Posteropolis Is Not A What But A Who
Hi. My name is Dave Rosen.
I've been collecting pop culture items for over 20 years now. I started with vintage paperbacks, moved on to pulp magazines, then tin toys and board games. But really I've always been a movie buff, going back to the days when I was a kid watching old movies on our little black-and-white TV.
Despite all this it took me a while to get into collecting movie posters. In fact, until about 10 years ago, it had never even occurred to me that you could actually own these bold, colorful and sometimes even downright beautiful objects any more than you could own the experience of the movies themselves. But you can.
Once I figured that out there was no stopping me. Soon I was buying posters by the hundreds, eventually owning thousands. And that's about when I decided it was time I started to share my passion for movie posters with other people. Which is what I do now full-time.
Where Did The Posters Come From?
ALL of these posters are original theatre-used items produced by the movie studios for the exclusive use of theatre owners at the time of the original release of the movies. They were printed in limited quantities (see my About Vintage Movie Posters page for more) and were never intended to be sold to the public. They are NOT reproductions. In other words, by purchasing a vintage movie poster from me, you will be buying a real piece of movie history.
Since these posters were hand-picked by me, they tend to reflect my biases and interests, but I have always bought with an eye to design, significance and quirkyness. Thus you might not have heard of a lot of the movies on this site (don't forget, in their heyday, the major Hollywood studios would each churn out an average of one feature film a week, plus shorts, newsreels, cartoons, etc.) but you will be struck by how the posters look and what they mean. This is why every poster image on this site is accompanied by a listing of the year of release (and/or re-release), the director, the cast, alternate titles and an occasional note on a film's significance, if it has any.
Are There Posters In Stock Other The Ones Shown On The Website?
Yes. As of this writing, I have thousands of vintage movie posters available for sale. Only about 25% of them are displayed on this website but I am always adding more, so be sure to come back and visit often to see what's new. And if you don't see something you're looking for, e-mail me and ask for it. I either have it or can get it for you.
Why Are They Organized The Way They Are?
The organization of this website is purely subjective. Many posters fit into more than one category and some seem to be in a category by themselves. But I've compromised between standard categories (War, Western, Comedy, etc.) and more exotic ones (Exploitation, Propaganda, etc.). I am also always adding new categories as my selection grows.
Why Are They Priced The Way They Are?
Because I'm an individual as opposed to a big company my overhead is very low, so the prices I ask can be very low, too (obviously, not as low as what I paid – my intention in selling these posters is partly to recoup my expenses and make it possible to buy more). I also want to encourage people to buy and own posters, first because I think it will bring them a lot of enjoyment and because I want to share my enthusiasm for them.
Do I Have To Be A Collector To Buy?
Absolutely not. Though I mainly sell to collectors, I also cater to movie buffs, those with an affection for pop culture generally, those with a love of vintage graphic design and those attracted to the strange and offbeat. You won't find any of these items in the video department at Wal-Mart!
Things I Don't Offer
I do not frame or mount posters. They are sold as is, just as they were distributed to the theatres that used them. Most are folded as they were originally issued (except for lobby cards and rolled posters) and all of them can be easily sent through the mail (for more on shipping, go to my Shipping page).
I am not a conservator and can give no advice on restoring or preserving them. However, if it is your intention to keep them in the condition you get them in, and if you think it is worth the money, have them framed using archival materials (such as acid-free mats and backing boards). Then your posters will be preserved and give you pleasure for many years to come.
Now take a look around at the posters and HAVE FUN!
Dave Rosen
Posteropolis Vintage Posters & Memorabilia