Austin

Here's Some of the Armadillo Memorabilia Being Auctioned Off This Weekend

KUT 90.5 | By Andrew Weber

Published January 15, 2015 at 10:26 AM CST

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A poster from the Armadillo's 1971 opening night with art by Michael Priest.

Burley Auction Group

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A poster from Bruce Springsteen's two-night engagement at the 'Dillo.

Burley Auction Group

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Wilson's also auctioning the house piano, which was owned originally by his mother Beulah. Dave Brubeck, Ray Charles and Count Basie all played on the piano at the Armadillo.

Burley Auction Group

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A poster advertising KUTX D.J. Paul Ray's last show with his band the Cobras at the Armadillo. Ray now hosts KUTX's "Twine Time."

Burley Auction Group

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Bette Midler played at the Armadillo in March 1973, with Barry Manilow backing her up on piano.

Burley Auction Group

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An Armadillo-themed piece of memorabilia comes complete with a decades-old Lone Star beer.

Burley Auction Group

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A poster promoting the Ramones' first show in Austin.

Burley Auction Group

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One of the stranger pieces of memorabilia from the collection: a framed photo of the Grand Prize beer football team. Howard Hughes owned the beer company and is featured in the top left of the 1954 photo.

Burley Auction Group

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A poster signed by Armadillo regular Janis Joplin.

Burley Auction Group

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Another signed poster from country crooner Waylon Jennings.

Burley Auction Group

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A poster promoting the Pointer Sisters November 1975 show at the Armadillo.

Burley Auction Group

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The Armadillo closed its doors on New Year's Eve in 1980 after nearly 10 years.

Burley Auction Group

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This painting of Texas bluesman Freddie King features both an armadillo piercing his heart and a small depiction of songwriter Leon Russell in the foreground.

Burley Auction Group

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A poster advertising one of Willie Nelson's shows at the 'Dillo.

Burley Auction Group

This Saturday, Eddie Wilson, longtime proprietor of Threadgill’s and former owner of the Armadillo World Headquarters, will auction off a massive 500-item horde of memorabilia from the famous venue, which closed its doors in 1980.

Though the days of quarter-cup, dollar-pitcher beer prices may be bygone, Austinites looking to relive those cloudy memories can pick up plenty of classic concert posters with art from Austin luminary Michael Priest; an abundance of neon signs for now-defunct beers like Falstaff, Grand Prize, and Southern Special; and even the club’s house piano played by Ray Charles, Fats Domino, and Randy Newman.

Check out the photo gallery above to see a collection of some of the memorabilia on Saturday’s auction block.

The auction will take place Saturday at Burley Auction Gallery in New Braunfels. Prospective buyers can bid online at the gallery’s site or in-person starting at 10 a.m.