Just to tidy things up, for the record, the titles of the five films sometimes credited incorrectly as being horror films that I had previously mentioned are - Night Key, The Invisible Woman, The Mystery Of Edwin Drood, The Mystery Of Marie Roget And The Secret Of The Blue Room.
I thought I would include this Australian newspaper advertisement for The Invisible Woman from 1941 here as well.
If and when I come across any Australian newspaper advertisements for Night Key, The Mystery Of Edwin Drood or The Secret Of The Blue Room I will also include them here as well.
1934 film. 1941 film. The two films released in 1934 and 1941 were based on The Black Cat by Edgar Allen Poe. Both versions were released in Australia. The black and white Australian newspaper advertisements from both versions displayed here along with original release U.S.A. posters. Similar U.S. DVD images are also displayed. Between the different images it should enable us to conjure up in our minds what any Australian posters may have looked like, but more importantly, where are the Australian posters?
I have had this thread completed and sitting in drafts for ages. Seeing Ves has just opened a thread about The Black Cat it would appear the ideal time to present mine.
An update on one of The Black Cat films. Just a note to inform you that a daybill of The Black Cat, the 1941 version, was auctioned and sold at Christie's Melbourne Australia on July 18, 1993, and was sold for $187. We now know that a daybill existed then and hopefully it still does and an image will surface one day for us to see.
Mark's newly posted image reminded me I have had the following sitting in my drafts folder for some time now, so now it is the time to reveal it.
The Cat Creeps ( 1930 ). U.S.A. insert and an Australian newspaper advertisement from 1931. The film is presumed lost. Most unlikely that a daybill will turn up, but it may be under some floorboards somewhere, just waiting to be discovered. If it surfaces one day hopefully it will be a good design. One thing for sure though, it will be rare.
The fantastic The Cat Creeps daybill and my original posting needed to be grouped together.
Here's an oddity from my collection. It's a hand painted Son Of Frankenstein. I was told it was used in a cinema in the Blue Mountains and painted by the owner(?) because he wasn't able to get posters for it. I don't know if it was just for this title or whether it was a regular thing he did. The signature is Ernest A. Cook. Does anyone have any information on this?
Here's an oddity from my collection. It's a hand painted Son Of Frankenstein. I was told it was used in a cinema in the Blue Mountains and painted by the owner(?) because he wasn't able to get posters for it. I don't know if it was just for this title or whether it was a regular thing he did. The signature is Ernest A. Cook. Does anyone have any information on this?
Interesting poster for many reasons. Could we have the measurements of the poster ?
Here's an oddity from my collection. It's a hand painted Son Of Frankenstein. I was told it was used in a cinema in the Blue Mountains and painted by the owner(?) because he wasn't able to get posters for it. I don't know if it was just for this title or whether it was a regular thing he did. The signature is Ernest A. Cook. Does anyone have any information on this?
Interesting poster for many reasons. Could we have the measurements of the poster ?
29.5" x 39.5" - It's just painted on plain paper that was probably cut to size.
A bit of research by someone on the Cinemas & Theatres of Australia FB page yielded this from 1937. So, Ernest A Cook was the guy who did the poster and he worked in Sydney, but I'm no closer to finding out where it was painted for.
Here's an oddity from my collection. It's a hand painted Son Of Frankenstein. I was told it was used in a cinema in the Blue Mountains and painted by the owner(?) because he wasn't able to get posters for it. I don't know if it was just for this title or whether it was a regular thing he did. The signature is Ernest A. Cook. Does anyone have any information on this?dedeposter said:
A bit of research by someone on the Cinemas & Theatres of Australia FB page yielded this from 1937. So, Ernest A Cook was the guy who did the poster and he worked in Sydney, but I'm no closer to finding out where it was painted for.
My thoughts on the matter.
In late 1954 the Savoy and the Trocadero theatrette in Katoomba, the Liberty in Leura and the Victory in Blackheath were all operating and they were all controlled by Blue Mountains Theatres. I am not sure about the controlling proprietors of the operating cinemas in 1939. which were the Savoy, Empire & the Embassy in Katoomba, the Liberty in Leura and the Victory in Blackheath.
Son Of Frankenstein was screened at the Embassy theatre in Katoomba in April 1939, but I not sure if it was screened in any other theatres, apart from the Embassy, in the Blue Mountains as well during that period ot time or later on.
If Ernest A Cook was in Bathurst St in Sydney I don't know whether he would have been producing a poster for a Blue Mountains theatre. It may have been for another Sydney theatre.
They were a bit vague as to where it came from but it was a reliable source that I got a stash of other posters of the same vintage from. I don't have any reason to doubt them but they were probably being a bit cagey about revealing their source. I've had it since the 80s and it already looked very old then.
Well wherever it was displayed it is great that the poster managed to survive, and you have something with some mystery surroundinng it, which just happens to look interesting and unique, and the poster is a great talking point,
There were six low- budget films made by Universal, which were released from 1943 to 1945, produced as being part of the Inner Sanctum Mystery series. The series was based on a popular radio program and all six films starred Lon Chaney. Although the series is often credited as being horror they are really mystery genre films. All the films were released in Australia classified as being Not Suitable For General Exhibition only.
The six films consisted of the following titles.
Calling Dr. Death ( 1943 ) ( aka Under The Doctor's Spell in Australia ) Australian daybill located. The daybill with a more handsome looking Lon Chaney.
Weird Woman ( 1944 )
Dead Man's Eyes ( 1944 )
The Frozen Ghost ( 1945 )
Strange Confession ( 1945 )
Pillow Of Death ( 1945 )
Five of the six films with U.S images appearing above I have been unable to locate any Australian film posters in any size or format so if anyone has any images of the five or any other images apart from the daybill of Under The Doctor's Spell ( Calling Dr. Death ) seeing them would be appreciated.
The Frozen Ghost Australian 1945 newspaper advertisement. Interestingly this one in the Inner Sanctum mystery series was classified as A horror film - not suitable only for adults. It was previously thought that all the six films in the series were classified in Australia as being Not suitable for children. I had actually posted the original material that is re-posted above in December 2016.
Included within my Hondio's This And That ( re-titled ) thread in November 2018, almost two years later, I had included that I had discovered that The Frozen Ghost had a Horror Film - Suitable only for adults classification. At this time I hadn't realised that I had previously incorrectly mentioned that all the films in the series, which at the time of my research, I thought had not suitable for children classifications.
There is hopefully a W.E.Smith Australian daybill out there somewhere that will turn up one day.
I have recentlt located this Australian newspaper advertisement placed for first release screenings in Perth WA In 1936. Australian printed material for this title is super rare so I though I would share the image here.
Notice the censorship rating appearing on the image above, which has been previously mentioned on this forum. Some rare information on this classification will be shared on another thread included on the forum at a later date.
( Mark )
I remembered that I had these image also from the Sydney NSW 1936 release. I couldn't locate these images anywhere on the forum so I decided to include them here. The images originated from Mark.
Night Monster ( 1942 ). U.S. inset from the original 1942 release and an Australian re-release daybill, probably 1950s, and finally an Australian newspaper advertisement from the first release in 1943. The duotone re-release daybill has been in the market place over the years but where is the original release full colour daybill ? Ves had on another thread previously organised for us to see the original Marchant daybill, but Photobucket has since removed it. Ves has kindly resent the original daybill image to me so all can see the missing, then found, then missing again but now again available image for all to see.
Original Australian Marchant daybill.
Not quite completed. I recently located the following rare Australian newspaper advertisement with some great taglines used in Hobart, Tasmania for screenings of the film in 1943.
The Mummy's Ghost ( 1944 ) daybill and Australian one sheet located.
Something a ltttle different in advertising fiollowing. a 1944 Hobart Tasmanian newspaper advertisemrnt
( Trove )
A 1944 Australian The Mummy's Ghost Hobart Tasmania newspaper advertisement. What makes it a little different is that an image of John Carradine is featured.
Usually known as Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein ( a.k.a. Bud Abbott & Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein ) ( 1948 ). A U.S.A. insert and a black and white still, featuring the Universal monsters that appear in this horror comedy.
A rare British first release quad with the now retitled Abbott & Costello Meet The Ghosts name appearing on it.
In Australia we followed the U.K., and the film was released here also as Abbott & Costello Meet The Ghosts. I have never sited a copy or image of an Australian daybill. Almost certainly it would have have been printed by W.E.Smith, assuring a very nice looking daybill was produced. There has to be a copy out there somewhere. I couldn't find a suitable image of an Australian newspaper advertisement with images from the film to include here. All I could come up with is basic, and all other ads are similar to the sample shown above.
I cannot remember if this was posted before (perhaps in another thread?). Just in case!
I cannot remember seeing it previously. Thanks for posting it here. Another poster that Ves would love to own.
A late minute thought is where are the images of The Wofman, Dracula and The Frankenstein monster on the daybill?. The banning in 1948 of horror films in Australia starting to kick in?
Dead Man's Eyes ( 1944 ) original insert poster and the Australian daybill version located today.
No mention or the film being an Inner Sabctum mystery printed at the top of the daybill, or no image of the Inner Sanctum logo either.
This logo does appear on the Under The Doctor's Spell ( aka Calling Dr. Death ) daybill though.
This film was part of Universal's Inner Sanctum Mystery series. This is the second Australian daybill sited by me of the original six that were produced., leaving four more still missing.
The original November 2019 postings here on this thread will bring you up to date with the series.
The Captive Wild Woman Trilogy consisted of three films.
Captive Wild Woman ( 1943 ) Released in Australia in 1943. No Australian posters located. Newspaper advertisement shown above.
Jungle Woman ( 1944 ) An Australian daybill exists and the image appears just above.
The Jungle Captive ( 1945 ) This film was the only feature banned in Australian in 1945. No appeal lodged so no release every took place in Australia, therefore no Australian posters were ever printed.
Any Australian poster images of Captive Wild Women or Jungle Woman ( apart from a daybill of course ) would be appreciated.
The above original Australian daybill image of Captive Wild Woman (1943), courtesy of Sven.
Not only is the poster minus the gorilla image featured on the above U.S. insert poster, there is no ''Horror Film -Suitable Only For Adults'' censorship rating appearing on the Australian daybill. It would appear then that this poster was a printed for New Zealand usage.
The Australian poster looks like it is advertising a general exhibition action film rather than a a horror film.
Yes the extremely rare U.S.A. insert poster image of The Mystery Of Edwin Drood from 1935 has to have an excellent chance of being what the Australian daybill would have looked like. Would be great to see the original daybill surface one day.
Comments
I thought I would include this Australian newspaper advertisement for The Invisible Woman from 1941 here as well.
If and when I come across any Australian newspaper advertisements for Night Key, The Mystery Of Edwin Drood or The Secret Of The Blue Room I will also include them here as well.
The Cat And The Canaty ( 1927 ) image courtesy of John, that I thought deserved a place on this thread.
The Australian daybill is interestingly credited as being '' a Universal Super special".
The fantastic The Cat Creeps daybill and my original posting needed to be grouped together.
Peter
Interesting poster for many reasons. Could we have the measurements of the poster ?
Peter
Peter
My thoughts on the matter.
In late 1954 the Savoy and the Trocadero theatrette in Katoomba, the Liberty in Leura and the Victory in Blackheath were all operating and they were all controlled by Blue Mountains Theatres. I am not sure about the controlling proprietors of the operating cinemas in 1939. which were the Savoy, Empire & the Embassy in Katoomba, the Liberty in Leura and the Victory in Blackheath.
Son Of Frankenstein was screened at the Embassy theatre in Katoomba in April 1939, but I not sure if it was screened in any other theatres, apart from the Embassy, in the Blue Mountains as well during that period ot time or later on.
Peter
One thing that is certain here is that there is no way you will ever know the answer for certain, which is a pity.
Peter
Well wherever it was displayed it is great that the poster managed to survive, and you have something with some mystery surroundinng it, which just happens to look interesting and unique, and the poster is a great talking point,
Fascinating stuff!
In 1938 he ran an ad wanting to purchase a small printing plant, by 1942 he was advertising 'a small printing plant for hire'
SMH Wed 3 August 1938
SMH Sat 9 May 1942
Peter
The Frozen Ghost Australian 1945 newspaper advertisement. Interestingly this one in the Inner Sanctum mystery series was classified as A horror film - not suitable only for adults. It was previously thought that all the six films in the series were classified in Australia as being Not suitable for children. I had actually posted the original material that is re-posted above in December 2016.
Included within my Hondio's This And That ( re-titled ) thread in November 2018, almost two years later, I had included that I had discovered that The Frozen Ghost had a Horror Film - Suitable only for adults classification. At this time I hadn't realised that I had previously incorrectly mentioned that all the films in the series, which at the time of my research, I thought had not suitable for children classifications.
There is hopefully a W.E.Smith Australian daybill out there somewhere that will turn up one day.
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I have recentlt located this Australian newspaper advertisement placed for first release screenings in Perth WA In 1936.
Australian printed material for this title is super rare so I though I would share the image here.
Notice the censorship rating appearing on the image above, which has been previously mentioned on this forum. Some rare information on this classification will be shared on another thread included on the forum at a later date.
I remembered that I had these image also from the Sydney NSW 1936 release. I couldn't locate these images anywhere on the forum so I decided to include them here. The images originated from Mark.
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HONDO said: Not quite completed. I recently located the following rare Australian newspaper advertisement with some great taglines used in Hobart, Tasmania for screenings of the film in 1943.
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Something a ltttle different in advertising fiollowing. a 1944 Hobart Tasmanian newspaper advertisemrnt
A 1944 Australian The Mummy's Ghost Hobart Tasmania newspaper advertisement. What makes it a little different is that an image of John Carradine is featured.
Another a little different Australian newspaper advertisement for The Frozen Ghost. This one from 1946.
I cannot remember seeing it previously. Thanks for posting it here. Another poster that Ves would love to own.
A late minute thought is where are the images of The Wofman, Dracula and The Frankenstein monster on the daybill?. The banning in 1948 of horror films in Australia starting to kick in?
Dead Man's Eyes ( 1944 ) original insert poster and the Australian daybill version located today.
No mention or the film being an Inner Sabctum mystery printed at the top of the daybill, or no image of the Inner Sanctum logo either.
This logo does appear on the Under The Doctor's Spell ( aka Calling Dr. Death ) daybill though.
This film was part of Universal's Inner Sanctum Mystery series. This is the second Australian daybill sited by me of the original six that were produced., leaving four more still missing.
The original November 2019 postings here on this thread will bring you up to date with the series.
The above original Australian daybill image of Captive Wild Woman (1943), courtesy of Sven.
Not only is the poster minus the gorilla image featured on the above U.S. insert poster, there is no ''Horror Film -Suitable Only For Adults'' censorship rating appearing on the Australian daybill. It would appear then that this poster was a printed for New Zealand usage.
The Australian poster looks like it is advertising a general exhibition action film rather than a a horror film.
An American advertisement for a re-release of Captive Wild Woman, probably for the 1948 Realart re-release.
Interestingly some artwork was copied and altered from the 1931 film The Blonde Captive artwork.
The Mystery of Edwin Drood Insert card, a possible indication of what a daybill might look like.
Yes the extremely rare U.S.A. insert poster image of The Mystery Of Edwin Drood from 1935 has to have an excellent chance of being what the Australian daybill would have looked like. Would be great to see the original daybill surface one day.