Questions for Bruce-EMP

Eisenhower · April 2017

I must say Bruce, i thought of your former employee Gary Magnuson yesterday after I finished rolling two linenbacked posters to be shipped up to Washington.

I didn't even take a picture of the tube it looked so bad! Grey duct tape covering both ends in random fashion.

Am guessing Gary had an apprentice. His packaging was down to a science!

Bruce · April 2017

Mark

Gary is really missed, but there are other shipping people who have been there for years. I recently shifted two people from other areas into the shipping department, so we are doing well, but it is always a major blow when you lose a longtime employee.

Gary was much loved by many people. His funeral was packed, a tribute to how many close friends he had.

Mirosae · April 2017

Still is an incredible source of information. Just spent some time this afternoon looking out for posters there, really helpful to have access to that huge database.

Eisenhower · May 2017

Hey Bruce,
Questions---- about the folding of movie posters-particularly One Sheets. Was noticing this morning as I was photographing some OS's that they are not all folded the same-now I imagine this could be due to human refolding over the years, but some of mine even from the 30's-50's are still "crisp" along the original fold lines.

Question-if one sheets were originally folded by machines when they came off the press, were different machines used by different printing companies, contracted by different studios, resulting in different folding of a one sheet to its eventual 11x14? ----sorry for so many questions, it's an unknown part of poster production that fascinates me.

* as always, thanks for your time and any light you can shed on this topic...

Bruce · May 2017

No one has exact information about this, but I DO think that one-sheets were folded right after they were printed, and then sent to poster exchanges that way. But they were surely printed at more than one location (I know for certain this was true at least from the 1920s to the 1970s).

So it is totally reasonable that one printer might have a different "folding machine" than another, which would result in folding differences.

But are you talking about MAJOR differences? I have seen a tiny number of one-sheets that have two evenly spaced vertical folds instead of one. Is that the kind of thing you mean? Can you explain what you mean in more detail?

Eisenhower · May 2017

You've answered my question. It's not major differences, but rather how the poster unfolds or was folded the first time off the press. All i've ever seen is one vertical fold line from top to bottom, and three folds across the middle.

It's 27x41 folds down to the 11x14 to size; meaning the poster starts off as 27x41, then folds across the center to 27x20.5, then to 13.5x20.5 then to approx. 11x14.

They don't always seem to follow a standard sequence/reduction in size to 11x14, which makes me think that different machines printed and folded posters.

Sorry if confusing.

Bruce · May 2017

Now I get it! I HAVE seen some one-sheets where the folds are in the incorrect order, as you describe, and where they were not re-folded.

But at least 95% and maybe 99% were folded twice horizontally first, and then across the middle last, creating the vertical fold.

Eisenhower · May 2017

Yes! and I have handled only a fraction of the folded one sheets you have, and with the older more fragile posters I have I had to be careful I don't begin to unfold in the wrong direction to quickly or else, rip! and more damage done to the poster!

Thanks!

again, it would be so cool to find a book that covers the history of this process, the printing in the 30's-70s, and some in-depth history of the NSS.

-I know Charlie has bought and shown some cool NSS regional meeting photos which help reveal some information.

HereComesMongo · May 2017

Any movie stars buying from Emp?

Bruce · May 2017

Not so much. One giant reason that almost no movie stars collect movie posters was summed up for me around 15 years ago when I met a top star in person, and discussed it. He said , "I really like these posters, but none of my friends have any on their walls, and I am afraid I will look foolish if I was the first to do so"!

For 25 years I have waited for the "rich and famous" to discover movie posters in a big way. Maybe some day it will happen!

HereComesMongo · May 2017

Well Dicaprio supposedly owns Metropolis:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/metropolis-poster-record-leonardo-dicaprio-298114

But I suppose they are more into fine art:

Image: http://i2.cdn.turner.com/money/dam/assets/170518224619-basquiat-780x439.jpg

Ony $110 million for it....

Eisenhower · May 2017

Didn't Nicholas Cage sell a 1915 Phantom on HA a while back for 200,000+?

Bruce · May 2017

A bunch of celebs have gotten into movie posters, and almost all of them have gotten back out before very long.

Kirk Hammett is the main exception. He has a true love of posters.

I have sold to some of the most famous names in the world, but I never talk about my customers (or my consignors) unless they do it first.

110x75 · May 2017

Bruce said:

I have sold to some of the most famous names in the world, but I never talk about my customers (or my consignors) unless they do it first.

You have my permission to talk about me (only the good stuff)

Eisenhower · May 2017

Good one, Matias!

110x75 · May 2017

David · May 2017

Bruce said:

A bunch of celebs have gotten into movie posters, and almost all of them have gotten back out before very long.

Kirk Hammett is the main exception. He has a true love of posters.

I have sold to some of the most famous names in the world, but I never talk about my customers (or my consignors) unless they do it first.

The David Copperfield - Houdini poster, is a fav one of yours that springs to mind...

I don't know the personal details of all the buyers that purchase from me, but then I don't sell nose-bleed posters like Bruce or HA. I've also sold and given a few to the National Film and Sound but one of my fav sales was to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...

Sven · May 2017

110x75 said:

Bruce said:

I have sold to some of the most famous names in the world, but I never talk about my customers (or my consignors) unless they do it first.

You have my permission to talk about me (only the good stuff)

There is no doubt Matias is undeniably....

jayn_j · May 2017

[quote]Then Bruce said:
..and I sold a bunch of worthless crap to this sucker in Milwaukee[/quote]

Yeah, but its MY worthless crap

Bruce · May 2017

jayn_j said:

[quote]Then Bruce said:
..and I sold a bunch of worthless crap to this sucker in Milwaukee[/quote]

Yeah, but its MY worthless crap

Wow! I have absolutely zero memory of posting that!

jayn_j · May 2017

me being silly.
You just put the stuff out there. I'm the one that chooses to spend perfectly good money on it.

Bruce · May 2017

I make no judgments as to "quality". I have seen once formerly hot stars go ice cold, and items that were once shunned become super-desirable!

I have no crystal ball at all.

jayn_j · May 2017

Understood. I have my share of "good idea at the time" stuff, and my current musicals fascination is shared by few these days.

David · May 2017

jayn_j said:

my current musicals fascination is shared by few these days.

I'm with ya, but it's a thin crowd that follows, many have pitchforks too...

HereComesMongo · June 2017

DELETED PER REQUEST OF CHARLIE

Charlie · June 2017

Mel what is this comment about? I know you are new here but we don't tolerate derogatory posts like this, if that is what you are trying to do... There are much better ways to put this type of question up if you even really care.

HereComesMongo · June 2017

Not trying to be derogatory but I'll delete and email Q to Bruce....

Charlie · June 2017

Not really a request to remove - you may have jumped the gun. It seemed like a stir up trouble kind of comment and that is not what this thread is about.

Thanks for resolving quickly though.

Bruce · June 2017

I asked Mel for clarification of what he is asking.

Once I understand what he is asking, I can explain what it was here.

But given that I am incredibly busy, it may be several hours or more before I can post again.

Thanks.

Bruce · June 2017

Mel was asking about a poster ending tonight, and he was comparing it to an example auctioned by another company.

I would much prefer not to discuss any other poster auctions on the forum. Any future questions like that should be directed to me privately.

Thanks much.

Bruce

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