Jay Rolison (who was running for the State Assembly) around to meet the shopkeepers. He stopped in at Ann’s Delicatessen to meet Pan, the current owner. West had barely concluded the introductions when Copeland upbraided him about some totally unrelated town topic. Needless to say, the politicians beat a hasty retreat. On the other hand, according to Ellen McIlwaine, Pan was like a mother to her. In fact, so much so that Copeland managed and guided Ellen’s career during the early seventies.
Ann’s Delicatessen was a town hangout. Musicians of all stripes and proclivities met and charged their purchases there. Bob Dylan was a regular, as were entertainers like Jim Black, Larry Packer, and Garth Hudson. Larry Packer, the fiddle player for Cat Mother and the All Night Newsboys, recalls meeting Garth Hudson at the deli one day in the spring of 1968. Garth shyly offered Larry an acetate of a project the boys had been working on. This, of course, was Music from Big Pink, the project that turned out to be The Band’s ground-breaking first album.
Pan’s good-time Southern cooking and generous portions drew starving musicians and artists to her enclave. In 1965 Copeland obtained title to a farm in West Saugerties. It was only a matter of time before she was hosting shindigs at the old farm site. In addition to the deli, Pan owned and operated the Copeland Gallery. Bob Liikala, the Group 212 coordinator, was an early manager there.
In 1967 Pan teamed up with Jocko Moffitt and Steve Bishop to host the first Woodstock Sound-Out over Labor Day weekend. It was an enormous success—it drew thousands and even rated a mention in the New York Times. In successive years the cream of rock royalty hung out and/or performed at the Sound-Outs. These acts included Bob Dylan, Richie Havens, Jimi Hendrix, Jerry Jeff Walker, the Incredible String Band, Ellen McIlwaine with Fear Itself, New Lost City Ramblers, Bunky and Jake, Children of God, Tim Hardin, and countless others. Among the notable attendees who came to be entertained were people like Michael Lang—who went on to model his 1969 mega festival after the Sound-Outs.
It is no accident that this website honors Pan as its patron deity.
~ Weston Blelock
Pansy and my mother Dagmar Balsamo were close friends. Pansy often would baby sit for me in her little boutique were 1/2 of Jean Turmo is now. She was a good women whom miss very much.
‘’I remember going to these events in 1968 and 1969 as people hung out intents and sleeping bags and enjoyed free music. The original Woodstock concerts!
i lived in woodstock at that time did any one remember a group called sweet honey? a local blues group that played at the cafe a lot. they even invited the town up to a house near hill 99, they rented. and had a big jam with blues magoos, ellen, fear itself,and a lot of other music people. they played at pans farm once.
I have specific memories of the concert at the Woodstock Playhouse in March 1968. Some that I am not so sure of as I have not seen any confirmation of my memories on the web. I do remember Richie Havens and Bunky and Jake and a wonderful light show using an overhead projector and colored liquids in curved glass plates. Way Cool. I was 17 at the time and going to UCCC.
I also remember that the playhouse was sparsely attended. Not much of a crowd at all.(Does the playhouse still exist?)
Is there an exact date for the March concert? I think it was two-days over the weekend. I was there on a Sunday.
I remember there being an emcee but I will not mention his name just now.
If there are any other written details of this concert I would appreciate seeing them.
Sidebar: What was the local bar that had the wagon wheel above the door?
The original Woodstock Playhouse burned down in 1988, but building was re-built–and the playhouse is presently a thriving institution.
The concert that you mentioned took place on March 31, 1968. Also, Jim Black of the Mothers was the emcee. There is more about this concert (with photos) in the “Roots of the 1969 Woodstock Festival: The Backstory of “Woodstock.”
Weston, to the best of my knowledge neither Dylan nor Hendrix ever played at Pans farm, also I don’t recall the Incredible String Band playing there either.
Eric, you’re right about Dylan and Hendrix. Though I believe they may have attended. As for the Incredible String Band, Bob Fass knew Joe Boyd, their manager, and was responsible for booking them.