Grey has added helpful specific details to what I wrote above. The only "grey" area here (couldn't resist) is those titles that were release at the very start of the period, and at the very end of the period, that are on flat stock. There is the possibility they are re-releases, or just that they were printed just before Warners went to the linen, or right after they stopped (and as Grey correctly points out, it started out solely on the best pictures, and appears to have ended solely on the best pictures).
But for titles from specifically 1938, 1939, and 1940, I don't think there is the slightest doubt that the flat cards are re-releases (until one of those legendary pressbooks with the side-by-side flat and linen cards surfaces). And when and if such a pressbook surfaces, don't forget to collect your $25 bonus from me! Bruce On Fri, Dec 11, 2009 at 10:21 AM, Smith, Grey - 1367 <[email protected]> wrote: > Warners did begin the use of the linen stock in 1936, as some of the “A” > pictures were done on that stock as were many of the jumbo lobbies in that > year. > > http://movieposters.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=59083&Lot_No=53015 > > http://movieposters.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=7008&Lot_No=85066 > > http://movieposters.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=7014&Lot_No=89376 > > http://movieposters.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=58115&Lot_No=55172 > > > > > > By 1937 they were using the linen stock more but for mostly what they > considered “A” titles and it seemed to follow that when the cards were on > the linen stock, the insert, midget card and half, were as well. Also the > jumbo lobbies if produced. > > http://movieposters.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=633&Lot_No=28067 > > http://movieposters.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=7014&Lot_No=90111 > > http://movieposters.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=7014&Lot_No=90080 > > > > In 1938, it seems almost all of the “A” pictures and a number of the “B”s > were on linen stock and so on thru around 41-42 when they began to > discontinued the use. > > http://movieposters.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=633&Lot_No=28073 > > http://movieposters.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=624&Lot_No=28894 > > http://movieposters.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=667&Lot_No=28735 > > http://comics.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=808&Lot_No=1438 > > > > Though they did continue into 1943, briefly in the early part of the year. > > http://movieposters.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=58052&Lot_No=52125 > > > > I have never much heard the speculation that the linen stock cards were > for bigger theaters and the flat for smaller. I have always been told that > the flat stock cards are early reissues of the film, using the same printing > plates. I do not believe the pressbooks bear the theory of theater size out > either. > > My understanding has always been that the flat stock cards were released > during the war when Warner Brothers output of films diminished significantly > due to the war effort. As I understand there were great restraints put on > the studios as to how much new material could be used, i.e.; lumber for > sets, film stock, etc. > > > > The reason so very few inserts, half sheets and Jumbo lobbies from these > films exist today, from some the great Warner Brothers titles is two-fold. > The paper from that period is exceedingly rare due to the later war paper > drives, but also most significantly, due to the fragile nature of the paper > stock. The linen paper is infamous for tanning and becoming brittle if not > stored in a stable environment. When folded, the inserts and halves almost > always began to separate. > > > > > > *From:* MoPo List [mailto:[email protected]] *On Behalf Of * > [email protected] > *Sent:* Friday, December 11, 2009 5:10 AM > > *To:* [email protected] > *Subject:* Re: [MOPO] Linen vs. regular lobby cards > > > > > > > > Warner Brothers linen lobby paper stock (I believe used by Warners between > 1937 and 1942--the last title I'm aware of being Yankee Doodle Dandy)--is > very tricky because as soon as you think you have it all figured out--you're > thrown a curve ball. Usually, as in the case of Angels With Dirty Faces, > the original lobby cards, inserts and 1/2 sheets are on linen paper--(I have > an original insert on that title, on linen paper)--the lobby cards released > presumably the next year are on flat paper. That's the case with probably > 95% of the Warner Brothers titles from that era. I've had beautiful lobby > cards of Angels With Dirty Faces--a set of Robin Hood lobby cards--all on > flat paper--and at the time they never commanded the attention dollar-wise > that lobby cards on linen paper would. Probably half as much...or even > less. > > The odd thing is that I believe there are a few Warner Brothers titles > (not many) that break all of the linen paper rules completely---their > original lobby cards were printed on FLAT paper and the lobby cards released > a few months or a year later were subsequently printed on LINEN paper. A > collector-friend of mine out of Northern California (who has one of the most > incredible collections ever assembled, but prefers his anonymity and > privacy) is as far as I'm concerned the foremost expert on Warner Brothers > paper from that era. He's the one who provided me with whatever knowledge I > might have (which has unfortunately never reached his level of expertise). > But even as an "expert" in the area of Warner Brothers paper from that era, > he'd be the first one to say that as soon as you think you have everything > figured out, a certain Warner Brothers title will surface that breaks all of > the rules completely. He knew (knows) more about vintage movie posters than > anyone I've ever met (or will probably ever meet) but he never became > arrogant or cocky----because he realized there are curve balls everywhere > when it comes to movie posters of the 20's, 30's and 40's---especially when > you're dealing with lobby cards + posters from Warner Brothers--- (the only > studio that used "linen" paper in the first place). > > Rick > > 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. > 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. > > 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.
