“Large 1970s cardboard Newspaper Advertising Sign for Boris Karloff poster”

“This cardboard advertising sign was created to be displayed on the side of newsstands which carried the Chicago American newspaper.

The Chicago American was an afternoon tabloid-size newspaper which was published in Chicago from 1900 until 1974.

The Chicago Tribune group acquired it in the 1950s and continued publication under its own banner until it ceased publication.

This large cardboard sign is 26″ x 42″, making it slightly taller than the standard one-sheet movie poster.

The Chicago American would, as an enticement to readers, offer a quad-folded poster in the center of the newspaper, And would depict famous stars of the day. They would make posters of Marilyn Monroe, the Beatles, Frank Sinatra and the rat pack, famous baseball players, etc. As far as I know, this is the only time they made a poster of a monster, or produced an advertising display to generate public interest.

As my friend Raymond Castile so it’s rightly pointed out when I showed him this advertising cardboard sign:

“Just imagine a newspaper editor, 40 years after a movie came out, using a monster character to increase sales. It seemed almost unthinkable today'”

Indeed it does.
I believe this poster is circa 1971
Or 1972
Halloween fell on Tuesday in 1972, so that might make this more likely

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Kusan may not be as well known as Ben Cooper or Collegeville for Halloween and they certainly didn’t get the “A” licenses but they sure knew how to create some innovative and highly creative costumes.

Not only is their assortment fun but their catalog is just a wonderfully well designed affair, every page just pops!

This catalog is just awash in colour, I’m a big fan.

Whoever drew this catalog deserved a raise.

A+ on the package design too, so much style.

Kazoo masks, adored by children, hated by parents.

PlaidStallions Toy-Ventures Magazine #1 is now available and it’s been called “not only an entertaining read, but it’s also an impeccable work of reference” by PopCult.

I may be a man in his 40s but I’m not afraid to stay I still find Little Lulu enjoyable and regularly read it with my daughter, you should too.

I  love New Zoo Revue as a kid, the Campbell kids? Not so much?

Bolts in the heard are stock and trade with generic Frankensteins world over to this day!

The art on some of these costumes is magical

I really like the kazoo gimmick.

I enjoy the fact that Kusan drew cowboy boots on the Lone Ranger costume.

Characters like the Exxon Tiger show a real innovation in finding a recognizable character.

I wish to create an eloborate back story for Monster man.

That hippie costume is the greatest stereotype ever.

I always find it weird marketing these types of costumes to adults, all the majors did it, so they must have sold.

“Skin Faces” not at all terrifying, nope,nope,nope.

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