Del Shannon, Platters, Drifters, Gary "U.S." Bonds 1961 Biggest Show of Stars Concert Poster. ...

Description

Del Shannon, Platters, Drifters, Gary "U.S." Bonds 1961 Biggest Show of Stars Concert Poster. An original cardboard window card advertising "The Biggest Show of Stars for '61 - Fall Edition" caravan tour touching down at the Municipal Auditorium in San Antonio, Texas on Wednesday evening, October 4, 1961. Printed by the esteemed Globe Poster company. A great, fun, hit-making talent line-up peppers this poster (you pretty much had to have a hit to join a BSOS tour).

It's funny how sometimes the songs listed on the poster were solid hits - Del Shannon's "Hats Off to Larry," Dee Clark's "Raindrops" - while others were wannabes that tanked - The Platters' "I'll Never Smile Again," Gene McDaniels' "A Tear." But almost everybody had an upbeat photo, a song title and some color... check out that bright Day-Glo orange from Globe, which sizzles under a blacklight. Here's your shot at a Globe poster that consists of light blue, yellow, florescent orange, white, dark blue (venue info) and black. That's six colors which really make this thing sing. Last time we sold a version of this poster, in July 2022, it notched $9,375. Measures 17" x 22 3/4" and grades to Very Good condition. COA from Heritage Auctions.

Literature: See Grushkin, Paul, The Art of Rock: Posters from Presley to Punk, Abbeville Press, New York, 1987, p.32 (illus.).

More Information: This is another in the series of wildly popular BSOS posters which had about a 10-year run from the mid-50's to the mid-60's. None of them are easy to find, however, so there's never been a collector who's been able to complete the set - they're that rare.

Here's our exact run-down of the song titles found on the poster:
Brook Benton "Boll Weevil Song" (the biggest pop hit of his career), The Platters "I'll Never Smile Again" (a #1 for Frank Sinatra decades earlier), Del Shannon "Hats Off to Larry" (Top 5 pop), Dee Clark "Raindrops" (#2 pop), The Drifters "Please Stay" (a rare misfire for them), Gary "U.S." Bonds "Quarter to Three" (#1 pop and famously loved by Bruce Springsteen), Gene McDaniels "A Tear" (Top 40 pop), The Jarmels "A Little Bit of Soap" (Top 20 pop), Curtis Lee "Pretty Little Angel Eyes" (Top 10 pop), Phil Upchurch "You Can't Sit Down" (Top 30 pop) and the Cleftones "Heart and Soul" (Top 10 R&B, Top 20 pop).

Condition details: Strong toning throughout is the main issue. There is also a nail hole at top center between the two big words, and a light brown water stain in the lower left corner area which is mostly seen in the margin and the Upchurch yellow oval, and not too distracting. The upper right and lower right corners have two-inch diagonal creases; color is not broken in the blue "M" but it is near the "T" of "Orchestra." Down in that corner there's a little tiny "61" written in pencil. The quality of the printing process is questionable in the Platters' faces right down through the Drifters' faces, the Jarmels' oval and then the Cleftones' name and photo also. Not damage, these are printer's flaws. And the verso has a few nickel-sized "tape lifts" from when it was once posted.


Heritage Auctions provides as much information as possible but strongly encourages in-person inspection. Condition statements are offered as general guidance only, not as complete representations of fact, and do not constitute a warranty or assumption of liability by Heritage. Some condition issues may not be noted but may be visible in the photos, which are considered part of the condition report. Lots estimated at $1,000 or less are not de-framed for inspection, and we may be unable to provide additional details for lots valued under $500. Heritage does not guarantee the condition of frames and is not liable for damage to frames, glass/acrylic coverings, original boxes, display accessories, or artwork that has shifted in the frame. All lots are sold "AS IS" under our Terms & Conditions of Auction.