Diana Ross and Supremes Appear Before 11,000 at Saratoga Art Center Show

by Don A. Metivier, The Glens Falls Times, August 6, 1968

The appearance of Diana Ross and the Supremes at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center last night attracted a crowd
of more than 11,000 persons, which must be given the dubious honor of being the rudest, most belligerent group ever to attend a performance at the Spa shell. While the performers worked on stage, Saratoga and Conservation Department police wrestled with hundreds from the crowd that stormed the shell from their place on the lawns and took positions in the aisles and along the side of the building.

Saratoga police today reported no arrests were made, which is a tribute to the patience and self-control of every officer on duty at the center last night.

The performance of Miss Ross and the Supremes, Miss Mary Wilson and Miss Cindy Birdsong, was quite well received by the large gathering, especially when the group sang its hit recordings.

Miss Ross. wearing a stunning gown, which reportedly cost $3,500, sang the lead in most of the songs, except for a showcase piece, “Falling in Love with Love, ” for Miss Wilson from the group’s latest album.

The first half of the show featured former child singing star Stevie Wonder, who despite being blind, danced, sang, played a drum solo, the organ and the harmonica. His songs were good when they could be heard over the amplifiers of the orchestra which took no notice of the terrific acoustics of the hall and just banged away at full volume. Shorty Long performed his “Here Comes de Judge” routine.

All the music featured the “Motown” sound, the throbbing beat developed in Detroit and made popular by Miss Ross and the Supremes, the Miracles and the Four Tops.

During the first half of the show, the audience on the right side of the lawn made so much noise that more heads were turned to seek the cause of the disturbance than were watching the stage. At 9:30 p.m. several hundred persons rushed down the right side of the auditorium and took up positions close to the stage. Police kept the horde in line and apparently satisfied with their new vantage points, the group finally quieted down.