Page 32 - CinemaRecord Edition 3-2003 #41
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The open-front of the Esquire Bourke Street was made for big posters, never mind the quality of the film. The displays for all Hoyts
city theatres were painted in the workshop at the rear of the Esquire.
Then there were the press books Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito as
with their helpful range of block the twins, was clearly channelling
advertisements and suggestions for 1930s zaniness. And the phone box
press releases and tie-ins: all part of a displays for the recent Get Smart were
world where the success of the city smart.
season was paramount. Today I stopped by the old BEF
Re-issue programs often involved building in Richmond. Amazingly, the
interesting promotions. Perhaps premises are still linked to film, now as
because the original artwork, stills or a small production house, the successor
posters were no longer available for a to the one which, well over forty-five
foyer display or for press publicity, a years ago, took over the Memorial in
cinema like the Grosvenor (or even the St Kilda after it closed as a cinema.
Metro Malvern) sometimes used a The loquat tree which hung over the
house artist or local firm to design outhouses is still there. Seeing it again
substitute artwork. I have fond brought back the summer’s day smells
memories of distinctive displays for re- of ripe fruit mingled with printing ink.
issues at the Capitol, including How many years ago was I here
Chaplin’s The Great Dictator in May collecting daybills for my shows at the
1959 and Ken Hall’s On Our Selection Carlton Theatre? Memories are made
in July 1961. of this. ★
One definition of a cinema poster is
that it is a promise. In the days of corny Both sketches are by the author and
poster bravado the promise was rarely most images are from his collection.
fulfilled, but what the heck, the poster
was an entertainment in itself. A ‘bare and basic’ daybill from the BEF
Today’s more realistic depictions of printery in the late 1960s was typical for
faces and poses might be lacking the a re-issue. Someone has made the
giddy silliness of old, but some great decision that Rutherford and Sellers are
work is out there. Whoever thought up indelibly etched in the public mind, so
the line ‘Only their mother can tell Virginia McKenna and Bill Travers no
them apart’ for Twins (1989) with longer get a mention.
32 2008 CINEMARECORD
