Lobby Cards

October 29th, 2008 | Lobby Cards, Movie Memorabilia

150000 CATALOGED Mexican Lobby Cards 1930s thru 1980s

US $495,000.00

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HOUDINI LOBBY CARD 23 Other MAGIC ShowBoards 22 x 28

US $6,245.99

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Memorabilia -> Movie Memorabilia -> Lobby Cards

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.

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