1900-1949 Movie Posters Collection, Original and Vintage | MPA
This collection groups all posters and ephemera from the 1900s, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s together for easy search, sort, and filtering. These decades represent a transformative period in cinema history, marked by the birth of the medium, the transition from silent films to talkies, and the establishment of Hollywood as the epicenter of global film production. The early 20th century saw the inception of cinema with innovations like the Kinetoscope, leading to the first narrative films such as The Great Train Robbery (1903). By the 1910s, silent cinema began to flourish, with films like The Birth of a Nation (1915) pushing narrative complexity. These early posters often featured bold typography and simple imagery, reflecting the novelty of the medium and its growing appeal.
The 1920s were a golden age for silent films, producing iconic works like The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920), Nosferatu (1922), Metropolis (1927), and Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927). These films explored innovative visual storytelling, with German Expressionism and avant-garde techniques influencing global cinema. Posters from this era often showcased dramatic, stylized artwork, capturing the emotional intensity of the films. The 1930s brought the advent of sound with films like The Jazz Singer (1927), ushering in the Golden Age of Hollywood. Classics such as City Lights (1931), M (1931), Gone with the Wind (1939), and Casablanca (1942) defined the era. The becoming chorror genre also thrived, with films like Dracula (1931), Frankenstein (1931), The Mummy (1932), The Invisible Man (1933), King Kong (1933), Bride of Frankenstein (1935), Freaks (1932), and The Black Cat (1934), also cultural icons. Posters adopted vibrant colors and Art Deco designs, reflecting the glamour and excitement of the new sound era.
The 1940s saw cinema diversify into genres like film noir, musicals, and war films, reflecting the societal changes of World War II. Films like Citizen Kane (1941), Double Indemnity (1944), and The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) showcased the medium’s maturity. Posters often featured bold, patriotic themes or moody, atmospheric designs, aligning with the era’s cultural mood.
Movie posters from these decades are not merely promotional materials; they are works of art that reflect the design aesthetics and cultural sensibilities of their time. The bold, graphic styles of the 1920s, the streamlined Art Deco influences of the 1930s, and the patriotic themes of the 1940s contribute to their historical value. These artifacts provide a visual narrative that complements the films, offering insights into how movies were marketed and perceived by audiences. They also serve as primary sources for understanding the social history of the period, capturing the public’s fascination with cinema as a new form of entertainment.
During the 1930s and 1940s, cinema was the principal form of popular entertainment, with people often attending theaters twice a week. Ornate “super” cinemas or “picture palaces” became cultural landmarks, offering not just films but also cafés and ballrooms. In Britain, cinema attendance peaked in 1946 with over 31 million weekly visits. This widespread popularity underscores the significance of the posters and ephemera in this collection, which were key to drawing audiences to these venues.
Technological innovations also shaped this era. The standardization of 35mm film in 1909, with a 4:3 aspect ratio, became the industry norm, influencing how films and their promotional materials were produced. The transition to sound in the late 1920s required significant investment, consolidating the power of major studios and shaping the types of films produced. This collection not only preserves the visual artifacts of these cinematic milestones but also offers a glimpse into the cultural, technological, and artistic evolution of film during these pivotal decades. Each poster and piece of ephemera tells a story of innovation, creativity, and the enduring power of cinema to captivate and inspire audiences worldwide.
Movie Posters Australia has a large collection of original movie posters and movie ephemera available for you to add to your collection or display and enjoy.
If Movie Posters Australia doesn't have what you're looking feel free to contact us with some information about what you are searching for (tile name, year, size, and any other relevant information eg. style, advance, condition) and we'll be happy to see if we can find it in our stored items, or through our extensive network of dealers, collectors and contacts.
Movie Posters Australia have been avid collectors, and more recently dealers, of original vintage movie posters for 40 years. Our passion for movie posters comes from our love of movies and the poster art created for these movies that captures and evokes the same feelings and memories created from watching the films. Sometimes, the posters themselves can be more enjoyable than the movies. And with a framed movie poster on your wall you can continue to appreciate the movie, and the memories it created, every single day. Movie Posters Australia allows us to work with something we love.
