by Wayne Wharton, Elkins Pk, PA

It was the summer of 1968 & I was 15 standing on the corner doing absolutly nothing when a friend of mine drives up & asks if I want to go to a concert at the Arena in West Philly. Of course I asked who’s playing. The Doors, he replies. We proceed to drive down to a hot, sticky Arena.

The stage was in the center & did not revolve so of course everyone facing the back proceeds to move the front, sitting in aisles on top of other people etc. The place was sold out so you can imagine the pandemonium. The place reeked of pot with a few trippers & people on speed starting fights. I had not expierenced any drugs at the time so watching the scene was a blast. Just then the fire marshall gets on the PA anouncing that if everyone doesn’t move back he’ll shut the place down. Nobody moves & the crowd faces down the fire marshall.

The first group to play was “Sweet Stavin Chain” & were promtly booed off. The 2nd group “Mandrake Memorial” were great. When the Doors finally take the stage the Arena was pitch dark. They launch into “Roadhouse Blues” & the place goes wild. Since this was right after the Miami incident the crowd kept yelling for Morrison to “whip it out.”

Needless to say the expierence was burned into my brain.