Yes. The Five Spot engagement was a huge, huge deal.
I was visiting the archives of abstract painter Barnett Newman (1905-1970) and his record collection was part of the library. In addition to classical LPs were a number of late 1950s-early 60s jazz LPs, including Ornette's Contemporary and first few Atlantic albums. He had seen Ornette at the Five Spot and was a fan. It was a cultural phenomenon.
Interesting side note: Jackson Pollock, whose art was licensed for the cover of Free Jazz, was not the original artist they planned to use for that album. Judith Lindbloom, an abstract expressionist painter and close friend of Steve Lacy, was supposed to paint live as the sessions were taped. However she was too indisposed that day to be able to do it, and the record label ended up licensing the Pollock image instead.