Hi De Ho, Mo Po, Have been off the list a bit (no more than slightly over half a decade, but Tempus Volat Hora Fugit as they don’t say anymore), but as many here may (come what may, or "May-Day, May-Day!") know, I am more of an image trader than a poster collector, but the two are inextricably linked. The “image” thing can throw up red flags as I understand the proclivity and inclination of some to sell reproductions on eBay and anyone who knows me knows that even if I wanted to do that, I wouldn’t as I am the world’s worst (well, I’m sure someone has me beat to take the valuable title) salesperson, and it just isn’t my thing.
I am at the point where I still like to find rare images, but often do that through private collectors—who I’d say their names, but then it would be less private—and I don’t like to show my privates ;) What I do like to do is help those who have legitimate film art books and projects, which are labor of love endeavors, but really important to any posterphile for their collecting pile, or their film file—but reference material, I’ve found, helps you find posters and that is good as well (self-licking ice-cream cone—or self-buttering popcorn?) I am usually decent at finding rare posters and images, whether in private or institutions hands (though some might say some collectors qualify as being part of both ;) but the ones that are most difficult to me (and most rewarding to find) are: 1920s and 1930s MGM press books, which are not necessarily—or very far from—being comedies of any type, yet that is camouflage for many a caricature and cartoon as their is usually one lone cartoon/caricature and usually from the following artists: 1. Al Hirschfeld (still my favorite), 2. Malcolm Eaton (you’ve seen his work, such as on the one-sheet to “The Cameraman” (MGM, 1928), and said pressbook also has an additional Malcolm Eaton caricature—though of course this IS a comedy, 3. Irving Hoffman, 4. Alex Gard (you would know his art from the early days of Sardi’s, but the old, good caricatures are in the National Portrait Gallery (Smithsonian Institute.) I also seek (to scan) those wonderful film poster (and poster art) reference stills with the MG (if from MGM) numbers on the bottom, which just means the posters were photographed at the time when everything else was as well—and that is great as a lot of non-extant posters can be resurrected this way and though not in color, the images are razor sharp (especially those from “The Razor’s Edge” with Rockwell art ;) I am (not to sound like a blow-hard, but I used to play the trombone and tried to blow hard there—but obviously failed) fairly knowledgeable in most of Al Hirschfeld’s film art output and can at least answer questions or help provide reference images for people who need. I love collaboration projects and am always open to those , not looking to go SO-LO fair MO-PO (ers…) I am also trying to push some projects (mine and others) through TASCHEN as I really think they are pretty amazing (so is the Reel Art Press) and to see a huge poster book there, that is pretty complete and more than a single collectors collection—more like a collaboration of collections (as we are all just temporary caretakers of our own collections)would be fantastic as their books on Magic and Circus posters—really (which isn’t easy) do justice to my favorite types of film art posters—the lost art of the stone lithos (S2 tried to capture it, but even with the same 100-plus year young presses, and the artwork, it just doesn’t quite do it—or maybe it does, but it is just impossible to see what a brand new 100 year old poster looks like to compare it as we are used to some type, and form, of aging—which is good as it prevents duplication (though I guess it could be done as it has been with lobbies, but that is another horror story for this hobby ;) I believe in the netiquette (I like that title, darn it :) I can post my own email, which isn’t a reference to me—it is a reference to the colorful characters of early comedians and how those early posters are ALSO in color, which people not in the MO-PO know (how), don’t seem to realize or know. So, “May” you have a wonderful “April” and make every evening “A Night to Remember”, though I guess we just passed that evening of 104 years ago, Daniel Kinske [email protected] 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.
