1968 AOR-2.160 Grateful Dead Fillmore Handbill CGC 8.5

Artist Alton Kelley’s “Memorial” handbill announced a three-day run of Grateful Dead shows at the Carousel Ballroom over Memorial Day weekend in ’68. This disturbing, yet colorful design illustrates a darker reflection of the national day of remembrance. However disturbing, this piece is always on the top of everyone’s “want list”! 

 

The Carousel Ballroom was a short-lived venture by several of the San Francisco bands in managing their own music venue. The experiment, which only spanned a few months in 1968, failed due to the bands obvious lack of business prowess. That paired with the questionable ethics of one time Dead manager Ron Rakow led to the Ballroom’s demise.  Additionally, Bill Graham did not take well to the competition and did everything he could to make sure that the venture failed. The fate of the Carousel was that Bill Graham bought the floundering concert hall and renamed it the Fillmore West. Although the Carousel was short lived, it inspired a series of posters that are amongst the best of the entire genre of 1960's psychedelic concert poster.

 

Handbill – Grateful Dead, Carousel Ballroom 
Sub Title - Memorial
Grade – CGC 8.5

Bands/Bill – Grateful Dead
Venue – Carousel Ballroom
City – San Francisco, California
Date – 5/30/68
Dimensions – ”7? x 11?
Printing – OHB-B, Original Pre-Concert First Printing
Artist – Alton Kelley
Series/Promoter – Carousel
AOR #2.160
Condition Details