The Art of Selling Movies

The Art of Selling Movies presents the first-ever look at 60 years of newspaper advertising for motion pictures great and small. These ads created by Hollywood and adapted by local and regional exhibitors motivated patrons to leave their homes, part with precious income, and spend time in the dark. Because of the high stakes involved, theater operators used wildly creative means to make that happen. They made movie advertising equal parts art and psychology, appealing to every human instinct (especially sex) in an effort to push product and keep their theatres in business. From the pen-and-ink masterpieces of the 1920s and 30s to location-specific folk art to ad space jam-packed with enticements for every member of the family, The Art of Selling Movies dissects the psyche of the American movie-going public ... and the advertisers seeking to push just the right buttons.

John McElwee is a lifelong film enthusiast who is a blogger on the Greenbriar Picture Show website, has taught and lectured on film, and has programmed extensively for colleges and universities. He has consulted on various documentaries about Hollywood history and contributed to DVD release of classic films. His feature articles have appeared in Film in Reviews, Monsters from the Vault, and Noir City Annual. He is the author of Showmen: Sell it Hot. He lives in Wilkesboro, North Carolina.