Dail Beeghly Top Poster Artist in the 1960s

Dail Beeghly owned a poster printing company called Creative Signs and was the creator of some of the area's most exciting psychedelic poster art for bands playing in Washington D.C. and the Baltimore area in the last 1960s. His company produced concert posters for Jimi Hendrix, the Doors, and Janis Joplin. He also did concert posters for blues artist James Brown, and bluegrass stars Flatt and Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys.

Beeghly produced both head shop and concert posters. He blended psychedelic graphics with striking renditions of the faces of famous artists. What made Beeghly's work different from other artists was his ability to integrate the psychedelic graphics of a poster with the venue information. In the 1960s, promotors hired printing companies to design concert posters to advertise the upcoming shows with venue and ticket information printed on the bottom.

$10,000 Reward for the 1970 Beeghly Doors Baltimore Civic Center Concert Poster

Vintage Rock Posters is seeking 1970 Beeghly Jim Morrison and the Doors Baltimore Civic Center concert posters. The show was held on March 10, 1970. The poster had a trim line to cut off the ticket and venue information. Ironically, the venue information at the bottom of the poster makes the poster a collector item. If cut off, the poster is not worth much. We offer $10,000 for the 1970 Beeghly Doors concert poster with the venue information on the bottom attached.

The Baltimore Concert

That year the Doors were still enjoying commercial success, with their album “Morrison Hotel” being a Top 5 hit. The concert was chaotic. The authorities would not turn down the lights because the audience crowded the aisles. Morrison jumps into the orchestra pit and disappears during the song “Light My Fire.” We do not know if he slipped or jumped. Fights broke out in the audience. During the mayhem Morrison was pulled out of the pit, still singing into a microphone, and stumbled backstage in the arms of a stagehand. After 75 minutes, the band split, leaving the madness and confusion behind. Here are some tidbits about the show.

  • Badfinger is falsely advertised for opening this show.

  • This performance is falsely advertised as The Doors first appearance in Baltimore.

  • Jim Morrison appears on a radio show before the show.

  • Promotional artwork by Dail W. Beeghly.

  • 8:00 pm scheduled start time.

  • The audience rushes stage during Back Door Man. House lights are turned on.

  • Jim Morrison drinks beer on stage.

  • Jim Morrison jumps into the orchestra pit during Light My Fire.

  • The Doors perform for 75 minutes.

  • Audience members call for more, but the band has left the venue.

Below is the set list of the Baltimore concert.

  • Back Door Man (Willie Dixon cover)

  • Five to One

  • Roadhouse Blues

  • Heartbreak Hotel (Elvis Presley cover)

  • Carol (Chuck Berry cover)

  • When the Music's Over

  • Peace Frog

  • Ship of Fools

  • Land Ho!

  • I Will Never Be Untrue

  • Light My Fire

  • The Crystal Ship

Encore:

  • Summertime (George Gershwin cover)

  • Mystery Train (Little Junior's Blue Flames cover)

  • Away in India

  • Cross Road Blues (Robert Johnson cover)

 

Below are other concert posters designed by Beeghly. If you have one, please send pictures to Andrew Hawley at rareboard@aol.com. He will get back to you on value.

Andrew Hawley