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[OneSheet]

Three quick stories the younger collectors might enjoy.   It's 1970 and I'm living in Cleveland, Ohio, and trying to find original Charlie Chaplin paper.  There were few movie memorabilia shops in 1970, so I write to them, and then try writing to the antique stores in the big cities.  After a number of weeks I received a letter back from a NYC antique shop which had unfolded half-sheets on Chaplin's GOLD RUSH (1925) and THE CIRCUS (1928).  However, the shop had two other rolled half-sheets, and since they didn't deal in posters, they would only sell all four posters as a group.  There was ARABIAN KNIGHTS (1931), and THE TRESPASSER (1929), with Gloria Swanson.  I had no interest at all in the two non-Chaplin posters, but I was determined to get THE GOLD RUSH and THE CIRCUS.  So I bit the bullet and paid the $120 for all four half-sheets.   Buster Keaton collectors know how difficult it is to find lobby cards from his silent shorts and features.  Again, in 1971, I wrote all the memorabilia stores and antique shops hoping to find some Keaton paper.  No response after no response, until Collector's Bookshop in Hollywood, sent me a letter, saying they "ONLY" had the following, and then described 12 Keaton cards, including TITLE cards to CONVICT 13, ONE WEEK, THE PALEFACE, and THE PLAYHOUSE.  The title cards were $12.50 each, and the scene cards were $10.00.  I bought them all.  I still have the original correspondence (as well as the cards and posters) regarding the purchase of the Keaton lobby cards, and the Chaplin half-sheets.   In recent years I made a surprising purchase from a well known dealer.  I purchased a scene card from HIS WEDDING NIGHT (1917), a Roscoe Arbuckle short, for $175, which I felt was a fair price for an Arbuckle card.  However, the dealer obviously didn't recognize a very clear image of Buster Keaton, front and center, in DRAG!  I've always felt a bit badly that I didn't tell the dealer that the "woman" depicted was Keaton.  But on the other hand, it's not my responsibility to educate dealers.  He was no novice.  He had decades of experience.  Plus I really wanted that card!   Marty Davis Vintage Film Posters 43215 N. National Trail Anthem, AZ 85086 623/551-6655 623/551-6622 fax [EMAIL PROTECTED] OneSheet (eBay Screen Name) www.vintagefilmposters.com Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___________________________________________________________________ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content.