SMOKY (1966) Movie Poster, Original Vintage Daybill, Fess Parker
Size AU Daybill Post-War (13" x 30")
SMOKY (1966) Movie Poster, Original Vintage Daybill starring Fess Parker, Diana Hyland and Katy Jurado, directed by George Sherman is in Very Fine Condition Movie Poster and Condition. Condition: This...
SMOKY (1966) Movie Poster, Original Vintage Daybill starring Fess Parker, Diana Hyland and Katy Jurado, directed by George Sherman is in Very Fine Condition
Movie Poster and Condition.
Condition: This poster is presented in Very Fine condition with 2 Daybill folds as issued, a second large dog eared fold at the top which is folded out, pin holes in each corner. This authentic Original Australian Daybill movie poster for SMOKY (1966) remains a highly collectible piece of classic family and western cinema memorabilia. Despite signs of original theatrical use, the poster still displays beautifully and retains strong vintage appeal for collectors o western movie posters, and family adventure cinema. Australian Daybill posters are particularly sought after internationally due to their unique dimensions and comparatively limited survival rate, especially for family-oriented titles from the 1960s. This poster would make a wonderful display piece for collectors of vintage horse films, western memorabilia, and nostalgic cinema advertising.
Movie Synopsis
SMOKY (1966) is a heartwarming western family adventure based on the beloved novel by author Will James. Directed by veteran filmmaker George Sherman, the film tells the touching story of the bond between humans and animals while capturing the rugged beauty and spirit of the American West. Combining themes of loyalty, perseverance, and friendship, the movie became a memorable family favourite during the 1960s and remains appreciated by audiences who enjoy classic horse stories and traditional western cinema.
The story follows the adventures of a spirited horse named Smoky and his owner Clint Barkley, played by popular actor Fess Parker. Clint is a kind-hearted rancher who develops a deep connection with Smoky, a strong and intelligent horse with remarkable courage and determination. Together they experience life across the western frontier, facing challenges that test their trust and loyalty while navigating the dangers and hardships of ranch life.
As the story unfolds, Smoky is separated from Clint and sold into a series of difficult situations where the horse must endure mistreatment, dangerous environments, and demanding owners. Despite these hardships, Smoky’s resilient spirit and intelligence continue to shine through, making the horse one of the film’s true emotional centres. Clint remains determined to find and reunite with his beloved companion, leading to a heartfelt and emotional journey filled with adventure, suspense, and touching moments.
Fess Parker, widely recognised for his iconic portrayals of Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone, brings warmth and sincerity to the role of Clint Barkley. Parker was one of the most recognisable family-friendly stars of the era, particularly associated with Disney productions and frontier adventure stories. His wholesome screen presence made him perfectly suited for films such as SMOKY, which emphasised traditional values, courage, and compassion.
The supporting cast includes Diana Hyland and acclaimed actress Katy Jurado, whose performances help add emotional depth and authenticity to the film. Director George Sherman, known for his extensive work in western cinema throughout the 1940s and 1950s, brought considerable experience to the production. Sherman directed numerous westerns during Hollywood’s golden age and was highly respected for his ability to combine action, scenic landscapes, and character-driven storytelling.
One of the film’s major strengths is its spectacular outdoor cinematography and authentic western atmosphere. The movie captures beautiful natural landscapes, ranch settings, and horse sequences that appeal strongly to fans of classic equestrian films. Like many family-oriented westerns of the era, SMOKY (1966) emphasises emotional storytelling over violence, making it suitable for audiences of all ages.
The original novel by Will James had already become a celebrated classic long before this adaptation, with previous film versions helping establish Smoky as one of the most beloved horses in literary and cinematic history. The 1966 adaptation introduced the story to a new generation of audiences during a period when western television shows and films remained enormously popular around the world.
Today, original posters from SMOKY (1966) are increasingly sought after among collectors of classic western movie posters, Disney-related memorabilia, horse film collectibles, and vintage family cinema advertising. This genuine Australian Daybill represents a wonderful opportunity to own an authentic piece of nostalgic movie history from one of the era’s most charming family westerns.
To find out more about SMOKY (1966) click here to go to IMDB.com.
Special Notes.
Images may have a small 'MPA' digital watermark and this does not appear on the poster. Posters are being held by magnets in the corners to take photographs, so you may see some magnet and shadows from the magnets in these areas. The magnets are not included in the sale of the item.
Postage, Insurance & Your Country Taxes
Postage costs are quoted for this item, include insurance up to AUD$100, but if you reside outside of Australia, the price does not include any import taxes/fees that you may be required to pay when the item reaches your borders. Please check with your local authorities for any additional taxes or fees. If you would like full insurance coverage for your purchase, please message me and I would be happy to quote the additional cost (estimate is AUD$2.50 p/AUD$100 or 2.5% of the item value, up to a maximum item value of AUD$5,000).
FAQ
At Movie Posters Australia, the love and conservation of movie posters comes first, and we like to share this passion. Our commitment to quality means we will provide high quality memorabilia to our customers. Posters are carefully chosen and authenticated to ensure originality and value. We want our customers to trust MPA, so we always try to be as open and transparent as we can, provide detailed condition information and images, to ensure customers are comfortable and confident in their purchase.
While the industry does have a few condition rating standards, there is no movie poster condition rating system that has become the accepted standard world wide. This unfortunately makes condition terms vary from movie poster dealer to movie poster dealer. Terms like Mint, Near Mint, Very Fine, Fine, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor, seem to be universal to most condition rating standards, but most standards still lack definition about what and how many flaws/defects/damage defines a specific condition level. For more information on how Movie Posters Australia grades the condition of its movie posters, daybills, lobby cards and other ephemera please see out Movie Poster Condition and Grading page.
In the early days of cinema, posters were primarily hand-drawn and printed in various sizes, often tailored to fit the available space in theaters or promotional areas. In the United States, the "One Sheet" size (some times called '1 Sheet' or '1SH' approximately 27" x 41", became the standard during the 1930s. This size was manageable for theater display and suited the needs of a growing film industry.
Different countries developed their own poster sizes and styles, which also changed sometimes over the decades, and were influenced by local preferences and practical considerations, like available paper sheet sizes and how many posters could be printed on one sheet.
In Australia, the most popular size, the Daybill, has evolved over the decades. Australian Daybills sizes in chronological order are:
- Long Daybills (15" x 40"), from 1920's to pre-WW2 or pre-1941, were printed two to a sheet, longer than current Daybill versions. There were size variances in width from 14.5" to 15" and in height from 39.5" to 40".
- War Time Daybill (10" x 30"), during WW2, for a short time to conserve paper during a war time shortage, four Daybills were printed on one sheet. Information from Press Sheets also referred to these War-Time sizes as "New Size Daybills".
- Post-War Daybill (13" x 30"), this 13" x 30" Post-War size carried through until the 1980's, but also varied in size from 13"-14" x 29.75"-30.25".
- Post-80's Daybill (33cm x 66cm, or 13" x 26"), over a few years in the late 80's, the size changed again to a metric 33cm x 66cm, although these have also varied from 32-33cm x 64.5-66cm. New sizes from the late 80's were created, sometimes called a Mini Daybill or Mini Poster, in 9" x 12", 11" x 17" and 13" x 20".
In the UK, the somewhat unique 'Quad' poster, measuring 30" x 40", became popular, offering a larger landscape format that allowed for more elaborate designs.
In Japan, movie poster sizes were smaller, such as the "B2" (20" x 28"), which suited the more compact living environment of larger cities, smaller advertising spaces, and unique aesthetic sensibilities.
The 1970s and 1980s, witnessed the rise of the "six-sheet" (81" x 81") format, reflecting a trend towards larger and more visually impactful advertising.
Overall, the variation in movie poster sizes across different countries and decades highlights the interplay between technological printing advancements, paper resource availability, paper sheet size changes, cultural preferences, and the evolving nature of movie marketing.
At Movie Posters Australia we tag each poster we sell with a 'size' and 'condition' description at the very top of the page for our customers to easily see. There may however be some slight variations to sizes by up one inch due to variations in production and guillotine methods by printers over the decades.