At the movie matinee - Window Cards
Stone193
Posts: 24,435 ✭✭✭✭✭
Hi everyone.
Although sports cards and memorabilia may be my main focus, I do have a small focus of nonsport. For one - thriller/horror/Sci-Fi movies of the 50s.
Advertising for the Saturday Matinee, e.g., was not done just at the local theater in the 50s, it was done by distributed advertisement to "other" businesses.
To facilitate the expansion of their local advertisement, your local movie theater gave out "Window Cards" to be placed somewhere in the candy store or toy store e.g.
The Window Card.
WCs were made to display in places OTHER THAN movies theaters
The graphics were printed on heavy, cheap card stock.
Many small shops would allow them to be displayed in their window. Candy stores were the perfect venue.
Since the theater bought them in bulk, and they were only used for special situations like a "double feature" or new release; they were printed cheaply with graphics that lacked the luster of quality movie posters.
The standard WC is about 14X22" with a 4x6" blank area on top for the theater to place their individual name, date and times of the movie e.g.
These posters were supplied by the movie studio, NSS (national screen service) and by independent producers.
The big "indy" makers were Benton Card Co., Globe Co. and the Hatch Show Prints Co.
And now for the double feature:
"I was a Teenage Werewolf" and "Invasion of the Saucer-Men" - c1957
This one was made by Benton. The goal of the "indy's" was to make an even cheaper product for the little movie houses to be able to distribute their cards and advertise throughout the neighborhood. Thus, the prints were either monotone or at most 3 colors - printed on very cheap stock.
From what I have seen, WCs may be a fun way to collect something larger than a lobby card for display purposes.
In general, the WCs come in 3 sizes: the "Standard" (above 14X22"), the "Midget" (8X14") and the "Jumbo" (22X28").
Next up - I will be discussing my lobby card collection - hope there's a little interest in this?
Thanx for viewing.
Although sports cards and memorabilia may be my main focus, I do have a small focus of nonsport. For one - thriller/horror/Sci-Fi movies of the 50s.
Advertising for the Saturday Matinee, e.g., was not done just at the local theater in the 50s, it was done by distributed advertisement to "other" businesses.
To facilitate the expansion of their local advertisement, your local movie theater gave out "Window Cards" to be placed somewhere in the candy store or toy store e.g.
The Window Card.
WCs were made to display in places OTHER THAN movies theaters
The graphics were printed on heavy, cheap card stock.
Many small shops would allow them to be displayed in their window. Candy stores were the perfect venue.
Since the theater bought them in bulk, and they were only used for special situations like a "double feature" or new release; they were printed cheaply with graphics that lacked the luster of quality movie posters.
The standard WC is about 14X22" with a 4x6" blank area on top for the theater to place their individual name, date and times of the movie e.g.
These posters were supplied by the movie studio, NSS (national screen service) and by independent producers.
The big "indy" makers were Benton Card Co., Globe Co. and the Hatch Show Prints Co.
And now for the double feature:
"I was a Teenage Werewolf" and "Invasion of the Saucer-Men" - c1957
This one was made by Benton. The goal of the "indy's" was to make an even cheaper product for the little movie houses to be able to distribute their cards and advertise throughout the neighborhood. Thus, the prints were either monotone or at most 3 colors - printed on very cheap stock.
From what I have seen, WCs may be a fun way to collect something larger than a lobby card for display purposes.
In general, the WCs come in 3 sizes: the "Standard" (above 14X22"), the "Midget" (8X14") and the "Jumbo" (22X28").
Next up - I will be discussing my lobby card collection - hope there's a little interest in this?
Thanx for viewing.
Mike
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Have no idea where it's at now, though...