Summer Jam, 1973, and the skydiver who set himself on fire over a Grateful Dead concert
The 1973 Summer Jam at Watkins Glen State Park drew roughly 600,000 people—representing one in every 350 Americans—for headline performances by the Grateful Dead, The Band, and The Allman Brothers Band. The event's combination of extraordinarily affordable admission (including camping facilities) and top-tier lineups made it a cultural milestone, eventually earning recognition as the world's largest attended pop festival at that time.
Skydiver Willard 'Smitty' Smith Jr. sought to create an unforgettable spectacle by launching himself from an aircraft above the audience and detonating a military-grade flare during descent. The plan backfired when the explosive device unexpectedly ignited his jumpsuit, transforming the intended aerial display into a harrowing scene as onlookers watched a figure engulfed in flames falling from the sky.
- Skydiver Willard 'Smitty' Smith Jr. attempted a stunt during the Grateful Dead's set at the massive 1973 Summer Jam festival with approximately 600,000 attendees
- A military-grade flare he deployed accidentally ignited his jumpsuit mid-air, causing him to fall burning toward the crowd below
- The festival charged remarkably low ticket prices of $10 (including parking and camping) and later set a Guinness World Record for largest pop festival attendance