I live in northern Baltimore Co.just 30 minutes from the Senator and am a great fan. I still believe that Vintage Theatre’s must promote their features in the same way that they did during the best years.Just being plugged into the little 2 column x 3" current arrangement that the new mega theatre’s use won’t cut it.If the promotion is as different as the theatre I believe success will follow.People are looking for something that’s different all the time. Project the spirit of a grand movie palace to those who may have never experienced it.Break out of today’s survival mold and give-em goose bumps Tom!
I,d love to find a vintage theatre(Movie Palace) in the Baltimore area that could display about 30 of these at one time.Maybe to help promote a special event or something along those lines.I,ll lend them~ no strings,no charge to assist one of the great old theatre’s.Buck Harmon
OK I think this will work~ if you would care to se some original 1940 silk movie banners grob this link http://www.flickr.com/photos/34285044@N03/?save thanks and please let me know if this works, Buck
I’ve been trying to figure a way to get some of these guys on,seems that this site is updating their link to do this.I,ve set a photobucket account up~but can’t figure out how to make it work! Guess I’ll have to invite one of my kids over to teach me. Thanks for your comment and interest, Buck
Thanks again! I managed to get photo’s of 41 banners to Mr. Smith at Heritage on Saturday, thinking that he might be interested in them as a lot. It seems that he’s interested in certain titles instead.He told me that he could use the Philadelphia Story,the Grapes of Wrath,Rebecca,My Favorite Wife,Seven Sinners,The Thief of Bagdad and 2 Strike Up the Band banners.I’m torn with breaking up a collection of 41 for historic reasons, any thoughts? Buck
I spoke with Rudy Franchi and Grey Smith today and was pleasantly surprized with their interest. Mr.Franchi told me that there are not a lot of these banners out there, and that mainly the larger theatres either rented them or purchased them.He said that some of the high end theatre owners took great pride in dressing their lobby.Funny that Roxy Vaudeville would share using silks to dress his/her theatre just as I learn about it! Thank you Roxy.The banners that you have and use were probably the type to purchase. I shared a list of the titles with Grey Smith of Heritage Auction and am in the process of taking photo’s to send him.I’m new to this great site,and would be willing to share some of the photo’s of silk movie banners if anyone would be interested.I would have to learn how and where to upload them though. Have a great evening, Buck
danpetitpas,Thank you very much for this great information ! I have spoken with one of the owners of Hollywood Banners and learned about the artist Frank Bonora that did much of this work.He seemed a little reluctant to talk value though.I had never heard of Heritage Auctions but will be contacting them tomorrow.These banners were aquired as part of the purchase of the estate of a 30’s~ 40’s burlesque dancer. She had a boyfriend that was in the motion picture promotion buisness. I found some old letters written on Wyatt Motion Picture Services letterheads. I believe this dancer was Edwin Wyatt’s east coast connection. All of the banners were rolled in a long leather case that had a dry grey mold on the outside,when I opened the case I was amazed to find the banners~ and equally amazed that they had not been damaged.It seems that the case did it’s job. Anyway, thanks again and I’ll keep you posted,Buck
Interesting stuff, the comment that Tom Harris shared on 12/24 pertaining to the way that the local media has projected an Oh geeze,trouble at the Senator attitude is correct,and in my opinion not at all fair.I live in northern Balto. Co. and drive 40 minutes to enjoy the Senator Theatre experience.To me,the film being shown is almost secondary because of the avaliability afforded with todays technology.Anyone can have instant access to just about any movie.It’s the experience that needs to be re-created in a way that these large cinaplex operations can’t possibly do.History is on the side of the vintage theatres. I have a collection of old theatre newspaper ads from the 30’s ~ 40’s that seem to make you want to go to the movies as you read them. They created a sence of excited urgency to get to the theatre,the experience was in fact exciting and wonderful.The ads themselves gave you a visiual of the theatre grandiuer that seemed equal to the movie being shown.When I take a grouping of todays theatre advertisements and place them next to the 30’s, 40’s and even60,s ads ,its like comparing metal stud and drywall to cast plaster detailing,hand painted artwork and Deco lighting. Here’s an idea that won’t cost anything extra: Use the existing advertising budget to re-create the old way of promotion using the spirit projected by the theatre itself.Put the same effort into this creation that the original artisan’s did with theirs.Create something exciting and they will come ! The quality and effort of today must at least match the same of the past.Seeing any grade or rate movie in a drywall box is rather plain.
I live in northern Baltimore Co.just 30 minutes from the Senator and am a great fan. I still believe that Vintage Theatre’s must promote their features in the same way that they did during the best years.Just being plugged into the little 2 column x 3" current arrangement that the new mega theatre’s use won’t cut it.If the promotion is as different as the theatre I believe success will follow.People are looking for something that’s different all the time. Project the spirit of a grand movie palace to those who may have never experienced it.Break out of today’s survival mold and give-em goose bumps Tom!
I,d love to find a vintage theatre(Movie Palace) in the Baltimore area that could display about 30 of these at one time.Maybe to help promote a special event or something along those lines.I,ll lend them~ no strings,no charge to assist one of the great old theatre’s.Buck Harmon
OK I think this will work~ if you would care to se some original 1940 silk movie banners grob this link http://www.flickr.com/photos/34285044@N03/?save thanks and please let me know if this works, Buck
I’ve been trying to figure a way to get some of these guys on,seems that this site is updating their link to do this.I,ve set a photobucket account up~but can’t figure out how to make it work! Guess I’ll have to invite one of my kids over to teach me. Thanks for your comment and interest, Buck
Thanks again! I managed to get photo’s of 41 banners to Mr. Smith at Heritage on Saturday, thinking that he might be interested in them as a lot. It seems that he’s interested in certain titles instead.He told me that he could use the Philadelphia Story,the Grapes of Wrath,Rebecca,My Favorite Wife,Seven Sinners,The Thief of Bagdad and 2 Strike Up the Band banners.I’m torn with breaking up a collection of 41 for historic reasons, any thoughts? Buck
I spoke with Rudy Franchi and Grey Smith today and was pleasantly surprized with their interest. Mr.Franchi told me that there are not a lot of these banners out there, and that mainly the larger theatres either rented them or purchased them.He said that some of the high end theatre owners took great pride in dressing their lobby.Funny that Roxy Vaudeville would share using silks to dress his/her theatre just as I learn about it! Thank you Roxy.The banners that you have and use were probably the type to purchase. I shared a list of the titles with Grey Smith of Heritage Auction and am in the process of taking photo’s to send him.I’m new to this great site,and would be willing to share some of the photo’s of silk movie banners if anyone would be interested.I would have to learn how and where to upload them though. Have a great evening, Buck
danpetitpas,Thank you very much for this great information ! I have spoken with one of the owners of Hollywood Banners and learned about the artist Frank Bonora that did much of this work.He seemed a little reluctant to talk value though.I had never heard of Heritage Auctions but will be contacting them tomorrow.These banners were aquired as part of the purchase of the estate of a 30’s~ 40’s burlesque dancer. She had a boyfriend that was in the motion picture promotion buisness. I found some old letters written on Wyatt Motion Picture Services letterheads. I believe this dancer was Edwin Wyatt’s east coast connection. All of the banners were rolled in a long leather case that had a dry grey mold on the outside,when I opened the case I was amazed to find the banners~ and equally amazed that they had not been damaged.It seems that the case did it’s job. Anyway, thanks again and I’ll keep you posted,Buck
Are you looking to build a drywall box with a screen and seats or a Movie Palace?
Interesting stuff, the comment that Tom Harris shared on 12/24 pertaining to the way that the local media has projected an Oh geeze,trouble at the Senator attitude is correct,and in my opinion not at all fair.I live in northern Balto. Co. and drive 40 minutes to enjoy the Senator Theatre experience.To me,the film being shown is almost secondary because of the avaliability afforded with todays technology.Anyone can have instant access to just about any movie.It’s the experience that needs to be re-created in a way that these large cinaplex operations can’t possibly do.History is on the side of the vintage theatres. I have a collection of old theatre newspaper ads from the 30’s ~ 40’s that seem to make you want to go to the movies as you read them. They created a sence of excited urgency to get to the theatre,the experience was in fact exciting and wonderful.The ads themselves gave you a visiual of the theatre grandiuer that seemed equal to the movie being shown.When I take a grouping of todays theatre advertisements and place them next to the 30’s, 40’s and even60,s ads ,its like comparing metal stud and drywall to cast plaster detailing,hand painted artwork and Deco lighting. Here’s an idea that won’t cost anything extra: Use the existing advertising budget to re-create the old way of promotion using the spirit projected by the theatre itself.Put the same effort into this creation that the original artisan’s did with theirs.Create something exciting and they will come ! The quality and effort of today must at least match the same of the past.Seeing any grade or rate movie in a drywall box is rather plain.