# Time travel--Cafe Society edition **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 29, 2013, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-travel-cafe-society-edition/669927 "2013-09-29T16:16:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2013, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-travel-cafe-society-edition/669927/1 "2013-09-29T16:16:34Z")
There’s been a thread on CS recently about time travelling to see any theater performance in history, so I’ve decided to start a broader thread. If time travel was possible, what entertainment event would you go to? You can do anything you want when you go there as long as you don’t effect someone’s life or death; so no “I’d convince Buddy Holly not to take that plane” answers. I would take a high quality reel to reel tape deck and record a set by the unrecorded “father of jazz” [Buddy Bolden.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Bolden) What’s your choice? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2013, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-travel-cafe-society-edition/669927/2 "2013-09-29T16:18:52Z")
The Marx Brothers on Broadway. ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2013, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-travel-cafe-society-edition/669927/3 "2013-09-29T16:34:56Z")
The Jimi Hendrix Experience at their early club gigs in London, late '66 through '67. Pink Floyd with Syd Barrett at his peak, same time frame. The Velvet Underground at any point they existed. The Stooges at any point _they_ existed (modern versions of these groups not included.) Nick Drake. Geez, imagine seeing Nick Drake play; there isn’t even any surviving footage of him. Robert Johnson playing a juke joint. Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf playing their respective clubs in Chicago in the '50s. Coltrane at any point in the last decade of his life. Miles Davis in the late 50s and early 60s. That’s just off the top of my head. ---
**Author:** ![Cayuga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Cayuga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cayuga)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2013, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-travel-cafe-society-edition/669927/4 "2013-09-29T16:36:12Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > The Marx Brothers on Broadway. I was going to say one of the original _Honeymooners_ episodes, but this is better. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2013, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-travel-cafe-society-edition/669927/5 "2013-09-29T16:39:20Z")
The problem with seeing what I’d want to see is that there is no way I could fit in at Winterland or the Avalon Ballroom. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2013, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-travel-cafe-society-edition/669927/6 "2013-09-29T16:43:04Z")
Catch the Beatles at the Cavern. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2013, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-travel-cafe-society-edition/669927/7 "2013-09-29T17:48:32Z")
I’m surprised nobody has said Woodstock. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2013, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-travel-cafe-society-edition/669927/8 "2013-09-29T18:04:07Z")
Mud, bad acid and too many dirty hippies. No, give me Airplane and Moby Grape at the Avalon, or Quicksilver and New Riders at Winterland. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2013, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-travel-cafe-society-edition/669927/9 "2013-09-29T19:07:31Z")
Stones, the Garden, last week of November, 1969. Ya-Yas – _as it happened!_ ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2013, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-travel-cafe-society-edition/669927/10 "2013-09-29T20:28:18Z")
[**881 7th Ave., New York City, January 16, 1938, 8:45 p.m.**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=l8aEVY9lONk) ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-travel-cafe-society-edition/669927/11 "2013-09-30T00:16:28Z")
Just for fun, I’d go back to the Sundance Film Festival of 2004 and start asking Shane Carruth questions right _before_ the world premiere of [Primer](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0390384/). ---
**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-travel-cafe-society-edition/669927/12 "2013-09-30T00:24:20Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I’m surprised nobody has said Woodstock. Or Altamont. :dubious: I’d pick a certain crucifixion. Not entertainment by my standards, but it was then and it’s a historical mystery. If I’ve got to pick something more modern, I’ll attend _Our American Cousin_ at Ford’s Theater. ---
**Author:** ![Boulter\_s\_Canary](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Boulter\_s\_Canary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boulter_s_Canary)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-travel-cafe-society-edition/669927/13 "2013-09-30T01:16:20Z")
Fairport Convention featuring special guest Jimi Hendrix, Speakeasy Club, London, 1960. Beethoven’s Ninth, world première, Vienna, Austria, 7 May 1824. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-travel-cafe-society-edition/669927/14 "2013-09-30T01:25:48Z")
My time-travel gig of choice: The Oldfield Hotel, May 2, 1964: Keith Moon’s first performance with The Who. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-travel-cafe-society-edition/669927/15 "2013-09-30T02:02:21Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > The problem with seeing what I’d want to see is that there is no way I could fit in at Winterland or the Avalon Ballroom. Dress as a record company executive. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-travel-cafe-society-edition/669927/16 "2013-09-30T14:07:17Z")
A showing of the Russian musical Rock & Roll At Dawn, which used the music from Jesus Christ Superstar in an approved Communist story. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-travel-cafe-society-edition/669927/17 "2013-09-30T14:39:07Z")
The grassy knoll. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-travel-cafe-society-edition/669927/18 "2013-09-30T14:43:54Z")
August 22, 1960, London’s West End, premiere performance of _Beyond the Fringe_ with Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, Alan Bennett & Jonathan Miller. or, yeah, of course the Marx Brothers. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-travel-cafe-society-edition/669927/19 "2013-09-30T15:29:30Z")
May 29, 1913, Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Paris: The premiere of Stravinsky’s “The Rite of Spring.” or: I was at Woodstock. I’d find myself and hand over a list of all the good and bad decisions I made since then. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-travel-cafe-society-edition/669927/20 "2013-09-30T15:54:35Z")
Take a camera and record William Gillette playing Sherlock Holmes. Sarah Bernhardt. Go back to Elizabethan England and film Shakespeare’s plays in their debut performances. Tape Jenny Lind singing. Tape some of the famous castrati singing. Go back to the library of Alexandria, right before the fire, and steal everything. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-travel-cafe-society-edition/669927.md?page=2)