Automotive Movie Posters

Sept/Oct 2020 edition
Issue #12 AutoMobilia Resource Magazine
David Lawrence

“Thunder in Carolina” The rare three sheet (81”x41”) poster in two panels. This poster is for the 1960 film featuring racing at the Great Southern 500. The movie stars Rory Calhoun and Alan Hale Jr. Excellent condition. Value $1,200

The Mystery of USA Movie Poster Sizes

US one sheet, six sheets, three sheets, inserts… What does it all mean?

Before we tackle the Pandora’s box of movie poster sizes, I must say it has been a very exciting road of collecting car related movie posters, from the first ones I bought as a kid from other kids at school, to later buying them all over the world.  A lot has happened in movie posters since the first one was produced by the French artist Marcellin Auzille for a 49 second slapstick comedy in 1895. The first car racing movie was “Paris to Monte Carlo”, 1905. This was a ten-minute silent short film. Not sure if there was a poster for that one, but most likely there was a poster for “Barney Oldfield’s Race for Life”, or “The Speed Kings”, both released in 1913. These were the second and third car racing movies ever released.  
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The earliest car racing film that I am certain had a poster was “Victor Moore in the Great Automobile Photoplay, The Race”, 1916. That was the George Melford silent sports car automobile racing romantic melodrama, and this poster is worth about $3,500.

You can find theater used movie posters on eBay, local garage sales, flea markets, swap meets, and second hand shops. There are also reputable dealers all across the country who sell movie posters. And of course at auctions, Sotheby’s and Christies used to sell them, and Bonhams still has a few movie poster auctions. Condition is key, so a well preserved and protected poster will bring the most value. Also, the popularity of certain films and their stars are major reasons why one movie poster will sell for $24 and another can sell for $2,500.  

“The Racers” Rare half sheet (22”x28”) poster. This poster was for the big budget 1955 studio film starring Kirk Douglas, Bella Darvi, and Gilbert Roland. This movie was filmed at a live Mille Miglia event in Italy. Very good original folded condition. Value $850

Remember, movie posters were meant to be used, so most have a few staple holes in the corners with corresponding small tears in the paper to go along with their original folded condition.  Pre 1971 there are a lot of great vintage car racing movie posters, but from 1971 to the present, the most sought after has to be the Steve McQueen racing classic, “Le Mans”, which is highly sought after in all of its corresponding shapes and sizes.  

​In a previous auction of my posters held with RM Auctions during Monterey “car week”, I sold a Le Mans one sheet for around $3,000, and a Le Mans six sheet for around $7,000. All movie posters are printed on commercial poster paper and were meant just to be hung, and then returned or thrown out, so this adds to their rarity, as every week someone is damaging and throwing out movie posters.

“Hot Rod Action” The rare 30”x40” 1969 hard stock poster. This poster features Stock-cars, Trans-Am, Top Fuel Dragsters, Funny Cars, and Formula One race cars. Produced with the cooperation of the editors of Hot Rod Magazine. Excellent condition. Value $750

Thinking of buying an old movie poster, here is the quandary; What do the size designations mean? It is very complicated, and maybe I can help decipher the ins and outs of movie poster sizing. For this article we will only look at US Posters.

Firstly, all US movie posters were sent to movie theaters in the USA on loan, and were supposed to be returned back to the National Screen Service. Those which were returned were destroyed immediately. Thus, the movie posters out in the world today are the ones which survived because the theaters didn’t send them back to be destroyed, and the theater didn’t throw them out.

​The most popular of any of the US movie posters is the one sheet. The 41”x27” one sheet poster is also the most produced of any of the poster sizes. If the movie is real popular, there can be many different versions of this poster. There can be different one sheet designs as well if a film is extremely popular. However, an average film usually will release only one version of the one sheet poster.  For the most part, one sheet posters do come mechanically folded. All one sheets are folded down to 13.5”x10.25” for mailing out to theaters.  

“Redline 7000” Rare six sheet poster (81”x81” in four folded panels). This one is from the 1960 big budget studio race film directed by Howard Hawks, and featured footage of the Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe, which they didn’t let anyone associated with the film drive! Excellent original folded condition. Value $2,400

The half sheet measuring 22”x28” is printed on a heavier rollable cardboard stock, and is usually not folded, however many have been folded over time. The half sheet was, and is a very popular size used by the theaters to showcase upcoming movies. As it is on a thicker hard stock, you would not need to linen back this poster prior to framing.   

Corky” Rare insert poser (36”x14”). From the 1972 NASCAR racing movie with Cale Yarborough, Bobby Allison, Donnie Allison, Buddy Baker, and Richard Petty, all in the movie. Very good original condition. Value $350

The insert poster measures 36”x14” and is printed on a heavier card stock like the half sheet and the 40”x60” rolled posters. A lot of inserts tend to be folded in thirds with two horizontal fold lines. The insert is basically a mini three sheet, but the artwork can be different.  

​The 40”x60” heavier rollable cardboard poster stock tends to be very rare. I don’t think it was nearly as popular as the one sheet, or even the three sheet and half sheet. These are almost never found folded, but usually rolled due to the thickness of the paper they are on.  

​The size of a three sheet is derived by placing three one sheet posters horizontally back to back and you get an 81”x41” poster. All three sheets are usually printed in two panels. The top panel is about 70% of the poster and mostly all artwork, while the bottom panel usually has the credits. All three sheets come mechanically folded down to a size of 13.5”x10.5” for mailing out to theaters, and the smaller panel is folded inside the bigger panel. Three sheets are much rarer than a one sheet.  

The size of a six sheet is derived by placing six one sheet posters horizontally back to back in two stacks of three and you get a 81” tall by 81” wide poster. All six sheets are printed in four separate panels. They did two big panels that carry most of the imagery and two smaller ones along the bottom that carry most of the credits. Six sheets are much rarer than a one sheet. All six sheets are mechanically folded down to 14”x10.5”.   
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“The Winners” The rare one sheet poster (41”x27”). This is from the 1973 racing film featuring Fast Cars, Fast Women, and Fast Money. Excellent original folded condition. Value $650

Of the posters mechanically folded, the best way to present them is to have them restored and linen backed on acid free archival paper. It also keeps them safe for many years. After archival linen backing, you can then frame, shrink wrap or pin them (in the border) up on the wall. I can help with your linen backing and conservation. Call me or send an email. 

​Start collecting, and enjoying movie posters! But you say… David I have limited wall space. Well Ok, but just think… fifty folded posters can fit into a desk drawer! 
David Lawrence

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