175:, and many others. Many acts, like The Doors and Van Morrison, for example, had yet to become famous when they played The Dog, evidenced by the poster artists having to stylize the names of their leading songs into the poster art for the shows. The Family Dog is also seen as a cultural turning point in Denver from the conservative, western-minded sensibility of the early and mid-20th century to the current, liberal-minded climate. The venue's history, surrounding drama and ultimate impact had been largely unknown and unrealized until it was unearthed and detailed for the first time in the 2021 documentary
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410:, Lothar and the Hand People took top billing over The Doors and Captain Beefheart when they played the Family Dog Denver for the first time in 1967. They went on to become enormously influential as one of the pioneers of electronic music and had an outsized impact on the development of rock & roll, with its members opening Electric Lady Land Studios with Jimi Hendrix, and helping to produce some of the most famous rock albums ever made.
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that summer, modeled on the famed event that took place in San
Francisco in January of that year. The goal of the Be-In, in addition to generating interest in the Family Dog Denver, was to organize an event around the common sentiments of that time, including peace, love and brotherhood. Bands that
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the Family Dog Denver was the genesis of the city's current flourishing, world-class music scene. Specifically, it was Barry and
Cynthia Fey's vision of bringing an Avalon Ballroom- type of venue to Denver and successful efforts to convince Chet Helms to open up the Family Dog in Denver that put
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and owner Marc Arno
Richardson. The liquid light show was a groundbreaking experience where light was projected through textured glass that was filled with colored liquids and onto the walls of the Family Dog while the bands were playing. This was the precursor to the modern concert light show.
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As the popularity of the venue exploded that fall, and the so-called hippie phenomenon and drug use that accompanied it became more prevalent around the city, parents and city leaders became concerned and exerted pressure on the police to shut down the Family Dog and eradicate the city of the
301:. The Love-In was organized by "Great American Tea and Cement Company of Denver," described as “a colony of working hippie artists.” Some of the local Denver bands that played at the Wash Park Love-In included Beggar's Opera Company, Hannigan's Greenhouse, and the Crystal Palace Guard.
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Due to a combination of pressure from the city and miss-management of funds by the venue, by
December 1967, after four months in operation, Family Dog Productions left Denver. After a brief closure, the Feys reopened the Dog and ran it themselves, bringing in acts like
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As Barry Fey's vision grew, The Dog closed and he moved on to become one of the world's biggest and most influential rock promoters. The Feys started
Feyline Productions, and helped pioneer and define the era of Rock promotion. Feyline held the 1969
185:. As there are no useful photos, no video and little written history remaining of the Family Dog Denver, the film's oral history format told in first person by the people who were there serves as a definitive reference for “The Dog.”
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hippies. Detective John Gray became the face of the police leading the efforts to get a hold of the situation at the Family Dog. This involvement lead to numerous municipal court cases as well as a federal court case.
147:. Opened from September 1967 to July 1968, it is regarded as a seminal music venue that launched Denver on its trajectory to its current status as a major concert destination by introducing never-before-seen acts like
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for marijuana possession, at the Ranch Motor Inn, located at Santa Fe and
Florida Ave, prior to their scheduled show at the Family Dog on October 21, 1967. During this episode, Canned Heat claimed the
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Denver, prior to the opening of the Family Dog, was not a major music destination. There had been a modest jazz scene in the Five Points neighborhood which hosted international acts such as
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music scene to Denver could be a successful business venture. They subsequently convinced Helms and Cohen to co-open up a music venue similar to the Avalon
Ballroom, in Denver.
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In order to jumpstart the Family Dog Denver, Barry Fey, and the leaders of the Dog, including Tony
Guillory, James “Butch” Grayer, Marc Arno Richardson, and others, put on a
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The Feys brought with him a demo tape of a Denver psychedelic rock band named The Eighth Penny Matter as evidence that the music was popular in Denver and that importing the
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The first concert at the Dog was Janis Joplin & Big
Brother & The Holding Company, Blue Cheer & The Eighth Penny Matter. The poster for the show was designed by
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With the impending opening of the Family Dog Denver, the arrangement was made for each of the concert posters to be done by the legendary San
Francisco
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planted the drugs on them. The Denver police deny this was the case. In order to pay their bail, Canned Heat signed over their publishing rights to
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As a result of bringing the San Francisco scene directly to Denver, Denver for a brief time had one of the first and potentially biggest,
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443:. Regardless of who was telling the truth, the result was that Canned Heat has never made a dime off of their major hits, including the
222:. Otherwise, most music venues, like the Exodus, Catacombs and The Cave, featured local bands with limited, if any, national exposure.
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258:. At that time Helms was a primary figure in the San Francisco hippie scene, with his Family Dog Productions running the legendary
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scene had already been germinating in Denver by mid 1967. That summer on Sunday July 30 1967, a Love- In was held in
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The Denver Folk Music Tradition: An Unplugged History, from Harry Tuft to Swallow Hill and Beyond
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an internationally recognized music venue. He is also heavily responsible for helping save the
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One of the most controversial and dramatic episodes of the Family Dog's tenure was the bust of
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January 26 & 27 Friday, Saturday 1968 - Last Friday's Fire, The New World Blues Dictionary
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February 9 & 10 Friday, Saturday 1968 - The American Standard, Leopold Fuchs H. Bomb
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September 15, 1967 – The Quicksilver Messenger Service, The Charlatans and Superband
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April ?, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday 1968 - “Winter” and The Conqueroo (with
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206:. Beginning in the early 1960s there had also been a folk music scene, led by
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1601 W. Evans Ave, Denver, CO, 80223. Home of the Family Dog Denver, 1967-1968
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908:"The Tale of the Dog - The Untold Story of Denver's Greatest Rock Club"
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January 19 & 20 Friday, Saturday 1968 - The Eighth Penny Matter,
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February 2 & 3 Friday, Saturday 1968 - Leopold Fuchs Hate Band,
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January 12 & 13 Friday, Saturday 1968 - Beggars Opera Company,
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The Tale of the Dog Official Film Site (primary subject reference)
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1070:"The Mystery of the Family Dog, Denver's Most Storied Rock Venue"
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as their primary instrument, and subsequently being sponsored by
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December 1967: Chet Helms Pulls Out & Barry Fey Takes Over
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at the Denver Folklore Center, who brought in the likes of
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closed as the last performer at the Love-In that evening.
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508:. Of particular note was Barry's promotion of the 1983
1134:"Mile High Salute: 1980s - Welcome to the Elway years"
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September 8 & 9, 1967: The Family Dog Denver Opens
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According to the primary sources in the documentary
966:"The Jazz Roots of Denver's Five Points, Uncovered"
250:, flew with his wife to San Francisco to meet with
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829:"Fey established the city as a "must-play market""
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394:A group of musicians from Denver formed the band
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733:March 15 & 16 Friday, Saturday 1968 - Climax
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793:June 14 & 15, 1968 - Josh White, Fever Tree
552:Denver on the so-called music map permanently.
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329:. 5,000 people were reported to have attended.
948:"The Tale of the Dog Screening & Talkback"
726:March 8 & 9 Friday, Saturday 1968 - The
357:, Bob Schnepf, Bob Fried, and Dennis Nolan.
289:Summer 1967: The Human Be-In and the Love-In
532:franchise. Barry Fey was inducted into the
524:and for a decade-plus long effort to bring
510:U2 Live at Red Rocks: Under a Blood Red Sky
492:into a major concert venue, and opened the
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720:March 5 & 6 Tuesday, Wednesday 1968 -
512:, which has been credited for catapulting
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234:, who had been booking concert acts like
1252:Former music venues in the United States
1207:Lothar and the Hand People Official Site
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777:Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention
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867:"The Tale of the Dog and Dreams Unreal"
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596:Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
16:Former music venue in Denver, Colorado
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736:March 19, Tuesday 1968 - Magic Mice,
563:Big Brother & the Holding Company
1068:Roberts, Michael (August 16, 2017).
887:"Now Streaming: The Tale of the Dog"
624:October 27, 1967 – The Allmen Joy,
262:, where he cultivated acts like the
906:Wheeler, Lisa (February 23, 2020).
798:Big Brother and the Holding Company
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276:Big Brother and the Holding Company
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1257:Buildings and structures in Denver
1237:1968 disestablishments in Colorado
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692:, The Allmen Joy, Gingerbread Blue
479:July 1968: The Dog Closes for Good
14:
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1031:"History of Washington Park East"
688:December 29, 30 & 31, 1967 –
664:& The Jug Band, Solid Muldoon
528:to Denver, which helped land the
516:to global fame as well as making
1154:"Inductee Barry Fey In Colorado"
226:1967: Barry Fey Meets Chet Helms
110:Chet Helms, Bob Cohen, Barry Fey
1232:1967 establishments in Colorado
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556:Complete list of known concerts
254:, co-owner (with Bob Cohen) of
1247:Music venues completed in 1967
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317:played the Be-In included the
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1092:Solomon, Jon (June 8, 2021).
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414:Fall 1967: Police Take Notice
1217:Chet Helms Biography Project
626:Lothar & The Hand People
588:Lothar & The Hand People
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390:Lothar & The Hand People
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1158:Colorado Music Hall of Fame
1016:Colorado Music Hall of Fame
833:Colorado Music Hall of Fame
749:March 27, Wednesday 1968 -
742:March 20, Wednesday 1968 -
630:November 3 & 4, 1967 –
534:Colorado Music Hall of Fame
522:Colorado Symphony Orchestra
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34:"The Dog," "The Denver Dog"
10:
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396:Lothar and the Hand People
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91:39.6786722°N 105.0065667°W
1212:Canned Heat Official Site
796:June 28 & 29, 1968 -
755:April 6, Saturday 1968 -
699:, The Eighth Penny Matter
604:, The Eighth Penny Matter
579:September 22, 1967 – The
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1242:Music venues in Colorado
952:The University of Denver
852:The University of Denver
96:39.6786722; -105.0065667
985:Malkoski, Paul (2012).
892:The Rock Poster Society
872:The Rock Poster Society
518:Red Rocks Amphitheater
490:Red Rocks Amphitheater
383:Diogenes Lantern Works
333:Psychedelic Poster Art
256:Family Dog Productions
55:1601 West Evans Avenue
24:
1191:The Family Dog Denver
1180:The Family Dog Denver
989:. The History Press.
586:September 29, 1967 –
573:, Eighth Penny Matter
526:Major League Baseball
373:Psychedelic Lightshow
232:Barry and Cynthia Fey
133:The Family Dog Denver
47:The Family Dog Denver
28:The Family Dog Denver
22:
1142:. December 17, 2000.
1035:Washington Park East
974:. February 25, 2016.
954:. February 22, 2020.
761:April or May 1968 -
685:, Jimmerfield Legend
677:December 15, 1967 –
656:The Sons of Champlin
650:November 17, 1967 -
646:The Sons of Champlin
640:November 10, 1967 –
561:September 8, 1967 –
449:Going Up the Country
248:University of Denver
673:Siegal Schwall Band
667:December 8, 1967 –
660:December 1, 1967 –
636:Superfine Dandelion
617:October 21, 1967 –
607:October 13, 1967 –
602:Buffalo Springfield
547:The Tale of the Dog
486:Denver Pop Festival
341:artists, including
178:The Tale of the Dog
165:Buffalo Springfield
87: /
29:
855:. January 2, 2018.
679:The Soul Survivors
600:October 6, 1967 –
494:Rainbow Music Hall
406:, inventor of the
379:liquid light shows
339:psychedelic poster
268:Jefferson Airplane
27:
25:
1122:. April 30, 2012.
936:. April 28, 2021.
875:. March 30, 2020.
783:The Electric Flag
697:American Standard
398:in 1965. Using a
381:on earth, run by
327:Captain Beefheart
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118:September 8, 1967
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1057:. July 9, 2021.
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895:. June 8, 2021.
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787:June 8, 1968 -
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260:Avalon Ballroom
236:The Association
230:In early 1967,
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811:: Date unknown
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82:105°0′23.64″W
79:39°40′43.22″N
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1161:. Retrieved
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809:Howlin’ Wolf
683:The Box Tops
609:Van Morrison
567:Janis Joplin
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498:Led Zeppelin
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473:Janis Joplin
469:Jimi Hendrix
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367:Rick Griffin
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351:Alton Kelley
343:Rick Griffin
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272:Janis Joplin
240:Alice Cooper
229:
220:Judy Collins
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169:Janis Joplin
157:Jimi Hendrix
153:Van Morrison
140:
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132:
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781:May 1968 -
751:Canned Heat
744:Black Pearl
738:Black Pearl
669:Canned Heat
662:Jim Kweskin
652:Chuck Berry
619:Canned Heat
429:Canned Heat
408:synthesizer
404:Robert Moog
310:Human Be-In
244:Eric Burdon
173:Chuck Berry
94: /
69:Coordinates
1226:Categories
1163:2021-07-15
913:Elk Bugles
816:References
804:Blue Cheer
763:Moby Grape
730:Blues Band
722:Blue Cheer
632:Blue Cheer
571:Blue Cheer
252:Chet Helms
208:Harry Tuft
139:or simply
789:The Byrds
690:The Doors
592:The Doors
540:Influence
536:in 2012.
466:The Byrds
445:Woodstock
437:Al Bennet
314:City Park
312:Denver's
216:Joan Baez
212:Bob Dylan
149:The Doors
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1075:Westword
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462:Cream
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107:Owner
1196:IMDb
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