Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Showmanship Displayed as Tyrant Lizards Battle in Deadly Combat!


Movie Tagline:"See tyrant lizards in deadly combat!"

Motion Picture Herald, December 25, 1948:
"E. A. McKenna is manager of the new Joy Theatre in New Orleans, a modern first run theatre where showmanship was displayed in the exploitation of Film Classics's 'Unknown Island'. The marquee figures, currently being shipped from town to town, are big enough and bold enough to attract plenty of attention." 


"Joy Theatre marquee, largest in the South, is 110 feet long and every inch of it is usable display space for modern marquee letters in various sizes and colors. Sign faces busy Canal Street, in downtown New Orleans." 


 "Prehistoric animals atop the marquee are 30 feet high. But not too difficult to build in any good sign shop."


Exploitation trailers such as this may be new in New Orleans, at any rate, this one stopped holiday shoppers on crowded streets."




Cezar Del Valle is the author of the Brooklyn Theatre Index, a three-volume history of borough theatres. The first two volumes chosen 2010 OUTSTANDING BOOK OF THE YEAR by the Theatre Historical Society. Final volume published in September 2014. 

He is available for theatre talks and walks in 2015: historical societies, libraries, senior centers, etc.

New selling vintage on Etsy.

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