Dating the Peter Pan Daybill
Recently a couple of people on eBay (eBay usernames: austcard and cooperleeski were/have been spotted selling Peter Pan daybills. Of course what they try to sell their $30-$50 posters for is their business; (austcard was asking a whopping $650 and cooperleeski $195) - as austcard (left) is stating his is VERY rare (an oft overused word) he asks a massive price, coopeeleski (right) only has a rare one - so of course, it must be cheaper right? :-q
What is interesting to note, both sellers stated they are from 1969...wrong!
What is interesting to note, both sellers stated they are from 1969...wrong!
Huh? Two different designs for 1969 - that can't be right? Nope it isn't, and what makes matters worse is NEITHER poster is from 1969!
So basically not only do these merchants cooperleeski and austcard have pricing that some may consider a rip-off but they are falsely describing their wares.
Come with me, jump in my time machine and let's go to 1971~~~ :-B
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Here's a press release from 15 October of that year (1971):
State Ministers agreed yesterday that the 'R' classification for films would begin to take effect on November 15.
Under this system, people between the ages of six and 18 will be legally excluded from cinemas exhibiting 'R' certificate films. This was announced in Canberra by the Minister for Customs and Excise, Mr Chipp, who was ihc chairman of a meeting on censorship held with six State ministers.
Mr Chipp said that there would also be three advisory classifications for films: (G) general exhibition; (NRC) not recommended for children; and (M) for mature audiences.
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Surely you can't have a poster dated 1969 with a G Rating on it that wasn't in effect until 1971!
So here's where they (and many others) have gone wrong...
The design above on the left is pretty much based on the US Insert of 1969, it seems someone went the easy route, did not check and simply called the Daybill an R69 poster – problem is the G Rating didn’t come in until after 1971, so there is no way it could be from 1969, right?
For Daybill collectors, we know that dating an Australian poster based on USA release dates is fraught with danger – there is plenty of evidence where the date of a release (or re-release) of a movie was not the same date as the USA, in fact often Australia would re-release movies (ergo posters) much more frequently than the USA, so unless you know 100%, stop dating it the same as the USA releases/re-releases!
While researching I found some ads used here in Australia for Peter Pan in 1974, please note two things – (a) the tagline used and (b) the use of Tinkerbell in the advert same as the poster (she is not seen on the other design poster).
So I am calling the poster above (left) R74.
Which now brings us to the next poster (on the right) which is also NOT R69 and is NOT R74, so when was it?
It has no censor rating but it has a GU Logo (Greater Union Film Distributors), and what we do know is that in 1976 BEF (Film Distributors) was renamed Greater Union Film Distributors, to become the distribution arm of Greater Union cinemas and in 1987, Greater Union Film Distributors merged with Village Roadshow Distributors.
So there is some logic to suggest it is pre 1987 and post 1976.
Now, what people sell there stuff for is their business but if you are going to charge the earth you better have your facts right.
Mull it over, let me know what you think...
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