Some were up and coming stars of the future. Others were established pop legends, and some were flirting with fame but would vanish into obscurity.
They all had one thing in common. Their names appeared on vivid posters made by a Manchester company to promote concerts across the UK. The venues they played no longer exist, but at the time they were serving an insatiable appetite for "variety" a mix of top bands and comedians.
For 50 years hundreds of original pop posters by made The Electric (Modern) Printing Company, based in the city centre, were kept by the family who set up the firm. Now they are going up for auction and offer a fascinating insight into line ups there were enthralling thousands during a boom time for theatres.
Couplings, which now seem odd, but at the time were the norm include the angel-voiced American superstar, Roy Orbison with a string of hits behind him, including "Pretty Woman"; "Running Scared"; and "It's Over" performing at the ABC Blackpool in May 1969, with British comedian, Dick Emery, who was a TV regular then.
Even more astounding was a 1967 concert at The Gaumont in Hanley, Stoke, - now The Regent Theatre. The headline act were The Walker Brothers, basking in the success of "Make It Easy On Yourself" and "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore". They were supported by Cat Stevens - and American guitarist and singer/songwriter, Jimi Hendrix, who was further down the bill despite being named by readers of Melody Maker as Pop Musician of the Year for 1967. Within two years he was headlining Woodstock and had a number one album in the US with Electric Ladyland.
A poster for the Hanley concert is going under the hammer with an estimated price of £3000 to £5000. The Roy Orbison and Dick Emery one is a mere £100 to £150.
A 1963 poster - also with a price tag of £3000 to £5000 is promoting a show starring US stars Chris Montez, Tommy Roe, and "Britain's Dynamic Beatles".
One of the most famous singers to record for The Beatles' own Apple label was Welsh folk artist, Mary Hopkin. She is described as a "special guest star" in a poster for a concert at the Capitol Theatre in Cardiff in 1969 the year after her first world-wide hit "Those Were The Days". Topping the bill were Engelbert Humperdinck and seasoned comedian, Ted Rodgers.
Freddie and The Dreamers performing with comedian Tommy Cooper at Queen's Theatre Blackpool in 1965; and highly-rated blue-eyed soul American band, The Young Rascals; Traffic; and Keith West at the ABC in Chesterfield in October 1967, are among other posters being sold.
The collection of hundreds of concert and event posters printed by the Manchester-based firm is expected to fetch £30,000. The first raft of them goes under the hammer next month. The most expensive is one valued at £10,000 to £15,000 for The Beatles at Sheffield Gaumont.
The archive, previously unseen, has been in the possession of the family since the printing firm, previously based in Ridgefield, closed in 1993. Music and entertainment specialists, Omega, based in Warrington will sell the posters throughout this year.
Auction manager Dan Hampson said: “It’s easy to see why Electric Modern became the printers of choice for venues and promoters of the period. The designs are as eye-catching today as they would have been then and are truly incredible examples of both the craft of printing and of the colours and vivacity of the late 1960s. They are very rarely seen and even more rarely seen in this condition and we are excited to see what they fetch when they go under the hammer.”
The first auction date will be September 13th and then a second for The Beatles posters on October 11th. For more information contact Dan at Omega Auctions - dan@omegaauctions.co.uk 01925 873 040.
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