THE COMPLETE
ILLUSTRATED LIST OF
VULCAN GAS COMPANY
POSTERS AND HANDBILLS
Copyright 2004-2005: All Rights Reserved.
This website is for historical purposes only. All images
and source material used on this web site are in the
care and custody of Dr. Dennis Hickey and may
not be copied, rewritten, or redistributed without written permission.
CA$H FOR TEXAS PSYCHEDELIC POSTERS!!
INTRODUCTION:
In many respects, Texas was a scary place to live
during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Repression of minorities was officially
sanctioned, police brutality was commonplace, and free thinkers and
non-conformists were not welcome. At the same time, however, Texas continued to
maintain elements of its long progressive tradition. After all, this was a
state where voters had elected an anti-Ku Klux Klan and pro-alcohol candidate as
Governor in the 1920s. When the legislature responded by impeaching and
removing him, the voters retaliated by electing his wife, the first female
Governor in the United States. Forty years later, Texans were still electing
progressive mavericks. For example, a liberal Democrat, the late Ralph
Yarborough, was sent to the US Senate in the early 1960s.
Indicative
of the progressive elements in Texas society, the Lone Star State produced some
of the greatest legends in rock and roll music--ranging from Buddy Holly to Janis
Joplin. It also produced some incredible nightclubs during the psychedelic
era. The most important of these was the Vulcan Gas Company in Austin, Texas.
Throughout
the early to mid-1960s, Austin's counter-culture had searched for a club that would
showcase its music. For a time, the
11th Door
and the Chequered Flag
had sufficed as these were "folkie" clubs that catered to University of Texas
students and others interested in this progressive music form. However, those
seeking more "authentic" hillbilly music journeyed to North Austin and hung out
at Threadgill's. At that establishment they could mingle with Central Texas'
"cedar choppers" (rednecks), drink beer and listen to yodeling and fiddling.
According to most accounts, Janis Joplin spent many evenings at Threadgill's.
No one would dare to enter The Skyline, a real redneck country and western
roadhouse that was located on far North Lamar (sometimes called the Dallas
Highway).
In 1965,
Austin's folk music scene began to yield to the psychedelic music era. New
bands--particularly the 13th Floor Elevators and the Conqueroo--began
to draw attention. But the bands had no place to perform on a regular basis.
The New Orleans Club, a sleepy watering hole that catered to middle aged white
folks with a taste for Dixieland Jazz, took a chance and began to showcase the 13th
Floor Elevators to huge crowds. Legal hassles, however, led the New Orleans
Club to reverse course and abandon rock and roll. At that point, the Jade Room
stepped in. But this club also proved to be a poor substitute. By late 1966,
it would agree to hire psychedelic bands only during mid-week and reverted to a
"big band" format for the weekends. The club also attracted a large contingent
of the university's Greek community who could not understand or appreciate the
alternative music. The fraternity brothers preferred endless renditions of
"Louie, Louie" and "Gloria" and quarreled with the hippies.
Arguably,
Austin's first real effort to establish a psychedelic club was The Fred. It
included a light show and psychedelic bands. But this establishment was very
short-lived. Like other venues of the era, it was raided by the Texas Liquor
Control Board (LCB) and lost its liquor license after a minor was found to be
drinking beer. The Fred was then replaced by Club Saracen,
a venue that combined
elements of the psychedelic scene and the fraternity scene. As might be
expected, the venture failed. Another interesting experiment entailed moving
the psychedelic music scene to the
IL Club
or
The Afro
in Austin's African-American
community. But the efforts suffered a similar fate
and most clubs located in the African-American community--including the famous
Charlies Playhouse--refused to book the hippie bands.
The
continued need for a psychedelic club that would showcase psychedelic music and
other "non-conventional" music forms (including the blues) on a regular and
predictable basis led to the creation of a loose group of hippies who originally
called themselves "The Electric Grandmother." Rather
than print posters in the traditional "boxing style" format
(click here to view rock
posters that resembled old posters used to promote fights), the Electric Grandmother used psychedelic
art to promote their shows. After organizing three concerts
by the 13th Floor Elevators (including one at the Houston Music
Theatre in Houston, Texas), the group changed its name to "The Vulcan Gas
Company" and promoted three more shows. These included an April 22, 1967 Conqueroo concert at the Doris Miller Auditorium (an event that generated what
is technically the first Vulcan Gas Company poster), a May 6, 1967 show at the
Doris Miller Auditorium and a September 24, 1967 "Love-In" at Austin's Zilker
Park. The Vulcan Gas Company then rented a building located at 316 Congress
Avenue (at the time a run-down part of downtown Austin) and opened a club under
its name.
Not
surprisingly, the local "establishment" did not approve of the Vulcan Gas
Company. The operators didn't even bother to apply for a liquor license, knowing
that the Vulcan would be raided (and closed) by the TCB. Consequently, the club
depended entirely upon revenues generated by "the gate" and by various benefit
concerts. Sometime in 1969 it also sought to generate some money by requiring a
membership card for patrons (it cost one dollar). The cards included a
detachable stub so members could fill them out and be placed on a mailing list
to receive handbills announcing events in the mail (the Vulcan had started using
mailers in 1968).
As
described, local authorities were not ready for a psychedelic nightclub in the
midst of downtown Austin. Since the Vulcan could not be raided for "liquor
violations," it was busted for "electrical violations" by the city. It seems
that the famous Light Show constituted a major electrical danger to people's
lives. The city also attempted to pressure the owner of the building to
terminate the lease and evict the hippies. Moreover, in another effort to kill
the Vulcan, the local newspaper at first refused to run advertisements promoting its
shows (this ban was lifted after a year or so). In order to overcome this obvious
handicap, the club owners turned to posters--ery BIG posters. Unlike the
posters printed in San Francisco, many Vulcan Gas Company posters measured a
whooping 23x28 inches. With their colorful psychedelic designs, they caught the
attention of the city's burgeoning counter culture and helped fill the club.
Handbills were also actively distributed. But students caught distributing
handbills and/or posters in local high schools were often expelled.
Over the
years, the large colorful posters tended to give way to handbills. The
posters--although printed in low print runs--were quite expensive for the club to
print. Consequently, some art generated by the Vulcan Gas Company is available
only in handbills. Moreover, in two instances, the Vulcan was so strapped for
cash that posters were printed on newsprint. At other times, posters were silk-screened
in very small numbers. And there are a few relatively
small Vulcan Gas Company poster (for example, see "Gas Pump" on August 22, 1969
below).
The Vulcan
Gas Company operated from 1967 until mid-1970. It was the state's first real
psychedelic nightclub and generated some of the best psychedelic poster art
printed during the 1960s. Artists who created posters for the club included
Gilbert Shelton (who later penned the Fabulous Fury Freak Brothers comix), Jim
Franklin, John Shelton, Jack Jackson and Jim Harter, among others. Altogether,
there were only 46 posters printed
(to date, we know of 45). Handbills were much more common. Some
posters and handbills enjoyed a relatively large print-run, while others are
extraordinarily rare.
The Vulcan
Gas Company's posters and handbills promoted performances by a wide variety of
bands and musicians. The club's management displayed a keen appreciation for
both psychedelic music and the blues. In the field of rock and roll, most of
the bands were local. One will find that Shiva's Headband and the Conqueroo are
very well represented on the Vulcan's posters. But posters and/or handbills
also promote shows by larger acts, including the 13th Floor
Elevators, Moby Grape and the Velvet Underground. With respect to the blues,
local Texans like Freddie King and Mance Lipcomb performed regularly at the
Vulcan. However, Muddy Waters, Big Mama Thorton, Mississippi Fred McDowell,
Jimi Reed and others also journeyed to Austin for shows. Posters and/or
handbills were always printed to promote these important events.
Collectors always want to ask the question, "so which posters and handbills are
the rare ones?" The answer to that question is simply, "yes." All of
the Vulcan Gas Company posters and handbills are rare. They were never
mass-produced like their counter-parts on the West Coast. Collectors
should also note that, unlike San Francisco's Avalon Ballroom or Fillmore Auditorium,
there are no authorized second, third or upteenth printings of Vulcan posters to
confuse and confound them. Simply stated, if a poster is a "second
printing," it's a fake. Thus far, only a small number of crude counterfeit Vulcan
handbills have surfaced. It seems these were printed in the late 1980s or early
1990s and may be easily identified as fakes.
For several
years, the Vulcan Gas Company reigned supreme as Texas' premiere psychedelic
nightclub. For a brief period, it looked as if the Pleasure Dome, another
psychedelic club in downtown Austin, might provide the Vulcan with some real
competition. However, this nightspot was short-lived and closed after the owner
purportedly experienced legal problems. Other psychedelic clubs--most notably
Houston's
Love Street Light Circus and Feelgood Machine--also
tried to succeed as psychedelic clubs in Texas (be sure to click on the link to
Love Street to view posters/handbills from that venue!).
In fact, Love Street opened before the Vulcan Gas Company opened (still,
the Vulcan was producing shows before Love Street). The
Catacombs, another Houston club that opened
in 1966, also eventually turned into a psychedelic club of sorts. In any event, none of these 1960s-era clubs ever
generated posters or handbills to rival those produced for the Vulcan Gas
Company. The Vulcan Gas Company stood alone as the premiere psychedelic club of
Texas during the 1960s. Indeed, it was one of the most important psychedelic
nightclubs of the entire psychedelic era.
I arrived in Austin in 1971, roughly one year after the Vulcan Gas Company
closed. At the time, the Armadillo World Headquarters was in full swing (it
operated until 1980) and Armadillo posters were all over town. The large Vulcans had
disappeared into closets, trunks or trash bins. In the early 80s, I was fortunate enough
to obtain a large collection of Vulcan Gas Company handbills at a garage sale. Ever
since that time, I've been hooked. If you would like to make any corrections or
additions to the list below, or if you would like to part with some posters (I buy
collections), please feel free to send me an email and I will response as soon as
possible. My email address is dennishickey@missouristate.edu and
my office phone number is 417-836-5850.
Please note that I have contributed a chapter on the Vulcan Gas Company posters to the definitive study of psychedelic concert posters, namely, Eric King's book, A Collector's Guide to Psychedelic Rock Concert Posters, Postcards and Handbills 1965-1973, (ninth edition and tenth edition). This book is the definitive guide to rock concert posters! Be sure to buy it soon!
The Vulcan Gas Company circa
Christmas 1967
I wish to thank my wife, Pat Cheng-May Hickey, for her support, encouragement and assistance. Also, I would like to thank Terry Raines. I "borrowed" many of the titles of posters from his publication on the music graphics of Texas and his listing of Vulcan posters is the foundation upon which all subsequent lists are based. And I would like to thank all the other people who have provided me with Vulcan posters and handbills. Without their support, I would never have been able to complete the list below.
Thanks and keep those posters and handbills coming!
Please remember that
I will pay CA$H for collections!!! Please email me at
dennishickey@missouristate.edu
CA$H FOR TEXAS PSYCHEDELIC
POSTERS!!!
Sincerely,
Dennis V. Hickey
P=Poster
H=Handbill
C=Card (postcards)
OA=Original Art
T=Ticket (The Tickets are placed at bottom of website--scroll
down!)
M=Mailer (handbills that were folded and mailed--some used stamps, others
were mailed bulk rate from an office on North Lamar)
VGC 1967-01-07 Mark Weakley
"THE ANGEL"
THE ELECTRIC GRANDMOTHER PRESENTS 13TH FLOOR ELEVATORS, CONQUEROO, JOMO AT DORIS MILLER AUDITORIUM
P-1
P-2 (This poster has the name of another band penciled in at the
bottom, The Human Factor, which was the back-up band for the 13th Floor
Elevators).
H-1 (Various shades of blue)
Poster
Handbill
VGC 1967-02-01 Jack Otis Moore (Jomo)
"RAG BENEFIT"
THE ELECTRIC GRANDMOTHER PRESENTS THE CONQUEROO, CHELSEA, AND THE JOMO DISASTER LIGHT SHOW AT THE METHODIST STUDENT CENTER. THIS SHOW WAS A BENEFIT FOR AUSTIN'S UNDERGROUND NEWSPAPER, THE RAG. PORTIONS OF THE BAND, CHELSEA, WOULD SOON BECOME THE GOLDEN DAWN (SEE VG5 BELOW).
H-1
Handbill (poster was never printed for this
event)
VGC 1967-02-10 Mark Weakley
"RAMS HEAD"*
THE ELECTRIC GRANDMOTHER PRESENTS THE 13TH FLOOR ELEVATORS, CONQUEROO AT THE CITY
COLISEUM
P-1
H-1
H-2 (uncut sheet of four--not pictured)
Poster
Handbill
*Ticket to Show Featured Below
VCG 1967--02-18 Jack Otis Moore (Jomo)
"THE HAND"*
INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS AND THE ELECTRIC GRANDMOTHER PRESENTS 13TH FLOOR ELEVATORS, CONQUEROO, JOMO DISASTER LIGHT SHOW AT THE HOUSTON MUSIC THEATRE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS
P-1
H-1
H-2 (uncut sheet of four)
T-1 (TICKET--SEE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE)
Poster
Handbill
Uncut Handbill Sheet
*Ticket to Show Featured Below
VGC 1967-03-12 Gilbert Shelton
" Dove of Peace"
Pete Seeger and Bernice Reagon at the City Coliseum in Austin,
Texas. This poster does not belong to the Electric Grandmother series or the Vulcan
Gas Company series. However, it was promoted by individuals in both organizations and is
an important transition piece between the two.
P-1
VGC 1967-04-22 Terry Holoman
"CELEBRATION OF LOVE"
CONQUEROO, RACHEL'S CHILDREN AT DORIS MILLER AUDITORIUM
P-1
H-1
H-2 (uncut sheet of four)
H-3 (a pink and blue uncut sheet of four--not pictured)
VGC 1967-05-06 Tony Bell
"FANTASIA"*
CONQUEROO!, RACHEL'S CHILDREN AT DORIS MILLER AUDITORIUM
P-1
H-1
T-1 (SEE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE)
*Ticket to Show Featured Below
VGC 1967-09-24 Tony Bell
"THE OWL/ LOVE-IN AT ZILKER PARK"
SHIVAS HEADBAND, THINGIES, CIRCUS MAXIMUS, CONQUEROO, BLACK LACE.
THIS EVENT WAS PROMOTED BY THE VULCAN AND OTHERS.
P-1
H-1 Different image from poster, has small owl at top of handbill. (b&w)
H-2 Same image as H1, but has a small bat at top (yellow, pink & green) H-3 Same image
as H1 or H2, but has the words "Vulcan Gas Co" penned in at top of handbill
VGC 1967-10-27/28 Gilbert Shelton
"GRAND OPENING" (VG1)
CONQUEROO, SHIVAS HEADBAND
P-1
H-1 (yellow and black)
H-2 (black and white)
VGC 1967-11-03/04 Gilbert Shelton
"WINNIE THE POOH" (VG2)
13TH FLOOR ELEVATORS, CONQUEROO, SHIVA'S HEAD BAND
P-1
H-1 A
H-1 B (reverse image of H-1Aboth are b&w)
VGC 1967-11-10/11 Gilbert Shelton
"THE HEART" (VG3)
CONQUEROO AND THE SWISS MOVEMENT
P-1
P-2 (has white border around margin)
H-1 A
H-1 B (has white border around marginboth are b&w)
VGC 1967-11-17/18 Gilbert Shelton
"WHITE GIRL" (VG4)
THINGIES, SOUTH CANADIAN OVERFLOW, SHIVA'S HEAD BAND
P-1 (yellow print and white border)
P-2 (does not have white border around poster and has
different colors in printing)
P-3 (greenish print and white border)
P-4 (yellow & green print and white border)
H-1 (b&w)
VGC 1967-11-24/25 Gilbert Shelton
"BLOW YOUR MIND," (VG5)
THINGIES, GOLDEN DAWN
P-1 (Features image of some Characters but not the Freak Brothers
and has a white border around edges)
P-2 (same colors and image, but no white border around
poster)
H-1 (Completely different image from posterred & white)
VGC 1967-12-01/02 Tony Bell
"LIGHTNING" (VG6)
LIGHTIN' HOPKINS, CONQUEROO
P-1
P-2 (Has white border around margins)
Please note that there are some variations in the colors around the little
"caveman" sitting in the image in the left lower corner of this poster. In the
image below, the poster appears more purple. But there is an "orange tinged"
variant. Also the the yellow printing is sometimes darker yellow or lighter
yellow.
H-1 (Different image from posterb&w)
VGC 1967-12-08/10 Gilbert Shelton
"BRAINS AND GUTS" (VG7)
13TH FLOOR ELEVATORS , SHIVAS HEADBAND, SWISS MOVEMENT, SOUTH CANADIAN OVERFLOW
P-1
H-1 (b&w)
H-2 (b&pink)
VGC 1967-12-15/17 Gilbert Shelton
"INDIAN AND PHONOGRAPH" (VG8)
SHIVA'S HEADBAND , LOST AND FOUND
P-1
H-1 A (printed in at least two color stocksb&w and green and black)
H-1 B (Reverse side is bust benefit handbill below)
VGC 1967-12-17 Charlie Loving
"BUST BENEFIT"
THE CONQUEROO, SHIVA'S HEADBAND
H-1 Often reverse side of VGC 1967-12-15/17
VGC 1967-12-22/23+30/31 Gilbert Shelton
"PSYCHO BUBBLES" (VG9)
CONQUEROO, AFRO CARAVAN, GOLDEN DAWN, SHIVA'S HEAD BAND
P-1
P-2 Test Print of Poster without Most Information on it
H-1 (five stock colorsb&w, b & blue, b&yellow, b&pink, b &
green)
VGC 1967-12-25 (distributed circa X-Mas 1967)
"PEACE AND FREEDOM "
H-1 (features photos of the Vulcan Gas Company and those who run the club)
VGC 1968-01-05/06 Robert Rush
"THE DRAGON" (VG10)
LORD AUGUST AND THE VISIONS OF LIFE, THE GEORGETOWN MEDICAL BAND
P-1
H-1 Six different colored stocks
(brown&gray, brown&green, brown&yellow, brown&pink,
brown & bluish gray, brown and white)
VGC 1968-01-12/13 Gilbert Shelton
"CELEBRITY COLLAGE" (VG11)
SHIVA'S HEAD BAND, THE LOST AND FOUND
P-1
P-2 (a test print or misprint with VG 12 printed lightly over
VG 11)
H-1 Three color variants (deep red& blue, orange & blue and blue & white)
VGC 1968-01-16+23+30+02-06 Gilbert Shelton
"CONTEMPORARY CINEMA CLASSICS"
FOUR FILMS SHOWING AT THE VULCAN GAS COMPANY
H-1 Four color variants (b&w, b&yellow, b&blue and b&pink)
VGC 1968-02-21+28+03-6+03-12 Gilbert Shelton
"CONTEMPORARY CINEMA CLASSICS TWO"
FOUR FILMS SHOWING AT THE VULCAN GAS COMPANY
H-1: b&w
Handbill
VGC 1968-01-19/20 Jim Franklin
"HEAD TO HEAD" (VG12)
MANCE LIPSCOMB, CONQUEROO
P-1
P-2 (there is a misprint with VG 11 on the same poster--see VG-11 note above)
P-3 (this is a version without most of the the blue or purple hues found in most
posters)
H-1 (b&w, white margin on left side and top)
H-2 (same but white margin only on left side)
H-3 (same, no white margin)
VGC 1968-01-26/27 Gilbert Shelton
"CHECKERED EYE" (VG13)
SHIVA'S HEAD BAND, AFRO CARAVAN AND THE STRAWBERRY SHOEMAKER
P-1
H-1(on thicker card stock)
H-2(also on thicker card stock, but larger and lighter)
H-3 (same as above, but with postal back)
M-1 (mailer that was actually mailed by one of the founders of the Vulcan to a
friend in NYC explaining local events & progress of club)
VGC 1968-01-30 Artist Unknown
"GOLD DIGGERS"
THE FILM "GOLD DIGGERS OF 1937" SHOWING AT THE VULCAN GAS COMPANY
H-1 (a "half-size" handbill on a full-size sheet of paper--probably a test
print)
H-2 (same as above, but a "half-size" handbill)
Test Print of Handbill
VGC 1968-02-01/03+09/10 Wittlif
"THE OCTOPUS" (VG14)
SHIVA'S HEADBAND, CONQUEROO , LOST & FOUND, GEORGETOWN MEDICAL BAND
P-1
C-1 postal back
C-2 blank back
C-3 double card with tickets attached
VGC 1968-02-14 Gilbert Shelton
"VALENTINES DAY MASSACRE":
CONQUEROO, SHIVA'S HEAD BAND
H-1
VGC 1968-02-16/17+23/24 Jim Franklin
"HOT PLATE HEADS" (VG15)
SHIVA'S HEAD BAND, CONQUEROO, RUBAIYAT, LIGHTNING HOPKINS
P-1 (see image below)
P-2 (trimmed with gray hues, no white lettering)
C-1
C-2 (double card with tickets attached and postal backs)
VGC 1968-02-17 Jim Franklin
"VULCAN GAS REQUESTS YOU BRING TWO DOLLARS (FOR A PORTRAIT) AFTER FEBUARY 17"
H-1 A Promotes Jim Franklin's willingness to do portraits at the club
H-1 B Large image of Jim Franklin's face with small writing at the bottom of handbill
VGC 1968-02-22 Charlie Loving
"BUST BENEFIT DANCE"
SHIVA'S HEADBAND, CONQUEROO, GEORGETOWN MEDICAL
H-1 (two versions have surfaced--most have a white paper background, but a
handbill with a yellow background also exists)
H-2 (probably a test print of printing error--this version does not have the
drawings of the 'hippies' in the middle of the handbill)
VGC 1968-03-01/02+08/09 Robert Rush
"PLANT FORMS"(VG16)
SHIVA'S HEAD BAND, BIG JOE WILLIAMS, CONQUEROO, RUBAYYAT
P-1
P-2 (a red variant on very thin stock
paper--possibly a test print)
H-1
H-2 (same as H1, but an uncut sheet of two handbills with different color-blue)
H-3 Double (uncut sheet) handbills with color close to H-1.
P-2 (red variant of poster)
VGC 1968-03-10 Jim Franklin
"DEAD SOLDIER"
BUST BENEFIT: RUBAYYAT, AUSTIN SUBURBAN LOAN CO.
H-1 A b&w
H-1 B same, but b&green
H-1 C same, but b&pink
Handbill
VGC 1968-03-15/16+22/23 Wittlif
COMMONLY KNOWN AS "WOMAN WITH BALL" (VG 17), BUT THE ACTUAL TITLE PROVIDED BY THE ARTIST (WITTLIF) WAS "THE FORTUNE TELLER"
SHIVA'S HEAD BAND, SPACE AMERICAN EAGLE SQUADRON, CONQUEROO, LOST AND FOUND
P-1
P-2 (there are two known reddish variants on very thin stock
paper--possibly test prints--like VG16)
H-1
Posterl
Handbill
VGC 1968-03-29/30+04-05/06 Gerry Storm
"SPEAKERS" (VG 18)*
CONQUEROO, BUBBLE PUPPY, SHIVA'S HEAD BAND, BLUES BAG
P-1
H-1 (This is identical to the poster--but much smaller)
H-2 (This is the same as the "normal" handbill, but it is printed in the middle
of a standard 8 1/2 x 11 piece of paper. It was probably a test pressing).
*Ticket to Show Featured Below
VGC 1968-04-12/13+19/20 Gilbert Shelton
"SYRINGE HEAD" (VG 19)
SHIVA'S HEAD BAND, RUBAIYAT, CONQUEROO, SLEEPY JOHN ESTES
P-1
P-2 (The printing on some of these posters is noticeably off-register and show a
white margin or "shadow" around the lettering--it is most notable in the bottom
right hand portion of the poster)
H-1 (Two versions have surfaced--Green & Black and Yellow
& Black)
Poster
Handbill
VGC 1968-04-25 Gilbert Shelton
"DOWN HOME NIGHT"
ANGELA LEWIS AND THE FABULOUS ROCKETS
H-1 four different colored stocks
(b&w,b&blue, b&pink, b&yellow)
Handbill
VGC 1968-04-26/27+05-03/04 Gilbert Shelton
"THE MATRIX (VG 20)*
SHIVA'S HEAD BAND, BUBBLE PUPPY, ANGEL A. LEWIS AND THE FABULOUS ROCKETS, WILD CHICKEN
P-1
H-1(Green & Black)
H-1B (This is a Green & Black variant with cut portions of a printing sheet cut
into a design at the top and bottom--difficult to describe!)
Poster
Handbill
*Ticket to Show Featured Below
VGC 1968-02 (Probably Jim Franklin)
"LIGHT SOCKETS"
CONSOLIDATED SMOKE HOUSE LTD
H-1 (b&green)
OA (the original art placed the venue information in a different spot on the
image, but then it was "moved" by using paste-overs--which are now missing from
the original art). So, originally, the handbill was intended to look as it
does in the image of the original art below. Interesting!
Handbill
Original Art
VGC 1968-05-10/11 Gilbert Shelton
"CANNED HEAT" (VG21)*
SHIVA'S HEAD BAND, CANNED HEAT, CONQUEROO**
P-1
P-2 (test print without blue ink)
P-3 (this is a variant where some lettering at the top of the poster is red,
blue and white, rather than just red and blue).
H-1(Black & White--probably a test print)
H-2 (Color--two variants have surfaced--one color handbill is on 'normal' paper,
while the other appears to be on something resembling newsprint)
Poster
Handbill
*Ticket to Show Featured Below
**The Vulcan Gas Company's Light Show also performed at a
Canned Heat Concert that was held at Gregory Gym on the Campus of the University
of Texas
VGC 1968-05-13 Jim Franklin
"THURSDAY NIGHT"*
BUBBLE PUPPY
H-1
OA-1
Handbill
*Ticket to Show Featured Below
VGC 1968-05-16 Jim Franklin
"FREE GIG"
CONQUEROO
H-1
Handbill
VGC 1968-05-19 Poster probably by Jim Franklin, Handbill by Gilbert Shelton
"GATHERING OF YE OLDE TRIBE"
SHIVAS HEADBAND, STONE AXE, ANGELA LEWIS AT ZILKER PARK.
TECHNICALLY, THIS IS NOT A VULCAN HANDBILL. BUT IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE VULCAN
WAS INVOLVED WITH THIS GATHERING AND THIS WAS AN IMPORTANT EVENT IN AUSTIN'S
COUNTER-CULTURE COMMUNITY. THE FREAK BROTHERS (TWO OF THEM) MAY BE FOUND IN THIS
HANDBILL. ALSO, NOTE THAT THE DATE OF THIS EVENT WAS LISTED INCORRECTLY IN TERRY
RAINES' BOOK.
P-1 (silkscreened poster, different image than the handbill below)
H-1 (b&w with shades of red and brown)
H-2 (b&w)
Poster
Handbill
VGC 1968-05-17/18+24/25 Wittlif
"ZODIAC SIGNS"(VG-22)*
SHIVAS HEADBAND, ZIG ZAG STRING QUARTET, LIQUID MARBLE, WILD CHICKENS
H-1
H-2 (Uncut Sheet of two)
*Ticket to Show Featured Below
VGC 1968-05-24/25 Jim Franklin & Gilbert Shelton
"MOBY GRAPE" (VG-22SAME NUMBER AS ABOVE)
MOBY GRAPE, SHIVA'S HEAD BAND, ANGELA LEWIS
P-1(Silkscreen with silver border)
P-2(Silkscreen without silver border)
P-3(Silkscree with much larger border)
H-1
H-2 (Uncut Sheet of Two)
C-1 Postal Back
C-2 Blank Back
Poster
Handbill
H-2 (uncut sheet of
handbills)
VGC 1968-05-31/06-01 Jim Franklin & Gilbert Shelton
"CONQUEROO RAYS"
CONQUEROO, BUBBLE PUPPY
P-1 (Mulit-Colored Silkscreen)
P-2 (Multi-Colored Silkscreen with group images in white and
border--signed by artists and numbered)
H-1 Three color stocks (b&w, b&yellow
and b&green)
H-2 Double (uncut sheet) handbills same as above
P-1
Silkscreen poster
Handbill (yellow &
black) Handbill (green & black)
Uncut yellow & black
handbills
VGC 1968-06-07/8+14/15 Jim Franklin
"EXPLOSION" (VG24)
CONQUEROO, WINTER, SHIVA'S HEAD BAND, ZIG ZAG STRING QUARTET
P-1 (Silkscreen)
P-2 (Silkscreen with red inks)
H-1
Poster
Handbill
VGC 1968-06-21/22 Jim Franklin
"IMAGE OF WILLIAM BURROUGHS"
CONQUEROO, BUBBLE PUPPY
P-1 (Silkscreen)
H-1 Four different colored stocks
(yellow and black, pink and black, green and black & blue and
black)
Poster
Handbill
VGC 1968-06-27/29 Gilbert Shelton
"FLASH COMIX"
CONQUEROO, BUBBLE PUPPY
H-1 Three different colored stocks (b&blue, b&pink,
b&yellow)
Handbill
VGC 1968-07-5/6 Jim Fowler
"TWO HEADED SNAKE"
JOHNNY WINTER, BUBBLE PUPPY
P-1
Poster
VGC 1968-07-26/27 Jim Fowler
THE FACE OFF"
NEW ATLANTIS, GRITS
H-1 (significant color variations)
Handbill
VGC 1968-08-02/03 Jim Franklin
"COOL MUDDY WATERS "
MUDDY WATERS, WINTER
P-1 (printed on newsprint)
H-1
Poster
Handbill
VGC 1968-08-16 Jim Franklin
"STAIRWELL"
WINTER, NEW ATLANTIS , ZACKARY THACKS, 1948
H-1 Three color stocks (b&pink,
b&yellow & b&w)
Handbill (note that there are no
lower right corners on
these handbills)
VGC 1968-08-29/31 Gilbert Shelton
"THE GRACKLE DEBACLE"*
STACY AND THE 13TH FLOOR ELEVATORS, NEW ATLANTIS
P-1 (printed on newsprint)
*Original Art for Ticket and actual ticket to Show Featured Below
VGC 1968-09-06/07 Jim Franklin
"CUBIC CHAIR"
BUBBLE PUPPY, ZIG-ZAG STRING QUARTET
H-1 (has strange design on reverse side--green & black, red
on reverse)
H-2 (same but yellow & black)
Handbill
VGC 1968-09-12/14 Jim Franklin
"13"
NEW ATLANTIS, GRITZ
H-1 on register (red, white and blue)
H-2 off register (red, white and blue)
H-3 on register (white and blue)
H-1
H-3
VGC 1968-09-20/21 Jim Franklin
"NEURONS"
WINTER, ENDEL ST. CLOUD IN THE RAIN AT VULCAN GAS COMPANY
H-1 (2 sided--revese has advertisement for Oat Willie's)
H-2 (there is a misprint variant with the Oat Willie advertisement printed over the image
on the front)
H-3 (there is a variant with no Oat Willie's advertisement
printed on the reverse side)
H-1
H-2 (Misprint)
VGC 1968-09-27/28 Jim Franklin
"BIG JOE IN THE CLOUDS"
BIG JOE WILLIAMS, SKY BLUES
P-1(silkscreen)
H-1
P-1
(silkscreen poster)
Handbill
VGC 1968-09-29 Jim Franklin
"SMOKING DILLO"
NEW ATLANTIS, LAVENDER HILL EXPRESS AT WOOLRIDGE PARK.
TECHNICALLY, THIS IS NOT A VULCAN GAS COMPANY HANDBILL BUT IT IS BELIEVED THE
VULCAN WAS INVOLVED WITH THE EVENT. THIS IS JIM FRANKLIN'S FIRST ARMADILLO.
H-1
Jim Franklins First
Armadillo
VGC 1968-10-10/12 Artist Unknown
"OCTAGONAL VULCANS"
NEW ATLANTIS, WINTER
H-1
TEST PRINT: A LARGE TEST PRINT ALSO EXISTS
H-1 (handbill)
Test Print
VGC 1968-10-13 Gilbert Shelton
"STEPPENWOLF"*
STEPPENWOLF (AT THE HEMISFAIR THEATER IN SAN ANTONIO)
P-1
T-1(See Bottom of Page for Ticket Image)
Poster
*Ticket to Show Featured Below
VGC 1968-10-17/19 Jim Franklin
"KALEIDOSCOPTIC"
SHIVA'S HEADBAND, WINTER
P-1 (silkscreen)
H-1
Poster
Handbill
VGC 1968-10-31+11-01/02 Jim Franklin
"HALLOWEEN"
SHIVA'S HEAD BAND, GRITS
H-1
Scanner cut off edges of this
handbill--sorry!
VGC 1968-11-08/09+15/60 Jim Franklin
"DOWNTOWN TUBES"
STEVE MILLER BAND, NEW ATLANTIS, FREDDY KING. NO
POSTER IS KNOWN TO EXIST. HOWEVER, I HAVE SEEN FOUR HANDBILLS TAPED TOGETHER.
H-1 (Thin paper stock)
H-2 (Same, but thick paper stock)
H-3 (both thin & thick paper with white border at top)
H-4 (This is a "remnant" of a blue and white variant--probably a test
print or printer's error).
M-1 (mailed with a postage stamp)
Handbill
The Blue "Remnant"
VGC 1968-11-14/15 Jim Franklin
"BAIL FUND BENEFIT"
TEXAS PACIFIC, BLUES BAG
H-1
Handbill
VGC 1968-11/21 Jim Franklin
"JANIS"
BIG BROTHER AND THE HOLDING COMPANY (AT HEMISFAIR THEATER, SAN ANTONIO)SHOW WAS
CANCELLED.
P-1
H-1 Two multi-color variations exists
Handbill (identical to poster)
VGC 1968-11-22/23 Jim Franklin
"TUNING FORK"
MANCE LIPSCOMB, SHIVA'S HEAD BAND
H-1
Handbill
VGC 1968-11-28/29 Jim Franklin
"HAIRY PUMPKIN"
THE CHILDREN, NEW ATLANTIS
H-1
M-1 (mailed with a postage stamp)
Handbill
VGC 1968-12-06/07 Jim Franklin
"SKIN SECTION"
SHIVA'S HEAD BAND, BUBBLE PUPPY
H-1 Two color variants of the handbill existcolor & b&w
Handbill
VGC 1968-12-13/14 Jim Franklin
"THE BOX"
TEXAS, NEW ATLANTIS, TEXAS PACIFIC
H-1
Handbill
VGC 1968-12-14 Artist Unknown
"SENIOR FREAKOUT AT THE J.T. PARTY BARN WITH VULCAN GAS COMPANY LIGHT SHOW"
ETERNAL LIFE CORPORATION
H-1
H-1B (white margin at top)
M-1 (Mailed with postage stamp)
Handbill
VGC 1968-12-15 Artist Unknown
"BENEFIT FOR OLEO STRUT COFFEE HOUSE AT THE VULCAN
SHIVA'S HEADBAND, TEXAS PACIFIC, NEW ATLANTIS
H-1
VGC 1968-12-20/21 Artist Unknown
"THE FACE OF WINTER"
WINTER, NEW ATLANTIS
H-1
M-1 (mailed with a postage stamp)
Handbill
VGC 1968-12-31 Tony Bell
"HAPPY NEW YEAR GIG"
SHIVA'S HEAD BAND, WINTER
H-1 Two color variants (b&w, b&yellow)
M-1 (yellow version was mailed with a postage stamp)
Handbill
VGC 1969-01-01 Jim Franklin
"RECORD RELEASE"
JOHNNY WINTER (RECORD RELEASE ANNOUNCEMENT FOR PHILS RECORD SHOP)
H-1
NOTE: THIS IS TECHNICALLY NOT A VULCAN GAS HANDBILL, BUT WAS PROBABLY ORDERED AND PAID FOR
BY THE VULCAN
Handbill
VGC 1969-01-17/18 Jim Franklin
"SPINNING BIG JOE HEADS"
BIG JOE WILLIAMS AT THE VULCAN GAS COMPANY
H-1 (b&w)
M-1 (mailed with a postage stamp)
Handbill
VGC 1969-01-30/31 & 2/1 Jack Jaxon
"BLACKSMITH"
JOHN LEE HOOKER , SHIVAS HEADBAND
H-1 Two color variants (orange, blue & white/ red, orange, blue & White)
H-2 Same color variants, with message on back of handbill
M-1 (mailed with a postage stamp)
NOTE: This handbill was used as a mailer. Note on the back of the handbill discusses
the club's membership card policy and the need for a new membership card in the spring.
Image too big for scanner--edges missing--sorry!
VGC 1969-02-07 JAD?
"OAK TREE"
New Atlantis, Texas Pacific
P-1 (Silkscreen)
Poster
VGC 1969-02-16 Artist Unknown
"BENEFIT FOR OLEO STRUT, A RADICAL COFFEE HOUSE FOR G.I.s AT FORT HOOD "
TEXAS & PACIFIC, NEW ATLANTIS, SHEPHERDS HEAD, GOOD HUMOR
H-1 (b&w)
Handbill
Note: For some years, it was assumed that this handbill was from February 16,
1968. Recent research proves conclusively that the benefit was held in 1969
VGC 1969-02-21/22 Jim Franklin
"DOWNTOWN TOILET"
FUGS, SHIVA'S HEADBAND
H-1
M-1 (mailed with a bulk mail permit)
Handbill
VGC 1969-02-28/03-01 Jim Franklin
"THE BIG T"
TEXAS
H-1 (b&w)
M-1 (Larger than handbill--mailed with a bulk rate mailing permit)
Handbill
VGC 1969-03-07/08 John Shelton
"LADY KARMA"
NEW ATLANTIS, UNTOUCHABLES, TEXAS RANGERS
H-1
H-2 (same as H-1, but the colors on the left side are a significantly different
shade--almost red)
Handbill
VGC 1969-03-14,15,21,22,28,29 John Shelton
"NEW BLUES"
JIMMY REED, ONION CREEK , BIG MAMA THORTON, ETC.
H-1--Has white border at the top
H-2--Same, but no white border at top
M-1--Mailed with bulk rate mailing permit
Handbill
VGC 1969-03-21/22 Jim Franklin
"BIG MAMA"*
BIG MAMA THORNTON, NEW ATLANTIS
H-1--Has white border at the top
H-2--Same, but no border trim at top
Handbill
*The Original Art for the Newspaper Advertisement in The Rag is located at Bottom of website
VGC 1969-03-28/29 & 4/4-5 John Shelton
"HEADWALL"
MUSTANGS, GEORGETOWN MEDICAL BAND
H-1 (Normally, this is found as the reverse side of the Brain Waves handbill
which is two images below)
H-2 (Handbill without the Brain Waves handbill on reverse side)
Handbill
VGC 1969-04-4-5? (Exact Date Uncertain) John Shelton
"VULCAN ROACH"
RAMON RAMON AND THE 4 DADDYOS, BIRTH (thanks to Kyle for
this addition to the collection)
H-1
Handbill
VGC 1969-04-11/12 John Shelton
"BRAIN WAVES"
SHIVA'S HEAD BAND, SUNNYLAND SPECIAL
H-1 (there is another handbill on reverse side of standard handbill)
M-1 (mailer has no reverse side & was mailed with bulk rate mailing permit)
Handbill
VGC 1969-04-18/19 Artist Unknown
"FRED MCDOWELL"
FRED MCDOWELL, TEXAS RANGERS
H-1
Handbill
VGC 1969-04-25/26 John Shelton
"RED RING"
MUDDY WATERS, SUNNYLAND SPECIAL
H-1
M-1 (mailed with bulk rate mailing permit)
Handbill
VGC 1969-05-02/03 John Shelton
"CELESTIAL LADY"
SHIVA'S HEADBAND, SHERWOOD
H-1
H-2 (Blue on handbill is lighter and reverse side is portion of a text book)
OA (Original art does not promote this show--rather, it appears to be
"generic" Vulcan poster)
VGC 1969-05-08 Jim Franklin
"BENEFIT FOR THE VULCAN GAS COMPANY"
SHIVAS HEADBAND, SUNNYLAND SPECIAL, MUSTANGS
H-1 (b&wthis is the reverse side of handbill below)
Handbill
VGC 1969-05-09/10 Jim Franklin
"MANCE IN THE ONION FIELD"
MANCE LIPSCOMB, ONION CREEK
H-1 (b&wimage on three quarters of page)
H-2 (same, but image only on half of page)
VGC 1969-05-11 Jim Franklin
"LIQUID DILLOS FROM TUBES"
ART STUDENT EXHIBIT AT UNIV OF TEXAS ART MUSEUM
H-1 (b&w)
Handbill
NOTE: TECHNICALLY THIS IS NOT A VULCAN GAS COMPANY POSTER
VGC 1969-05-16/17 Jim Franklin
"IF YOU TOKE, DONT TOTE"
GEORGETOWN MEDICAL BAND, SHERWOOD
H-1 (b&w)
M-1 (mailed with bulk rate mailing permit)
Handbill
VGC 1969-05-23/24 Artist Unknown
"GLASS BOX GIRL"
SHIVA'S HEAD BAND, TEXAS RANGERS
H-1 (b&w)
H-2 (b&greenthicker stock paper)
M-1 (mailed with bulk rate mailing permit)
Handbill
VGC 1969-05-28/29 Traverso
"NOW THE REVOLUTION: A MULTI-MEDIA FOLK
FANTASY"
This was a
play that was kicked off the campus of the University of Texas due to nudity and
was picked up by the Vulcan.
H-1 (two sided)
Handbill
VGC 1969-05-30/31 Jim Franklin
"HEAD SPIN-OFF"
BIG JOE WILLIAMS, GEORGETOWN MEDICAL BAND
H-1 (b&w)
Handbill
VGC 1969-06-13/15 Traverso
"FAT EMMA"
TEXAS, FAT EMMA, SHIVAS HEADBAND
H-1
Handbill
VGC 1969-06-20/21 Jim Franklin
"TRY THIS"
SHIVAS HEADBAND, GEORGETOWN MEDICAL BAND, RAMON RAMON & THE DADDYO'S
H-1 (complete colored handbill in several different shades)
H-2 (b&w, same image)
H-3 (colored outline without b&w graphics)
H-1
H-2
H-3
VGC 1969-07-04-05 Jim Harter
"RED, WHITE, AND BLUE (SPLIT FOUNTAIN)"
SHIVAS HEADBAND, ONION CREEK
H-1
Handbill
VGC 1969-07-11/12 John Shelton
"SPLIT PERSONALITY"
GEORGETOWN MEDICAL BAND, NAKED LETUS
H-1
Handbill
VGC 1969-07-18/19 Jim Harter
"KLAN KEYBOARD"
NEW MOAN HEY, ONION CREEK, SHIVA'S HEAD BAND
H-1
Handbill
VGC 1969-07-25/26 Jim Franklin
"ARMADILLO MELLON"
NEW ATLANTIS, JOMO, SHIVA'S HEAD BAND, ONION CREEK
P-1
VGC 1969-08-8/9 Jim Harter
"VULCAN CLOUD"
TEXAS RANGERS, WATER BROS
P-1
OA-1
VGC 1969-08-12/13+15/16 Jim Franklin
"MOON PYRAMIDS"
MOTHER EARTH, JOMO, SHIVA"S HEADBAND
P-1 (Poster has some lettering at top that is not found on handbill)
P-2 This poster has a white border around it and the background or sky is
lighter than P-1 and there appears to be no writing at the top (thank you,
Charlie!!!).
H-1 (several printing variations exist--some are "perfect,"
others faded and still others almost completely gone)
H-2 (double handbill)
H-3 (several printing variations exist of double handbill)
VGC 1969-08-22/23 Jim Harter
"GAS PUMP"
UNITED GAS, SOMO
P-1
P-2 (lighter color than P-1 and has black inks in lettering that give an
illusion of shading behind letters)
H-1(?)
VGC 1969-09-04-28 Jim Franklin
"SNOT BOX"
TREEKS, NAZZ, ILLINOIS SPEED PRESS AT THE END OF COLE, DALLAS, TX (HANDBILL MENTIONS
THE VULCAN GAS COMPANY)
H-1 (b&w)
Handbill
VGC 1969-09-12/13 John Shelton
"FANTASTIC COMIX "
BUBBLEPUPPY, RAMON RAMON & 4 DADDY-OS, ONION CREEK
OA-1
H-1
VGC 1969-09-16/17 & 19/20 Jim Harter
"MAN WITH WALKING STICK"
FREDDIE KING, SHEPARDS BUSH, ONION CREEK, NEW ATLANTIS, WATER BROS
H-1 (b&w, two sided with an advertisement for Maya on reverse side)
Handbill
VGC 1969-09-21 Jim Franklin
"FREE!"
RAMON, RAMON AND THE FOUR DADDYO'S AT FIESTA GARDENS
H-1 (b&w)
NOTE: TECHNICALLY NOT A VULCAN GAS HANDBILL
Handbill
VGC 1969-09-25 Jim Franklin
"BULB DOLL"
MOTHER EARTH, MANCE LIPSCOMB, JOMO
P-1
VGC 1969-10-01/08 Jim Harter
"POCO"
POCO, JAMES COTTON BLUES BAND
P-1
H-1?
VGC 1969-10-07/08 Jim Franklin
"FLOATING HARMONICA"
JAMES COTTON, MANCE LIPSCOMB
H-1 (reverse side has ad for "The Store of Changes")
Handbill
VGC 1969-10-10/11 Jim Franklin
"METAMORPHOSIS"
RAMON, RAMON &THE FOUR DADDYO'S, WATER BROTHERS, TEXAS RANGERS
P-1
H-1
VGC 1969-10-23/25 Jim Franklin
"UNDERGROUND COFFIN"
VELVET UNDERGROUND, RAMON RAMON & THE FOUR DADDYOS, WATER BROTHERS (REVERSE SIDE
ADVERTISES OAT WILLIE'S)
H-1
Handbill
VGC 1969-10-31/11-01 John Shelton
"ALL HALLOWS EVE"
SUNNYLAND SPECIAL, TEXAS ( WITH JIMMY VAUGHAN)
H-1
Handbill
VGC 1969-11/02
"STUDENT MOBILIZATION COMMITTEE BENEFIT"
SHIVA'S HEADBAND, SMOKE, BAZOOKA (NOTE: THIS IS A BENEFIT
DANCE FOR THE STUDENT MOBILIZATION COMMITTEE TO END THE WAR IN VIETNAM).
ON THE REVERSE SIDE OF THE HANDBILL IS A LETTER TO MEMBERS OF SMOKE DESCRIBING
ANTI-WAR ACTIVITIES IN AUSTIN AND WHERE THE BAND CAN STAY WHEN THEY COME TO
TOWN.
H-1
Handbill
VGC 1969-11-14/15 Jim Harter & Jim Franklin
TWINS WITH WALKING STICKS"
SUNNYLAND SPECIAL, BIRTH
H-1
Handbill
VGC 1969-11-21/22 Don Evans
EYE & MIRROR
CHILDREN, WATER BROTHERS
H-1
Handbill
VGC 1969-11-28 Blue
"WOMAN FACING WOMAN"
MINERVAS RED DOG PRESENTS NEW ATLANTIS AND THE VULCAN GAS COMPANY LIGHT SHOW AT
LEGION HALL IN SEGUIN, TEXAS
P-1
VGC 1969-12-12/13 John Shelton
"EKOOSTIC HOOKAH "
SHIVAS HEADBAND, ONION CREEK
H-1
H-2 (purple variant)
Handbill-1
Handbill-2
VGC 1969-12-19/20 John Shelton
"HEAVEN AND EARTH"
SHIVAS HEADBAND, 1948
H-1
Handbill
VGC 1969-12-26/27 Jim Harter
"TRUCK"
HUB CITY MOVERS
H-1 Yellow, Blue and White this is a two sided handbill with an advertisement for a
1969/70-12-31 & 01/2-3 show with Shiva's Headband, Sherwood, Ramon Ramon & Four Daddyo's show on reverse side)
H-2 Same as above, but blue & white
H-1
H-2
VGC 1970-01-09/10
HAND HOLDING RING
HUB CITY MOVERS, BIRTH
H-1
VGC 1970 (WEDNESDAY EVENINGS) Jic Club (Jic)
HUB CITY HAND
Hub City Movers.
H-1
This
colorful handbill promotes Hub City Movers shows "every Wednesday" at the Vulcan Gas
Company, so the precise date of issue is not listed on the handbill. However,
members of the band have confirmed that these concerts were performed during the
last months of the VGC in spring or early summer 1970. The
artist's name is Jic Club and "Jic" is written lightly in a yellow ray near the hand's
thumb.
H-2: This is a B&W "positive" for the handbill above
H-3: This is a B&W portion of the artwork (another positive) showing only
a hand and images of the band)
Handbill
VGC 1970-03-10/11 John Shelton
MASS OF INCANDESCENT GAS*
JOHNNY WINTER, HUB CITY MOVERS
P-1 (This concert was a benefit that was intended to 'save' the Vulcan Gas
Company).
T-1 (SEE TICKETS AT BOTTOM OF PAGE)
T-2 (SEE TICKETS AT BOTTOM OF PAGE)
*Ticket to Show Featured Below
VGC 1970-04-12 Artist Unknown
"ATTENTION ALL GREMLINS"
FAT EMMA AND SALT (Note that this is a two sided
handbill. The reverse side promotes a rally by the Student Mobilization
Committee on the main mall of the UT campus and is entitled, "SMC's Right to
Demonstrate." The Vulcan Gas handbill on the opposite side promotes a SMC
benefit at the Vulcan)
H-1
Handbill
VGC 1970-05-08/09 Jim Franklin (poster) Jim Harter (handbill)
"PUPPIES FLOATING IN BUBBLES"
BUBBLE PUPPY, HUB CITY MOVERS, NIGHT HOG
P-1
H-1
Poster
Large Handbill
NOTE: The poster for this show is almost the exact size as an Armadillo World Headquarters poster. The handbill, if it can be called a handbill, is quite large--almost as large as the poster and as you can see, it features a completely different image. This is believed to be the last Vulcan Gas Company poster.
VGC CIRCA 1970 Jim Harter
"SPIDER WEB"
NO BANDS LISTED, MENTIONS LIGHT SHOW, DANCE CONCERT 9-2. IMAGE IS SIMILAR TO REVERSE
SIDE OF VULCAN COMIX #2 BELOW
OA-1
Original Art
VGC CIRCA 1960s Perhaps Jim Franklin
"BIG MOUTH"
NEW ATLANTIS IS LISTED AS PERFORMING FOR TWO
NIGHTS (JANUARY 3 & $). NO POSTER OR HANDBILL IS KNOWN TO EXIST. COULD
HAVE BEEN USED FOR A NEWSPAPER ADVERTISEMENT IN THE RAG, DAILY TEXAN OR
ELSEWHERE OR PERHAPS THE POSTER HAS YET TO SHOW UP. ALSO, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT IT
WAS NEVER USED.
OA-1
Original Art
VGC 1969-03-21/22 Jim Franklin
"BIG MAMA RAG ADVERTISEMENT"
BIG MAMA THORNTON, NEW ATLANTIS
OA-!
Original Art for Advertisement Placed in the
Rag--Austin's Underground Newspaper
VGC 1970-03-10/11 Unknown
TICKETS FOR "MASS OF INCANDESCENT GAS"
JOHNNY WINTER, HUB CITY MOVERS
T-1 (ticket for 3/10 show)
T-2 (ticket for 3/11 show)
This is a ticket from the 3/10 show
This is a ticket from the 3/11 show
Ticket Stub from VGC 1967-05-06
TICKET
STUB FOR "CELEBRATION OF LOVE" OR
"FANTASIA"
CONQUEROO!, RACHEL'S CHILDREN AT DORIS MILLER AUDITORIUM
TS-1
Ticket from VGC 1968-03-29/30+04-05/06
TICKET FOR "SPEAKERS" (VG 18)
Ticket from VGC 1968-04-26/27+05-03/04
TICKET FOR "THE MATRIX" (VG 20)
VGC 1968-05-10/11 Gilbert Shelton
TICKET FOR "CANNED HEAT" (VG21)*
Ticket from VGC 1968-05/25
TICKET FOR ANGELA LEWIS & SHIVA'S HEADBAND (VG-22)
Ticket from VGC 1968-08-29/31
TICKET FOR "THE GRACKLE DEBACLE"
VGC ?-08-9/10
TICKET
TICKET FROM SHOW ON
"AUGUST 9 OR 10" (YEAR UNKNOWN)
T-1
VGC ?-
PASS
PASS TO A SHOW AT THE VULCAN (YEAR UNKNOWN)
PASS-1
TICKET FROM VGC 1968-10-13 Gilbert Shelton
TICKET FOR "STEPPENWOLF"
STEPPENWOLF (AT THE HEMISFAIR THEATER IN SAN ANTONIO)
T-1
VGC 1968-05-10/11
TICKET TEST PRESSING FOR
"CANNED HEAT" (VG21)
T-1
OA-1 The original art for the image below includes all five tickets (much larger
size) pasted on a board. They are pasted over other tickets.
Test Pressing on 8x11 1/2" of paper
Original Art
VCG 1967--02-18
"TICKET FOR THE HAND"
INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS AND THE ELECTRIC GRANDMOTHER PRESENTS 13TH FLOOR
ELEVATORS, CONQUEROO, JOMO DISASTER AT THE HOUSTON MUSIC THEATRE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS
T-1
VGC 1967-01-07 OR 02-10
"TICKET FOR ELECTRIC
GRANDMOTHER SHOW"
THE ELECTRIC GRANDMOTHER PRESENTS THE 13TH FLOOR EVEVATORS, CONQUEROO AT THE CITY
COLISEUM. IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER THIS TICKET WAS FOR THE
JANUARY 7, 1967 SHOW OR THE FEBRUARY 10, 1967 SHOW
T-1
VGC 1968-08-29/31
"ORIGINAL ART FOR THE TICKET TO THE 13th FLOOR ELEVATORS GRACKLE DEBACLE
CONCERT
OR-1
Original Art for the ticket to two separate "Grackle"
shows--August 30 & 31
VGC Year Unknown
"ORIGINAL ART FOR
TICKETS"
OR-1
OR-2
Uncut Sheet of Tickets
Uncut Sheet of Tickets
VGC (circa1967-1968)
THE VULCAN GAS COMPANY LIGHT SHOW FOR YOUR PARTY
OA-1 No poster known (appears to be a "generic" handbill for no specific
event promoting the Light Show for your party)
Original Art
VGC 1970-02/9 John Shelton & Jim Franklin
"GAS COMIX #1"
COVER STATES FEBRUARY 9, BUT SHOWS LISTED ON LAST PAGE EXTEND FROM 2/7 TO 2/28 (JOMO, FLOOD BOWL, WATER BROS, BIRTH AND HUB CITY MOVERS.
COMIX-1 (PRICE 5 CENTS)
VGC 1970-03-06/28 Michael Brown & Jim Franklin
"GAS COMIX #2BOBBY DYLLO SAYS URP"
SHOWS LISTED ON LAST PAGE EXTEND FROM 3/6 TO 3/28 (HEAVEN & EARTH, SHIVAS HEADBAND, BIG SWEET, ONION CREEK, WATER BROS, WINTER AND HUB CITY MOVERS
COMIX-1 (PRICE 15 CENTS)
VGC 1969 Gilbert Shelton, Jim Franklin and others
"ARMADILLO TOON COMIX"
NO SHOWS LISTED, BUT THIS COMIX WAS SOLD AT THE VULCAN GAS COMPANY AND INCLUDES THE ART OF VARIOUS VULCAN GAS ARTISTS
VGC SPRING 1970 Artist Unknown
"MEMBERSHIP CARD WITH DETACHABLE STUB"
MC-1
OA-1
NOTE: IN ORDER TO BE PLACED ON THE VULCAN'S MAILING LIST, MEMBERS WERE ASKED TO
DETACH THE STUB AND LEAVE IT WITH PERTINENT INFORMATION AT THE CLUB. DUES WERE
$1.00.
Card with stub
Reverse side
Used
Membership Card
Another card
Reverse side
(for "Fall")
(for "Fall")
(not dated)
Original Art for Fall
Membership Card
VGC DATE UNKNOWN
"VULCAN GAS STATIONARY AND ENVELOPE"
VGC 1969-02-18
"INVOICE FROM ENGRAVING COMPANY FOR 1 PLATE AND
NEGATIVE"
VGC 1967-12-15/17
PRINTING RECEIPT FOR "INDIAN AND PHONOGRAPH" (VG8)
FROM JOHNNY MERCER
This receipt was signed by Johnny Mercer, the artistic genius
who printed the Vulcan Gas Company's posters. This receipt shows that he charged
$175 to print the posters for VG8. That was a tidy sum at the time.
VGC 1968-1-27
PRINTING RECEIPT FOR HANDBILLS PRINTED BY TERRY
RAINES
This receipt for handbills printed by Terry Raines was written
on the reverse side of a VG2 handbill that had been torn in half for this
purpose.
VGC 1968-1-28
RECEIPT FOR ADVERTISEMENT IN
AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN NEWSPAPER
Contrary to popular legend, The Vulcan Gas Company did place
numerous advertisements in the "mainstream" newspaper in Austin as indicated by
this receipt.
VGC 1968-3-1
RECEIPT FOR ADVERTISEMENT IN THE
RAG (AUSTIN'S UNDERGROUND NEWSPAPER)
The Vulcan Gas Company did place numerous advertisements in
the Rag, Austin's Underground Newspaper, as indicated by this receipt for
advertisements in Volume 2, Numbers 14 and 14.
VGC 1969-1-29
PAST DUE BILL FOR JOHN LEE
HOOKER'S STAY AT THE COMMODORE PERRY HOTEL
In one important respect, popular legend about the Vulcan Gas
Company was correct. Namely, the club had difficulty paying its bill. Above is
an overdue bill notice from Austin's Commodore Perry Hotel. This bill
includes past-due charges for John Lee Hooker's stays at the hotel.
VGC 1969?
SCHEDULE FOR RADIO SPOTS ON KNOW
PROMOTING MUDDY WATERS CONCERT AT THE VGC.
This is a proposal for ten days of "radio time" on KNOW (Austin's
local 'top 40' radio station in the 1960s) promoting a Muddy Waters concert at
the Vulcan Gas Company. Know ran spots for numerous shows--including the
out-of-town shows such as Steppenwolf in San Antonio.
Howdy! Surprised? Well, keep "checking" back! Ha!
Thanks and keep those posters and handbills coming!
Please remember that
I will pay CA$H for collections!!! Please email me at
dennishickey@missouristate.edu
CA$H FOR TEXAS PSYCHEDELIC
POSTERS!!!
Copyright 2004-2005: All Rights Reserved.
This website is for historical purposes only. All images
and source material used on this web site are in the
care and custody of Dr. Dennis Hickey and may
not be copied, rewritten, or redistributed without written permission.
ONWARD TO TEXAS POSTER LINK WEBSITE (NUMEROUS LINKS)
ONWARD TO MORE TEXAS
PSYCHEDELIC POSTERS
ONWARD TO VINTAGE "BOXING STYLE" CONCERT POSTERS
ONWARD TO POSTERS FROM LOVE
STREET LIGHT CIRCUS IN HOUSTON
ONWARD TO POSTERS FROM THE CATACOMBS IN HOUSTON
ONWARD TO POSTERS FROM
THE HOUSTON MUSIC HALL
ONWARD TO END OF COLE IN DALLAS, TEXAS
ONWARD TO FORT WORTH, TEXAS PSYCHEDELIC POSTERS
ONWARD TO SEGREGATED ROCK AND ROLL SHOW POSTERS
Vulcan Gas Company, 1967