(FILLMORE EAST)A good collection of documents and ephemera related to the opening and closing of Bill Graham's Fillmore East on Second Avenue in New York, including a copy of Graham's official press release announcing the closing of the storied venue in 1971 giving a litany of reasons for his decision including "...The unreasonable and totally destructive inflation of the live concert scene. Two years ago I warned that the Woodstock Festival syndrome would be the beginning of the end. I am sorry to say that I was right. In 1965 when we began the original Fillmore Auditorium, I associated with and employed 'musicians.' Now, more often than not, it's with 'officers and stockholders' in large corporations - only they happen to have long hair and play guitars...the agents have created a new rock game called 'packaging'; which means simply that if the Fillmore wants a major headliner, then we are often forced to take the second and/or third act that the agent or manager insists upon, whether or not we would take pride in presenting them...". The third page of the release announces the final acts at the Fillmore East which was slated to close on June 27, 1971. The collection also includes a lengthy contract between Fillmore-International Inc. and National Educational Television, 14pp. 4to., New York, Sept. 17, 1970 for the production of a program "NET PRESENTS WELCOME TO THE FILLMORE EAST" billed as a "...color video-tape semi-documentary of a typical evening at Bill Graham's Fillmore East...to take place on September 21, 1970 at Fillmore East...". The production, according to a four-page flyer printed for the event, included performances by The Allman Brothers, Elvin Bishop group, Byrds, Flick, Albert King, Van Morris, Sha-Na-Na, and, of course, Joe's Lights. The collection also includes other Fillmore East related ephemera, including an elaborate thank you card for the Fillmore East bearing an astrological chart on recto; an advertising flyer for the film "Fillmore"; an advertising rate card for advertisements for Fillmore East programs; four printed napkins for the Fillmore East/West; a large, rare 23" x 34" color poster for the film, "Fillmore" and a paperback copy of James A. Hudson's book on the Fillmore: Fillmore East & West (Scholastic, 1970). Overall very good condition.