I have 2 posters that, when the times comes, will be the last to escape my grasp. Both horror, and both for different reasons. One is a THEATRE OF BLOOD 30x40 because it represents the beginning of my collecting "sickness". The short version is I was always attracted to the posters that hung outside of the theatre and as I got older, I would call up the managers and ask to buy the poster. The answer was ALWAYS the same - "no, no they have to be sent back! Nope, sorry, you can't have it." Naturally the more they deny you, the more you want it. One day a friend said he has gotten friendly with a certain theatre manager and that he would sell us posters. I don't believe him, but I tell him I like the poster to the movie currently showing and would like to get it. A week later I go over to his house and he points to something rolled up in the corner. He tells me to take a look at it, which I do. Holy shit! Theatre Of Blood! This opened the floodgates to a 40+ year hobby and business, so it's more the sentiment than the value.
In the mid 80's I ran the movie poster section of a store in NJ. One of the collections I bought was 2 big boxes of 1-sheets and 8x10 still sets. I have the stills packed up in a long comic book box and was trying to decide what exactly to do with them. A collector friend comes in one evening and asks to take a look at the still sets, which he does. When he's done he asks me not to sell any of the because he wants the entire box. No problem. Early the next week he comes into the store and he's got something in a 22x28 frame. He's got it facing him so I can't see what it is but I know it's something good because the other guys in the store can see it and they've got wide eyed expressions on their faces. My friend says "I would like to trade this poster for the box of stills". I respond "well, I was hoping to get some cash for them. What poster did you have in mind?" He puts the frame on the counter; ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN style B. I don't think twice - "OK! You got a deal, son!" The best trade I ever made and I just can't part with it.