Why so many poster sizes?

[eatbrie]

Historically speaking, does anyone know how the different poster sizes were used?

The insert, 1/2 sheet, lobby card set and one sheet, I can imagine them in front of theaters.

But why did they need window cards, 3 sheets in 2 pieces, 30x40in with white borders on the side, 40x60in or 6 sheets?  How did they put them up?  Where were they located?

T

[CSM]

Window cards were placed all over the town literally in shop windows

Not necessarily at the theatre itself...

[erik1925]

3 sheets, 6 sheets, LC were often in displays at the (outside) front of the theaters, to the left and right of the ticket window, in display windows, or cases.

This awesome thread really shows many of the sizes and styles and how they were displayed, back in the day, too! :   

http://www.allposterforum.com/index.php/topic,5703.0.html

[paul waines]

And just to answer the 3sht's in two pieces..

Most printers only take a 60x40 sheet, so there would be a run of the main section, and then the smaller piece would be printed twice on the same piece of 60x40 paper, and cut into two.

This is the case in the UK, I assume it's the same for the States..

Yes there are bigger printers, but the cost of them, don't make sense to buy when your most common poster size is smaller. 

[eatbrie]

Are there any pictures of a 6 sheet in front of a theater?

[erik1925]

T,

Here's a 6 sheet in the open foyer, on the bottom, center-right of the photo, facing out to the street, for the 1940 movie, called Boss of Bullion City.

[MoviePosterBid.com]

depending on what theatre, 1sh, 3sh & lc's were displayed out front. half sheets and inserts in the outside lobby or the inside lobby.
one of the theatres I went to as a kid had a 6 sheet approx ground level on the side of the theatre around the corner from the entrance and a billboard above with a 24 sheet

30x40 were displayed in various areas inside and outside. 40x60 were for the most part used at drive-ins

window cards were usually displayed in store windows. In cities only in stores near the theatre, in small towns many stores would have them. The theatre usually gave free seats to store owners for displaying the cards or some other promotional consideration

[Bruce]

But why did they need 3 sheets in 2 pieces?

Actually, 3-sheets were originally in 3 pieces. The first presses could only accommodate a 28 x 42 sheet (some places printed that size, and others 27 x 41). When larger sizes were created, they were just multiples of that, so 3-sheets printed on 3 one-sheet sized pieces (laid on their sides, to measure 41 x 81), 6-sheets printed on 6 one-sheet sized pieces, and 24-sheets printed on 24 one-sheet sized pieces. This was true into the late 1920s. In England, the "sheet" was 30 x 40, so English 3-sheets measured 40 x 90 or so.

In the late 1920s, presses that could print larger "two-sheet sized" pieces were developed, and three-sheets became two sections, six-sheets became 4 sections, and 24-sheets became 12 sections. It wasn't for many decades until a press was made that could print a three-sheet in one-section.

Almost no theaters had three-sheet or six-sheet frames. The vast majority of them were pasted or tacked or taped directly outdoors onto walls of buildings, which is why the bulk of them either survive in VERY "used condition" or in great condition (if they were unused). These posters were meant to be seen as you were driving or walking down the street from a good distance away, which is why the close detail is often not so carefully done (like where the sections matched) because one wouldn't notice such stuff from 50 or 100 feet away.

[Mirosae]

Actually, 3-sheets were originally in 3 pieces. The first presses could only accommodate a 28 x 42 sheet (some places printed that size, and others 27 x 41). When larger sizes were created, they were just multiples of that, so 3-sheets printed on 3 one-sheet sized pieces (laid on their sides, to measure 41 x 81), 6-sheets printed on 6 one-sheet sized pieces, and 24-sheets printed on 24 one-sheet sized pieces. This was true into the late 1920s. In England, the "sheet" was 30 x 40, so English 3-sheets measured 40 x 90 or so.

In the late 1920s, presses that could print larger "two-sheet sized" pieces were developed, and three-sheets became two sections, six-sheets became 4 sections, and 24-sheets became 12 sections. It wasn't for many decades until a press was made that could print a three-sheet in one-section.

Almost no theaters had three-sheet or six-sheet frames. The vast majority of them were pasted or tacked or taped directly outdoors onto walls of buildings, which is why the bulk of them either survive in VERY "used condition" or in great condition (if they were unused). These posters were meant to be seen as you were driving or walking down the street from a good distance away, which is why the close detail is often not so carefully done (like where the sections matched) because one wouldn't notice such stuff from 50 or 100 feet away.

this is v helpful. I always thought six-sheet posters  were meant for drive in cinemas...

[paul waines]

Bruce the 40x90 are called 6 sheets over here, 3 sheets are smaller, about 40x81-82 same as the U.S.

Also over here they were printing using the 60x40 size since the late 1800's..

And the "sheet" over here was not the 40x30, it's always been the 30x20 Double Crown, which all other sizes are based on.

EG.  Single Crown 20x15, Double Crown 30x20, Quad Crown 40x30, UK 4 sheet 60x40, UK 6 sheet 90x40, etc.. 

"just saying"   

[boxofficebrian]

WOW just seeing the old photographs with the posters on display and the over the top marquees...

I can just imagine putting on my sunday's finest and heading to an evening show.

I was born in the wrong era 

[Bruce]

Bruce the 40x90 are called 6 sheets over here, 3 sheets are smaller, about 40x81-82 same as the U.S.

Also over here they were printing using the 60x40 size since the late 1800's..

And the "sheet" over here was not the 40x30, it's always been the 30x20 Double Crown, which all other sizes are based on.

EG.  Single Crown 20x15, Double Crown 30x20, Quad Crown 40x30, UK 4 sheet 60x40, UK 6 sheet 90x40, etc.. 

"just saying"   

I stand corrected!

[eatbrie]

So what's the point of 30x40in?  I mean, why did they have to make a 27x41 wider?  And it's not so much that they re-designed the poster, like they did with Insert, 1/2 sheet, 3 sheets and 6 sheets.  They just added white borders on each side.  I don't get it.  Rich said they were used inside and outside, but why not use a 1 sheet?

T

[wonka]

I have heard many o' tale about 6 sheets being proudly and majestically displayed in the lobby of huge 'palace'/opera houses for full effect.

One of my recent 6sh acquisitions was prominently displayed in the center of the lobby at a very old theater from downtown Louisville.

[Bruce]

So what's the point of 30x40in?  I mean, why did they have to make a 27x41 wider?  And it's not so much that they re-designed the poster, like they did with Insert, 1/2 sheet, 3 sheets and 6 sheets.  They just added white borders on each side.  I don't get it.  Rich said they were used inside and outside, but why not use a 1 sheet?

T

In old pressbooks, most 30x40s cost $1.50, while one-sheets cost 10 cents and 15 cents. They were printed on much better paper stock, but I can't see what theaters would have paid so much more for them. I fear it is a mystery that will never be solved!

[MoviePosterBid.com]

So what's the point of 30x40in?  I mean, why did they have to make a 27x41 wider?  And it's not so much that they re-designed the poster, like they did with Insert, 1/2 sheet, 3 sheets and 6 sheets.  They just added white borders on each side.  I don't get it.  Rich said they were used inside and outside, but why not use a 1 sheet?

T

just for fitting different displays Thierry

if you go to the UK that have that display, whose name I forget, that fits a quad, foh set & another quad
it has a specific name and I forget what it is. It was generally supplied by this one company that did different posters. Stew was kind enough to send me one poster for Farewell My Lovely that was used for these displays

[Bruce]

Bruce the 40x90 are called 6 sheets over here, 3 sheets are smaller, about 40x81-82 same as the U.S.

Also over here they were printing using the 60x40 size since the late 1800's..

And the "sheet" over here was not the 40x30, it's always been the 30x20 Double Crown, which all other sizes are based on.

EG.  Single Crown 20x15, Double Crown 30x20, Quad Crown 40x30, UK 4 sheet 60x40, UK 6 sheet 90x40, etc.. 

"just saying"   

Paul, I have seen a lot of English "six-sheets" that measure 40x85, NOT 40x81. What time period are you referring to?

[eatbrie]

just for fitting different displays Thierry

I understand that, Rich, but why would a theater need a specific 30x40in display when a 27x41in can be put up at the exact same location.  30x40in must have been designed for a specific reason.  Were the extra white borders hidden underneath the display and used to hold the poster, which you obviously couldn't do with a OS?

T

[MoviePosterBid.com]

30x40s were a more expensive alternative, so I suspect not all theatres used them. if you look at the thread we have of theatre setups on this forum (the old thread) you can see lots of them

[erik1925]

So it sounds like the 30x40s, done on heavier card stock and often using the silk screen process, were a more pricey alternative, for those theaters that wanted to "pony up?"

[paul waines]

Paul, I have seen a lot of English "six-sheets" that measure 40x85, NOT 40x81. What time period are you referring to?

You will find that Bruce, there's up to two inches of over lap on the two pieces, plus the cutting to take into account, as you will know the sizes are never spot on every go..

And the 40x81 will most likely be a 3 sheet.  Sometimes the size is printed on the poster, eg: six sheet.  I'll see if I can find one of mine with it on, and post a pic.

[Simes]

It is a fascinating question and one that I have mulled over in times past too - dunno why I did not create the thread to ask the very same.

I sense Thierry's frustration with the 30x40 question and subsequent lack of answers.  A thicker card stock for those theatres that wanted to pay more still does not explain why the size shifted slightly from the 1 Sheet.

A 1 Sheet could have been printed on heavier card stock, if card stock was the requirement.  Why go to the bother of adding borders and presumably having to erect an alternate method of mounting the poster in the foyer...?

[Simes]

if you go to the UK that have that display, whose name I forget, that fits a quad, foh set & another quad
it has a specific name and I forget what it is. It was generally supplied by this one company that did different posters. Stew was kind enough to send me one poster for Farewell My Lovely that was used for these displays

Fella - not sure if I am thinking at cross purposes, but would you be talking about the Marler Haley set?

If so, the presentation was two quads and four DCs, not an FOH set.  Although, to confuse matters, a selection of the FOH 10x8 stills were pasted to the secondary quad poster and / or the DCs.

[paul waines]

Here's the printing from a 12 sht, and a 6 sht..







And most of the time the Marler Haley sets only had one Quad.

[paul waines]

Oh, these pics are from the early, and mid 30's.