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March, 2017 The Antique Shoppe Page 17
John Wayne Movie Posters

By Larry LeMasters
LeMasters’ Antique News Service
John Wayne, born Marion Morrison, appeared in over 170 motion pictures nearly 100% of all original movie posters, printed before 1985, were issued from
between 1926 and 1976, averaging 3 ½ movies a year for 50 years. He is, arguably, studio to movie theaters folded. Folds in a poster are not considered defects since
the most famous and popular movie star of all time. the posters were shipped to theaters folded.
Along with his movies, a trainload of John Wayne memorabilia Many original movie posters are sold today “linen backed,” which
has been produced, and most of it has been collected in one form or means that a backing has been placed on the original poster. Linen
another. Due to his Hollywood fame, John Wayne movie posters are backing virtually eliminates fold lines and helps to preserve posters
hot collectibles, especially since his death in 1979. from ongoing wear. Be advised that some collectors seek only 100%
In January 2017, I searched eBay for “John Wayne Movie Posters” authentic posters—no linen backing.
and found 3,627 results. If you are a John Wayne It is also worth noting that nearly all
fan, you might search posters on John Wayne movie posters were
eBay just for the fun of it. There actually used in a theater. Many
were movie posters from all over of these posters contain slight
the world, including Japanese, imperfections, such as pinholes,
French, German, and Italian. Since fold marks (other than shipping
I speak none of these languages, I folds), small tears, scotch tape,
concentrated on American movie writing on the back, etc. Again,
posters. But in just a few minutes, quality linen backing can remedy
I discovered that there appears to most of these imperfections, but
be 2-4 different movie posters for having movie posters linen backed is
every John Wayne movie ever made. The Searchers, 1956, is an added expense.

When you add the foreign posters to considered by many to Wayne acted in 93 movies from 1930
this number, the size of a John Wayne be John Wayne’s greatest to 1945 and 16 movies prior to 1930.
movie poster collection is staggering. movie and the Experts estimate that at most 20 movie
Even more staggering than the greatest western posters exist from movies made prior
possible size of a collection is the cost of movie ever filmed. to 1945, especially those made in the
collecting Wayne’s movie posters. While The Fighting Kentuckian is a The poster is Maureen O’Hara teamed with 1930s and WWII. Of Wayne’s famous
there is no average, on the day I searched, beautiful & rare John Wayne valued at $1,500. Wayne again for The Quiet movies from this era, such as Stagecoach
posters ranged from $17,000 for a French one-sheet classic movie poster, Man, 1951. This romantic (1939) and Flying Tigers (1942), fewer than
poster of Stagecoach to $2 for an Italian from 1949; Valued at $395. movie, and the poster from it is 12 posters are thought to exist. Also note
comedy is still a popular Wayne
poster card of Paradise Canyon. This $2 valued at $1,500. worthy movies in Wayne’s career from this
card, and many others online just like it, was era have few existing posters, such as Riders
part of a set of Super Cinema maxi cards (sized 3.1 x 3.9 inches). They are new and of Destiny (1933) which was his first teaming
should never be confused with a genuine movie poster. with Gabby Hayes and in which Wayne played a singing cowboy (his voice was
It is fairly safe to say that any genuine movie poster of John Wayne will cost $175 dubbed).
or more. Anything under this price is either a steal or a rip-off or a reproduction. The two primary reasons for vintage, pre-war movies having so few posters
In general, the movie poster genre of collectibles is full of fakes, bootlegs, reprints, survive are the paper drives of WWII when every scrap of paper was needed for the
and reproductions. One reasonable field test is where the poster was printed. Old, war effort and the 15¢ credit movie theaters were given for returning posters to the
vintage movie posters were printed in the United States unless the poster is a foreign studios that issued them. Fifteen cents doesn’t seem like much now, but it could feed
poster. a family a meal during the dark days of the Great Depression.
While it is difficult, but possible to forge a movie poster, John Wayne’s signature All movie posters once played a role in advertising upcoming movies. John Wayne’s
is both valuable and easily forgeable. Authentic Wayne autographs are in great movie posters offer collectors an opportunity to see how Wayne’s movies were
demand from collectors, bringing high dollars, especially when on a movie poster. advertised along with the opportunity to come close to a Hollywood legend.
On average, Wayne’s signature adds about $250 to a poster, photograph, or other John Wayne still embodies what many theatergoers consider the great American
piece of memorabilia. But the buyer should beware. One red flag i spirit. Nearly 40 years after his death, his movie posters continue to rise in value.
ndicating a possible forgery is prices far below market value. If a John Wayne And for those of you who think they are not a good investment, John, himself, in The
poster with autograph is selling so inexpensive that it seems like Searchers (1956) answered if his posters would ever decrease in
it can’t be real—it probably isn’t. Buy from reputable dealers. value. “That’ll be the day!”
Novice movie poster collectors need to realize that

Left to Right: The author’s favorite John Wayne movie—The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, 1962. This three-sheet poster is valued at $500 and hangs in the author’s office. Angel and the
Badman, 1946, starred Wayne as a gunman who wanted redemption—a role he would play in many westerns. This movie poster is valued at $600. Wayne starred in The Alamo, 1960, and was
nominated for an Oscar as producer. This three-sheet poster is valued at $1,000. Hondo, 1953, remains one of John Wayne’s great westerns. This one-sheet poster from the movie is valued at
$1,450. Even during the Great Depression, people found the money to attend a John Wayne movie. Paradise Canyon was released in 1935, and, today, this linen backed poster is valued at $12,000.