Most devoted film buffs and film memorabilia collectors have at least a small collection of lobby cards. These cards are released when a movie is released and serve as promotion must like film posters do. Most major releases also have a set of lobby cards released with it. In the UK, lobby cards are commonly called “Front of House” cards.

Lobby cards and film posters are designed to advertise and promote a newly released film. It’s not unusual for films to have several different film posters used in the advertising campaign, and these become valuable to collectors who love that particular film or collect cinema items in general. The posters are the ones you see inside and outside the theaters to advertise that the movie is coming soon or even playing currently inside. These images are used in the pressbooks, websites advertising the film, the DVD package, flyers and ads in newspapers, magazines and even books.

The difference between an official film poster and a poster put out by a third party is easy to spot. The film posters typically don’t just bear the main images and name of the film, but text at the bottom with some information like top-billed cast, the director, and sometimes the release date of the film. Lobby cards are considered tiny film posters. They’re usually released in sets of 8, with each card bearing a different scene from the movie. On occasion, the sets of lobby cards held 12 cards, or 6, but the typical number is 8. And releases from production companies who are having a difficult financial time sometimes came with no lobby card set at all. The 1986 film Manhunter by Michael Mann had no set of lobby cards produced in the United States, a great irony considering the film’s legacy. It was the forerunner of Silence of the Lambs, which won Oscars for both Anthony Hopkins and Jodi Foster and created one of the most memorable villains in cinematic history, Hannibal the Cannibal.

The value of lobby cards depends a great deal on the age of the cards and the film depicted, as well as their condition. While some older lobby cards carry a high price, so do some newer lobby cards that might have not been created in huge numbers. Often, lobby cards aren’t produced in great numbers and then the film will exceed the studio’s expectations, making it much more popular than they expected and creating a demand from film buffs and collectors for merchandise like the original film posters and lobby cards.

By the far the best way to buy lobby cards is in complete sets, though sometimes this can be difficult, especially in the case of very old films. Some old movies see their lobby cards sold individually for hundreds of dollars each. If you’re looking for lobby cards through online dealers and eBay, read the auctions carefully. Reprints are a big business for those who want the look of the classic lobby cards without caring whether or not they’re original.

Originally posted 2008-10-29 05:00:12. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• Movie Props Memorabilia -> Movie Memorabilia -> Movie Props : Originals, Reproductions If you have a favorite movie that you will never forget, or if you are a collector of memorabilia, finding movie props can be an amazing experience. There are numerous studios that release special movie props after filming and you......
• John Wayne Movies Memorabilia -> Movie Memorabilia John Wayne movies have been a favorite of movie buffs, Western fans and those who like “tough guys” in their films, for many years. Though John Wayne has been gone for almost 30 years, his presence is still such a part of American culture that almost......
• Marilyn Monroe Pictures Collectibles -> Memorabilia -> Movie Memorabilia -> Autographs - Original: Autographs - Reprints If you are looking for a great collector’s item that is in high demand, one of the hottest items you can find are Marilyn Monroe pictures. These photographs are always popular, but you may not always be......
• The Three Stooges Memorabilia -> Entertainment-Memorabilia -> Movie-Memorabilia The Three Stooges, years after they made their last film together, are still wildly popular with both adults and children alike. Their films are available on DVD and appear on television, they’re referenced in pop culture, and even have music dedicated to them, like......
• Andy Warhol Paintings Memorabilia -> Entertainment Memorabilia Andy Warhol paintings today are housed in museums, owned by private collectors and released as prints for public consumption. He was born Andrew Warhola in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1928. Though he died in 1987 from complications after gall bladder surgery, his name is still well known......

• Watch Clash of the Titans Trailer Coming to our screens early next year is a remake of the 1981 film 'Clash of the Titans'. It tells the story of the myth of Perseus and his quest to battle both Medusa and the Kraken monster in order to save the Princess Andromeda. The film boasts a strong......
• I.O.U.S.A. The Movie is Free and Now Available on YouTube In late summer, I wrote about the first non-snoozefest documentary on economics ever produced -- I.O.U.S.A. The Movie. It has now been released in a 30 minute condensed version and placed on YouTube.com (see video below) for all to see. If you haven't watched it yet, it is probably the......
• Michael Jordan Posters sports-memorabilia -> Basketball-NBA -> Lithographs-Posters-and-Prints During the 1990s, it wasn't uncommon to see Michael Jordan posters lining the walls of kids rooms. Born in 1963, Jordan played college ball at the University of North Carolina and began his professional career (and played his best years) with National Basketball Association......
• Baseball Pennants Sports Memorabilia -> Vintage-Sports Memorabilia -> Pennants-Flags Collecting baseball pennants can be a fun hobby for a sports memorabilia fan, or a fan of a particular baseball team. A collector can choose to collect pennants that were made during a certain year, a certain era, or pennants spanning the entire......
• Iron Man 2 - Filming begins Iron Man 2 began filming on Monday. The new movie, directed by Jon Favreau, is looking to match the box office success of the first movie. Robert Downey Jr. again stars along side Gwyneth Paltrow and Don Cheadle who replaces Terrence Howard. The new Iron Man nemesis is to be......

• 1990-99 United States Lobby Cards Movie Memorabilia Entertainment Memorabilia
• 2000-Now Reproductions Posters Movie Memorabilia Entertainment Memorabilia
• 1980-89 Originals-US Posters Movie Memorabilia Entertainment Memorabilia
• Pre-1940 Originals, Non-US Posters Movie Memorabilia Entertainment Memorabilia
• Posters Movie Memorabilia Entertainment Memorabilia