Draft:Pittsburgh Free Media

Figure 3Pittsburgh Free Media Director Bill Swazuk. Flagstaff Hill Concert
Figure 1Pittsburgh Free Media Free Concert June 11, 1972 Flagstaff Hill ShenleyPark Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Free Media (PFM) was the first entertainment co-operative and it originated with Bill Swazuk in Oakland, Pittsburgh. Bill began to organize and coordinate free concerts until PFM was considered a stalwart reality and people recognized the name PFM guaranteed an inexpensive quality good time. By advertising at the free concerts, the plan was to secure a membership of 5,000 audiophiles who wanted the best quality concert experiences at the lowest possible cost per seat. The annual membership would be a reasonable $20 a year. The guarantee would have been one quality concert every month at an acoustically good auditorium. In PFM’s hometown, the perfect venues were the Syria Mosque, Soldiers and Sailors, or Carnegie Music Hall. No large venues. If there was demand for a concert, more shows would be organized rather than extend to the acoustically horrible Civic Arena. The cost of a seat would be $2-5 above the expenses. The object was for PFM to break-even and pay for maintenance. If you put on your memory caps, in the early 70s, concerts jumped phenomenally in cost. The local promoters were making exorbitant profits. Having fun listening to live music became expensive when money was tight after the steel mills closed.

As a non-profit corporation PFM got free public service announcements, but most of the advertising would be done before the concerts even were booked. It was Bill Swazuk’s design to send out mailers with a list of possible groups who would be touring. In true co-operative style, the membership would vote on who they most wanted to see. Remember, this is before social pages and the Internet were even a science fiction consideration. Today, it would be so easy. Paypal to collect the $, Facebook, Instagram, email... But in those days, it was Bill Swazuk walking and talking to corporate execs of every possible communication media from Sideshow and Fly-by-Night promoters/agents to the Pittsburgh Philharmonic, begging artists to perform, and securing enough funds for the sound, stage, and security.

The ultimate vision was to join with national media company like KDKA - Group W (Westinghouse Broadcasting) - with stations in the huge markets of Boston, NYC, Chicago, and Los Angeles. An entire tour could be booked with Free Media memberships in every city. Bill Swazuk’s entertainment co-operative idea could have changed the ticket cost charged by the greedy promoters. The artists got their fee. Everyone got their money, but Bill, as the promoter, got maintenance - organization $2-5 seat fee. Pittsburgh Free Media members would get quality entertainment at a bargain. No quality, no memberships.

Kathlieen Moore was the vice-president and active laison with the University of Pittsburgh. Kathleen worked in Pitt’s Office of Veteran’s Affairs. George Corneileussen was Pittsburgh Free Media’s resident artist and did all the artwork, designed the logo, and helped with everything, including the sound. Paul Nevergoll, Don Shields, and Rob Dillion from Pitts Media department did the provided the expertise and multi-media equipment for inexpensive classic movie nights. Fund raising events as the Southside 'PFM' Hey hippy, you wanna get high – parties required everyone’s assistance drawing more than 500 revelers.

Bill Swazuk and Pittsburgh Free Media with cooperation from the University of Pittsburgh showed rare classic films such as Asylum, Reefer Madness, Freaks. There were late nite comedy film venues with Abbot and Costello, W.C. Fields, and The Marx Brothers. To complete a fun day in May, Bill organized a free concert and kite fly on Flagstaff Hill in Schenley park between Pitt and CMU. After the concert, PFM showed two classic serial movies, The Lone Ranger and Flash Gordon.

PFM pulled every aspect of the music and art work together at the Point State Park for The Communications Exhibition with many types of music from rock, acoustic to classical and theatrics available. This free venue was for two days and previewed over forty different acts.

REFERENCES: • Pittsburgh_Post_Gazette_Fri__Apr_6__1973_.pdf •

Pittsburgh_Post_Gazette_Fri__May_4__1973_.pdf •

Pittsburgh_Post_Gazette_Mon__Apr_23__1973_.pdf •

Pittsburgh_Post_Gazette_Mon__May_7__1973_.pdf

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