Up With People – Lorain International Festival 1968

Full page Lorain Journal ad from June 24, 1968

Photo from June 29, 1968 Lorain Journal

Well, it's Lorain International Festival time again!

Fifty years ago, an appearance by Up With People kicked off the Second Annual International Festival with two performances at Admiral King High School.

What's Up With People? It's a group of young people who travel the world in an effort to make it a better place, spreading peace, good cheer and hope through their inspirational music and positive action.

Read all about it in the Journal article below, which appeared in the paper on June 27, 1968, two days before their Lorain show. The article by Rich Bloom contrasts the “Up With People” cast with the hippies that were so prevalent then.

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'Up With People' Crew Sings 
To Make a Better World

By Rich Bloom
Staff Writer

TUESDAY NIGHT a group of "hippies" invaded and took over a radio station in New York, shouting obscenities to hundreds of viewers never before heard over the air.

MEANWHILE, in the same city – 180 hard-working young men and women – members of the internationally known "Up With People" cast – were busily preparing a variety of songs for their Lorain debut on June 29.

The two groups are entirely different in actions, speech and philosophies.

WHEREAS the "hippies" protest, hoping to change the world, the "Up With People" members sing out what they're for, doing their part to change world attitudes.

WHEREAS the "hippies" try to find a new world through LSD and "pot," the "Up With People" young adults attempt to point out why there's really no need to find a new world.

They are clean, wholesome and they believe in honesty, purity, truth and love.

Even though these differences are clearly delineated, many people still tend to judge today’s youth solely on the actions and speech of the “hippies.”

This widely publicized contingent of bearded draft-card burners is constantly in conflict with the purpose bend the “Up With People” philosophy – to change the image of today’s youth and at the same time try to mold new attitudes and ideas for future generations.

THROUGH SONGS such as “Freedom Isn’t Free” and “The World is Your Own Hometown” the young men and women are striving continuously toward their goal, and in the past three years have spurred many other young people along the same path.

The cast will present, in concert, these and other songs when they appear in Lorain for two concerts leading off the city’s Second Annual International Festival.

Inspiring music will be the keynote when the energetic cast burst onto the Admiral King High School stage, both Sunday and Monday nights at 8 p.m.

Sales of tickers for the concert, priced at $1.50 for students, $2.50 for adults and $3.50 for a limited number of reserve seats, are reported as “good” and are still available at the following locations:

The Journal

All Lorain Banks and their respective branches

The Lorain County Savings and Trust Co. branches at the Midway Mall and Amherst

LORAIN AREA families have opened their hearts warmly and enthusiastically, providing accommodations for the entire cast, scheduled to arrive in Lorain Saturday afternoon.

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By the way, Up With People is still around. Here’s the link to its website.