Sold For $13,749
*Includes Buyers Premium
Extensive collection of over 2,500 vintage Western B-movie posters, lobby cards, pressbooks, comic books, and related ephemera, encompassing more than 1,250 distinct titles and offering a remarkably broad survey of the genre’s golden age. Dating primarily from the 1940s and 1950s, with earlier and later material, reissues, and modern reproductions also represented, the archive chronicles the heyday of the theatrical “B” Western and its enduring presence in American popular culture. It is especially rich in material featuring the era’s beloved singing cowboys, masked riders, frontier lawmen, and Saturday-matinee heroes.
The collection contains exceptionally deep holdings devoted to Lash LaRue, with approximately 350 pieces; Johnny Mack Brown, with more than 310; Gene Autry, with over 250; Charles Starrett, with more than 215; and Roy Rogers, with over 200. Other major concentrations include approximately 140 pieces associated with Hopalong Cassidy and William Boyd, 135 featuring Rocky Lane and Allan Lane, nearly 120 relating to Whip Wilson, more than 115 featuring Wild Bill Elliott, and over 100 devoted to Jimmy Wakely. Tim Holt, Rex Allen, Tex Ritter, Eddie Dean, Monte Hale, Sunset Carson, Guy Madison, the Lone Ranger, and the Cisco Kid are also well represented.
Among the many films represented are Autry favorites such as Tumbling Tumbleweeds, Melody Ranch, Back in the Saddle, Riders in the Sky, and The Strawberry Roan; Roy Rogers pictures including Sunset in El Dorado, Bells of San Angelo, Under California Stars, and Trail of Robin Hood; Hopalong Cassidy adventures such as Bar 20, Borderland, Dangerous Venture, and Hopalong Cassidy Returns; and numerous Durango Kid films starring Charles Starrett. Particularly extensive runs document Lash LaRue’s screen career, including The Vanishing Outpost, King of the Bullwhip, Law of the Lash, Mark of the Lash, Return of the Lash, The Black Lash, and Frontier Revenge, many of which are represented by multiple complementary advertising formats.
The archive encompasses an impressive assortment of theatrical advertising material, led by approximately 900 title cards, nearly 400 half-sheets, some 375 lobby cards and lobby-card sets, more than 280 one-sheets, approximately 170 pressbooks, and over 140 insert posters. Also included are 39 three-sheets, eight banners, music cue sheets and related music material, and more than 200 Western comic books. Numerous films are represented by several different formats, offering unusual opportunities to create concentrated displays devoted to individual pictures, performers, studios, or series.
Beyond the leading cowboy stars, the collection includes material associated with Dale Evans, Gabby Hayes, Smiley Burnette, Duncan Renaldo, the Bowery Boys, and major Hollywood actors including John Wayne, Randolph Scott, Glenn Ford, Alan Ladd, Audie Murphy, Robert Mitchum, and Robert Taylor. Colorful, graphic, and deeply nostalgic, this substantial archive preserves the vivid promotional imagery that brought frontier action, heroic lawmen, singing cowboys, and serial adventure to generations of American moviegoers.
In overall fair to very good condition: many posters exhibit significant chipping and tears to the edges, dampstaining, general wear, and moisture exposure; lobby cards and comic books are generally in very good condition. A complete inventory list, prepared by the consignor, is available here.
Interested parties are encouraged to view the collection in person at our offices or contact us with specific inquiries. The collection is offered as is, and no returns will be accepted.
