Thanks for the lobby card and half-sheet Robert, very nice indeed. That was probably your stuff in Schneir's book that got me interested in the first place.

Hope everyone took a look at Robert's informative web page, a lot of good stuff there. One nice thing about the way Robert and I go about collecting this kind of movie paper is that our narrow focus means the cost is usually pretty reasonably. The Abbott and Costello roulette lobby card is a real prize, not easily found and the amusing image as well as the famous comics take this a notch above what we usually find pricewise. Movie buffs tend to push up prices you'll have to pay for gambling themes if you find Bogart starring for instance. Good gambling paper from Mr. Lucky or To Catch A Thief is also dear because of that Cary Grant guy.

There is a temptation to get distracted by non-gaming movie cards alas. As Robert shows, some of the silent movie stuff is really stunning. It's hard to ignore the lobby cards from Grand Hotel witn Greta and a bunch of Barrymores portrayed in super stylish art deco. Once you see the prices attached though...

I've got an example of a mini-lobby card here. rather than the 11x14" size, these show up at 8x10". They seem to serve the same purpose as the larger ones and are restricted to theater use only. The 8x10 I showed from Lady... is a publicity still that is sent out to the theaters also but is intended to be passed along to the local newspapers and such.

It appears that most of the lobby cards at auction are legit. There is a catagory for reproductions and 007 movies breed a lot of repos but most of the time you are probably pretty safe in the lobby card area. Experience counts though. The 8x10 stills are a different game. Some stuff is authentic but some are new prints off old negatives. Don't spend a lot here... unless you really like the picture.

Put this stuff on your walls and you will get comment. Lobby cards and pub stills are very well done, most folks find them interesting and don't realize these are out there.