Thank you both for the kind words. It certainly encourages me to push on with covering more poster artists, if only for knowing you both appreciate this sort of information.
Yes, very good indeed. It's fortunate that so many Australian posters in the 20's and 30's came with a signature, which wasn't the case in the U.S. where anonymity was the rule. Wynne Davies name appears on many daybills in the 1920's, but as far as I know he only had one poster with his signature from his work in the U.S. Davies, Frank Tyler and Fred Brodrick I'd rank as the top 3.
Following up on my June 2019 information and discussion that was included on this thread regarding The Kelly Gang.
I have just discovered further details regarding this poster which was sold on 23 June 2019 by Leski Auctions Melbourne and was listed as being a 1909 The Story Of The Kelly Gang poster.
This poster sold for $
4,200, which was 4 times the price originally paid for it. The poster was bought
about 15 years previously at an auction
place at Pyrmont. This information supplied by the original owner Ian, who was very happy with the price realised, along with other items of his that were obtained when auctioned through Leski Auctions as well.
This poster
was authenticated by Josef from Josef Lebovic Gallery, who is an expert in this
area.
Yes, very good indeed. It's fortunate that so many Australian posters in the 20's and 30's came with a signature, which wasn't the case in the U.S. where anonymity was the rule. Wynne Davies name appears on many daybills in the 1920's, but as far as I know he only had one poster with his signature from his work in the U.S. Davies, Frank Tyler and Fred Brodrick I'd rank as the top 3.
Thanking you also for your kind words.
Yes the three artists you mentioned also rank highly with me, but let's not forget Fred Powis ( The Cat And The Canary ) and Bernie Bragg ( Metropolis ) as well.
I intend to cover the five mentioned artists at some time or another when time allows me to do this.
In the case of Wynne W. Davies U.S. poster work I have images of four signed film posters that he designed there. I will include images of these titles when I compile his coverage here on this thread.
The following is a portrait of the great Australian writer and bush poet Henry Lawson ( 1867 - 1922 ) drawn by Tom Ferry. Published in The Capricornian newspaper from Rockhampton Queensland on the 23rd of September 1922. This was twenty one days following his death on the 2nd of September 1922. The following portrait and article courtesy of Trove.
Tom Ferry was employed as a poster artist at Hollander And Govett in the earlier part of his career. No more details about this period have been located.
Canberra Times ACT 16 June 1977 story. along with the two mentioned The Story Of The Kelly Gang Australian posters.
Although this information is mainly known I thought the clipping may still be of interest, as I don't believe it has been displayed on the forum previously.
It's amazing that three different posters for this film survive. The only other early one like these I know of is for the bushranger film Thunderbolt (1910), a daybill of which sold at a People's Paraphernalia auction 30 years ago for about $800.
It's amazing that three different posters for this film survive. The only other early one like these I know of is for the bushranger film Thunderbolt (1910), a daybill of which sold at a People's Paraphernalia auction 30 years ago for about $800.
It isn't certain ( proved ) that this poster is from the same film that the two The Story Of The Kelly Gang posters above are advertising. This poster has been discussed on the forum in the past on several occassions regarding this.
Is it hoping too much that you may have an image ot the 1910 Thunderbolt daybill you could share with us?
I never saw the Thunderbolt daybill, as I didn't attend the auction and the catalogue was just a printed listing. I know from someone else attending that the daybill was much like the Story of the Kelly Gang poster. At the same auction was a daybill for the Chaplin film Work from 1915.
I never saw the Thunderbolt daybill, as I didn't attend the auction and the catalogue was just a printed listing. I know from someone else attending that the daybill was much like the Story of the Kelly Gang poster. At the same auction was a daybill for the Chaplin film Work from 1915.
Would have been great to have attended this auction and have sighted the two posters, and any other posters that were in the auction as well. At least we now know that they exist and that images may possibly turn up one day.
One of the highlights poster wise for me was when I attended the Pickles Auction in Sydney on the 7th November 1998. Attendees / bidders were allowed to handle all of the posters, which included 66 individual titles, with many multiples and different styles of films made between 1927 and 1932. Almost all the posters were one sheets.
If anyone is interested in reading about this auction you can find my earlier comments on the ''There Are Australian Daybill & One Sheets Existing For These Films'' thread beginning on page one. I have just added some new material onto this thread and one is able to find it located just l under this Hondo's This And That forum thread on the main discussion title page.
Do you know anyone who purchased any of the posters from the Pickles auction? There were a couple of western ones that I have been waiting for them to reappear again but they never have, especially The Rainbow Trail.
Do you know anyone who purchased any of the posters from the Pickles auction? There were a couple of western ones that I have been waiting for them to reappear again but they never have, especially The Rainbow Trail.
Unfortunately no.
I am curious as to which of The Raindow Trail one sheets you are interested in? November 7, 1998 was a long time ago and memory for details twenty two years previous understandingly aren't as sharp as they used to be. Nevertheless I am certain that I remember seeing the second image design of the U.S.A. one sheet styles appearing below of George O'Brien's character with the heroinine sitting on a horse.
One clear memory from the auction was that there were multiple copies of the following Pardon Us one sheet design. I cannot locate the catalogue at present to check on how many copies there actually were, but three or four I am thinking.
A comment was made at the auction that if the same person was to purchase all the ( damaged to some extent ) posters of Pardon Us, a beautiful restored poster would be a distinct possibility to then accomplish.
Stand And Deliver ( 1928 ) original U.S.A. one sheet and an Australian long daybill stock poster produced sometime after the Australian 1929 release took place.
This is an early example of an Australian stock poster. Anyone have any other examples of any earlier Australian stock posters used prior to this example, that they may like to share?
It Takes All kinds ( 1969 ). One has to ponder why BEF would have bothered to have had printed four different Australian daybills for this 'B' grade film that received very limited bookings?
It Takes All kinds ( 1969 ). One has to ponder why BEF would have bothered to have had printed four different Australian daybills for this 'B' grade film that received very limited bookings
He's a real cinema nut. Bought a lot of old slides from me over the years. I am currently considering a 1938 Aussie Raycophone similar to this one. Non-functional, but would make a nice display piece alongside some period cinema seating.
ESTELLE WATERMAN ( 1909 - 1976 ) aka ESTELLE MAUD ( CLAIRE
) WATERMAN also CLAIRE SIMPSON. No confirmed image
of her found,
Female poster artists appear to have been a rare species. In
Australia there are only two female artists that I have managed to locate who
did get to sign some of their work in the 1920s and the 1930s. Estelle
Waterman who I am covering here was one, with the other one being Eileen
Farquhar who, although I haven't found any signed film posters at all, she did
sign numerous film advertising material that was published in the Everyones trade publication.
In the late 2000s I managed to speak to Australian film
poster artist Aub. Mosely three times over the telephone. At one poInt we did
speak about female poster artists, and he did mention to me at least one worked at
W.E.Smith during the period he worked there between 1948 - 1953. Aub did make a
point of saying they were good at what they did.
Estelle Waterman was a graphic artist who had trained at the East Sydney Technical College. During her time there in 1926 an exhibion was held of artwork done by students of East Sydney Technical College. Estelle's work was mentioned as being extremely original.
.
A clothing the man drawing competition held in Sydney in 1921. Estelle's entry is the one fourth from left to right. Image sourced from Trove.
She was married in 1937 to author Colin Simpson. She was credited as providing some of the drawings appearing in an unknown number of Colin Simpson's published books. Estelle in the late 1920s had been doing artwork for book covers at Angus And Robertson the book publishers.
The Country Upatairs ( 1956 ). Colin Simpson Author & Claire Simpson illustrator. Estelle was now being credited as Claire Simpson on her work.
Japan An Intimate View ( 1959 ) updated and revised 1960s edition. Colin Simpson author with decorations by Claire Simpson.
In 1928 she was employed at Cinema Art Distributors as an artist at the time when the publicity department announced the opening of their own art department. This surely was impressive as she was only nineteen around that time.
The following three posters are the only known film posters to me that were signed by Estelle. All three were printed by Marchant & co.Ltd. Sydney. As not all film posters were signed by the their artists there is a possibility that there may have been other unsigned posters from Cinema Art that she completed that we will never know about. On saying this though it is possible that her involvement with designing film posters may have been brief.
Crazy Mazie ( 1927 ) Australian daybill with Estelle's signature from this poster and What For? ( 1926 ) Australian daybill. Both films released in Australia in 1928. Above images courtesy of John Reid.
Peaks Of Destiny ( 1926 ) Australian daybill. This film was released in Australia in 1928. Image courtesy of the NFSA, and they asked would I include the following link.
Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore ( 1974 ) foreign international one sheet. Another example of Warner Brothers here in Australia in the 1970s using printed in the USA posters instead of printing their own Australian one sheets. The Australian censorship NRC rating stamp appears on the poster.
Phantom Of The Opera ( 1943 ) Australian F. Cunninghame printed one sheet and the W.E. Smith printed daybill. The film is of course about the phantom. His image appears on the one sheet, but for wharever reason it doesn't appear on the daybill. Very odd indeed I will say.
Some further information regarding Stone ( 1974 ). Original extensive information and discussions can be located within this thread on pages 12 and mainly 13, recorded between October and December 2019. There is also some Stone related material to be found on the Glass Slides thread located on the current page number two.
Sandy Harbutt was born in 1941 and died on 21 November 2020 at age 79.
I was lucky enough to track him down and to correspond with him between December 2019 and April 1920. I spoke to him regarding the various screenings of his 1974 released film Stone. I forwarded to him all the images and information that I had collected on Stone and the history of my interpration of the film's film distribution in Australia.
He had indicated to me early in our conversations that he was still leading a very busy life, but still willing to assist me where possible. I forwarded to Sandy my thoughts in how Stone was distributed over the years. The relevant section regarding these details are as follows.
My thoughts are –
Original release in 1974 by British Empire Films ( BEF
). Distributor name changed to Greater Union ( GUO ) during the films run. Five
year distribution deal finished in 1979.
Films rights in 1979 reverted back to makers Hedon
Productions. The film was perhaps self distributed in Australia for a short
period before the film was handed over to Eric Dare / The House Of Dare to
handle distribution. They then released Stone in in the early 1980s under
their Garland Productions Pty.Ltd. name for a set period of time. I would
believe the film once more revered back to Hedon Productions after this
arrangement finished.
A 1995 21 year anniversary re-release took place in 1995.
Hedon productions distribution most likely.
I have my beliefs on determining the various poster versions
as to when they may have been released and by whom.
Looking forward in any assistance that you can supply me
regarding this matter and how close I am in determining the facts on the
posters release dates.
A response to the above was in part the following,
Your research has been thorough and accurate and I can
give you finer details if needed.
I will be happy to assist you in your project and you can
contact me about anything to do with STONE.
There was a long period I didn't hear from him after this. My last email that I received from him is as follows.
Hey Lawrence
My life is a little crazed at
the moment. I’m isolated and trying to catch up on a month’s work and am still
three weeks behind.
Yes, you can use my quote.
However that was in regard to the history of distribution you sent to me. You
did not nor have not sent me any images of the posters which I would be very
glad to receive and classify as needed.
Hoping to be of further
assistance and , again, good wishes for your project.
Cheers Sandy.
After receiving this correspondance I forwarded to Sandy all the numerous images that I held at that time.
I never heard back from him after this, and as he mentioned how busy he was and that he had earlier mentioned some health problems, I never wrote to him again. Approximately seven months later he was longer with us. Unfortuneately Sandy never got to classify the images for me. At least though he got to support the history of Stones's distribution details I had sent hilm by saying it was thorough and accurate.
Sandy was busy negotiating a distribution agreement and being at Stone's 45 year celebrations and accompanying screenings at the Ascot Theatre in Melbourne in December 2019.
Courtesy of John Hamilton and James Hutton the following link and above image should be of interest to any Stone fans.
As no comments have been received regarding any of my last four postings here on this thread, I find this disappointing. This then doesn't encourage me to continue contributing any more new material to this thread, at least for the time being anyway. I will have a rest and catch up on a few other matters long due in needing my attention.
Comments
Here is a handy checklist to help tell eMoviePoster.com apart from all other major auctions!
Davies, Frank Tyler and Fred Brodrick I'd rank as the top 3.
Following up on my June 2019 information and discussion that was included on this thread regarding The Kelly Gang.
I have just discovered further details regarding this poster which was sold on 23 June 2019 by Leski Auctions Melbourne and was listed as being a 1909 The Story Of The Kelly Gang poster.
This poster sold for $ 4,200, which was 4 times the price originally paid for it. The poster was bought about 15 years previously at an auction place at Pyrmont. This information supplied by the original owner Ian, who was very happy with the price realised, along with other items of his that were obtained when auctioned through Leski Auctions as well.
This poster was authenticated by Josef from Josef Lebovic Gallery, who is an expert in this area.
Yes the three artists you mentioned also rank highly with me, but let's not forget Fred Powis ( The Cat And The Canary ) and Bernie Bragg ( Metropolis ) as well.
I intend to cover the five mentioned artists at some time or another when time allows me to do this.
In the case of Wynne W. Davies U.S. poster work I have images of four signed film posters that he designed there. I will include images of these titles when I compile his coverage here on this thread.
Removed by me. See following entry.
Some additional material on the previously posted Australian movie poster artist Tom Ferry shortly.
Tom Ferry was employed as a poster artist at Hollander And Govett in the earlier part of his career. No more details about this period have been located.
Canberra Times ACT 16 June 1977 story. along with the two mentioned The Story Of The Kelly Gang Australian posters.
Although this information is mainly known I thought the clipping may still be of interest, as I don't believe it has been displayed on the forum previously.
Peter
It isn't certain ( proved ) that this poster is from the same film that the two The Story Of The Kelly Gang posters above are advertising. This poster has been discussed on the forum in the past on several occassions regarding this.
One of the highlights poster wise for me was when I attended the Pickles Auction in Sydney on the 7th November 1998. Attendees / bidders were allowed to handle all of the posters, which included 66 individual titles, with many multiples and different styles of films made between 1927 and 1932. Almost all the posters were one sheets.
If anyone is interested in reading about this auction you can find my earlier comments on the ''There Are Australian Daybill & One Sheets Existing For These Films'' thread beginning on page one. I have just added some new material onto this thread and one is able to find it located just l under this Hondo's This And That forum thread on the main discussion title page.
I am curious as to which of The Raindow Trail one sheets you are interested in? November 7, 1998 was a long time ago and memory for details twenty two years previous understandingly aren't as sharp as they used to be. Nevertheless I am certain that I remember seeing the second image design of the U.S.A. one sheet styles appearing below of George O'Brien's character with the heroinine sitting on a horse.
One clear memory from the auction was that there were multiple copies of the following Pardon Us one sheet design. I cannot locate the catalogue at present to check on how many copies there actually were, but three or four I am thinking.
A comment was made at the auction that if the same person was to purchase all the ( damaged to some extent ) posters of Pardon Us, a beautiful restored poster would be a distinct possibility to then accomplish.
Stand And Deliver ( 1928 ) original U.S.A. one sheet and an Australian long daybill stock poster produced sometime after the Australian 1929 release took place.
This is an early example of an Australian stock poster. Anyone have any other examples of any earlier Australian stock posters used prior to this example, that they may like to share?
It Takes All kinds ( 1969 ). One has to ponder why BEF would have bothered to have had printed four different Australian daybills for this 'B' grade film that received very limited bookings?
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-05-08/australian-cinema-history-brought-to-life/100100116
I am currently considering a 1938 Aussie Raycophone similar to this one. Non-functional, but would make a nice display piece alongside some period cinema seating.
ESTELLE WATERMAN ( 1909 - 1976 ) aka ESTELLE MAUD ( CLAIRE ) WATERMAN also CLAIRE SIMPSON. No confirmed image of her found,
Female poster artists appear to have been a rare species. In Australia there are only two female artists that I have managed to locate who did get to sign some of their work in the 1920s and the 1930s. Estelle Waterman who I am covering here was one, with the other one being Eileen Farquhar who, although I haven't found any signed film posters at all, she did sign numerous film advertising material that was published in the Everyones trade publication.
In the late 2000s I managed to speak to Australian film poster artist Aub. Mosely three times over the telephone. At one poInt we did speak about female poster artists, and he did mention to me at least one worked at W.E.Smith during the period he worked there between 1948 - 1953. Aub did make a point of saying they were good at what they did.
Estelle Waterman was a graphic artist who had trained at the East Sydney Technical College. During her time there in 1926 an exhibion was held of artwork done by students of East Sydney Technical College. Estelle's work was mentioned as being extremely original.
A clothing the man drawing competition held in Sydney in 1921. Estelle's entry is the one fourth from left to right. Image sourced from Trove.
She was married in 1937 to author Colin Simpson. She was credited as providing some of the drawings appearing in an unknown number of Colin Simpson's published books. Estelle in the late 1920s had been doing artwork for book covers at Angus And Robertson the book publishers.
The Country Upatairs ( 1956 ). Colin Simpson Author & Claire Simpson illustrator. Estelle was now being credited as Claire Simpson on her work.
Japan An Intimate View ( 1959 ) updated and revised 1960s edition. Colin Simpson author with decorations by Claire Simpson.
In 1928 she was employed at Cinema Art Distributors as an artist at the time when the publicity department announced the opening of their own art department. This surely was impressive as she was only nineteen around that time.
The following three posters are the only known film posters to me that were signed by Estelle. All three were printed by Marchant & co.Ltd. Sydney. As not all film posters were signed by the their artists there is a possibility that there may have been other unsigned posters from Cinema Art that she completed that we will never know about. On saying this though it is possible that her involvement with designing film posters may have been brief.
Crazy Mazie ( 1927 ) Australian daybill with Estelle's signature from this poster and What For? ( 1926 ) Australian daybill. Both films released in Australia in 1928. Above images courtesy of John Reid.
Peaks Of Destiny ( 1926 ) Australian daybill. This film was released in Australia in 1928. Image courtesy of the NFSA, and they asked would I include the following link.
https://www.nfsa.gov.au/collection/curated/cinema-art-posters
Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore ( 1974 ) foreign international one sheet. Another example of Warner Brothers here in Australia in the 1970s using printed in the USA posters instead of printing their own Australian one sheets. The Australian censorship NRC rating stamp appears on the poster.
Phantom Of The Opera ( 1943 ) Australian F. Cunninghame printed one sheet and the W.E. Smith printed daybill. The film is of course about the phantom. His image appears on the one sheet, but for wharever reason it doesn't appear on the daybill. Very odd indeed I will say.
Sandy Harbutt was born in 1941 and died on 21 November 2020 at age 79.
I was lucky enough to track him down and to correspond with him between December 2019 and April 1920. I spoke to him regarding the various screenings of his 1974 released film Stone. I forwarded to him all the images and information that I had collected on Stone and the history of my interpration of the film's film distribution in Australia.
He had indicated to me early in our conversations that he was still leading a very busy life, but still willing to assist me where possible. I forwarded to Sandy my thoughts in how Stone was distributed over the years. The relevant section regarding these details are as follows.
My thoughts are –
Original release in 1974 by British Empire Films ( BEF ). Distributor name changed to Greater Union ( GUO ) during the films run. Five year distribution deal finished in 1979.
Films rights in 1979 reverted back to makers Hedon Productions. The film was perhaps self distributed in Australia for a short period before the film was handed over to Eric Dare / The House Of Dare to handle distribution. They then released Stone in in the early 1980s under their Garland Productions Pty.Ltd. name for a set period of time. I would believe the film once more revered back to Hedon Productions after this arrangement finished.
A 1995 21 year anniversary re-release took place in 1995. Hedon productions distribution most likely.
I have my beliefs on determining the various poster versions as to when they may have been released and by whom.
Looking forward in any assistance that you can supply me regarding this matter and how close I am in determining the facts on the posters release dates.
A response to the above was in part the following,
Your research has been thorough and accurate and I can give you finer details if needed.
I will be happy to assist you in your project and you can contact me about anything to do with STONE.
There was a long period I didn't hear from him after this. My last email that I received from him is as follows.
Hey LawrenceMy life is a little crazed at the moment. I’m isolated and trying to catch up on a month’s work and am still three weeks behind.
Yes, you can use my quote. However that was in regard to the history of distribution you sent to me. You did not nor have not sent me any images of the posters which I would be very glad to receive and classify as needed.
Hoping to be of further assistance and , again, good wishes for your project.
Cheers Sandy.
After receiving this correspondance I forwarded to Sandy all the numerous images that I held at that time.
I never heard back from him after this, and as he mentioned how busy he was and that he had earlier mentioned some health problems, I never wrote to him again. Approximately seven months later he was longer with us. Unfortuneately Sandy never got to classify the images for me. At least though he got to support the history of Stones's distribution details I had sent hilm by saying it was thorough and accurate.
Sandy was busy negotiating a distribution agreement and being at Stone's 45 year celebrations and accompanying screenings at the Ascot Theatre in Melbourne in December 2019.
Courtesy of John Hamilton and James Hutton the following link and above image should be of interest to any Stone fans.
https://thebeast.com.au/other/even-die-dont-cut-shot/
As no comments have been received regarding any of my last four postings here on this thread, I find this disappointing. This then doesn't encourage me to continue contributing any more new material to this thread, at least for the time being anyway. I will have a rest and catch up on a few other matters long due in needing my attention.