Good Evening All, I have to say that Freeman is 100% correct in his observations concerning the use of lobby cards during the time frame that he has mentioned. Being in exhibition management from 1966 thru 1996 full time in the New England area, I too encountered what he did in the business. I used to go to the NSS exchanges in both New York and Boston, sometimes on a weekly basis, and saw exactly what he saw. Pallets full of material that most of the time went nowhere. The main material that was used in our theatres and others in my area back then was the ONE SHEET. If we received anything other than that we either sent it back or tossed it. Most of our trailers and pressbooks also came from NSS. The only theatres that I found lobby cards and large format advertising were in the big city theatres that had very large lobbies with a lot space to advertise. BTW, the pressbooks also came with mats that were used to cast plates for newspaper advertising. I got to know some of the NSS branch managers quite well during these times. They use to offer me stuff that wasn't used, all the time, if the material did not go out say like the first two weeks of a picture's run. Back then a lot of unused material got tossed or was mysteriously lost at the exchanges. When NSS finally folded pallets and pallets of material found their way out the back door or landfills. I wish today I had all the stuff that I refused or threw away. Who would of known back then what this stuff would be worth today? That's my observations on this matter from my part of the world. I too believe, that some of these minty whites are legit. Heck, just a few weeks ago I got from technicolor, whom distributes most of the one sheets today, single sided one sheets for Rob Zombie's Halloween. Some people in the hobby think they are fakes because they are single sided. Not true. They are out there as originals both ways, double and single sided. I'm sure that a good majority of poster dealers and collectors in our hobby today were never in the exhibition business as some of us in the hobby were to see what we have seen in the world of movie posters. Lenny In a message dated 11/11/2007 5:55:37 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
I just want to inject personal observations here with regards to these cards under suspicion. Please know that in exhibition, the use of lobby cards in modern theatres were almost fully being phased out in the 1970's. There simply was no place to exhibit them. Onesheet frame manufacturers were no longer making combos. These would be non-illuminated frames that "snap-locked" into place a onesheet then two lobby frames underneath where a pair of lobby cards could be slid into place from an opening on the right side vertical frame. This amazingly fast phase out was due to the quick embrace of plastic title snipes that would fit standard back lit boxes or box-office reader boards. Space and clutter became, suddenly a serious consideration with the multi-plexing phenomenon. I worked for 4 exhibition companies from 1979 to 2000, and I never once ordered or paid for a set of lobby cards EVER. On occasion, a set would show up at our office or flagship theatres and I can tell you exactly the titles that were shipped EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (oversized and regular) CLASH OF THE TITANS (regular) ALIEN (oversized and regular) BLADE RUNNER (oversized and regular) THE SHINING (oversized and regular) THE LITTLE MERMAID (only to project picture locations) NIGHTMARE BEFORE XMAS (only to project picture locations) That's it. Done. In the late 70's early 80's studio marketers were becoming radically aggressive with alternate forms of in-lobby POS. Vinyl banners (ugh) proliferated so fast I banned them from being shipped without prior approval. Then came the avalanche of counter cards, window stickers, elaborate standees, mobiles, door panels..........so much crap managers were about to mutiny. One day a bell went off in my head giving me my one revolutionary idea that is my only footnote in exhibition history..........movie poster art printed on popcorn bags.........and charging the studios for that placement. HUGE found revenue! Briefly I was a hero.............LOL. Understand I was working for Cineplex Odeon where we had at one point the most visible complexes of any circuit in major metro areas, United Artists, AMC, General Cinema and Redstone, had the volume and quickly 5 individuals including myself pretty well weighed in what was created and sent to theatres for about 15 years running. At no time were lobby cards ever considered. In less than a year, we 5 standardized and demanded the shipping of rolled double-sided posters as backlit poster cases ultimately proved the most cost effective and appealing day to day advertising. This reform could not be called gradual. Literally one day inserts, lobby cards, halfsheets etc. were being printed, the next day terminated. So the various titles on the list were by measure already in the pipe lines or specifically requested by the film maker (Kubrick had incredible control at Warner Bros. and slow to let go old habits) that they were created. So it is quite possible that pallets of lobby cards as was the case with inserts I saw warehoused at NSS depots uncirculated shrink wrapped could appear still today as if printed last week began to stack up due to orders dwindling. I just think caution should be observed until every possibility explored in the form of history and circumstances are vetted out for these titles will for years once served up in list form clouded in suspicion when in fact they may be legit. Also, in viewing the list of suspected titles. Indeed GODFATHER 2? The money is in the cards from Godfather 1 specifically the Brando card, and the group wedding shot. Why not Disney's MERMAID and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST and most especially NIGHTMARE B 4 XMAS? Where is APOCALYPSE NOW, CHINATOWN...........AND ...... MATRIX? Who would think those were made for the US? AND I BROUGHT UP TO MOPO BEFORE THE LOBBY CARD SETS FOR A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS. I presently have a mint set the last of 3 I acquired which seemingly are all over the place. That simply defies logic. They are dated 1966 UNITED ARTISTS. And yet they sell.... Finally someone mentioned HARD DAYS NIGHT. I have had a repro or re-issue set for YELLOW SUBMARINE but they did have a stamped re-issue in a corner that easily rubbed off. freeman fisher 8601 west knoll dr. #7 west hollywood, ca 90069 310-6579426 ____________________________________ See what's new at _AOL.com_ (http://www.aol.com/?NCID=AOLCMP00300000001170) and _Make AOL Your Homepage_ (http://www.aol.com/mksplash.adp?NCID=AOLCMP00300000001169) . 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