Theater & Film Posters

Imre Kiralfy's Grand Naval Spectacle

A poster promoting Imre Kiralfy's Grand Naval Spectacle being performed at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The poster was created by Strobridge Litho. Co., c. 1898.

Magician Harry Kellar in His Latest Mystery: Self Decapitation

American magician Harry Kellar performed in the United States and around the world during the turn of the century and was a predecessor of Harry Houdini. This advertising poster was for Keller's Self Decapitation trick, c. 1897.

Newmann the Great

Magician C.A. Newmann, also known as Newmann the Great, was a mentalist who performed a hypnotism and mind-reading show around the United States, but primarily in the Midwest, at the turn of the century.Warning: Touching the mentalist may result in a severe shock!

The Pastime Moving Picture Show

An advertising poster for Thomas Edison's Kinetoscope films shows two young women in bathing suits seated on a rock at the beach, c. 1910. The poster reads: "The Pastime Moving Picture Show. The Moving Pictures are given with the latest Edison Fire-Proof Kinetoscope. The Motion Picture Subjects have been selected with a view to giving an interesting and amusing entertainment. Don't fail to see the great Fight Picture, giving a clever exhibition with the gloves, also the latest and most popular illustrated songs."

The Pirates Cast the Maiden into the Dungeon

This theater poster for Silver Spur was copyrighted in 1886: "The Pirates Cast the Maiden into the Dungeon." Published by Phoenix Litho. Co., of Chicago.

Saturday Night, motion picture poster

The motion picture poster for the Paramount Pictures film "Saturday Night" shows a flirtatious young woman and an older man seated at a nightclub table, c. 1922. "Jesse L. Lasky Presents Cecil B. DeMille's production Saturday Night by Jeanie MacPherson. It's a Paramount Picture."

Over the Garden Wall

This theater poster was created by the W.J. Morgan & Co. Lithographers of Cincinnatti, Oh, c. 1885. "Mr. and Mrs. Geo. S. Knight's Comedy Co. Snitz takes a smile over the garden wall."

Mabels Lovers

This poster shows Mabel Normand and others in a scene from the motion picture "Mabel's Lovers; the Suprised Suitor." A Keystone film from Tyler Film Co., Ltd., 1912. Normand was a popular silent film star at the turn of the century and appeared in many of Mack Sennett's Keystone films.

The Wizard of Oz Tin Man Poster

A theater poster for "Fred R. Hamlin's Musical Extravaganza, The Wizard of Oz," showing the Tin Man. Created by "The U.S. Lithograph Co., Russell-Morgan Print, Cincinnati & New York," 1903. A signature on the Tin Man's leg reads: "To Spider Rathburn, now I'm oil-right. Dave Montgomery by Fred Stone. Jan. 14, 1936."

The Dancing Chicks

A theater poster for "Hans and Nix. Everything New But the Title: Fun, Music and Song. The Positive Limit in Polite Comedy. The Dancing Chicks." Lithograph created by Enquirer Job Printing Co. of Cincinnati, Ohio, c. 1899.

Houdini's Will

A poster for Hardeen Houdini's magic show: "Hardeen inherits his brother's secrets. Houdini's will makes possible the continuance of Houdini's master mysteries." As shown by this poster, Hardeen used testamentary language in his advertisements in an effort to position himself as Houdini's heir in magic. The poster was printed by Carey and Sons Lith. of New York, c. 1936. The Library of Congress says, "Under the terms of Houdini's will, the Library of Congress inherited the magic and spiritualism components of the great mystifier's library. Beatrice Houdini received the Theater Collection, now at the University of Texas at Austin. Apparatus and other stage effects were bequeathed to Hardeen."

Ben Hur at Illinois Theater

This theater poster is for a production of Ben Hur at the Illinois Theater in Chicago, c. 1901. "Klaw and Erlanger's Stupendous Production: Ben Hur. By General Lew Wallace. Dramatized by Wm. Young."

The Air Ship

A theater poster, c. 1898, for "The Air Ship. A Musical Farce Comedy by J.M. Gaites. The Fly Cop." The poster was produced by the H.C. Miner Litho. Co. of New York.

Ben-Hur at Broadway Theatre

A theater poster, c. 1899, for "Klaw & Erlanger's stupendous production of Ben-Hur by Lew Wallace ; dramatized by Wm. Young, Esq." The poster was produced by the Strobridge Lith. Co. of Cincinnati and New York.