Author Topic: How much is a 110 yr. old Theater Poster worth?  (Read 2116 times)

jondar

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How much is a 110 yr. old Theater Poster worth?
« on: November 28, 2018, 12:02:40 pm »
Maybe not much.  This one is like the old 30's posters that were in the foyer of the old movie theaters showing coming attractions. About 38 inches high and twelve inches wide.  I bought it at an antique auction many years ago, researched it, stored it in a shady bedroom, face against the wall.  With the help of the Kansas Historical Society I got most of the story behind it.

In a nutshell, Little Joe was a fire horse in Kansas City Mo. in the latter part of the 19th century.  He was quite a favorite with the people in Kansas City.  While active he took part in various contests of fire horses both here and abroad.  When he died there was a movement in the Kansas City area to raise the money needed to pay a taxidermist to preserve the remains, like Commanche, Keogh's horse at the Little Big Horn.  A play called "Divorce" was produced with the idea of all receipts from the play would be used for the taxidermy.  Whether or not I never found whether this came to pass or not. The play went on as planned at the Old 9th Street theater in KC, Mo which later became the Follies Theater up around 10th & Cherry St.


I haven't ran it on an Internet auction simply because I don't know where to price it.  Perhaps some of you folks may have an idea of where to start it.


mart

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Re: How much is a 110 yr. old Theater Poster worth?
« Reply #1 on: November 28, 2018, 07:15:14 pm »
First thing you need to do is to contact the Kansas City, MO historical society !!  The problem with items like this is, they are only of interest to those  who know the story and live in that area !!  How much do you have invested in it ??

jondar

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Re: How much is a 110 yr. old Theater Poster worth?
« Reply #2 on: November 29, 2018, 07:02:34 pm »
I can't remember exactly what I paid but it was under $20.  Its been upstairs in a bedroom stored there since 1974 or so.  I had almost forgotten about it.  The auction was stopped after I had bought about four items.  No reason for stopping it, as i remember, but I think the items just weren't bringing what they thought was fair.

Geinado

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Re: How much is a 110 yr. old Theater Poster worth?
« Reply #3 on: November 30, 2018, 01:11:48 am »
We like this content a lot because it gives us more knowledge.

jondar

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Re: How much is a 110 yr. old Theater Poster worth?
« Reply #4 on: November 30, 2018, 10:37:15 am »
Geinado, Thank you!   Mart, good advice about contacting the Missouri Historical Society, will certainly e-mail them if they have an address.  An alternate action is maybe driving the 30 miles to the Kansas Historical Society Museum and getting the spool of newspaper blurbs for the period immediately after the horse's death.  I would think there may be a followup to the play's presentation.  Interesting that one could go and see the five act play at that time for fifty cents.

mart

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Re: How much is a 110 yr. old Theater Poster worth?
« Reply #5 on: November 30, 2018, 02:27:39 pm »
Ha !!  Back in the 60`s I got in the movie theater for $.25 !!  Next door at the drug store soda fountain a butter pecan sundae was $.35 !!  Times change !!

KC

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Re: How much is a 110 yr. old Theater Poster worth?
« Reply #6 on: December 03, 2018, 10:48:20 am »
Mart I could top you on that one - in the early/mid 60's we got in for Movie Saturday Matinees for $.10 and 5 Pepsi bottle crowns/caps!  (People would leave bottle caps out separate by their trash cans for kids to pick up!)

jondar, good ideas to find out the value.  Good sources to search. There are lots of people that would live in that area who would be interested in the history. 

Thanks for sharing all your great items!
I'm from the South - but please don't mistake my Southern Manners/Accent/Charm as a weakness!

mart

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Re: How much is a 110 yr. old Theater Poster worth?
« Reply #7 on: December 03, 2018, 12:43:00 pm »
Darn KC !!  How did you get in for a dime ??  I was tiny and they only charged me a childs ticket price !!  Glad they never asked my age !!

KC

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Re: How much is a 110 yr. old Theater Poster worth?
« Reply #8 on: December 03, 2018, 01:22:54 pm »
The little movie theater had an agreement with Pepsi and they figured if you brought in 5 bottle caps you were supporting Pepsi Co - thus $.10 cents and the 5 bottle caps.  (We supported Trash Can Alley picking!  Mom wouldn't let us have the sodas.)

You also got a numbered ticket and during intermission they would call a few numbers for free treats at the snack bar (Pepsi's or Popcorn)!  I never won...but sure have good memories of that time!
I'm from the South - but please don't mistake my Southern Manners/Accent/Charm as a weakness!