Thanks to Ves for the posted RKO daybills. Fangs And Claws ( 1935 ) was released in Australia in 1936.
Following are the RKO logos used on Australian daybills 1932-1936, according to the examples that I have managed to locate. There may have been a small crossover, but it appears that the following logos would have been used on daybills throughout most of each of the years that they are credited with below.
Now regarding the King Kong daybill in discussion with the 1934 RKO logo. It would be of great benefit to sight a 1933 RKO released in Australia printed daybill, just to see what style of logo was used in 1933. I have never sighted one, so if anyone has an image that falls into this category please let us see it? There were 49 films released in 1933 in the USA by RKO, so although the Australian releases wouldn't have been exactly the same titles they should have been somewhere around that number of releases one has to think, which is a lot. Where are they, at least one image, is what one has to wonder?
One last thing to have a think about is the logo on the King Kong poster is different from the six other images that I have located.
The six other 1934 versions of the style used, and the different King Kong style logo.
I thank Ves for the 1933 and 1934 Everyone's magazine images of RKO Australian daybills.
The 1934 images agree with my statement on the style of logo used in that year.
The 1933 images for the year that is of interest have two different styles. Of the six designs displayed one image is without a logo and three have the previous year's 1932 logos on them. The remaining two designs have a new player in the RKO logo daybill usage as seen appearing on the following 1933 daybill images.
Back to the original Australian King Kong daybill that hasn't been sighted to our knowledge.. On this new evidence it would certainly appear to me that the original Simmons 1933 daybill would havs had on or the other of the following logos printed on the poster.
1932 version and another, and apparently briefly used style that has now entered the discussion.
For those officially bored out of their minds, blame Chris. He started it.
On a side note I showed the other half the Heritage image and asked his impression given the long ones from RKO that have graced the Babic walls. He was under whelmed to say the least, and just wanted confirmation I wasn't crazy enough to have a go.
For those officially bored out of their minds, blame Chris. He started it.
On a side note I showed the other half the Heritage image and asked his impression given the long ones from RKO that have graced the Babic walls. He was under whelmed to say the least, and just wanted confirmation I wasn't crazy enough to have a go.
Who could possibly be bored by this stuff In seriousness though there is so much that is murky about Aussie poster history that this work simply needs to be done NOW, by all of us collectively!
And more evidence that all wives should seek counsel of their husbands - about paper in particular
The supposed first release Aussie herald (notice the RKO logo)
( State Library Of Queensland & John Oxley Library ).
The Alhambra theatre at Stone's Corner, a suburb of Brisbane Queensland, photpgraphed circa 1948.
The Australian first release of King Kong in 1933 often played the 28 minute short subject So This Is Harris on many King Kong bookings around the country in major cities.
The supposed first release Aussie herald (notice the RKO logo)
!931 released Australian daybill using Radio Pictures logo.
1932 Australian Everyones print media advertising from November 16 1932 showing A Radio Picture logo and also an RKO Radio logo appearing in the same advertisement.
The logo apparently changed from Radio Pictures to RKO Radio Pictures during 1933 the year of the Australian King Kong release. Three examples found of logo styles applied to RKO posters and advertising during 1933.
The question now is which of these three logos would have appeared on an original release Simmons printing of King Kong in 1933?
This border style on the Heritage image not sighted in Australia until 1934.
The "Distributed by RKO" seems to have begun in 1933 vs. "Released by RKO" prior...
Well spotted. ''Released by RKO'' appeared on RKO daybills from 1929 to at least 1932.
Tyrant Of Red Gulch ( 1928 FBO silent ) released in Australia in either 1929 or 1930, Bachelor Apartment ( 1931 ) released in Australia in 1931 and State's Attorney ( 1932 ) released in Australia in 1932.
Note the Tyrant Of Red Gulch has Released by RKO Pictures appearing on it. Two other FBO silents from either 1929 or 1930 also have the same wording. In at least 1931 and 1932 the Released by RKO Radio Pictues wording was used.
The King Kong daybill does look like it could be a later release but the poster also looks as though it has faded somewhat so it may have looked a lot more impressive in its original form. It would be great to be able to definitively pin down a release date but that won't be easy.
The King Kong daybill does look like it could be a later release but the poster also looks as though it has faded somewhat so it may have looked a lot more impressive in its original form. It would be great to be able to definitively pin down a release date but that won't be easy.
It might well be faded some, but I don't think it every enjoyed the glorious colourisation we would all expect from an RKO daybill of this period. Does anyone have an image of a craptastic RKO daybill from this period lacking in glorious colour?
Both The Squatter's Daughter ( 1933 ) and King Kong (1933 ) were designed and printed by Lonsdale And Barthollomew. No absolute proof but I firmly believe that both posters were second printings in 1934.
The King Kong daybill does look like it could be a later release but the poster also looks as though it has faded somewhat so it may have looked a lot more impressive in its original form. It would be great to be able to definitively pin down a release date but that won't be easy.
It might well be faded some, but I don't think it every enjoyed the glorious colourisation we would all expect from an RKO daybill of this period. Does anyone have an image of a craptastic RKO daybill from this period lacking in glorious colour?
1934 releases that have nice colour.
To be pointed out that on this trade ad of Johns the logo that appears here is the same one that was printed on the daybill poster appearing above. It isn't noticible on the daybill that it is encased in white due to the white background.
A 1935 Australian release. It needs to be pointed out that this uninspiring poster wasn't printed by Simmons Ltd. RKO's normal printer, but was printed by Posters Ltd. Being a Pathe news special the poster needed to be have been printed in a hurry so the result is undestandable. In this case RKO assigned an available printer who worked fast and who could do the job within a deadline. Note in 1935 the RKO logo is now encased within a circle.
Any idea the printers on the Wheeler and Woolsey and the Wednesday's Child?
It is possibly Simmons but too difficult to see and be certain. I will endevour to confirm this by tomorrow.
There was previously a Radio Pictures logo used on Australian posters, but then the word RKO was added at the top of Radio Pictures. In 1934 it appears the white border was added in the background and this was what was printed on daybills during that year.
Any idea the printers on the Wheeler and Woolsey and the Wednesday's Child?
It is possibly Simmons but too difficult to see and be certain. I will endevour to confirm this by tomorrow.
There was previously a Radio Pictures logo used on Australian posters, but then the word RKO was added at the top of Radio Pictures. In 1934 it appears the white border was added in the background and this was what was printed on daybills during that year.
I will expand on the RKO daybill logo usage soon. I will cover 1936 and onwards, which will include the four star period, and up until the late 1950's.
I will expand on the RKO daybill logo usage soon. I will cover 1936 and onwards, which will include the four star period, and up until the late 1950's.
I will expand on the RKO daybill logo usage soon. I will cover 1936 and onwards, which will include the four star period, and up until the late 1950's.
RKO logo from 1933 - note the circle
Some details would be great. Where does this image originate from? Before I can comment I would need to have detailed information on the source it comes from. I have been covering daybill usage only, so if this isn't from a daybill it is a completly different story.
Comments
Ok, I think I've done enough for the night.
I look forward to logging on in the morning and reading a TONNE of interesting stuff!
'Carn, be honest...all we aussie poster nerds have missed this haven't we...
I thank Ves for the 1933 and 1934 Everyone's magazine images of RKO Australian daybills.
The 1934 images agree with my statement on the style of logo used in that year.
The 1933 images for the year that is of interest have two different styles. Of the six designs displayed one image is without a logo and three have the previous year's 1932 logos on them. The remaining two designs have a new player in the RKO logo daybill usage as seen appearing on the following 1933 daybill images.
Back to the original Australian King Kong daybill that hasn't been sighted to our knowledge.. On this new evidence it would certainly appear to me that the original Simmons 1933 daybill would havs had on or the other of the following logos printed on the poster.
1932 version and another, and apparently briefly used style that has now entered the discussion.
For those officially bored out of their minds, blame Chris. He started it.
On a side note I showed the other half the Heritage image and asked his impression given the long ones from RKO that have graced the Babic walls. He was under whelmed to say the least, and just wanted confirmation I wasn't crazy enough to have a go.
( State Library Of Queensland & John Oxley Library ).
The Alhambra theatre at Stone's Corner, a suburb of Brisbane Queensland, photpgraphed circa 1948.
The Australian first release of King Kong in 1933 often played the 28 minute short subject So This Is Harris on many King Kong bookings around the country in major cities.
!931 released Australian daybill using Radio Pictures logo.
1932 Australian Everyones print media advertising from November 16 1932 showing A Radio Picture logo and also an RKO Radio logo appearing in the same advertisement.
The logo apparently changed from Radio Pictures to RKO Radio Pictures during 1933 the year of the Australian King Kong release. Three examples found of logo styles applied to RKO posters and advertising during 1933.
The question now is which of these three logos would have appeared on an original release Simmons printing of King Kong in 1933?
This border style on the Heritage image not sighted in Australia until 1934.
I think we have consensus now that this is also likely a second printing, not original first full colour printing.
Tyrant Of Red Gulch ( 1928 FBO silent ) released in Australia in either 1929 or 1930, Bachelor Apartment ( 1931 ) released in Australia in 1931 and State's Attorney ( 1932 ) released in Australia in 1932.
Note the Tyrant Of Red Gulch has Released by RKO Pictures appearing on it. Two other FBO silents from either 1929 or 1930 also have the same wording. In at least 1931 and 1932 the Released by RKO Radio Pictues wording was used.
Does anyone have an image of a craptastic RKO daybill from this period lacking in glorious colour?
Both The Squatter's Daughter ( 1933 ) and King Kong (1933 ) were designed and printed by Lonsdale And Barthollomew. No absolute proof but I firmly believe that both posters were second printings in 1934.
1934 releases that have nice colour.
To be pointed out that on this trade ad of Johns the logo that appears here is the same one that was printed on the daybill poster appearing above. It isn't noticible on the daybill that it is encased in white due to the white background.
A 1935 Australian release. It needs to be pointed out that this uninspiring poster wasn't printed by Simmons Ltd. RKO's normal printer, but was printed by Posters Ltd. Being a Pathe news special the poster needed to be have been printed in a hurry so the result is undestandable. In this case RKO assigned an available printer who worked fast and who could do the job within a deadline. Note in 1935 the RKO logo is now encased within a circle.
There was previously a Radio Pictures logo used on Australian posters, but then the word RKO was added at the top of Radio Pictures. In 1934 it appears the white border was added in the background and this was what was printed on daybills during that year.
1931 daybill usage, 1932 daybill usage. unconfirmed 1933 daybill usage and 1934 daybill usage.
The Fountain was a 1934 U.S.A. release, but only released in Australia in 1935.
Another 1934 U.S.A. release but only obtained a release in Australia in 1935.
Yes Ves this style was used in Australia in 1935 on daybills.
I will expand on the RKO daybill logo usage soon. I will cover 1936 and onwards, which will include the four star period, and up until the late 1950's.