No I meant one of each style, not one for each news event...I really need to make myself more clearerer...anywho, still very nice of you get them to the right place.
Yes they were laid out for insulation, I don't know how many were stacked on top of each other - almost all were saved (a few went into the bin at my house they were well past gone).
The owners (3 siblings) each kept a poster each (nothing special, just ones that the liked the look of), some have since been auctioned on Bidll, some were sent to NFSA as a donation, some you've seen others you have not, some have appeared here, others are in private collection(s) and there may be a few more perhaps to appear at the next major Bidll event.
Any daybills or lobbies in the find David or all one sheets?
Still no RKO Victory Publicity images have surfaced. I am aware of at least 15 Australian one sheets and two daybills. Not aware of any 3 sheets at present. Will post a few images shortly.
As far as I'm aware this is the R49 release daybill. I highly doubt it's a 53' release as the artwork quality and colour tones are in line with other 40s victory publicity daybills. Also there is a collector I believe who is from Australia who claims to have seen the 1949 screening of this film in Australia with this poster being used back then.
As far as I'm aware this is the R49 release daybill. I highly doubt it's a 53' release as the artwork and colour tones are in line with other 40s victory publicity daybills. Also there is a collector I believe who is from Australia who claims to have seen the 1949 screening of this film in Australia with this poster being used back then.
I have checked Australian newspaper classifieds for 1949 without finding a single re-release advertisement . On the other hand there are countless classified advertisements around Australia in 1953 and I know someone who saw the film around 1953. I think the artwork and colour tones are more like the 1953 Sea Devils than the Notorious poster. Also the Victory Publicity credit is the same wording as the only other Victory Publicity daybill image I have found,with this being the 1955 film Escape To Burma.
As far as I'm aware this is the R49 release daybill. I highly doubt it's a 53' release as the artwork and colour tones are in line with other 40s victory publicity daybills. Also there is a collector I believe who is from Australia who claims to have seen the 1949 screening of this film in Australia with this poster being used back then.
I have checked Australian newspaper classifieds for 1949 without finding a single re-release advertisement . On the other hand there are countless classified advertisements around Australia in 1953 and I know someone who saw the film around 1953. I think the artwork and colour tones are more like the 1953 Sea Devils than the Notorious poster. Also the Victory Publicity credit is the same wording as the only other Victory Publicity daybill image I have found,with this being the 1955 film Escape To Burma.
Hondo
I personally am not too sure about using newspaper advertisement's as a complete guide/reference to release dates. The reasons why, well can you locate every single film release adverstisment made in newspapers? Secondly was every single film release adverstised in a newspaper? For most this would make it inconclusive evidence. As for the tones, id have to disagree. With Victory publicity the tones that were used are different from one sheets to their daybills. I have compared quite a few side by side. Their one sheets have strong colour tones were as the daybills are more mild colour tones. The credit wording and RKO logo could be the key here. I'm certainly not saying you're findings here are in-correct. Although I wouldn't go labeling the poster as a 53' release, unless you are 100% certain.
I only know of the R49 release daybill by victory publicity.
Me too...(unless of course Hondo is saying this is actually a '53 re-release)
I have checked Australian newspaper classifieds for 1949 without finding a single re-release advertisement . On the other hand there are countless classified advertisements around Australia in 1953 and I know someone who saw the film around 1953. I think the artwork and colour tones are more like the 1953 Sea Devils than the Notorious poster. Also the Victory Publicity credit is the same wording as the only other Victory Publicity daybill image I have found,with this being the 1955 film Escape To Burma.
Hondo
Humphrey Bogart said
I personally am not too sure about using newspaper advertisement's as a complete guide/reference to release dates. The reasons why, well can you locate every single film release adverstisment made in newspapers? Secondly was every single film release adverstised in a newspaper? For most this would make it inconclusive evidence. As for the tones, id have to disagree. With Victory publicity the tones that were used are different from one sheets to their daybills. I have compared quite a few side by side. Their one sheets have strong colour tones were as the daybills are more mild colour tones. The credit wording and RKO logo could be the key here. I'm certainly not saying you're findings here are in-correct. Although I wouldn't go labeling the poster as a 53' release, unless you are 100% certain.
Newspaper advertisements are crucial in helping determining release dates along with many other factors.I have found nothing in 1949 but heaps in Capitol cities and around Australia in 1953.
I am labelling the poster R1953 as you are laleling the poster R1949. I don't believe you have 100% proof either.
One other thing is your statement that Victory Publicity daybills have more mild colour tones than their one sheets.I have been just looking at some early 1950's RKO Australian one sheet images and I don't believe that their tones prove anything.
But if colour was a factor why is this 1955 RKO daybill, and apart from King Kong is the only one I have sited, have bright colours and as well as King Kong hasn't the usual printer's name credits which points towards 1950's to me.
I firmly believe the poster is from the R1953 release on the information I have supplied.I also believe the newspaper advertisements for King Kong show an official Australia wide re-release in 1953.Again not a mention of a re-release in 1949 in the newspapers.
To sum up your theory. It is based on not believing Newspaper advertisements can prove anything conclusive, relying on colour tones to determine release dates, non RKO ( WB etc ) daybills as examples to compere and the word of someone who remembers seeing not only the film but the exact daybill used after some 60 odd years back in 1949.Memory can be a fickle thing after so many years .Isn't it possible the collector's memory is a few years out with the time he viewed the film?
I am still researching into this matter and if any further information for or against my argument is found rest assured I will post it hear.
Newspaper adverts were the only way to promote films in the old days, certainly I am not sure how much TV was used at that time. So I think it is fair to say if no advert/article or similar printed word exists in 1949 then the likelyhood of there being a general release without public notification is low. We are also talking about a film that was extremely popular, so not advertising it would be remiss.
To back up Hondo. I have found zero articles etc in the newspapers in the 1940s; however of interest the following is an article from December 1952 which talks about a revival of horror movies including King Kong in the USA (summer of 1952), subsequently in Australia in 1953 there was a lot of adverts.
Newspaper adverts were the only way to promote films in the old days, certainly I am not sure how much TV was used at that time. So I think it is fair to say if no advert/article or similar printed word exists in 1949 then the likelyhood of there being a general release without public notification is low. We are also talking about a film that was extremely popular, so not advertising it would be remiss.
To back up Hondo. I have found zero articles etc in the newspapers in the 1940s; however of interest the following is an article from December 1952 which talks about a revival of horror movies including King Kong in the USA (summer of 1952), subsequently in Australia in 1953 there was a lot of adverts.
Thanks for your support and backup David and the article which made interesting reading. The sort of thing I was going to look for next so you have saved me a lot of work. You mentioned how the film was extremely popular which made me think of the re-release in the 1970's? by Eric Dare, who knew how to make a dollar, of King Kong, which had saturation advertising on Sydney television and the film ran for months at Glebe supported by Gulliver's Travels.
Hondo
1949 or 1953 it is still one of the best posters out there!
Still I do wonder why it has always been listed as an R49..
When it sold at Heritage, the consignor of the poster told them that it was a 49 release based on the fact that he had worked in the industry at the time and specifically remembers it being screened in Australia 1949. It was reasonable at the time for Heritage to accept the consignor's theory. Since then, Hondo has done some research and feels that it is more likely to be from 1953 based on newspaper advertising from the era. The fact that there is virtually no advertising for KK in 1949 makes it seem unlikely that a daybill would have been printed in that year.
However, I don't think anyone can say with absolute certainty, beyond a reasonable doubt, etc etc, exactly when the poster was issued. One thing for sure is that it is the earliest Australian poster that I have seen for KK and is one of the best for the title. To me, it doesn't matter at all whether it is a bit later than 1949.
1949 or 1953 it is still one of the best posters out there
Still I do wonder why it has always been listed as an R49..
When it sold at Heritage, the consignor of the poster told them that it was a 49 release based on the fact that he had worked in the industry at the time and specifically remembers it being screened in Australia 1949. It was reasonable at the time for Heritage to accept the consignor's theory. Since then, Hondo has done some research and feels that it is more likely to be from 1953 based on newspaper advertising from the era. The fact that there is virtually no advertising for KK in 1949 makes it seem unlikely that a daybill would have been printed in that year.
However, I don't think anyone can say with absolute certainty, beyond a reasonable doubt, etc etc, exactly when the poster was issued. One thing for sure is that it is the earliest Australian poster that I have seen for KK and is one of the best for the title. To me, it doesn't matter at all whether it is a bit later than 1949.
I agree 100% no one can say for certain, unless something else turns up, and I have only said, based on strong evidence collected, that I believe it to be 1953.and not 1949. A question to John as to what year do you believe it to be and if one turned up for you to sell what year would you date it?
A great RKO one sheet and another United Artists one sheet. Victory Publicity printed a number of UA one sheets in the 1940s and 1950s including The Monte Carlo Story posted earlier on this thread, This 1957 release is the last year I have sighted a movie poster have being printed by Victory Publicity in Australia.
The following are from 1953 newspaper advertisements. Take note of what the Sydney Truth critic wrote in the Sunday the 25th of January, 1953 paper. He said ''This film startled Sydney audiences 19 years ago --- it may do the same again ... '' He didn't say 4 years ago he said 19 which would make this 1953 release the correct year to be startled again and not 1949.
From Sydney Truth Sunday the 25th of January, 1953.
I am labelling the poster R1953 as you are labeling the poster R1949. I don't believe you have 100% proof either.
One other thing is your statement that Victory Publicity daybills have more mild colour tones than their one sheets.I have been just looking at some early 1950's RKO Australian one sheet images and I don't believe that their tones prove anything.
I haven't labeled anything. I said as far as I'm aware it is from R49. It has always been known and considered by many prominent Australian collectors to be from 1949. So you are the only individual labeling here.
But if colour was a factor why is this 1955 RKO daybill, and apart from King Kong is the only one I have sited, have bright colours and as well as King Kong hasn't the usual printer's name credits which points towards 1950's to me.
If you look closely at the Escape to burma poster the Victory publicity wording is on the bottom left margin, when compared to the King kong daybill it is on the right hand margin. Isn't that odd?
I firmly believe the poster is from the R1953 release on the information I have supplied.I also believe the newspaper advertisements for King Kong show an official Australia wide re-release in 1953.Again not a mention of a re-release in 1949 in the newspapers.
You have come out of the wood work of recent with your theory and this is your opinion and your entitled to it. I still feel its inconclusive evidence but that's my opinion.
To sum up your theory. It is based on not believing Newspaper advertisements can prove anything conclusive, relying on colour tones to determine release dates, non RKO ( WB etc ) daybills as examples to compere and the word of someone who remembers seeing not only the film but the exact daybill used after some 60 odd years back in 1949.Memory can be a fickle thing after so many years .Isn't it possible the collector's memory is a few years out with the time he viewed the film?
To sum up your theory? I never had any theories, I had an opinion. I said I am not too sure about using newspaper advertisements as a complete guide for release dates. I never claimed to use colour tones to determine release dates. I said the tones and artwork quality has the look of a 40s poster, and many collectors would agree.
I am still researching into this matter and if any further information for or against my argument is found rest assured I will post it hear.
I am labelling the poster R1953 as you are labeling the poster R1949. I don't believe you have 100% proof either.
One other thing is your statement that Victory Publicity daybills have more mild colour tones than their one sheets.I have been just looking at some early 1950's RKO Australian one sheet images and I don't believe that their tones prove anything.
I haven't labeled anything. I said as far as I'm aware it is from R49. It has always been known and considered by many prominent Australian collectors to be from 1949. So you are the only individual labeling here.
But if colour was a factor why is this 1955 RKO daybill, and apart from King Kong is the only one I have sited, have bright colours and as well as King Kong hasn't the usual printer's name credits which points towards 1950's to me.
If you look closely at the Escape to burma poster the Victory publicity wording is on the bottom left margin, when compared to the King kong daybill it is on the right hand margin. Isn't that odd?
I firmly believe the poster is from the R1953 release on the information I have supplied.I also believe the newspaper advertisements for King Kong show an official Australia wide re-release in 1953.Again not a mention of a re-release in 1949 in the newspapers.
You have come out of the wood work of recent with your theory and this is your opinion and your entitled to it. I still feel its inconclusive evidence but that's my opinion.
To sum up your theory. It is based on not believing Newspaper advertisements can prove anything conclusive, relying on colour tones to determine release dates, non RKO ( WB etc ) daybills as examples to compere and the word of someone who remembers seeing not only the film but the exact daybill used after some 60 odd years back in 1949.Memory can be a fickle thing after so many years .Isn't it possible the collector's memory is a few years out with the time he viewed the film?
To sum up your theory? I never had any theories, I had an opinion. I said I am not too sure about using newspaper advertisements as a complete guide for release dates. I never claimed to use colour tones to determine release dates. I said the tones and artwork quality has the look of a 40s poster, and many collectors would agree.
I am still researching into this matter and if any further information for or against my argument is found rest assured I will post it hear.
Keep up the good work Hondo.
Hondo
Very detailed response. I didn't read anything to change my opinion in that 1953 is the correct year..
Have you read my last posting I posted just prior to you sending your response. Interested in what you think of it?
You mentioned '' If you look closely at the Escape To Burma poster the Victory Publicity wording is on the bottom left margin, when compared to the King Kong daybill it is on the right hand margin. Isn't that odd?''.
Answer - No. I have attached another 1955 one sheet poster of Son Of Sinbad where the printer's name is on the left hand side also. It is interesting the Australian one sheets up to 1957 ( the last year I am aware of that they printed film posters ) continued to use their original printer's logo and the two 1950's daybills ( including King Kong ) had their name only printed on the posters.
The following are from 1953 newspaper advertisements. Take note of what the Sydney Truth critic wrote in the Sunday the 25th of January, 1953 paper. He said ''This film startled Sydney audiences 19 years ago --- it may do the same again ... '' He didn't say 4 years ago he said 19 which would make this 1953 release the correct year to be startled again and not 1949.
From Sydney Truth Sunday the 25th of January, 1953.
Newcastle newspaper advertisement 1953 also.
Hondo
I can see both them advertisements are from NSW. If there was a Australia wide release in 1953 I'd like to see newspaper advertisements from other major cities, especially from the state of Victoria.
One really has to go with logic and the facts in front of us: adverts in newspapers in 1953 are facts (as is a distinct lack of them in 1949), a review in a newspaper in 1953 is fact and the 1952 article about the revival is fact and all point to a 1953 re-release.
Prominent collectors could be just sharing the same wrong information based on one person's possibly slightly faded memory?
There is no definitive proof there was a 1949 re-release of the movie, there is absolute proof on multiple levels there was a 1953 re-release and not just in NSW, on that basis I have to agree with Hondo.
Comments
And all around the 1939-1941 time range?
Still no RKO Victory Publicity images have surfaced. I am aware of at least 15 Australian one sheets and two daybills. Not aware of any 3 sheets at present. Will post a few images shortly.
Hondo
Anyone have a 1953 re-release RKO daybill image of King Kong ? It is a Victory Publicity printed poster.
Hondo
I have checked Australian newspaper classifieds for 1949 without finding a single re-release advertisement . On the other hand there are countless classified advertisements around Australia in 1953 and I know someone who saw the film around 1953. I think the artwork and colour tones are more like the 1953 Sea Devils than the Notorious poster. Also the Victory Publicity credit is the same wording as the only other Victory Publicity daybill image I have found,with this being the 1955 film Escape To Burma.
Hondo
Still I do wonder why it has always been listed as an R49...
When it sold at Heritage, the consignor of the poster told them that it was a 49 release based on the fact that he had worked in the industry at the time and specifically remembers it being screened in Australia 1949. It was reasonable at the time for Heritage to accept the consignor's theory. Since then, Hondo has done some research and feels that it is more likely to be from 1953 based on newspaper advertising from the era. The fact that there is virtually no advertising for KK in 1949 makes it seem unlikely that a daybill would have been printed in that year.
However, I don't think anyone can say with absolute certainty, beyond a reasonable doubt, etc etc, exactly when the poster was issued. One thing for sure is that it is the earliest Australian poster that I have seen for KK and is one of the best for the title. To me, it doesn't matter at all whether it is a bit later than 1949.
A great RKO one sheet and another United Artists one sheet. Victory Publicity printed a number of UA one sheets in the 1940s and 1950s including The Monte Carlo Story posted earlier on this thread, This 1957 release is the last year I have sighted a movie poster have being printed by Victory Publicity in Australia.
Hondo
The following are from 1953 newspaper advertisements. Take note of what the Sydney Truth critic wrote in the Sunday the 25th of January, 1953 paper. He said ''This film startled Sydney audiences 19 years ago --- it may do the same again ... '' He didn't say 4 years ago he said 19 which would make this 1953 release the correct year to be startled again and not 1949.
From Sydney Truth Sunday the 25th of January, 1953.
Newcastle newspaper advertisement 1953 also.
Hondo