Free Library Of Philadelphia Displays Vintage Movie Art

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A new exhibition of distinctive move theater lobby cards is on display in the Rare Book Department of the Free Library's Central Branch (19th and Vine). 

In the golden days of Hollywood (or to be more specific film distribution) each film got a set of eight 11"x14" cards of some of the film's scenes, set out in sequence for movie lobbies in order to lure in perspective movie goers. 

Librarian Joe Sehmtov explains, "There are 50 cards from the 30's to the 60's.  Normally they would be shown in a set of eight and they were shown next to each other and they would tell the story of what the movie was about."

Listen to the podcast...

There's also lots of information on film and film making as well, says Librarian Joe Sehmtov. "What people will see when they come in is that each case has a theme to it. And in addition to the theme, for example, this case is on printing. This is the introduction case. This is the printing techniques, how they used to make them."

The exhibit is open from 9a to 5pm Monday through Friday. There are special hours on Saturday March 19th, when KYW Newsradio Movie Critic Bill Wine will lead a discussion on the psychological differences between the reading and viewing experience and talk about written works what have provided the source material for thousands of films.

Reported by Karin Phillips, KYW Newsradio 1060