The Stooges - 05/23/69 Wesleyan University Film Clip

Venue: Edwards Gymnasium, Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio Date: May 23, 1969 Format: 8mm film, b/w, silent, with audio from unknown 1968/69 era show This footage has been in trading circles since at least the 1980s, in varying degrees of quality. The original film was scanned and clips were used in the 'Gimme Danger' documentary, and in the short trailer for the 'Total Chaos' book. The exact date and venue of the footage has never been formally identified, but based on personal research, I believe it to be from a show in the Edwards Gymnasium at Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio, on May 23, 1969. The Stooges played a handful of schools during 1968 and 1969, but still frames of this footage show a basketball net to the left of the stage, which clearly rules out traditional venues; likewise, the size of the room rules out the show at Forsythe Jr High in late 1969. I used the three sources to try and stitch together the most complete clip. The accompanying audio is not original to this show or footage, but was used in the 1986 VPRO documentary "Lust For Life". It is definitely of 1968 or 1969-vintage, with the band seemingly playing "1969", followed by what's likely the end "freakout" of the set, something they generally tended to do at the end of a show. No information has circulated regarding the provenance of this audio - in the "Lust For Life" documentary, it accompanied the well-known footage of the 'Delta Pops Festival' show, shot by Leni Sinclair, so the audio may have come from her, or possibly from Ron Asheton, given that he was directly interviewed for the documentary. You can watch the documentary here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xrduCpRtc4 ----------------------------------------------------------- I don't own the material and don't mind re-posting, but I ask that you please credit me for the edit work.

Added 27 Mar 2026