Cinema on Paper: Collecting Film Posters

Tuesday, March 26 | 6:00 p.m. (ET)
Zoom Webinar (Live or Rent)

Twentieth Century Fox (presents) (as Twentieth Century-Fox)
BUS STOP (1956) Marilyn Monroe (Costume Design: Travilla); U. K. Double Crown (Tom Chantrell art)

The history of film and Hollywood has long captivated the imaginations of audiences worldwide. From the early days of cinema, movie posters and other ephemera have served as powerful tools to entice viewers and leave a lasting impression. One distinguished member of the Royal Oak Foundation, Mr. Dwight Cleveland, known by his internet handle “PosterBoss,” eloquently described how poster artists “captured the soul” of films and “reduce the entire essence of a movie into a single vivid sheet”. Driven by his appreciation for the graphic nature of movie posters, Cleveland began his collection in high school and has since amassed a remarkable archive of over 4,000 posters and related cinematic advertising. Spanning the years 1914 to 1953, his collection features examples from iconic studios such as Warner Bros., Fox, MGM, Paramount, and RKO.

Encompassing a diverse array of genres including musicals, comedies, Westerns, war films, sci-fi thrillers, dramas, and more, Cleveland’s collection offers a rich tapestry of cinematic history and a panorama of American culture. In an exclusive lecture, Mr. Cleveland will share his passion for collecting this captivating art form and explore its profound impact on popular culture. Drawing from his extensive collection, he will showcase a selection of posters, highlighting their artistic diversity and international significance. Sharing posters from 37 countries, he will offer a fascinating glimpse into the global appeal of film posters. Join us for an enlightening discussion as Mr. Dwight Cleveland illuminates the artistry and cultural significance of film posters, providing insight into their enduring legacy in the world of cinema.

Dwight Cleveland

Mr. Dwight Cleveland is a real-estate developer in Chicago, Illinois who specializes in historic renovations. He began collecting movie posters in 1977, while in high school in MA, spurred on by his teacher’s extensive collection. After moving to Los Angeles, he acquired posters from memorabilia dealers in Hollywood before moving back to the East Coast. At one point Cleveland had the largest privately held film poster collection in the world with 45,000 examples from 58 countries. Recently he has donated much of his collection to worldwide museums including The Bill Douglas Cinema Museum at The University of Exeter in the UK. Part of his collection was featured in the exhibition Coming Soon: Film Posters from the Dwight M. Cleveland Collection at The Norton Museum of Art in Palm Beach and illustrated in Cinema on Paper: The Graphic Genius of Movie Posters by Assouline.