1934 "It Happened One Night" opening day ad...
Item # 725813
February 22, 1934
THE NEW YORK TIMES, Feb. 22, 1934
* "It Happened One Night" opening day advertisement
* Clark Gable Claudette Colbert - Frank Capra
* Romantic comedy by screenwriter Robert Riskin
* First of 3 movies to sweep all 5 major Oscars
Page 25 has a 13 x 3 1/2 inch advertisement for the opening day showing of the film "It Happened One Night" at Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan. This film would became the first to sweep the five major academy awards in 1935.
Complete with all 40 pages, light toning and a little wear at the margins, generally in good condition.
background: On February 22, 1934, Frank Capra’s "It Happened One Night" made its New York City debut at the prestigious Radio City Music Hall, strategically opening on Washington’s Birthday to capitalize on the holiday crowds. Despite its eventual status as a cinematic masterpiece, the film arrived with little fanfare; lead actress Claudette Colbert was reportedly so dissatisfied with the production that she had to be incentivized with a doubled salary and a quick filming schedule just to participate. The initial New York reviews were generally positive but not ecstatic, and the film didn't truly explode into a cultural phenomenon until it hit the "subsequent-run" circuit, where glowing word-of-mouth transformed it into a massive sleeper hit. This opening marked the beginning of a legendary run that would not only save Columbia Pictures from its "Poverty Row" reputation but also result in the first-ever "Big Five" sweep at the Academy Awards, forever changing the landscape of the romantic comedy.
* "It Happened One Night" opening day advertisement
* Clark Gable Claudette Colbert - Frank Capra
* Romantic comedy by screenwriter Robert Riskin
* First of 3 movies to sweep all 5 major Oscars
Page 25 has a 13 x 3 1/2 inch advertisement for the opening day showing of the film "It Happened One Night" at Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan. This film would became the first to sweep the five major academy awards in 1935.
Complete with all 40 pages, light toning and a little wear at the margins, generally in good condition.
background: On February 22, 1934, Frank Capra’s "It Happened One Night" made its New York City debut at the prestigious Radio City Music Hall, strategically opening on Washington’s Birthday to capitalize on the holiday crowds. Despite its eventual status as a cinematic masterpiece, the film arrived with little fanfare; lead actress Claudette Colbert was reportedly so dissatisfied with the production that she had to be incentivized with a doubled salary and a quick filming schedule just to participate. The initial New York reviews were generally positive but not ecstatic, and the film didn't truly explode into a cultural phenomenon until it hit the "subsequent-run" circuit, where glowing word-of-mouth transformed it into a massive sleeper hit. This opening marked the beginning of a legendary run that would not only save Columbia Pictures from its "Poverty Row" reputation but also result in the first-ever "Big Five" sweep at the Academy Awards, forever changing the landscape of the romantic comedy.
Category: The 20th Century












