We Buy Movie Posters!

Sometimes the little idiosyncrasies that define the heart of the true collector prove to be his undoing. I'm speaking of that caustic appetite of the memorabilia "packrat" to complete a specific collection. We've all grappled with goal-setting in this hobby. Are your interests aimed at what you, and your soul, really want? Or, are you simply caught up in a hysterical fervor of trendy imagination?

Perhaps to understand your collecting desires you'd best come to grips with the nature of the beast and a few of its common traits. First, most paper collectors tend to gravitate towards one specific style or size. You'll find in poster circles that there are those who collect mainly lobby cards, or inserts, or possibly just one sheets. It's a hard habit to break, but most people try to buck the pattern because sooner or later they run into a snag style from one film title that is utterly awful. Ever see an exclusive one sheet buyer discover the beautiful "B" style "spotlight dance" half sheet for INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS? It's not a pretty sight.

Collecting by size tends to appease that subliminal quest for uniformity and control but unfortunately, wall space in your "viewing" area seldom conforms to patterns of paper size. Oh, if I could count the number of times I've pulled out the measuring tape to calculate a winning combination of Halfs, Ones, and Title Cards, let alone try to fit in a 3 sheet. Damn the aesthetics, 3 inserts and 2 half sheets ahead!

Many's the time my old buddy has said, 'You can put all the lobby cards on the ceiling you want, but remember, it's a sin to thumbtack up a $200 plus poster." Herein lies one of the collector's greatest foes. Wall space! I have seen entire collections reshaped for want of wall space. I know that a certain character from W.K.R.P. once bemoaned the fact that "We don't need more walls..." but God, what I could do with a five bedroom house or a room with a high ceiling!

So where does the Title Card fit into this "Rosy picture" as Gazzara might say? Well, for one thing they're only 11 by 14. You can squeeze several title cards into any old crack or crevice. But, "can they fight?" You bet! Most title cards represent some of the best artwork from various film titles. Take a gander at the MOLE PEOPLE, DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL, and FORBIDDEN PLANET TC's sometime. Not only do Title Cards require less space for viewing, they are also quite economical. Sure I'd love to have a CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON One Sheet in my room, but I'd be happier with a gorgeous thousand dollar Title Card than I would be with a one sheet and a $4,500 debt on my credit card. So what happens? The "beast" sees the vision of "a snail sliding on the edge of a straight card" and decides to go after every title card he can get his hands on with extreme prejudice. But then he runs into another snag. When asking some dealer if he has a title card on INVASION OF THE SAUCERMEN or HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL, the boom gets lowered.

With a barbaric "*!##*! that would impress even Jean Claude Van Dame, he learns the horrible truth. About a third of all 50's sci fi titles don't have a title card. "Sacrilege!" he cries with blood spitting disgust. We're back to square one. How can one possibly start a 50's Title Card collection when there are no TC's for AMAZING COLOSSAL MAN, IT CONQUERED THE WORLD, ATTACK OF THE CRAB MONSTERS, ATTACK OF THE FIFTY FOOT WOMAN, THEM, IT CAME FROM BENEATH THE SEA, NOT OF THIS EARTH, I WAS A TEENAGE FRANKENSTEIN, BEAST FROM 20,000 FATHOMS, DEVIL GIRL FROM MARS, QUEEN OF OUTER SPACE, PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE, or INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS etc. etc. etc. ! There ought to be a law! Universal was pretty faithful, but why did A.I.P., Allied Artists, and Warner Brothers crap out?

So now, do we sell all our Title Cards just because we can't complete a uniform collection, or, do we fight our nature? Here's what I think. Don't collect by size, collect by title. Make a prioritized list of your favorite 50's films. Then get as many poster publications as you can: various auction catalogues, Robert Brosch books, Ron Borst's GRAVEN IMAGES etc., etc., can help you find the specific style which is most attractive to you. Then take a peak at Jon Warren's new poster price guide for a look-see at current prices and plot your strategy according to your budget. No one can get everything they want all at once for monetary reasons, and/or supply reasons. Spend some time scouring each issue of this magazine and build your dream on a steady monthly budget. I know people who have assembled fabulous collections in only two or three years time with very limited funds. Hey, and don't forget those title cards. I know a lot, and I mean A LOT of big time poster collectors who use title cards as an inexpensive way to "cover" many lesser titles on their want list. For example, many people would rather use the $175 it would cost to get a DEADLY MANTIS one sheet and put that towards a bigger and better title, but cover the infamous Mantis "big bug" picture with a nice $50 dollar Title Card. Then, there are those collectors who simply can't afford to buy a poster on a huge title like DESTINATION MOON, but can satisfy their lustful cravings with a nice title card at one fourth the price. I'll tell you something. A display featuring title cards on the "big three": DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL, CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON, and FORBIDDEN PLANET, can look pretty impressive to any memorabilia fan. If you're zeroing in on what I'm trying to say you'll realize that collecting by size inevitably leads to agony. If you begin your hobby with a fresh perspective, not hung up with a particular size, you will enjoy life a lot more. Diversity is what this nation is founded on - so says our new fearless leader, Bill Clinton, so get with the program. What are we, racists? Why some of my fondest friends are Title Cards.

For those of you who would like to dabble in this terrific lobby card style from the fantastique 50's and would like a fair rundown of which titles have TC's, and what the prices are at this juncture, here it is: (I have also included, just for fun, a subjective opinion of visual appearance on a 1 - 10 scale for what its worth).

TITLE------------GRAPHICS---------------------------Title Card VALUE
ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE..."7".....$70-$110
ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET THE INVISIBLE MAN "7" $70 -$110
BEAST OF HOLLOW MOUNTAIN $25-$40
BEGINNING OF THE END "7" $30-$50
BLACK CASTLE $55-$80
BLACK SLEEP "6" $40-$60
CRAWLING EYE, THE "3" $25-$40
CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON "10" for beauty $800-$1100
CREATURE WALKS AMONG US "6" $125-$200
CREEPING UNKNOWN, THE "2" $25-$35
CURSE OF THE DEMON "6" $85-$150
CURUCU BEAST OF THE AMAZON A "9" for beauty $25-$40
DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL A "10" for beauty $900-$1300
DEADLY MANTIS "6" $40-$60
DESTINATION MOON "4" $150-$200
EARTH VS THE FLYING SAUCERS "6" $125-$200
FIEND WITHOUT A FACE "5" $25-$35
FLY, THE "4" $55-$80
FORBIDDEN PLANET A "10" for beauty $700-$1000
GIANT CLAW, THE "4" $30-$45
HORROR OF DRACULA "5" $150-$225
HOUSE OF WAX "3" $55-$80
INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN "2" $60-$100
INVADERS FROM MARS "6" $150-$275
INVISIBLE BOY, THE "6" $40-$60
IT THE TERROR FROM BEYOND SPACE "5" $150-$200
JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH "3" $25-$40
KING DINOSAUR "4" $35-$50
LAND UNKNOWN "8" $ 40-$65
LOST CONTINENT "5" $40-$60
MAGNETIC MONSTER $25-$35
MAN FROM PLANET X "8" $ 300-$450
MESA OF LOST WOMEN "6" $60-$90
MOLE PEOPLE, THE A "10" for beauty $150-$225
MONOLITH MONSTERS "5" $25-$35
MONSTER FROM GREEN HELL "5" $25-$35
MONSTER FROM THE OCEAN FLOOR "6" $70-$110
MONSTER OF PIEDRAS BLANCAS "4" $25-$40
MONSTER THAT CHALLENGED THE WORLD "7" $35-$50
MOTHRA "5" $30-$45
MUMMY, THE "6" $45-$70
NEANDERTHAL MAN, THE "4" $25-$40
1984 "3" $25-$40
PHANTOM FROM SPACE $25-$35
RED PLANET MARS $30-$45
RETURN OF THE FLY $25-$40
REVENGE OF THE CREATURE A "9" for beauty $275-$375
IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE A "9" for beauty $250-$350
ROBOT MONSTER "6" $175-$275
ROCKETSHIP XM "4" $80-$130
RODAN "4" $60-$90
TARANTULA "7" $ 200-$ 300
7TH VOYAGE OF SINBAD "5" $60-$90
THING THAT COULDN'T DIE A "9" for beauty $25-$40
THIS ISLAND EARTH "8" $150-$250
THREE WORLDS OF GULLIVER "4" $25-$35
TOBOR THE GREAT "7" $125-$200
20 MILLION MILES TO EARTH "3" $40-$60
WASP WOMAN, THE "6" $85-$150