Kirby’s Big Posters

Big posters — what is their appeal? Let’s face it. They are more than a handful to deal with. How do you display them? Linen backing is usually necessary. So why? Because they are spectacular. What is primarily needed is space because a six sheet or even a three sheet will utterly dominate even a mid-sized room. But they are lavish artifacts of movie advertising from the days when theatrical motion picture exhibition was a three-times-a-week ritual for many people. How would I characterize them?

Larger than life — like the movies themselves. The big posters (U.S.) are three sheets, six sheets and 24 sheets; in most cases there are few, fewer and fewest of these, and in that order. The three sheet is vertical, so if you have a lot of vertical space – 9+ vertical feet to fill, but less than four feet wide, the three sheet works well. The six sheet is square – 7 feet by 7 feet. The dimensions can vary a bit but the general format is square. Nothing makes a statement like this size poster. The 24 sheet is amazing, but build another house for it. Or just own it because it IS amazing. Or open a roadside diner and put one up inside. MILDRED PIERCE, anyone?