FD-22 Grateful Dead "Frankenstein" 1966 Avalon Ballroom Concert Poster Graded 9.8. ...

Description

A MONSTER OF A POSTER, ESPECIALLY IN THIS GRADE

FD-22 Grateful Dead "Frankenstein" 1966 Avalon Ballroom Concert Poster Graded 9.8. First-printing San Francisco concert poster for the Grateful Dead and Sopwith Camel playing at the Avalon Ballroom on Friday and Saturday nights, August 19 & 20, 1966. Known as FD-22 in the Family Dog numbered series, this poster was designed by Stanley Mouse and Alton Kelley and is nicknamed "Frankenstein." It's been graded a scary-good 9.8 Near Mint/Mint by CGC (the Certified Guaranty Company).

Normally it's a horrible mistake to misspell a musician's name on a concert poster, especially the headliner, but in this case not a lot of people may have noticed (or cared) due to the ghoulish design, the scrunched "Greatful" lettering, and the presence of a much bigger star on the poster - Frankenstein. There can be little doubt that Frankie had been hitting the ganja - just look at his eyes. He's not scary, he's wasted.

It's fun to note that the next time Mouse & Kelley were tasked with a Grateful Dead concert poster at the Avalon - one month later - they came up with a little design called Skeleton & Roses (FD-26). Measures 14 1/4" x 20". COA from Heritage Auctions.

More Information: Did you know that opening act Sopwith Camel were only the second San Francisco rock group to ever have a national Top 40 single? That's right, "Hello Hello" in early 1967, which reached #26 in Billboard's Hot 100. They would've been first, except the Beau Brummels beat them to it with "Laugh, Laugh" a couple of years prior.


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