Welcome back to this week's look at Heritage's Sunday night movie poster auction! Every week Heritage auctions off some truly unique finds across all movie genres, such as movie serials, animation, science fiction, romance, and more. Each week I find a few gems that could be overlooked! Here are my pics for this week's unique finds!
Ringling Bros - Barnum and Bailey Vintage Circus Poster
While not a movie, vintage circus posters (and other items) are highly collectible pieces. Perhaps it's people's fond memories of visiting a circus as a child, or an interest in American history, but items like this poster are exciting to come by. Posters such as these were the number one way a circus would get the attention of potential customers, so the posters had to be dynamic, exciting, and intriguing. The danger of a tiger, a friendly smiling clown, or the majestic big top itself, were all subjects that could be found on circus posters at this time. Ringling Bros was - and arguably still is- America's most well-known circus act. The company has been around for over 180 years and still puts on shows to this day.
This unrestored poster is noted as being in Fine/Very Fine condition and would be a unique piece for the right collector. I don't see this style of poster pop up in auctions often, so this could be your only chance to grab it for a while.
Jaws 1975
Jaws is the quintessential summer horror movie. Set in a quaint beach town around the 4th of July - the peak of summer - this movie dives right in with its first victim within minutes. Due to production issues, directly Steven Spielberg used nuance and atmosphere to make it appear as if the killer shark was always near. When the shark did appear, the terrifying animatronic looked as menacing as a real shark. Unfortunately, many of the mechanical beasts haven't survived long past production. Jaws has remained one of the landmark movies in pop culture and is still as thrilling as it was on its release in 1975.
The iconic poster by Roger Kastel features the killer shark swimming up towards its victim has been parodied time and time again. It is one of the most recognizable movie posters and has been reprinted millions of times. The image captures the sense of urgency well. This poster is a work of art.
This unrestored poster is noted as being in Very Fine condition, though it was folded. As it was from the original movie release, this is a key piece for collectors of all types. If you're looking to add one to your collection, this could be the piece!
The Munchkins of Oz Ensemble Photo
MGM's The Wizard of Oz is one of the most important American films, though it did not come without complications. From director changes to accidents on set, and so much more, it's amazing that the movie was even finished at all. Based on the novel series by L. Frank Baum, this film adaptation was - and remains - the best theatrical adaptation of the series. The use of Technicolor in the film is jaw-droppingly beautiful, and combined with a memorable score and cast of characters, this movie deserves to be celebrated. With its 85th anniversary quickly approaching, I wouldn't be surprised if more Oz memorabilia came up for auction.
This unique piece features an ensemble cast of the Munchkins, Judy Garland, Mervyn LeRoy, and Victor Fleming. The photo is autographed by 10 of the Munchkins. Heritage notes that this piece is in Very Fine / Near Mint condition, and deserves to be on display in any home.
