Ticketron logos (1973–1991)
The Cars, Philadelphia, PA, Nov. 24, 1980.
Ticketron was a computerized event ticketing technology that was in operation from the 1960s until it was purchased by Ticketmaster in 1991. The name and look were obviously intended to play up the futuristic, computerized nature of the product. According to the uncited history on Wikipedia:
The system used terminals that it called “electronic box offices” that were located in publicly accessible locations, such as banks and department stores. … The original software resided on a pair (one for backup) of Control Data Corporation 1700 computers that were located in the basement of the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
The logo used Gemini Computer (AKA Sonic) with a flipped ‘E’ for a better fit next to the ‘T’. The ‘O’ is also customized, or from a version of the font that differs from this 1980 sample. Ticketron employed a huge range of ticket designs, with various logo variations, patterns, and colors — presumably to prevent counterfeiting. I’m partial to the electronic rainbow dots of 1980.
California Jam festival, Ontario, CA, Apr. 6, 1974.
Modern English, San Antonio, TX, Jun. 12, 1984.
Above: Neil Young and The International Harvesters, Hampton, VA, Sep. 12, 1985.
Below: Shocking Pinks, Aug. 27 1983. An alternate Ticketron logo is set in Friz Quadrata.
Jane's Addiction, Cleveland, OH, Mar. 8, 1989.
Red Hot Chili Peppers, Los Angeles, CA, Jun. 16, 1990.
Baltimore Orioles, Jun. 7, 1991.
Watkins Glen Summer Jam, New York, Jun. 28, 1973.
3 Comments on “Ticketron logos (1973–1991)”
Hi – I need to know the name of the font is that is the printing on the ticket, not the Ticketron logo that is part of the ticket stock. Any help is welcome. Thanks!
Dan, the machines that prints the event info on each ticket likely had proprietary fonts built into their system and not necessarily copies of any existing fonts that designers or typesetters would use, so you probably won’t find a match. Garage Gothic is based on similar ticket type. FF Confidential is in the same vein, but more corroded.
Good news! Found the designer of one logo, at least. It’s credited to Edward Lampert Associates in American Trademark Designs, Dover Publications, 1976.