This show was a special tribute to two clubs in Austin: one that closed 40 years ago and one that opened 40 years ago. The Vulcan Gas Company and the Armadillo World Headquarters had a substantial impact on Austin’s culture, music and effected not only locals, but people statewide – and some say even the nation.

We had a pretty good resource to pull from for this show. I started collecting posters in 1968. I loved the artwork and how when I looked at the poster I remembered the show. When Henry and I got together, he’d also been collecting posters. With the Armadillo posters and ones done for the other clubs being so amazing, we thought they’d become collectible and our other friends and colleagues thought the same way. So we made it a point to pick up the posters when we saw them in record stores and of course at the AWHQ.

When we started putting together this show, people saw what we were putting together and began to generously offer to lend us some of their poster art stash. We were able to borrow some really rare pieces from collectors here in town.

Many of the people who came to the exhibit are of the generation that were attending the shows in these clubs or were going to the school in the area. And considering everything old becomes new again, even the younger generation is really interested in the art.

Click on the video to check out some of the rare finds brought together for this special exhibit.

Click here to read more about the Vulcan Gas Company and the Armadillo World Headquarters.

Now through August 28, an exhibit is on display at the South Austin Popular Culture Center that pays homage to the Vulcan Gas Company (that closed 40 years ago) and the Armadillo World Headquarters (that opened 40 years ago).

Click here to read more about the Vulcan Gas Company and the Armadillo World Headquarters.

The Vulcan folks had been producing music performances for a year or so starting in the mid 1960s- at first at Doris Miller Auditorium, and then in October 1967 the Vulcan Gas Company opened at 316 Congress Avenue, headed up by Don Hyde, Gary Maxwell, Sandy Lockett and Houston White. For the next almost-three-years those young people turned musical experiences around to another dimension. Not only did they book the leading psychedelic bands like Shiva’s Headband, the 13th Floor Elevators and the Velvet Underground, masters of the blues scene appeared- young Johnny Winter and his trio, not so young Big Joe Williams, Lightnin’ Hopkins and Muddy Waters. Local bands like the Conqueroo, Greezy Wheels, Angela Strehli and the Georgetown Medical Band were regular performers. The Vulcan staff made up for somewhat rustic conditions inside with a light show that made patrons forget about the appearance of the joint. (Article continues below slideshow.)

Click through the art and photos below to take a tour of the the ending of one and the beginning of another. The photos are a preview of the latest special exhibit and tribute at the South Austin Popular Culture Center.

With the arrival of 1970, it was clear the Vulcan was failing. Even with a benefit concert by Johnny Winter in March 1970, the club would close in April.

Shiva’s Headband had a record deal and a new manager, Austinite Eddie Wilson. Eddie, along with supporters like writer Bud Shrake, young attorney Mike Tolleson and key people from the Vulcan, including Jim Franklin and Bobby Hedderman, used a portion of the funds from Shiva’s record deal advance (yes, they were young, and it’s a good thing; if they’d been older and wiser they’d never have embarked down that path) and opened the Armadillo World Headquarters on August 7, 1970.

The contribution made by Spencer & Susan Perskin and the rest of Shiva’s Headband cannot be understated. Using their record production advance meant they had to cut corners in the production of their record, and they chose to make that sacrifice. Shiva’s was the defacto house band at the ‘dillo and supplied listeners with their special brand of psychedelic rock.

Armadillo World Headquarters began a 10 year ride, booking an eclectic mix of national and local bands, hosted the Austin Ballet Theatre once a month and the Friends of Traditional Music. A musician referral service was started and an art gallery sprung forth. Onion Audio, Hank Alrich’s recording studio, was housed inside the former armory building.

The ‘Dillo staff were also instrumental in the birth of the television show Austin City Limits. A body of music related artwork was amassed that was like no other before it…or after. Due to increasing financial difficulties a major shift in management occurred in fall 1976 –the joint regrouped and was actually stronger than before, successfully working through a Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization lead by musician and Onion Audio owner Hank Alrich. After the landlord, MK Hage, sold the property in 1979, the Armadillo World Headquarters closed December 31, 1980.

What is shown here is a mere overview of the two music venues, focusing primarily on the artwork created. Although there are over 400 items being exhibited, it’s just the tip of the iceberg of what is available to document these two music clubs. Hopefully with the art, the press clippings and photographs on display visitors will get a sense of what the clubs were about and the impact they had on Austin and its culture. The showcase opens June 5 and runs through August 28.