Restrictions on Access
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
Preferred Citation
UCLA Catalog Record ID
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
History
Scope and Content
Organization and Arrangement
Title: Motion picture lobby cards
Collection number: PASC 65
Contributing Institution:
UCLA Library Special Collections
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
55.5 linear ft.
(111 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1913-1999
Abstract: The collection consists of primarily of American motion picture lobby cards dating from 1913 to ca 1980s.
Language of Materials: Materials are in English.
Physical Location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library Special
Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Restrictions on Access
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the UCLA Library Special
Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
Property rights to the physical object belong to the UC Regents. Literary rights, including copyright, are retained by the
creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright
owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Motion Picture Lobby Cards (Collection PASC 65). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young
Research Library, UCLA.
UCLA Catalog Record ID
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
Donation; 1982, 1985, 1988.
History
Lobby cards were introduced in the 1910s as promotional tools in movie theatres. The first lobby cards were 8" x 10" (the
size of a contemporary motion picture still) black and white or brown and white until the introduction of color cards in about
1917. They increased in size to 11" x 14" and eventually became a standard part of promotional materials sent to theatres
for advertising their coming attractions. By the 1920s, lobby card sets included eight cards: seven scene cards and a title
card. The title card included major credits for the film; the remaining scene cards depicted key scenes from the films they
advertised. The scene images were often the product of a still photographer who accompanied the cast and crew to shoot both
film stills and images for the theatre lobbies. Occassionally, for major releases, Hollywood studios would sometimes issue
sixteen card sets, including two title cards and fourteen scenes. Lobby Cards are no longer used in U.S. theaters and are
rarely produced for today's films.
Scope and Content
Collection consists of motion picture lobby cards dating from 1913. Includes primarily American titles with an average of
1-7 items per title. All cards are color and measure 11x14 inches. The bulk of the collection dates from the 1950s on.
Organization and Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by title.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Advertising--Motion pictures.
Lobby cards.