Exhibitors Press books for cartoons of the 30's, 40's, etc.

[J. A. Boschen]

The other day when I was looking at some print outs I had, I stumbled upon a print out for the SCRAPPY'S PUPPET THEATER event, which I printed out from the scrappy land website. I do not want to get off topic but for anyone who would like to see what I am referring to here is the link: http://www.scrappyland.com/puppet.htm
I have also seen a pressbook for the GREEN ARCHER Columbia serial and my curiosity for exhibitors pressbooks, as they do show publicity campaigns and advertising for old films and shorts, has grown. I am curious if anyone would happen to know if these books were made up for the different cartoon series of the 30's-50's, or for other special cartoon events, clubs, etc. Thanks! :)

[David Gerstein]

I can't speak for most studios, but Columbia made up generic presskits for Disney's Mickey and Silly Symphonies cartoons—and United Artists made a new 4-page presskit for every Disney short they put out, or so it seems.
Back when I worked at Gemstone, we reprinted pieces of some UA presskits in this (http://www.amazon.com/Mickey-Gang-Classic-Stories-Verse/dp/1888472065) book. And I blogged my rather bedraggled copy of the Columbia SS presskit here (http://ramapithblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/ub-iwerks-rep-from-flip-to-flop.html).

[JERRY BECK]

I am curious if anyone would happen to know if these books were made up for the different cartoon series of the 30's-50's, or for other special cartoon events, clubs, etc. Thanks! :)

Yes, Disney did pressbooks (or press sheets) for almost all their shorts in the 1930s. They also did them in the 50s and 60s... Outside of Disney, I've personally seen (or have) pressbooks for Flip The Frog, Happy Harmonies, UA's Walter Lantz releases, The Pink Phink, Looney Tunes and Merrie Mellodies (http://www.cartoonbrew.com/classic/looney-tunes-1941-42-pressbook.html),
Most UPA cartoons had an individual press book. I have the pressbooks for THE TELL TALE HEART, UNICORN IN THE GARDEN and several others.

One of my prize possessions is a presssheet for MGM's THE OLD MILL POND. I'll post that someday.

[J. A. Boschen]

Thank you Jerry and David. I'll have to start keeping my eyes out for PB's of my favorite Disney Short subjects (and I'll have to start reading your guy's blogs more closely :rolleyes: ;) ).

A little observation I made on the one Looney Tunes book Jerry posted a link to. I'm sure you guys have probably seen these Popeye ads, but while I was looking through some microfilm doing research on a local theater in my town I recall seeing similar designed newspaper advertisement artwork for one of the Fleischer "Popeye Color Features" (I believe it was for POPEYE MEETS SINBAD), as well as for the Fleischer "Superman" series the movie section of the newspaper. Its probably possible that the Technicolor "Popeye Color Features" and "Superman" had press books as well.