This month, scores of scarce movie posters featuring some of the 20th century’s most legendary films will be auctioned off as an American collector decides to part with several of his treasured belongings.
Recently, over 500 vintage film posters and lobby cards from iconic movies like "King Kong," "Casablanca," and "2001: A Space Odyssey" were showcased in major cities including London, New York, and Chicago.
Collected over half a century by real estate agent Dwight Cleveland, they are to be auctioned by Heritage showrooms in Dallas on March 27 and 28.
"Each one of them holds special value for me since they were all carefully selected," Cleveland, who is 65 years old, stated to AFP.
These pieces of art serve a commercial purpose. Their aim was to capture our attention forcefully and pull us towards a movie theater with the message, 'Watch this film.'
However, this was also considered "significant art" that transcended mere advertisement, he contended.
The posters and cards, meant for exhibition in cinema lobbies, cover approximately 125 years of cinematic history. Numerous illustrations hail from the latter part of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century.
However, after five decades, it has become increasingly difficult to locate new items for the collection," Cleveland stated.
He mentioned, 'I don’t think there’s anything more I can contribute or dedicate to this hobby.'
He mentioned that some of the posters could perform better at auctions compared to others, particularly the one from the 1933 film "King Kong," which features actress Fay Wray being held by the creature.
The anticipated starting price ranges from $40,000 to $80,000.
Passion
"Heritage’s offering from Cleveland's collection in March showcases the cream of the crop," stated Joe Maddalena, who serves as the company’s vice president.
Cleveland stated that what sets him apart from many collectors is his initial infatuation with the art itself.
I am not coming at this from a film background.
Cleveland’s fascination with the topic started during his time at school when his art instructor showcased film posters and lobby cards in the classroom.
Cleveland mentioned, "We passed by those daily, and to be frank, we often teased him because he owned quite an extensive and rather obscure collection."
However, one day in 1977, during his final year of schooling, he found himself captivated by a lobby card from the 1929 film "Wolf Song," which featured Gary Cooper alongside Mexican actor Lupe Velez.
He got intrigued and it took him eighteen months to collect enough movie memorabilia to swap for the card with his previous teacher--fueling a lifetime passion for gathering.
The comprehensive collection from Cleveland was previously showcased at the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach, Florida during 2019.
Other exhibits have taken place in San Diego, Los Angeles, and New York.
Among the scarce items up for auction is a 1953 Italian poster for the classic 1942 movie "Casablanca," featuring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman.
The majority of the posters up for auction are expected to sell within the range of $1,000 to $2,000 each. Heritage predicts that the entire event could generate approximately one million dollars.
Following the auction in Dallas, Cleveland will retain roughly 10,000 lobby cards and approximately 500 posters, items he may eventually choose to donate or sell off through an auction house.
He stated, "I will feel sorrow seeing some of them leave, yet I will also be delighted knowing they will end up with other collectors who will truly value them."
