1960s Concert Posters - A Journey Pt.1

I've always been fascinated with the creative artwork and stunning visual effect of concert posters from the late 1960s. Psychedelic drugs, revolutionary ideas and new ways of thinking were everywhere - through the emerging pop culture and the up-and-coming music scene of the era.

This had a strong influence on the design aesthetic. The vibrant contrasting tones with vivid stripe effects, bold colors and weird, wild & wonky fonts. It stemmed from op art influences which were a hot & popular trend in the mid 1960s. This artwork not only helped to promote and advertise performers of the day but also reflected their music.

Here's a small but smokin' sampling of music concert posters from that time - mainly from the American West Coast.

"Bill Graham Presents The Fillmore" Concert Poster by Bonnie Maclean, October, 1967.

"Bill Graham Presents The Fillmore" Concert Poster by Bonnie Maclean, July, 1967.

"Big Brother & The Holding Company" Concert Poster by Joe Gomez
Avalon Ballroom, San Francisco, November, 1967.

Dance Concert Poster by Bob Schnepf, Avalon Ballroom, San Francisco, December, 1967.

The "Jimi Hendrix Experience" Poster, Fillmore East, San Francisco, 10th May, 1968.

"Moby Grape and Big Brother & The Holding Company" Concert Poster,
The Ark, Sausalito, CA, 4th November, 1967.

"The Who" Concert Poster by Rick Griffin, Hollywood Palladium, 13th June, 1969.

These last two aren't psychedelic concert posters but magazine covers which paid homage to the fashionable trend of the times.

Playboy Magazine Cover, December, 1967.

Lui Magazine Cover #49, France, January, 1968.

Vintage Summer Beach Ads

California Beach Life, 1970's.

There's still a few weeks left of summer - at least in the northern hemisphere.

Here's an assorted collection of beachy summer advertising from the 60's, 70's and 80's - mainly .


First up, a little vintage summer sexism from American Airlines.

American Airlines coupon.

Clairol, Summer Soft Blush Duo, 1960's.

Coppertone, 1969.

"Valentine" Olivetti poster by Milton Glaser, 1968.

Tanfastic Suntan Lotion, 1970.

Tanfastic Suntan Lotion, 1970.

Vespa, 1970.

Pimm's, 1970's.

Sun-in, 1971.

Manikin Cigars, 1970's.

Pan Am, "Brazil" poster, 1972.

Coppertone Tanning Butter, Madamoiselle, July, 1973.

Swedish Tanning Secret, 1974.

Jantzen Swimwear, 1975.

Bain De Soleil French Tropical Tanning Oil, 1977.

Pepe Lopez Tequila, 1978.

Stash Cologne, 1981.

Malibu, 1980's.

Le Zink Zinc Cream, 1988.

Mickeys Big Mouth Malt Liquor, 1988.

A Baker's Dozen of Hostess Vintage Ads

The last Hostess cakes are being plundered and stockpiled off the shelves. The iconic American wholesale bakers have baked their last batch of cakes and breads. Their products included Twinkies, Ding Dongs, Sno-balls, Drakes Cakes, Choco-Diles, Nature's Pride, Dolly Madison, Butternut Breads and Wonder Bread.

Time to look back at some of the brand's advertising over its 90-plus year history.

The company first opened its business and gained a national audience from its base of operations in Kansas City, Missouri in 1919. Here's a few examples of Hostess Cakes print ads from the late 1920's.

Hostess Cakes, "Devil's Food Bar", 1929.

Hostess Cakes, "Devil's Food Loaf", 1930.

Hostess Cakes, "Zesty Lemon Loaf", 1929.

Hostess, "Creamed Filled Cup Cakes", 1956.

By the 1950's, Hostess had established its line of Cup Cakes as well as their popular Twinkies and Sno-balls.

Hostess Sno-Balls, "Glamour Gal", 1950's.

Some attempts to dress up their Sno-balls as sexy and "well-stacked" typified the sexism of the time. This ad is targeting retail stores in a business-to-business communication.

Hostess, "Ding Dongs", 1967.

1967 - the introduction of Hostess Ding Dongs.

Wonder Bread, "Date Bait", 1968.

Wonder Bread, "Boy Trap", late 1960's.

By the late 1960's, Hostess' Wonder Bread brand was also making a pitch to position itself as a way for girls to attract boys.

Hostess Mascots (from Left to Right)
Capatain Cupcake, Twinkie the Kid, Happy Ho-Ho, Fruit Pie the Magician
Not pictured: Chauncey Choco-dile

The 1970's saw the brand establish mascots for each of its popular lines.

Happy Ho Ho for Hostess Ho Ho's, "Devil's Food", 1970.

Twinkie the Kid, TV Commercial, 1980's

Twinkie the Kid first appeared in 1971. With a 10-gallon hat, kerchief and cowboy boots, he has saved the day ever since. He had a legendary sweet disposition and legacy as a wrangler of wrongdoing, having lassoed the hearts of millions. When it comes to true legends, Twinkie the Kid takes the cake.

ITT, "Twinkies", 1985.

Hostess went through several company holdership changes before its ultimate demise. For the majority of its life, the holding company was known as Interstate Bakeries. This name was changed to Interstate Brands with more expansions and acquisitions. This was taken over by IT company DPF in the mid-1970's, looking to diversify. By the 1980's, corporate restructuring saw ITT, the technology branch of DPF, separate itself from the Interstate Bakeries division. This ad explains why that split was made.

Hostess Cup Cakes, "90 Years"
Ad Agency: Bernstein-Rein, October, 2009.

The 1990's saw the baking conglomerate continue to expand, but over the last decade, management had run up significant debt and after several bankruptcy filings, the company has finally gone under recently.

Pour a glass of milk for the dessert foods that are no more.

Halloween Ads of Yesteryear

With All Hallow's Eve imminent, here's a small selection of vintage Halloween-themed print ads that I've come across.

Hunt's Catsup, "Happy Halloween", 1967.

Hunt's Catsup puts a tomato twist on the traditional Halloween pumpkin.

Budweiser, 1953.

Budweiser, 1960.

A couple of kitsch beer ads for Budweiser in theme.

Michelob, "If Michelob were a ghost...", 1970.

Michelob beer makes an attempt to be spooky.

Griffin Microsheen, "Neatest Trick Or Treat", 1956.

Witches are a common theme. In this 50's ad, it's difficult to tell what is being advertised (without the blatant product shot) and what is going on. At least Griffin Microsheen show almost an entire shiny shoe - worn by a scary creepy pumpkinhead, accompanied by his burlesque witch in scantily-clad black.

P&G, Hidden Magic Hairspray, Mademoiselle, September, 1965.

Ronrico, Rumkin, 1983.

More witches. P&G's Hidden Magic Hairspray and Ronrico Rum (and their "Rumkin") have eerily similar black witches selling their wares.

Milky Way Candy Bars, "Here Kiddie Kiddie Kiddie!", 1954.

Sun-Maid Raisins, "Trick Or Treat", 1964.

It wouldn't be Halloween without any "trick or treat" ads. These are from Milky Way Candy Bars and Sun-Maid Raisins. I think if you gave out raisins as a treat these days you may run the risk of being egged...??



These next few involve some interesting costume and dress-up.

Smirnoff Martini, Newsweek, 1968.

Smirnoff Vodka, "Frankenstein", 1967.

Two-Page Spread for General Telephone & Electronics (GTE) & Sylvania Incandescent-Fluorescent Bulbs, "Frankenstein", 1970.

GTE shed new light on bad flourescent lighting.

Litronix Calculators, 1975.

Is Dracula doing his best impersonation of Sesame Street's The Count? I don't get this one. Who "sticks their neck out" with a calculator? And why does a Litronix one solve this problem? The convoluted body copy goes some way to help explain it. But I still think it sucks.

Genuine Soil From Dracula's Castle, late 1970's.

Ads like this one featured quite prominently in comics back in the late 70's & early 80's. I don't know how many kids were duped into buying the "Genuine Soil from Dracula's Castle" - complete with "Certificate of Authenticity". And of course, it came in a little coffin-shaped pendant. All for just $9.95!

Panasonic Quintrix II, 1977.

I bet the reception on that box TV along with the screen clarity and color reproduction is frightful.

Elvira for LBMS, 1991.

And I couldn't have a Halloween post without the Mistress of the Dark herself, Elvira.

Here, she's plugging some 1991 era software which "cuts through" all the paperwork - hence the chainsaw visual pun. If only she'd used that metaphorical saw to cut through all that body copy text. And not a single trademark Elvira witty double entendre quip!.