The University of Chicago Library > The Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center > Finding Aids > Guide to the Ben Klein Movie Advertising Cuts Collection ca. 1920s-1970s
© 2007 University of Chicago Library
| Title: | Klein, Ben. Movie Advertising Cuts Collection |
|---|---|
| Dates: | ca. 1920s-1970s |
| Size: | 8.25 linear feet [17 boxes] |
| Repository: |
Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center |
| Abstract: | During his career in the printing industry, Ben Klein built a collection of thousands of movie advertising cuts representing early- and mid-twentieth century films. These small-format items would typically have been used as stock for movie advertisements. The collection represents an enormous array of 20th-century motion pictures from the 1920s to the 1970s, though the bulk of the collection relates to films produced from the 1940s-1960s. |
Open for research. No restrictions.
When quoting material from this collection, the preferred citation is: Klein, Ben. Movie Advertising Cuts Collection, [Box #, Folder #], Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library
During his career in the printing industry, Ben Klein built a collection of thousands of movie advertising cuts. After his retirement, he used the collection to assist in the production of advertisements.
Ben Klein's collection consists of movie advertising cuts from the early- and mid-twentieth century. These pieces would typically have been used as stock for movie advertisements, such as those that appear in theater listings in newspapers.
Most of the items are very small in format, measuring 2" by 4" or smaller, though some are as large as 4.5" by 6". All are black and white, with newspaper-quality printing.
The collection represents an enormous array of 20th-century motion pictures from the 1920s to the 1970s, though the bulk of the collection relates to films produced from the 1940s-1960s. The movies represented include major Hollywood features such as Gigi, Bringing Up Baby, and The Ten Commandments; genre classics such as King Kong; Johnny Guitar and Rebecca; and landmark art films such as Blow-Up and The Bicycle Thief. However, most of the cuts represent thousands of lesser-known B-movies and genre films: These include science fiction (Wild Wild Planet, Battle in Outer Space), sexploitation (Man Bait, Gutter Girls), horror (Monster A-Go-Go, Flesh Eaters), juvenile delinquency exploitation (Kitten with a Whip, Wild Youth), beach movies, biker movies, westerns, film noir, and countless other film genres and sub-genres.
Klein's original organization of his collection has been maintained: The first set of cuts is organized by title in a rough alphabetical sequence. A second set of cuts is organized by the names of famous actors appearing in the movies; this set is also arranged alphabetically. A small set of unsorted, larger-format cuts is found in the final box of the collection.
Motion Picture Stills. Collection
University of Chicago. Documentary Film Group. Records
| Box 1 | Titles, A-B |
| Box 2 | Titles, B-C |
| Box 3 | Titles, C-E |
| Box 4 | Titles, E-G |
| Box 5 | Titles, G-H |
| Box 6 | Titles, H-L |
| Box 7 | Titles, L-M |
| Box 8 | Titles, M-N |
| Box 9 | Titles, N-P |
| Box 10 | Titles, P-S |
| Box 11 | Titles, S |
| Box 12 | Titles, S-T |
| Box 13 | Titles, T-W |
| Box 14 | Titles, W-Z, general |
| Box 14 | Abbott and Costello |
| Box 14 | Fred Astaire |
| Box 14 | Gene Autry |
| Box 14 | Humphrey Bogart |
| Box 14 | Lucille Ball |
| Box 14 | Marlon Brando |
| Box 14 | James Cagney |
| Box 14 | Charlie Chaplin |
| Box 14 | Claudette Colbert |
| Box 15 | Gary Cooper |
| Box 15 | Joan Crawford |
| Box 15 | Bing Crosby |
| Box 15 | Bette Davis |
| Box 15 | Errol Flynn |
| Box 15 | Henry Fonda |
| Box 15 | Clark Gable |
| Box 15 | Judy Garland |
| Box 15 | Cary Grant |
| Box 15 | Bob Hope |
| Box 15 | Katharine Hepburn |
| Box 15 | Charlton Heston |
| Box 15 | William Holden |
| Box 15 | Rock Hudson |
| Box 15 | Boris Karloff |
| Box 15 | Gene Kelly |
| Box 15 | Laurel and Hardy |
| Box 15 | Jack Lemmon |
| Box 15 | Sophia Loren |
| Box 16 | Bela Lugosi |
| Box 16 | Dean Martin |
| Box 16 | Fred MacMurray |
| Box 16 | Marx Brothers |
| Box 16 | Robert Mitchum |
| Box 16 | Marilyn Monroe |
| Box 16 | Paul Newman |
| Box 16 | Gregory Peck |
| Box 16 | Elvis Presley |
| Box 16 | Ronald Reagan |
| Box 16 | Roy Rogers |
| Box 16 | Frank Sinatra |
| Box 16 | Red Skelton |
| Box 16 | James Stewart |
| Box 16 | Elizabeth Taylor |
| Box 16 | Shirley Temple |
| Box 16 | John Wayne |
| Box 17 | 4.5" x 3.5" format, unsorted |
| Box 17 | 4.5" x 6" format, unsorted |