Ive enjoyed when Mopo explores the Movie poster phenomena.... and the
Passion and reasons
behind collecting
To think when I started selling poster in 1977 people scoffed in the art
world at memorabilia
except a few...
My introduction to film and posters came like this..... as a young boy
in the 60's it was
afternoon T.V reruns of all the sci-fi and classic monsters on the
local shows at 4pm ... there was Rita Bell
and Bill Kennedy from Detroit. They showed older flicks.. and there were
some scif fi monter channell also.
Then theer was all the gum cards , AURORA model kits , and Famous
monsters that besides basebal card boys collected.
In my case I was fascinated with every aspect of the movie making
process , the filmmaking, Lighting
sound, make-up and Props all made me excited.. Some kids were lucky to
get a 8mm camera and made
home made ilms with sauvers made with paper plates and no sound..
however in my case I didnt have the funding even back then.. I think I
did some 3-4 minute shorts in school film class... However some kids did
some great stop animation stuff like empty shoes walking etc...those
years ther was no internet and CGI so we winded it :)
Then the performance and showmanship of the theatrical process... like
the advertising and to me
the projection booth was like entering a forbidden temple...... Seeing
some Old man with oil cans and the
smells of acrid carbon ARC light with these Mammoth Projectors like a
Simplex would make my eyes like saucers... It was Like being allowed to
meet the wizard of Oz to be allowed in the Booth...
These guys were like CINEMA Paradiso ... technicians that werer true
engineers of light and sound...
The anamorphic lenses and all needed to be tweaked perfection .. what a
cool experiance that was..
OK so by 15 I went into Music biz ( as performer) and one day in 1974 I
was able to me a Filmmaker named" Myron Gittinger " a stringer for
paramount and Movietone news
he was a real Newsreel motion picture filmmaker from the 20s and 30s and
shot the famous "man on Ice skates with a Rocket backpack. and he flips
over head over heels... he allowed me to see his work on a old Kodascope
16mm and I was just
amazed..and lucky to experiance that.. Ive been Lucky to meet some of
the pioneers in film Like Ray Harryhausen who was in town about 74 on a
local Tv show.. I was able to speak to Linwood Dunne who knew Ray and
also did the Willis Obrien King Kong specail effect s in 1923 and
invented the optical printed method to superimpose imgaes.. Pretty cool
for som kid from Toledo to get to see .... eh??.
I had a photographer friend that showed me all the photgraphers like
avedon,Karsh, Steglitz,
Hurrel . Bull and all the other great Photo artist... The
cinematographers were basically artists painting with light and
composition... and sound and imagery... SO all the elments Fused
together of every art form Like dance and makeup and scenery......all
thats was left was small and yet that was tried at times with smellorama
by Todd.
All the people like Busby berkey,,, Capra, the great soundtrack people
Like Korngold < newman, Dimitri and all the rest.... and then the makeup
people Like white and Smith..
it just is to hard for me to stay in Posters only.... yet.... they seem
to summerize the picture with a statement
and offer a physical view of the feel of the pic and invite us to be
titilated to see the pic..so thats why Posters are good.
ANyways.............. In 1976 I became a- Agent booking agent and
decorated my office in Movie memorabilia.. Posters, stills, director
chairs , some old movie lights, stills , film cans and some other
entertainment stuff.....
Then one day a friend said .. Hey look at this..... 1920s Photoplay
Movie magazines.... and I flipped..
I started advertising in Film Collectors world and Big reel and classic
Images,, and unlike Movie
poster dealers .. I would buy anything that was related in any way to
Movies .. like theatre seats, projectors, cameras . Film collections,
and props , costumes You name it,..
The collectors and dealers were my teachers alerting me to the history
and the eclectic lives of many
of the founders of the biz of film...I really didnt have the education
that many have had so at times
I feel so unworthy to even do what I do as a dealer,. and 30 year later
I feel Ive just scratched the surface..... Personally I like it all..
the posters and the gear. the process... I had a very early collection
Of magic lanterns and early hand crank cameras and the metamorhisis of
the Movie biz
just makes me in awe... I sell a book that is by David Q. Bowers that
offers a glimpse when it all started with nickelodeons and what amased
me is that Befor MOVIE posters the exhibitors just hand made the
displays Kinds like garage sale signs ... and on sheets.... In the book
it shows picturs of that!!
and the early facades.. Back when David made the Book we supplied some
of the early teens Movie mags.. then Bought them back....
SALE FOR MOPO members
anyways Ill send any MOPO member the Book ( new/old Copys from 1986)
For 20.00 + 5.00
sent PRIORITY Mail USA - 20.00 shipping overseas... I Garantee its
one of the best books on Movie history youll ever read or send for
refund -shipping Plus Ill give you some old movie paper surprises with
the Book purchase...
The book is called ' Nickelodeons and thier Music" and shows all the
organs and the archetechture of early Movie theaters.. In 30 years Ive
never seen anything as exhustive research that Bowers did..
Bowers is one of the worlds super collectors and knows so much about
history.. I think hes on the heritage auction Board.. and has written
numerous Books,,, years ago I was able to get a deal from him
and promiced to share these with collectors as Its my fave Book.
paypal and credit cards over phone 419-474-3065 Tom Hollywood Dream
factory® since 1977
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.
