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Jim Franklin is the artist who painted many of the murals at the Armadillo World Headquarters,
Austin's most famous music venue in the 1970s. He also created many of the posters advertising
the shows playing at the Armadillo. Closed and gone forever. Jan 1, 1981 |
A Brief History
August 7, 1970, Eddie Wilson opened the Armadillo World Headquarters in Austin. On New Year's Eve, 1980, Kenneth Threadgill played the last concert. These pictures were taken the following day, January 1, 1981. During its ten year run, the Armadillo was the venue to play in Texas, hosting many local and national acts, including Taj Mahal, Leon Redbone, Asleep at the Wheel, Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen, Steve Fromholtz, BB King, Jerry Jeff Walker, Willie Nelson, Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks, Greezy Wheels, Edgar and Johnny Winters, the Pointer Sisters, Bonnie Raitt, Chuck Mangione, and many others. It was also the home of the Austin Ballet Theatre and the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar. There was a beer garden outside, and inside it was a huge cavernous place, where you had to sit on the carpeted floor with the smell of beer and ashes from previous performances.
Pictures
Many thanks to Nicki Turman for compiling this page and providing the photographs - N.Turman@isode.com