VINTAGE 1944 APOLLO THEATER TAMPICO MOVIE LITHO POSTER * ULTRA SCARCE PROMOTING CLASSIC "MR. BUG GOES TO TOWN" Start Price USD 785.00 Current Price USD 785.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Sunday, October 05, 2008 End Time Sunday, October 12, 2008 Location Kansas City, MO See more about 'VINTAGE 1944 APOLLO THEATER TAMPICO MOVIE LITHO POSTER' Description *** ORIGINAL EBAY POWERSELLER SINCE 1998 *** Attention all serious movie memorabilia collectors!  You will not find an item like this in any of your travels as this theater lithograph is only one of a handful of independent theater posters in existence today!  Grab your tub of popcorn, sit back, and feast your eyes on this... ORIGINAL VINTAGE 1944 DOUBLE-SIDED "MOVIE/PROMO" POSTER "TAMPICO" FEATURE FILM & "MR. BUG GOES TO TOWN" CLASSIC ANIMATED FULL-LENGTH CARTOON ON REVERSE  FROM THE APOLLO THEATER IN KANSAS CITY, MO * ONLY ONE THAT SURVIVED!!! * * ULTRA SCARCE LITHO POSTER!!! * * HUGE 37" X 57" ON HEAVY LITHO PAPER * * REVERSE SIDE PROMOTES THE VERY FIRST FULL LENGTH ANIMATED MUSICAL CARTOON "MR. BUG GOES TO TOWN" (HOPPITY GOES TO TOWN) circa 1941!!! * It is my contention, ladies and gentlemen, that I will NEVER own a more scarce movie item than the lithograph poster before you now.  You might never have seen one of these before in your life.  Movie lithographs of vintage WWII-era movies, although nice finds in their own right, can be found at auction from time to time...and are coveted by collectors.  This is something special.  Back in the 1940's, independent movie theater owners were usually given two posters to advertise their current picture.  Most, if not all, owners used these for outdoor marquees, one on each side of the building.  That drew the crowd, the sales.  No need to keep the posters inside (as most do now).  This was WWII era when paper was scarce and the citizens conserved resources mind you.  And what the daring theater owner would do, if he could get away with it, was to take one of the "on loan" lithos to his own litho house of choice and have his personal promotion printed on the backside.  Keep in mind, posters of this era were loaners by the movie vendors and once the film's take began to drop and a new picture released, these posters were handed back to the movie companies.  With all the many thousands of posters, a few here and there weren't accounted for.  This lithograph promoting the film Tampico from 1944 and cartoon Saturday (July 8, 1944) featuring Mr. Bug Goes To Town, is one such "double-sided" movie/promotional poster for the Apollo Theater during Kansas City's heyday!  The Apollo was and is still today located at 3227 Troost.  Notice the great cartoon promo with the .25 price to enter!  This is such a wonderful find, I surely hope a collector cherishes this piece forever.  Restore it professionally or keep it original in its present state.  There's not another example like it anywhere!  On one side is depicted movie graphics of Tampico with Edward G. Robinson, and on the reverse is the Apollo's cartoon promotion highlighted by a history-making cartoon film.  Even in this condition, you've got a relic from the past that commands top value.  Scarcity and history together.   This poster was given to me by an owner of a vintage motorcycle parts house who remembers sneaking into the Apollo as a kid, and watching those cartoons.  I suppose even .25 was too much to pay for some!  Times changed.  The once-posh area of Kansas City began to slide as citizens moved to the suburbs and away from the urban core.  This motorcycle shop owner would later ask the theater manager on duty if there was anything he could have from the Apollo before it closed forever...as a keepsake, a remembrance of how good and true those early days once were.  This is what he was given.  It has been stored away for all these many years along with those fond memories of glamor on the big screen and the simple pleasures of youth.  And now I am privileged to become its steward!  Good luck and may the best bidder win!  Buyer pays $29.78 shipping. Tampico theater poster is sold "as is" "no reserve" and must be paid-in-full via postal money order or cashier's check from recognized financial institution.  All monies must clear before artwork is shipped, no exceptions.  Payment must arrive within 7 business days from auction end or backup bidder will be contacted.  No PayPal or credit card purchase allowed.  Once payment is satisfied in full, rare poster will be shipped promptly via FedEx Ground's main hub.  Good luck to all collectors of movie memorabila!  Place a Bid!