1975–1979: Growing Stages, Louder Shows
From 1975 to 1979, Showco moved from pioneering live sound to defining it. These were the years of bigger rigs, longer tours, and louder, more ambitious shows—when a small Dallas company was out on the road with some of the biggest names in rock.
This section of the archive highlights Showco’s work during the mid‑ to late‑’70s, with materials from tours by artists like Led Zeppelin, The Who, Uriah Heep, and more.
I’m building this archive by hand and will keep adding photos, itineraries, stage plots, and ephemera as they’re located and digitized.
Were you on the road, in the crowd, or working with Showco between 1975 and 1979?
If you have photos, passes, documents, or stories from this era, please contact me to help expand this part of the archive OR Add to the Story at the bottom of this page.
Select an Artist to View Ephemera (1975–1979)
Showco Shirt prices - 1975- Denton Monogram (Denton Tom)
Sep-07-1976-Dallas-Daily-Campus-Sunday Break II
Wet Willie - Lynyrd Skynyrd Contract - 1975
Bad Company Button
Apr-14-1975-Austin-Daily-Texan-p-12-CALMES-FREDDIE-KING_page-0001
Black and white poster announcing a Bread in Concert event on May 7th at 8 PM at the Dallas Convention Center, with ticketing information at Preston Tickets, Preston Records, Dave's Locker, and Fantasia Records.
Empty indoor concert arena with red seats, a stage in the distance, and large sound and lighting equipment hanging from the ceiling.
Steve Miller Band 1976 laminate - Summer Serenade
Sep-02-1976-Austin-Daily-Texan-Sunday Break II - BJ SCHILLER
STRUNG OUT ON LASERS-SHOWCO-WHO-EARLS-COURT-ARTICLE-1975-2010_page-0001-STEVE-JANDER
STRUNG OUT ON LASERS-SHOWCO-WHO-EARLS-COURT-ARTICLE-1975-2010_page-0002-STEVE-JANDER
LEON RUSSELL-September,19-1976-Lubbock-Avalanche-Journal-p-73
Showco alum, Donnie Kretzschmar's handwritten calendar/schedule for 1976
Nov 9, 1977-Richardson-Daily-News-p-1- John Blasutta (Showco crew)
August 27, 1976 Jeff Beck - Lynyrd Skynyrd Backstage Pass
Eric Clapton 1976 Fall Tou Pass Laminate
Carole King Backstage Pass Music Hall Feb. 29, 1976
9011 Governers Row Business Card Luggage Tag
STARSHIP-ENCOUNTERS June,29-1978-Seguin-Gazette-p-52
Sep-10-1978-Brownsville-Herald-p-28
Pockets-Itinerary 1978
Oct 4, 1978-Dallas-Park-Cities-News-p-9
Nov-26-1978-Brownsville-Herald-p-38
Nov 21, 1978-Colorado-Springs-Gazette-p-34
modern recording & music magazine , November 1978
Weather Report 1978 Stage Plot
April,9-1978-Paris-News-p-15
1978-CBS-RECORDS-SHOWCO-BUTTON
5-13-1978 The Dudek Finnigan Krueger Backstage Pass
9.19.1978 AUSTIN - SUPER DRUM CALMES_page-0001
Freddie King 1975 Birthday Celebration @Armadillo Headquarters - courtesy of the Sizemore Estate
Showco thans from Freddie King album 1975
Genesis 1975 Concert program cover
Showco Christmas Card Invitation
Showco Christmas Card Invitation
AWB stage-plot 1976
Paul 'Biker' Strong
Ryan Rose - Promoter ; wearing a Led Zeppelin Day on the Green jacket
Bobby Womack Input list
Brainstorm input list
Heatwave input list
Brainstorm stageplot
City Boy Stage Layout
Donnie Kretzschmar - The Band Tour circa 1974
Delton Bass
Donnie 'DK', Kretzschmar, Johnny 'JW' Roberts, John, 'JB' Blasutta
Bill Graham Presents Eddie Money Input & stage plot
Eddie Money Input list
Elvis Costello Input list
Elvis Costello Mic list
Elvis Costello mic list
England Dan and Ford Coley stage plot
Art Garfunkel set
Heatwave set
1976 Lynyrd Skynyrd stage plot
Paycheck stage plot
Pockets Itinerary
REX stage plot
1978 Rolling Stones setlist, Memphis, TN
Wild Cherry inputs
3/9/1979 Daily Oklahoman Roadies Article p.1
3/9/1979 Daily Oklahoman Roadies Article p.2
Pockets input list
Baker Gurvitz Army stageplot - Doc collection - available in swag shop
Baker Gurvitz Army 1975 mic chart- Agora Ballroom- Doc Collection- available in swag shop.
HUMPBACK WHALE BALLOON George Stokes - 1977 Earth Expo - San Fran? OR ABQ Balloon Festival
HUMPBACK WHALE BALLOON George Stokes - 1977 Earth Expo - San Fran? OR ABQ Balloon Festival
Back of Freddie King album: Special thanks to Jack Calmes, Jimmy 'Showco' Page, Buford Jones, BJ Schiller, SHOWCO
Microphone Chart for RUSH - Unknown date - RUSH was the opening act for many Showco tours like BOA - Courtesy of Doc Gans
The BUGS HENDERSON Group - Showco Inc. Mgmt. David Hickey
1977 Showco 6‑channel rack mount mixer-HERG-1
1977 Showco 6‑channel rack mount mixer-HERG-1-SERIAL#10520018
1977 Showco 6‑channel rack mount mixer-HERG-1
1977 Disco Showco Ad
Marvin Gaye 1977 Tour Itinerary P. 1
Marvin Gaye 1977 Tour Itinerary P. 2
The Steve Miller Band Summer Serenade '76 Flyer
The Steve Miller Band Summer Serenade '76 Flyer
Paris, TX News - 10/11/1978 - Sound by Showco @ DTC
The Odessa American - 9/6/1978
September 6, 1978 PARIS TX NEWS - CALMES Page 1
September 6, 1978 PARIS TX NEWS - CALMES Page 2
Sept. 12, 1978 PENSACOLA JOURNAL SPACE AGE
May 24, 1978 PLANO DAILY STAR CARRIER
June 2, 1978 Daily Utah Chronicle -SYMPHONY STAR WARS-BEACH BOYS
June 2, 1978 Daily Utah Chronicle -SYMPHONY STAR WARS-BEACH BOYS - Sound by Showco
December 7, 1978 VICTORIA ADVOCATE -CALMES Page 1
December 7, 1978 VICTORIA ADVOCATE -CALMES Page 2
April 30, ATLANTA CONSTITUTION 1978 STARSHIP
AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMEN June 25, 1978 JANDER - DSO
8/1/1977-Buddy Magazine-pg33-FREDDIE-KING
1977-08-07-FREDDIE-KING-LEE-PARK
August 7, 1977-Lee Park - Smokin' Joe Kubek, Johnny Nitzinger, Bill Farrow (Showco shirt)
KZEW Concert Spot — Boz Scaggs
A vintage KZEW radio advertisement promoting Boz Scaggs in concert, presented by Angus G. Wynne III.
KZEW Concert Spot — Steve Miller
A vintage KZEW radio advertisement promoting Steve Miller in concert. Steve Miller Summer Serenade '76 concert June 7-8, 1976 at SMU McFarlin Auditorium.
KZEW Concert Spot — Jesse Colin Young — April 30, 1977
A vintage KZEW radio advertisement promoting Jesse Colin Young in concert at SMU’s McFarlin Auditorium on May 20, 1977. This spot aired April 30, 1977, documenting the local radio promotion surrounding a Showco-presented Dallas-area concert.
KZEW Concert Spot — Jesse Colin Young — May 10, 1977
A second vintage KZEW radio advertisement promoting Jesse Colin Young’s upcoming May 20, 1977 performance at McFarlin Auditorium in University Park, Texas. Preserved from the Showco Archives, this recording captures the sound and style of concert promotion on Dallas radio in the late 1970s.
KZEW Concert Spot — Little Feat — May 27, 1977
A vintage KZEW radio advertisement promoting Little Feat’s May 28, 1977 concert at the Dallas Convention Center. This spot aired May 27, 1977, as the band’s Texas tour brought its distinctive blend of rock, blues, country, and New Orleans-influenced music to Dallas.
KZEW Concert Spot — Little Feat — May 28, 1977
A vintage KZEW radio advertisement for Little Feat’s concert that evening at the Dallas Convention Center on May 28, 1977. Preserved in the Showco Archives, it documents the day-of-show radio promotion for a major Dallas concert during Little Feat’s 1977 touring year.
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1977 Sunday Dallas Times Herald
Article/interview with Jack Calmes
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1979 8th Annual International Talent & Booking Directory
From the collection of alumnus Doc Gans. Available in the Swag Shop!
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Melody Maker - August 11, 1979
Part I (Pages 1-12)
Also available in the Showco Swag Shop
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Melody Maker - August 11, 1979
Part II (Pages 13-23)
Also available in the Showco Swag Shop
💬 Add to the Story
Were you part of these tours? Attend one of these shows? Recognize someone in a photo?
I'd love to hear your memories, stories, corrections, or additional information. Your contributions help preserve The Family Behind the Music.
Every memory shared here helps make the Showco Archives more complete for future generations.
indigo@showcoarchives.com or comment below.