Between the Covers

Unbound. A collection of 134 flyers, business cards, and handbills for 1980s-1990s stores, venues, events, and local parties throughout California. The handbills and flyers are all printed on paper sheets of various colors sized, 2.5" x 2" to 16" x 11", in black and colored ink with several incorporating rubberstamped elements. All items have slight edgewear and soiling else near fine or better.

The archive features flyers for various clubs, bars, theaters, tattoo parlors, and hair salons. Notables include a flyer for a performance of *Hooters* by Ted Tally, Oscar-winning screenwriter for *The Silence of the Lambs* and an invitation to New Years Evil 3 party hosted by Riki Rachtman of MTV's *Headbager's Ball*. One poster for a tattoo parlor, named Shamrock Studios, is decorated with monsters, dragons, warriors and a wizard with a large top hat accompanied with a sinister grin. X = ART features a wolf dancing among sheep in a sheep skin for the event’s handbill. Many clubs would have a themed night for women specifically to come dressed in certain attire, “Those wearing leg hose will be admitted FREE,” is written on a business card for The Mart dance club.

The flyers list the venue or event titles, location, and date but also a small description of the place, “The all new, all purpose, entertainment nucleus,” is written on a poster for the popular venue during this time, The Jabberjaw. The Jabberjaw was a small coffee shop and music venue that attracted people of all ages with the underground sound of the bands that would play there. One flyer features popular horror movie actresses for the first run of the hit show “Scream Queens,” decorated with photos of the young women. Many places wanted cool and interesting names to attract young crowds and gain more business. Motorbooty, Hair Magic, Long Hard Rides, Psycho Bitches, DV8 Edge, and Pink Tarantula Hair are just a few of the odd names of stores and events.

Aside from all the bright and colorful posters about clubbing and hook-ups there are a few for charity events. During the early 1980s AIDS became well known throughout the United States leading to large groups of people without much help. Aid & Comfort II is listed on the top of a flyer for a concert and picnic benefit for those with AIDS. It was used to not only provide awareness but also give those with AIDS a meal and place to go.

A vivid look back on the creative names and designs stores, venues, and events used to attract customers on the West Coast in the decade of the 1980s-1990s.

Item #404203