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Classic Vintage Movie Memorabilia Collectibles
Original Vintage Movie Poster Lobby Cards for Sale

The Lobby Card was introduced around 1913 as a form of advertising that revolutionized the look of graphics. Lobby Cards were sent out by the publicity departments of the Hollywood studios in sets of eight reflecting the content of a newly released movie. Their purpose:  to lure the movie-going public into theaters across the country.

Many studios and stars went to great lengths in the design of lobby cards often with beautiful border art and superior artwork and/or advanced photographic techniques.   Making these “superior” Lobby Cards highly sought after today by collectors and classic movie fans.  And demand for these historical Hollywood treasures shows no sign of slowing down.    In July 2019 two "Dracula" lobby cards sold for over $100,000 each!

Since about the early 1980’s the movie industry stopped using lobby cards. This seemed to be in correlation with the extinction of the thousands of town theaters being put out of business by the super chain theaters resulting in today’s monopolization of the movie theater industry. Before 1980 most local town and big city movie theaters would have displays in the lobby exhibiting these beautiful 11x14” lobby cards that promoted scenes of the current and upcoming movies. They were also used outside in foyers to lure customers into the theater with these teaser scenes depicted in the lobby cards.

A lobby card set typically consists of eight cards, one Title Card (TC) and seven scene cards. The Title Card is a  lobby card usually depicting all key stars, listing credits and designed to represent the entire film rather than a single scene.  It often had the same important graphics as the one sheet and is typically the most valuable and coveted card of the lobby card set (with some exceptions).  The other seven scene Cards (SC), depict different scenes from the movie.  On some lobby cards, there would be “border art” which is desirable by collectors as it adds an extra appeal to the lobby card. Some examples of great lobby card border art is “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon” or  “Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein”.

Lobby Cards were born around the early turn of the 20^th century with the silent film era. For example, around the time that Charlie Chaplin was breaking into motion pictures. The earliest Silent-era lobby cards were often nothing more than black and white or duotone 8x10" stills. These were eventually replaced by hand-tinted scenes, and by the 1920s most studios were producing full-color 11x14" lobby cards.

What makes lobby cards so desirable by collectors is primarily the graphic appeal of the card itself.   A lobby card featuring a closeup of the main actors, or the monster, or depicting a key scene, is much more desirable than a card showing only a distant shot of the stars, or a “dead” card featuring none of the major  stars. The importance or popularity of the film or main star is another key factor in determining a lobby card’s value.  Also, the fact that lobby cards are no longer produced means the supply is limited to the relatively scarce supply of vintage lobby cards that have survived over the past 100 years.  And, many people love the size and easy “frame-ability” of the 11x14" lobby card as compared to other much larger styles of movie poster advertising art. 
 

Use your creative imagination to create an exciting Lobby Card Collection and Presentation.   Here are some ideas why vintage movie poster lobby cards are so appealing to not only Collectors but for Unique & Extraordinary Interior Design :

Aesthetic Allure: 
Beautiful vintage artwork and graphics illustrating some of the greatest movies and movie stars during an era when there was an unprecedented love for America.   Lobby Cards are also the perfect “framing” size (11x14”), making it easy to find an inexpensive but very attractive frame.  And being creative with the mat colors to compliment the lobby card and its new home, can be particularly enjoyable.   

Subject Matter:  
The various niches of personal appeal that lobby cards represent are endless.     For example,  you may be attracted to classic Horror & Sci Fi, or Westerns, Film Noir, Comedy, Animation or  Crime/Drama.  
Or a specific movie star like John Wayne, Marilyn Monroe, Humphrey Bogart,  Three Stooges, Laurel & Hardy, Judy Garland or Katharine Hepburn.
Or a specific film like “The Wizard of OZ”, “Casablanca”, “The Searchers”, “Godfather” or “Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein”.
Or films related to Sports, WW2 or Historical figures and events (like Titanic, Thomas Edison  or  Babe Ruth).
And  of course many collect  based solely on the artistic value, the sheer beauty of the poster.    

Some of our client Movie Poster & Lobby Card  projects include:

• A Dental Office with an Original Abbott & Costello theme
• Restaurant with Marilyn Monroe theme
• A special room dedicated to a sports team or legend (Babe Ruth, Muhammad Ali)
• A special area dedicated to Classic Western theme or star like John Wayne or Roy Rogers
• a “Man Cave” adorned with original classic Horror posters and memorabilia
• A Museum dedicated to black history
• Academia Environment /Political Statements (“Mr Smith Goes to Washington”,  “To Kill a Mockingbird “)

The applications and appeal for collecting and displaying these vintage Americana treasures are endless.      Maybe that's why collectors are now paying over $100,000 to own some of the most coveted lobby cards.    Scroll down to see some of these exciting historical gems we currently have available!