Movie Posters
Ranked #3,240 in Entertainment, #40,208 overall
Movie Posters a Timeless Collectible
Over time and generations of motion picture history the movie poster has been printed in a number of different sizes and shapes. The larger the movie being released, the larger the poster campaign produced by the studio. At beginning of the 20th century when motion pictures were just beginning to make an impact on society, the most common format for movie posters was the one sheet. These first posters or one sheets were a common size of 27" x 41" which was the largest sheet (or one sheet) that would fit in lithographers press bed. This also made it a common size used for theater posters prior to motion pictures. From the One Sheet size originated the terms used to denote the other larger size posters such as three sheet or six sheet.
Theater Lobby Cards
Lobby Card: (11" X 14") Lobby cards are printed in sets of eight on heavy card stock paper for display in theater lobbies. The Title Lobby Card showed the production credits and poster artwork. The seven other cards were scenes from the film. These lobby cards were usually produced in full color and have become a very desirable collectible.
Jumbo Lobby Card: (14" X 17")
Jumbo Lobby Card were printed prior to 1940, these sets were usually produced for the larger movie studio's and usually for higher profile releases. These Cards were often printed on a linen or glossy stock, with no title card and as these cards were produced in far fewer quantities than standard lobby cards, thus, more rare.
Window Cards
Smaller Card Stock Posters
Window Card: (14" X 22") Produced on heavy cardboard stock, these were small posters used in shop windows to advertise the upcoming or showing feature film. They all had a blank white imprint area of approximately 4 inches at the top of the card to allow the theater's to add there name and the date of showing.
Jumbo Window Card: (22" X 28")
These were oversized versions of the standard window card also printed on paper or tagboard stock. These cards were produced in far fewer numbers making them rarer than the standard lobby card.
Midget or Mini Window Card: (8" X 14")
Printed primarily before 1940, these were smaller versions of the standard window card with the same artwork. They cards also had the same blank imprint area and were usually used in cigar or candy cases in shops or restaurants. These were printed in much smaller quantities, making them rarer than standard window card.
Lobby Cards at eBay
Standard American Posters
Insert: (14" X 36")Printed on card stock paper, these posters were used in conjunction with One Sheets to promote a film. The artwork is usually done in a mix of photographic and artwork style as opposed to the all artwork One Sheet. These cards were often folded in thirds, and are very popular among collectors.
Half Sheet or Display: (22" X 28")
Printed on card stock paper, the studios often printed two styles of this size. One style would be identical to the Title Lobby Card. These posters were often a photographic and artwork combination and were displayed in the lobby of the Theater. They were pictured in the collectors have taken to calling them Half Sheets, as they are half the size of a One Sheet.
One Sheet: (27" X 41")
This size is most recognizable as the standard movie poster and the size most popular among collectors. These posters were printed on a thin paper stock and were usually displayed in front of the theater or in the lobby. Almost always implemented by studio hired artists and illustrators, they would give a bold display of title, credits, and outstanding illustrations of star portraits or a graphic depiction of the film's story line. The studios often printed several different styles of posters for one film, among which might include a "Teaser" or "Advance," to be issued prior to the release of the film to attract potential audience attention. This size became popular in the early 1900s, and remained so until the size was shortened around 1985 to the typical 27" X 40." The One Sheet prior to 1980 was almost always found folded in eighths with one vertical fold and two horizontal folds, and after 1980 were sent to theaters rolled.
One Sheet at eBay
Art of the Modern Movie Poster: International Postwar Style and Design
By Judith Salavetz, Spencer Drate, Sam Sarowitz, Dave Kehr
Critically authoritative visually stunning and physically massive Art of the Modern Movie Poster is the first and last word on post-WWII film poster design. Showcasing fascinating examples from 15 nations this collection of more than 1 500 exemplary designs is a must-have for film buffs design and poster aficionados alike. The posters are organized by country of origin offering an intriguing glimpse into each region's unique visual sensibility and sometimes unexpected takes on familiar films. Gathered from the renowned collection of the Posteritati Gallery in New York, one of the largest holdings of international film posters in the world this volume is the definitive survey of both film and popular graphic art in the modern era.To Purchase This Reference Book "Art of the Modern Movie Poster"
or too See Other Books Available About Collecting Movie Posters,
Please Visit Our Amazon Book Store "Collectors Showcase"
Your Source for Special Interest Books & Collectors Guides
Larger Outdoors Posters
Thin Paper Stock
Three Sheet: (41" X 81") Three sheets were printed on a thin paper stock, which were intended to normally be posted outside of the theater. These posters were printed in two or three pieces in which the artwork had to be aligned by the theater at the time of display. For the major release films, by the larger movie studios there would sometimes be two different style three sheets printed. In the early 1970s studios began to produce three sheets in one piece and by the early 1980s had phased out the printing of this size poster altogether. These larger posters were printed in far fewer quantities than the one sheet and are more rare than the smaller posters.
Six Sheet: (81" X 81")
Six Sheets are printed on thin paper stock in four different pieces, these posters were displayed outdoors as a small billboard. These posters were to be put together and aligned by the theater at time of display upon display and often featured artwork altogether different than the other posters. They were named Six Sheets as they are the size of six One Sheets put together. These posters were sent to theaters folded and were often displayed using wallpaper glue, rendering them unusable for future use. These posters were printed in far fewer numbers than almost any of the other posters and due to the display and use, far fewer of these posters have survived. Often, due to the large size, these posters are very impressive works of art.
Twenty-Four Sheet: (246" X 108")
These huge posters were produced to be used as billboard art and usually came printed in 12 sections. They were printed on standard paper stock and were usually destroyed after the display of the poster. Very few Twenty-Four sheet posters have survived for any films and almost none for films produced before 1950. These are some of the rarest posters in the hobby and due to the size perhaps just as lacking in collectiblity.
Vertical Panels and Banner Size Movie Posters
Door Panels: (20" X 60")Tall, vertical posters, printed on thin stock paper in one panel and most often sold in sets of four or six for the more prominent feature releases by major studios. These posters were to be displayed on the doors of the theater and featured unique artwork from the one sheets. More often than not, one panel would feature the title of the film and the other panels would be the stars or scenes from the film. These sets were rarely purchased by theater owners, presumably due to expense, and consequently are very rare and very collectible.
Subway: (54" X 41")
Major Studios started printing subway posters in the 1960s, which were printed on standard paper stock. These posters were and are usually used in mass transit station displays. These posters often feature a variation on the "Advance" poster art and are sometimes referred to as Two Sheets and are printed in limited numbers and are very collectible for the earlier titles from the 1960s.
Banner Posters:
Studios began producing banners in the 1920s and they were painted using beautiful, full-color silk screen art on canvas or bookbinder's cloth with grommets spaced along the edges which came in a variety of sizes ranging from 24" to 30" by 84" to 120." . Starting in the late 1930s the movie studios began to transition to a card stock material but still silk screening in a mono-tone color scheme and adding a photograph pasted to the banner. Today's banners are printed on vinyl and come in a vast variety of sizes.
Large Paper Stock Posters of the 30's
40" X 60"
Studios began printing these large paper stock posters in the early 1930s, these large posters were usually rolled when sent to the theater. During the 1930s many of these posters were produced by the Hollywood Sign-Makers Union using a silk-screen process, which was often done in strong, day-glow paints which made for very striking graphics. These craftsmen would often produce as many as ten to twenty paint screens to produce these works of art. The other method for producing these larger size posters during this time was the photo-gelatin process, the same method used to produce 1930s Lobby Cards. These posters were most often photographic and were produced on a thin paper stock which became brittle over time. The silk-screen and photo-gelatin 40" X 60"s are by far the rarest posters to find for any film from the 1930s. By the 1940's, the 40" X 60"s began being produced on a heavy card stock, in off-set lithography and remained so up until their demise in the early 1980s. In the 1960s these posters became just larger copies of the one sheet, which could be put on an easel to display in large areas. 40" X 60" posters were printed in very limited numbers and few survived.30" X 40":
These posters like the 40" X 60" were printed on a card stock and were normally sent rolled to the theaters. This size began to be printed in the 1930's, often instead of a One Sheet, as was the case with Disney Studios, who printed this format instead of One Sheets from 1935 through 1937. This size gained in popularity in the 1950s as theater owners found them more durable than One Sheets as they were almost identical to the later in artwork.
Hollywood Movie Posters, 1914 -1990 Schiffer Book for Collectors
by Miles D. Barton
Everyone loves the movies, and the movie posters in this book provide a colorful visual history of the movies, from the early silent film days to the big blockbusters of recent years. The evolution of the dream factory is charted through spectacular graphics used by individual studios to advertise their movies. Posters, like the films they represent, demonstrate stylistic developments, in response to changing social and political conditions, throughout the 20th century. The glamour, pathos and sheer drama of Hollywood through the decades is colorfully brought to life in over 400 illustrations of rare and collectible movie posters. This book provides an entertaining appreciation of the evolution of Hollywood and cinematic poster art, as well as a guide to the value of this advertising material. This collectors guide enables instant understanding and identification in one volume. Essential to the novice buyer and an invaluable visual reference for experienced collectors, this book is a celebration of Hollywood.To Purchase This Reference Book "Hollywood Movie Posters"
or too See Other Books Available About Collecting Movie Posters,
Please Visit Our Amazon Book Store "Collectors Showcase"
Your Source for Special Interest Books & Collectors Guides
Movie Posters at eBay
Australian Movie Posters
Down Under
Daybill (db): The Australian Daybill ranged in sizes over the years
1910-1941: 14" X 40"
Commonly called the "Long Daybill"
1941-1945: 10" X 30"
Smaller daybills were printed during the war due to paper shortages.
1941-1970s: 13" X 30"
Normally stone or zinc plate lithos, folded twice like the American Insert.
1980s to present: Approx. 26" X 30"
One Sheet:
For the most part 27" x 40" prior to 1970's and usually Stone Lithos, with limited quantities printed. The Collectors market believes that as few as 200 One Sheets were printed for films prior to 1950. This would explain the rarity of the Australian One-Sheet.
Three Sheet:
Generally 41" X 81" similar to US Three Sheets but with the addition of the Australian Censor Blurb.
Lobby Cards:
Australia normally used American Lobby Card Sets and Half Sheets.
British Movie Posters
Quad: The British quad measures 40" x 30" and is printed on paper stock which is the standard British poster. The image is often designed to fit the horizontal format, and is not just an imitation of the US 1-sheet artwork.
Double Crown
The British Double Crown (dc) measure 20" x 30" and is printed on paper stock.
One sheet :
27" x 40". Not as common as the Quad.
Three Sheet:
41" x 81". Not as common as the US 3-sheet.
Underground Poster aka Giant Fly (fly) :
Approximately 65" x 40", printed on paper stock; used on the walls of mass transit underground stations and bus shelters. When this size is not produced, generally several copies of international one-sheets are grouped to fill the display area.
Front of House (foh):
10" x 8", printed on card stock; usually issued in sets of eight in color for display in theater lobbies, especially in the UK. They are often smaller versions of lobby card sets.
Billboard:
80 x 90 in. The top ten inches are left blank so the theater information can be put in later, as with US window cards.
Italian Movie Posters
Locandino: The Locandino measures 13 x 27 in
Photobusta or fotobusta (fb):
Glossy, high quality lithographs, that are the lobby cards of Europe. Size may vary. May be printed either vertical or horizontal format, measuring 27 x 19 in.
2-foglio
(due): The 2-foglio is the standard poster size in Italy, measuring 39 x 55 in.
4-foglio
(quattro): The 4-foglio is a very large poster printed in 2 sheets, measuring 55 x 78 in.
French Cinema Posters
Mini (for posting on walls): 40 x 55 cm (app. 16 x 22in); but the size may vary considerably.Petite: 60 cm x 80 cm (app. 23.5 x 31.5 in) Either Mini or Petite is sometimes called an affichette.
Grande: 120 cm x 160 cm (app 47 x 63in) This is the standard french poster.
8 Panneaux: 4 m x 3 m (158 x 118 inches) Used above the marquee in large French cinemas.
German Movie Posters
Straight A's
A0: 84 x 118 cm or 33 x 46 inches (may be vertical or horizontal format).A1: 59 x 84 cm or 23 x 33 inches; this is the most common size.
A2: 59 x 42 cm or 24 x 17 inches.
A3: 29 x 42 cm or 11 x 17 inches.
A4: 21 x 20 cm or 8 x 8 inches.
Lobby cards are also printed on paper, they vary in size from 8 x 12 in to 12 x 18 in.
Belgian and Polish Movie Posters
Belgian posters measure 24" x 33" before 1939 and 1940 on are about 14" x 22", these posters are printed either horizontal or vertical.
Polish posters
are mostly the same size as the German A1, but, because of paper shortages during the years of Soviet occupation, the posters are not uniform as to size, paper or color.
High Gloss Black and White Photo Stills
Studio Press Releases
Stills: (8" X 10") or (11" X 14").
Black and White glossy stills printed on photo paper have been around since the beginning. These glossies were commonly sent to the press to promote the release of a film. The stills almost always have descriptive information typed on paper and pasted or stapled to the back. In the early 1930s, the film's title was often displayed in the lower border of the still along with credits. In the early 1950s several larger studios began releasing a set of (12) full-color stills from the movie with the films title in the lower border.
Glossy Photo Movie Stills
Care For Your Motion Picture History
Commen Sence Care for Your Movie Posters
Your movie poster is a piece of motion picture history and should be treated the same care and respect that any historical artifact might be given. There are three major destructive elements associated with these paper products are:Direct Sunlight
Always keep your posters out of direct sunlight, UV rays will fade the printers inks used in their manufacturing posters. When framing a poster, always try to use archival or museum mounting elements such as UV resistant glass and acid-free mounting boards and mattes.
Moisture
Always try to keep your posters or any paper collectible from any contact with water or moisture such as extreme humidity. Moisture will not only stain and mildew your poster, which will deteriorate the elements used in its manufacture of your poster.
Heat
Always avoid storing or displaying posters in overly hot environments, as these elements will make the paper fibers brittle and will darken them making your posters brown (or tanned) in the process.
Children of the Night: A Comprehensive Guide to Horror Posters
by James A. Gresham
Dracula, Frankenstein, the Mummy, and the Wolf Man are probably the most recognizable monsters in cinema history. These monsters are the icons of horror. Children of the Night is the most complete and comprehensive collection of posters for these and many other great films of the Golden Age of Horror. This book contains more than 1,000 poster pictures on almost 300 full-color pages. These are the very best images ever created for horror movies. The posters are from the horror movies of the 1920s through the early1950's, with an emphasis on the 1930's and 1940's films released by Universal Pictures.
To Purchase This Reference Book "Children of the Night"
or too See Other Books Available About Collecting Movie Posters,
Please Visit Our Amazon Book Store "Collectors Showcase"
Your Source for Special Interest Books & Collectors Guides
Handling and Storing Your Movie Posters
In caring for your movie posters, there are various handling and storage techniques to that should be used.Folded Posters
For any folded poster, the folding and unfolding should be avoided, as that will eventually weaken the paper fibers and cause separation and tearing. For the post-1960s glossy stock posters, the folding is especially harmful, as the color will flake and fall off on from the fold lines with excessive handling. If a poster is rolled or has never been folded, under no circumstances should it be folded. It is best to store all posters unfolded and flat.
Linen Backed Posters
Any poster that has been restored by mounting it on archival linen should be stored flat. The rolling and unrolling will eventually cause wear on the poster.
Paper Backed Posters
Any poster that has been restored by mounting on Japanese or archival paper should be stored flat, as the rolling and unrolling will cause the fold lines to reappear in the paper.
Framing Your Movie Posters
When having a poster framed, take the poster to a knowledgeable framer who has experience in archival museum mounting and framing. Never let a framer heat mount, or adhesive mount your poster to flatten it! Anything done to frame the poster must always be reversible with no damaging effects. Please Sign the Guest Book
and Let Us Know You Were Here Too.
Too See Books Available About Collecting Movie Posters,
Please Visit Our Amazon Book Store Collectors Showcase Your Source
for Special Interest Books & Collectors Guides
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bejeezers Mar 9, 2012 @ 3:55 am | delete
- Wonderful posters - I remember many of them.
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JoshK47
May 15, 2011 @ 11:23 am | delete
- Great movie posters - I've always rather enjoyed foreign posters for American movies, they always tend to have some strange sort of artistic slant on the theme of the movie and can be rather less straightforward than American posters.
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Sylvestermouse
Feb 2, 2011 @ 12:27 pm | delete
- These posters are wonderful! When I was a teenager, I worked in a theater. I remember well how people "fought" to get the real posters so they could hang them in their bedrooms.
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KimGiancaterino Jan 24, 2011 @ 1:23 pm | delete
- Last Friday I worked at a production studio that had vintage movie posters covering the hallways. It was like being in a Hollywood museum. If I had more wall space, I'd have some big movie posters myself. Great job!
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raphaelo
Jan 17, 2011 @ 4:44 am | delete
- Wow! There are many vintage movies posters here. Cool & Cute!! Love this lens :)
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Rock Concert Posters
A Visual History of Rock
The concert poster is a great visual history of rock n' roll that centers on the posters which were created to advertise the musicians and concert venues. With over six decades of concert posters available, these event posters have become a wildly popular collectible that has taken on a life of their own, sometimes outshining the rock bands they were created to promote. The popular art of concert posters allow collectors to collect by music genre, by musician, by poster artist and even by venue or promoter. Concert promoters also created handbill versions of many of their posters and used them as sidewalk handouts and dashboard fliers to promote upcoming shows. Many of these handbills were double-sided, with poster art on one side and a calendar of upcoming shows on the other. These handbills represent an important element of rock concert history because they were hands on marketing tools that united promoter and concert fan. Concert poster are not only avidly collected today but have spawned collectors clubs, groups and annual conventions that celebrate the concert poster such such as Flatstock or The Rock Poster Society (TRPS).Visit This Squidoo Lens For More Information on
Rock Concert Posters
Too See Books Available About Concert Posters, Please Visit Our Amazon Book Store
Collectors Showcase Your Source for Special Interest Books & Collectors Guides
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Table of Contents
- Theater Lobby Cards
- Window Cards
- Lobby Cards at eBay
- Standard American Posters
- Collage of Movie Posters
- One Sheet at eBay
- Art of the Modern Movie Poster: International Postwar Style and Design
- Larger Outdoors Posters
- Vertical Panels and Banner Size Movie Posters
- Large Paper Stock Posters of the 30's
- Hollywood Movie Posters, 1914 -1990 Schiffer Book for Collectors
- Movie Posters at eBay
- Australian Movie Posters
- British Movie Posters
- Italian Movie Posters
- French Cinema Posters
- German Movie Posters
- Belgian and Polish Movie Posters
- High Gloss Black and White Photo Stills
- Glossy Photo Movie Stills
- Care For Your Motion Picture History
- Children of the Night: A Comprehensive Guide to Horror Posters
- Handling and Storing Your Movie Posters
- Framing Your Movie Posters
- Please Sign the Guest Book
- Rock Concert Posters
- Check Out These Other Squidoo Lenses
by FoxMusic
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