FAKE POSTERS
THE REEFER MADNESS ERA
WARNING --- Fake Movie Posters
(For Sale)

Which one of these two posters (if either) is authentic and which one is a fake (pasted together by a modern day quick buck artist? Answer, who knows. Due to the number of fakes and/or modern day paste-up reproductions, it's getting very hard to tell.

Using the above posters as an example, look carefully at the different versions; note the male's hair, the woman's clothing (or lack of it) etc. In addition, as can be seen from the two-newspaper ads below, exactly what is original artwork itself comes into question. Much of these can be explained by the massive pornography shortage that hit the United States, during the Second World War, when there was a major demand, but little production. Movie theaters were forced to recycle older movies (in fact anything they could get their hands on) and some of the subtle changes in the newspaper movie ads reflect the new audience being attracted.


The newspaper ad on the left is an original that run in 1936; the one on the right run during the second world war (1945) in the San Francisco Chronicle. Note the minor changes (probable made by the San Francisco movie house owner) to the women's attire. However, both can be said to be originals.

The Devil's Harvest
Because so many original stills of this (relatable speaking little known) 1942 picture were published is various newspapers it serves as a good example.

(Above Left) part of an original newspaper ad; (Right) what is obviously a modern day take off offered for sale at various internet sites.


Can you spot the subtle differences between the 1940's newspaper display ad (right) and a poster being offered for sale on an internet auction website?

IN DEFENSE OF FAKE POSTERS
An Editorial Opinion

In the beginning one tends to view these quick-buck artists as, well, just that, quick-buck artists; not the kind that one would want to associate with.

However, after much though on the matter, maybe we should change our minds, maybe we should see them as propagators of the faith. True they do what they do for money, but still they are helping to keep to the truth out there. Without a doubt the narc's must hate them something fierce, after all, aren't they reminding everyone of the very origin of the ant-medical marihuana laws. God bless them.

Contact Information: antique_andy@catholic.org

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