maritime hall productions, a project of 1960s-era san francisco musician and club promoter boots hughston, began producing rock concerts at the maritime hall in october, 1995. the venue was also known initially as the family dog, in tribute to an earlier production company and hippie commune of that name run by chet helms, former owner of the avalon ballroom. over the next six years the company, renamed 2b1 productions, produced 721 shows at the maritime hall, featuring many major current acts for heavy metal, industrial, reggae, punk rock, african music, and other genres. taking a cue from the avalon and the fillmore in days past, the company revived the art of the concert poster, commissioning designs from psychedelic artists victor moscoso, stanley mouse, alton kelley and jim phillips, as well as contemporary graffiti artists.