Hello MoPo members,
Hey there, hope everything is going well with everyone? I have finally gotten a publisher for my film art of the Marx Brothers book (with just 45 days left of my 20 year Navy sentence and an impending Los Angeles retirement--where Paramount is ;) and wanted to see if anyone knew of some really real, and uber rare, Marx Brothers posters in which the owner might let be used in this full color book (can compensate to license and will credit unless discretion is desired.)
I have the MGM stuff covered pretty well (love the Hirschfeld art, what can I say?), but have some holes with the Paramount films. Here's what I'm hoping to find:
1. Too Many Kisses (Paramount, 1925): Harpo was in this silent film and I'd like to see if there were more poster examples from it--though I will be using Bill Marx's insert image for this and tracking down a glass slide as well (even found a Richard Dix drawing by Hirschfeld, previously unknown.)
2. Cocoanuts (film or stage play): There is a great program for the Cocoanuts up for sale on eBay now, would like to use the image and credit the new owner if it is a MoPo user--it has different graphics than the green one with the Monkey tabs. Have the one sheet image, insert, and both film and stage window cards, and four lobby card images, but seeking other sizes too--even if from a reference or theatre marquee still or pressbook. Need glass slide.
3. Animal Crackers: Need a better image of the Animal Crackers lobby card with Groucho walking with four to five girls. Also, does anyone know who rendered the boarder art? Would like to see the press book if anyone has it? I know ones exist for "Monkey Business", "Horse Feathers", and "Duck Soup", but not sure for "Animal Crackers" or "The Cocoanuts."? It is posted all over eBay (even as a high-res giclee print), but I don't have a clear image of the one sheet with Harpo and Chico wearing hats and Zeppo looking at them with Groucho looking over at the title of the one-sheet (has a blue and orange background.) Have the 3-Sheet Style "B" image, but not the "A" or "C" three sheets or either of the two six sheets or the 24-sheet. Have one JWC with Groucho and the green toy snake, but that's it. Need glass slide.
4. Monkey Business: Thank you Heritage! They have a ton of "Monkey Business" lobby cards for the forthcoming signature auction so I have seven of eight lobby cards and five of eight Jumbo Lobbies. Also have the window and jumbo window card images, studio annual color double page trade ad, single color trade ad. Need both three sheet images and the six sheet image. Also, want a better image of the interior W.B. Johnstone cartoon drawing that is chocked full of various scenes. Need glass slide. I have heard a rumor of a director or some film business collector who has a three sheet from Monkey Business (the "B" I think with them all riding on a funny little ship), but no loose lips to sink that paper ship!
5. Horse Feathers: Have all of the lobbies, window and midget window cards, insert, both one sheets, one three sheet, the double page studio annual ad (duo tone), and thanks again to Heritage, have those wonderful 1936 re-release shots, which are fantastic. Need Glass Slide...
6. Duck Soup: Need the 24, 6, and 3-sheet "A" posters, half sheet "A" and jumbo window card. Have both one-sheets, the half sheet, the window card, title card, and all lobbies. Know there was a Jumbo Window card with Zeppo and Chico sold at the December 11, 1998 Sotheby's "Crowell Havens Beech" auction (lot #290) and would love a better image of that (and lot 291 the one sheet with Thelma Todd from "Horse Feathers." There was also a Duck Soup original "hanger" that sold on eBay recently I'd like to show. Know who purchased it, so will contact them privately.
7. A Night at the Opera: need the midget window card image, possible special trade ads.
8. A Day at the Races: would love to get a shot from either three sheet to this film--the three sheet "A" sold at the October 28, 2000 Southeby Auction, just have never found the original.
9. Room Service: need color image of the 24 sheet and 6-sheet "B" need the three sheet "B" too (found the A style.)
10. At the Circus: Need the 24 sheet, 6 sheet, both three sheets, and the jumbo window card.
11. Go West: Need the 24 sheet, 6 sheet, 3-sheet "A" (found the "B"), jumbo window card, and insert (pretty please Mr. Litton!)
12. The Big Store: 24-sheet and both three sheets (reference stills are fine too.)
13. Love Happy: Maybe some trade ad art, but the posters are pretty boring--sad to say.
Poster reference stills are wonderful, not sure where the Paramount ones are. Can check the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as well. Trying to track down any rare color images of the Marx Brothers as a group, don't think there are many. Will reach out to USC to see if I can get some screen captures from the 1930 color rehearsal clip to "Animal Crackers" with Harpo in a robe and no wig--great clip and so rare in original color.
Working on this book with Bill and Minnie Marx--Harpo's kids, and others, should be fun for both Marx and Poster Art lovers (and if you know my penchant, and obsessive love for the film art of Al Hirschfeld you won't be disappointed and will see no fewer than 5-10 drawings/paintings by him of the brothers you've never seen before--even if you are the Hirschfeld Archivist--of whom I know ;)
Thanks for reading this titanic tome!
-Daniel Kinske (LCDR, USN--barley, tick tick tick...)
(619) 791-9020...
P.S.--Huge thanks to everyone out there who has already helped me innumerable times: Bruce Hershenson, Mike Kaplan, Sue Heim, Joe Burtis, Doug Ball, Kirby Hamilton, John Hazleton, Steve Olsen, et al., many thanks!
Hey there, hope everything is going well with everyone? I have finally gotten a publisher for my film art of the Marx Brothers book (with just 45 days left of my 20 year Navy sentence and an impending Los Angeles retirement--where Paramount is ;) and wanted to see if anyone knew of some really real, and uber rare, Marx Brothers posters in which the owner might let be used in this full color book (can compensate to license and will credit unless discretion is desired.)
I have the MGM stuff covered pretty well (love the Hirschfeld art, what can I say?), but have some holes with the Paramount films. Here's what I'm hoping to find:
1. Too Many Kisses (Paramount, 1925): Harpo was in this silent film and I'd like to see if there were more poster examples from it--though I will be using Bill Marx's insert image for this and tracking down a glass slide as well (even found a Richard Dix drawing by Hirschfeld, previously unknown.)
2. Cocoanuts (film or stage play): There is a great program for the Cocoanuts up for sale on eBay now, would like to use the image and credit the new owner if it is a MoPo user--it has different graphics than the green one with the Monkey tabs. Have the one sheet image, insert, and both film and stage window cards, and four lobby card images, but seeking other sizes too--even if from a reference or theatre marquee still or pressbook. Need glass slide.
3. Animal Crackers: Need a better image of the Animal Crackers lobby card with Groucho walking with four to five girls. Also, does anyone know who rendered the boarder art? Would like to see the press book if anyone has it? I know ones exist for "Monkey Business", "Horse Feathers", and "Duck Soup", but not sure for "Animal Crackers" or "The Cocoanuts."? It is posted all over eBay (even as a high-res giclee print), but I don't have a clear image of the one sheet with Harpo and Chico wearing hats and Zeppo looking at them with Groucho looking over at the title of the one-sheet (has a blue and orange background.) Have the 3-Sheet Style "B" image, but not the "A" or "C" three sheets or either of the two six sheets or the 24-sheet. Have one JWC with Groucho and the green toy snake, but that's it. Need glass slide.
4. Monkey Business: Thank you Heritage! They have a ton of "Monkey Business" lobby cards for the forthcoming signature auction so I have seven of eight lobby cards and five of eight Jumbo Lobbies. Also have the window and jumbo window card images, studio annual color double page trade ad, single color trade ad. Need both three sheet images and the six sheet image. Also, want a better image of the interior W.B. Johnstone cartoon drawing that is chocked full of various scenes. Need glass slide. I have heard a rumor of a director or some film business collector who has a three sheet from Monkey Business (the "B" I think with them all riding on a funny little ship), but no loose lips to sink that paper ship!
5. Horse Feathers: Have all of the lobbies, window and midget window cards, insert, both one sheets, one three sheet, the double page studio annual ad (duo tone), and thanks again to Heritage, have those wonderful 1936 re-release shots, which are fantastic. Need Glass Slide...
6. Duck Soup: Need the 24, 6, and 3-sheet "A" posters, half sheet "A" and jumbo window card. Have both one-sheets, the half sheet, the window card, title card, and all lobbies. Know there was a Jumbo Window card with Zeppo and Chico sold at the December 11, 1998 Sotheby's "Crowell Havens Beech" auction (lot #290) and would love a better image of that (and lot 291 the one sheet with Thelma Todd from "Horse Feathers." There was also a Duck Soup original "hanger" that sold on eBay recently I'd like to show. Know who purchased it, so will contact them privately.
7. A Night at the Opera: need the midget window card image, possible special trade ads.
8. A Day at the Races: would love to get a shot from either three sheet to this film--the three sheet "A" sold at the October 28, 2000 Southeby Auction, just have never found the original.
9. Room Service: need color image of the 24 sheet and 6-sheet "B" need the three sheet "B" too (found the A style.)
10. At the Circus: Need the 24 sheet, 6 sheet, both three sheets, and the jumbo window card.
11. Go West: Need the 24 sheet, 6 sheet, 3-sheet "A" (found the "B"), jumbo window card, and insert (pretty please Mr. Litton!)
12. The Big Store: 24-sheet and both three sheets (reference stills are fine too.)
13. Love Happy: Maybe some trade ad art, but the posters are pretty boring--sad to say.
Poster reference stills are wonderful, not sure where the Paramount ones are. Can check the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as well. Trying to track down any rare color images of the Marx Brothers as a group, don't think there are many. Will reach out to USC to see if I can get some screen captures from the 1930 color rehearsal clip to "Animal Crackers" with Harpo in a robe and no wig--great clip and so rare in original color.
Working on this book with Bill and Minnie Marx--Harpo's kids, and others, should be fun for both Marx and Poster Art lovers (and if you know my penchant, and obsessive love for the film art of Al Hirschfeld you won't be disappointed and will see no fewer than 5-10 drawings/paintings by him of the brothers you've never seen before--even if you are the Hirschfeld Archivist--of whom I know ;)
Thanks for reading this titanic tome!
-Daniel Kinske (LCDR, USN--barley, tick tick tick...)
(619) 791-9020...
P.S.--Huge thanks to everyone out there who has already helped me innumerable times: Bruce Hershenson, Mike Kaplan, Sue Heim, Joe Burtis, Doug Ball, Kirby Hamilton, John Hazleton, Steve Olsen, et al., many thanks!
