From Zombos' Closet

Song of the Thin Man (1947) Pressbook

This is the rare and quite fragile pressbook for Song of the Thin Man, an enjoyable detective movie from an enjoyable MGM series of Thin Man movies). Unfortunately, MGM, around this time period, liked to print their pressbooks on cheap newsprint pulpy paper, which doesn't hold up well over time. I had to be extremely careful while scanning this beauty, but even then I added more rips in the browning paper. But there's a wealth of creative promotion and style here, so it was worth it. I hope you think so too. This movie was the sixth and last one in the series. 

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Tarzan the Ape Man (1932) Pressbook Supplements

Along with the pressbook, many times there were advertising or promotion supplements. These were printed inserts that included promotional articles and ideas, merchandising tie-ins, poster advertising, theater lobby displays, and additional newspaper adverts. Here are the two supplements (2 pages and 4 pages) for Tarzan the Ape Man. Johnny Weissmuller had a contract to promote BVD underwear. When the movie rolled around, a given tie-in for BVD was a no-brainer. 

Tarzan the Ape Man (1932) Pressbook

At 18.75 x 12.5 inches, this 8 page pressbook is large and packed with promotion for the ape man. Unfortunately it was printed on thin, acid-prone paper, so handling had to be kept to a minimum for scanning. Also, I think the paper was tan originally, not white, so I refrained from doing any color correction. This is the sexiest (thank you pre-code!) of the Tarzan movies with Maureen O'Sullivan and Johnny Weissmuller swinging through the trees and audiences wishing they could too. Angelo Rossitto plays an evil native dwarf. (His team-ups with Bela Lugosi were fun to watch.)  I wish they had done more of them. Johnny Eck (Freaks) plays the bird creature. The ape costume during the climactic battle scene must have been pretty scary-looking back then, but now is somewhat lacking. Overall, still a fun, romantic action movie. 

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Tarzan and the Amazons (1945) Pressbook

Another lost city reluctantly found, another treasure stolen by dastardly white hunters. Brenda Joyce takes over the role of Jane (but without the chemistry of Maureen O'Sullivan) and Tarzan's home atop the Great Escarpment changes into a next door over from the trading hut location. So, both chemistry and mystery start leaving the series at this point. But still a fun watch as they bring on the Amazons (or "forest maidens" as the pressbook promotes). Coming at the end of World War II, storylines with empowered women made the circuit, but still with feminine frills on, so to speak. Best not to scare the male audience too much.

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Meet Nero Wolfe (1936) Pressbook

I caught Meet Nero Wolfe on a double bill with a Margaret Rutherford Agatha Christie movie back in the 1980s. I forget exactly where in New York City the event took place, but I recall the cramped theater was rather hot after a while and also that both movies were a far cry from the novels they purportedly were scripted from. I can definitely say the Nero Wolfe movie was awfully cast and added cheap humor instead of notable characterization. Even though I was in my teens at the time, I had read most of the Wolfe novels as well as Christie's and really felt let down by the onscreen shambles. On television, Rex Stout's creation has faired a little better. Timothy Hutton was quite presentable as Archie Goodwin and even William Shatner, who played Archie  in a Nero Wolfe unsold pilot in 1959, was not shabby at all. The Wolfe role has been a challenge taken on by others including Joseph Conrad, Thayer David, Maury Chaykin, Walter Connolly, and Kurt Kasznar. I have a fondness for Thayer David's take, but I'm biased because I'm a Dark Shadows fan (he played Ben Stokes). 

The pressbook is as large as Nero Wolfe, coming in at 17.5 x 12 inches and 16 pages. On the exploitation page it mentions a tie-up with selling Monopoly. "Monopoly, the parlor-game that has swept the country in sensational fashion, to seriously threaten the status of bridge as an evening pastime, is shown on the screen for the first time..." Wow. We can thank Monopoly for saving us all from playing Bridge. Who knew?

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Tarzan's Desert Mystery (1943) Pressbook

Here's the 11x17 inches pressbook for Tarzan's Desert Mystery. While Jane is away helping the war effort, Tarzan must contend with Nazis, hungry plants, and a pesky giant spider. A fun matinee romp in the series, this is the 8th movie for Johnny Weissmuller as Tarzan. Amazingly, while I'm a big fan of the Tarzan movies, this is the one I have yet to see. It's on my bucket list.

ComicRack reader version: Download Tarzan's Desert Mystery

The Wayward Girl (1957) Pressbook

"Exciting expose of parole racket," The Wayward Girl (not to be confused with The Wayward Girl starring Liv Ullmann) is a 1950s crime movie through and through.  The poster art, especially the color-version, is fairly lurid in mood. 

ComicRack reader version: Download Wayward Girl Pressbook

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Captain Midnight Secret Squadron Code Book and Membership Manual

Captain Midnight's most dastardly villain turned out to be his ex-sponsor, Ovaltine, who owned all the rights to the name. When the television show (he appeared on radio, in the comics, and there was a serial and newspaper strip), went into syndication, Ovaltine forced a name change to Jet Jackson, Flying Commando (see Nostalgia Central). Here is the official code book and membership manual for secret squadron members (you know who you are).

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Blood Orgy of the She-Devils (1973) Hypnotic Eye Giveaway

Here's a nifty giveaway for Blood Orgy of the She-Devils: the hypnotic eye psychometry test. It's very simple. What do you do to drum up interest in a no-budget horror by Ted V. Mikels? Why, just add orgy and blood in the movie's title and hand out cool stuff like this at the theater. Of course, that would entice me for sure, so I may be biased here. The double-sided card is 4 x 6 inches and I'd die to have a stack of these to hand out as tricks for Halloween. I can see those smiling faces on the kids' parents as I think of it.

 

Sunset Boulevard (1950) British Pressbook

A stunningly sad, desperate, and atmospheric movie, Sunset Boulevard is a flashback narrated by a dead guy, the one you see floating in the middle of the pool at the beginning. How can you not love a story narrated by a dead guy? And he's not even a zombie. He's just really dead. How refreshing. You can read my review.

ComicRack reader version: Download Sunset Boulevard British Pressbook

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2 Nigauds et la Momie (1955) French Pressbook

While the non-American pressbooks can be short on pages and promotional and commercial tie-ins, the artwork and printing layout can be quite creative. Here's the French pressbook for Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy.

Mary Poppins (1964) Pressbook Part Two

See Mary Poppins pressbook Part One.

In this second part of the Mary Poppins pressbook is the incredible merchandising. My favorite is the Louis Marx wind-up, but you will find Gold Key comics, Whitman books, records, puzzles, her carpet bag, Golden Books, clothes, and more. Toy merchandising on a grand scale may have started with the Star Wars franchise, but Disney was years ahead in tying loads of merchandise to its movies.