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A woman in the throes of labor rode up to the motel on the back of a motorcycle. She lifted her skirt and screamed that she was having a baby.
Thus, one of the enduring legends ....as well as the biggest mystery of the Woodstock Music and Art Fair was born.
Elliot Tiber, owner of the El Monaco Motel, found himself assuming the role of doctor.
"She fell at my feet shrieking," he recalled. "I got down on the ground and starting pulling on the baby. I guess somehow I knew what had to be done. I don't remember if it was a boy or a girl because I became hysterical and she was screaming as well. Finally, about a hour later, a helicopter with medics landed. They cut the cord and whisked her away."
Mr. Tiber said the man driving the motorcycle seemed to be the father, but he couldn't be sure. His best recollections were of the mother.
"She had olive skin and big, black eyes. I can still remember those eyes. Her English was kind of broken and she had a French accent. When it was over, I was trembling too much to remember a lot of details."
Mr. Tiber said the mother returned a few days later and wrote her name and the baby's on a matchbook. A matchbook that Mr. Tiber lost in the Woodstock aftermath.
"Who knew that it would prove to be important," he said.
For the 20th anniversary of Woodstock, 'LIFE' magazine decided to hold a national search for the missing baby in conjunction with articles on people who had been at the Festival (A "What are they doing now" format). Despite international publicity, no one stepped forward, ...then...or since. That statement makes allowances for inquiries from a few of the mentally ill, which included a woman who believed that Mr. Tiber had delivered the Christ Child and wanted to journey to New York to annoint Tiber with holy water.
There doesn't appear to be an answer to this Woodstock mystery. The mother may have had any number of logical reasons for maintaining her silence. But, if she kept the truth from her child; then she deprived he/she of a truly unique birthright.
To Elliot Tiber and the El Monaco Motel ....This event was just one of many bizarre incidents that occurred before, during, and after Woodstock. First, he provided the permit necessary to hold the Festival, and then had a large part in securing the land from Max Yasgur for the concert. And finally, he owned a motel. The El Monaco served as a base camp for many of those involved with the event, from Michael Lang (the promoter) on down. In a matter of weeks, the motel and Elliot Tiber became Woodstock Central.
In 1994, Elliot published an outrageous book entitled"Knock On Woodstock". If you are interested in what happened "behind the scenes" then get a copy. You'll feel like you were there!! It is available at a few bookstores and through this web site. And...it's inexpensive!!
