I boarded the bus at 28
Metallica played the night before. The seats were thrashed.
Jim Ladd told me a Dead show parking lot was the place to score acid. I’d tripped once at age 8. {Big Sis denies this.} Her boyfriend gave me some orange juice and I spent the afternoon looking at pretty lights on the wall.
We were noobs, brought one joint carefully hidden in my partner’s cigarettes. When the joints were passed hand to hand {remember pre covid?} I knew I found my tribe.
Good Times led off the set.
video
12/09/88
Long Beach Arena - Long Beach, CA
Set 1:
Let The Good Times Roll
Franklin’s Tower
When I Paint My Masterpiece
Jack-A-Roe
Walkin’ Blues
High Time
Cassidy
Don’t Ease Me In
Set 2:
Scarlet Begonias
Fire On The Mountain
Estimated Prophet
Eyes Of The World
Drums
The Wheel
Gimme Some Lovin’
Wharf Rat
All Along The Watchtower
Encore:
U.S. Blues
audio only
In the parking lot asfter the show I picked up Dupree’s Diamond News
and learned about GDTS, the amazing mail order ticket sales staff.
Back in the day one called the hotline, 1-800-CAL-DEAD, and listened to a staffer read the list of upcoming shows and the mail order addresses.
Please send your future orders in a #10 sized envelope, make sure that your return name and address and concert dates and how many tickets to each concert you want are on the outside of your order to us!!
Include the following:
1) A 3 x 5 index card - not paper!, any other size will not fit in our files and may get lost. On this 3 x 5 card write in the upper left hand corner your full name, address, area code and phone number. (Phone numbers are important in case your tickets are returned to us by the Post Office or there is some other problem.)
In the middle of the card put your ticket request by preference - “ANYTHING AVAILABLE” as your last preference is the best way to insure that you get something instead of nothing. For example if we are offering both reserved and general admission tickets, listing “Anything” will insure that you get something. Not listing “Anything” means that if we sell out of reserved, you won’t receive anything. For multiple concerts in one facility, listing “Anything” means that you will accept any ticket/tickets to any of the concerts in that facility.
2) Include a postal money order or an American Express money order made payable to: GRATEFUL DEAD TICKET SALES - (CONCERT NAME) for the exact amount neccessary. No other money orders will be accepted!! Make sure your name and address are on the money order. Keep your receipt!! If your order is not filled your payment will be returned to you. No personal checks and no cash!! Ever!!
3) Also include a #10 sized self-addressed, stamped envelope for your tickets. Please do not decorate your return envelope with Grateful Dead art or mention of tickets, it only invites theft. (For example: Tickets! Handle with care.) We do love and display the artistic and colorful incoming order envelopes!!
4) One order per envelope and one order per person. Each person must fill out their own order. Duplicate orders of any kind will cause disqualification of all involved orders.
5) If we announce 3 concerts in the same city, you may order the maximum number of tickets to all 3 concerts in one envelope, unless we state otherwise. Mixed orders or orders for more than one city in one envelope will not be accepted.
6) All orders will be filled on a “first come, first served” basis by postmark, not by when we recieve them. No self-metered mail of any kind. Metered Mail includes postage machines or metered strips.
No Express Mail or Federal Express accepted!!! (Express mail and Federal Express will never be accepted and are a waste of your money!!) If we decide to do a random selection mail order we will announce it on the hotline beforehand. (If we receive more mail postmarked the first day than we have tickets for, then the mail order automatically becomes a “random selection” mail order from orders postmarked the first date.)
[Note: Concerts usually have a first mail in date. Orders postmarked before the first mail in date will be rejected.]
7) You may have your tickets sent to you by registered mail by adding $6.75 to your money order. Do not add extra postage to your envelope to pay for registration. Remember, registration does not include postage, so don’t forget to put regular postage on your S.A.S.E.
8) The mail order hotline (415 457-8457) will give the correct information and address to mail for tickets. Do not use any other address or your request will not be filled!! If the hotline instructions are different from the above then always follow the hotline instructions or your order may be cancelled.
Please write to us with any suggestions, problems, praise or complaints at:
Grateful Dead Ticket Sales
P.O. Box 9812
San Rafael, CA 94912
NEVER SEND ORDERS TO THE ABOVE ADDRESS - THEY WILL NOT BE FILLED!!
Hotlines:
California 415-457-6388
East Coast 201-488-9393 Mail Order 415-457-8457
For mail order problems: 415-457-8034.
(Semi-normal office hours are Monday - Friday 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM California time, usually only after a mailing.)
THANK YOU and STAY IN TOUCH!!!
My envelopes:
This is odd. We didnt go to Vegas, too hot. but I mailed in.
Now I was a skilled ticket orderer.
Dancing on Nixon’s grave was inspieed by taking forst-born to Orange County to be flower-bearer at their deaf sitter’s wedding. We toured the Nixon birthplace. Kay danced by Tricky Dick’s grave.
That envelope earned me fourth row seats to Glen Helen and a “loved your Dick’ scrawl on the the mommy letter {the list of motels and campsites close to the venue and the list of admonitions to not upset the locals.
My lsst envelope requested our Glen Helen refund.
Best show:
Summer solstice 1989, the last blessed, carefree year before Kay.
worst show ~~ Irvine Meadows, April 30. 1989, the Sunday afterr frat boys tore down fences and stoned cops. Security took sn hour as they searched baby dipes but let weed through.
Fans could be selfish cretins.
The Darkness Got to Give letter to the fans from the Band, dated 7/5/95.
Jerry’s last words to Bob after Soldier Field
40th show was a trip
.
