In the February 15, 1933 issue of HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, the newly-released KING KONG grabbed the headlines with the promise of the financial "answer to [film] exhibitor's prayers. It has everything that any showman could ask for", the story went. "It's a good picture on an entirely new theme, produced masterfully, and offering exploitation and values the like of which have hardly ever been seen in a picture before." KONG was a welcome money-maker in a depression that had just entered its fourth year.
The March 6th issue included a 28-page promotional insert of KING KONG. Printed in metallic colors on a heavier paper stock than the magazine itself, RKO, the studio that produced the picture, pulled out all the stops in showing off their product. It seemed like Kong was being promoted in any media available at the time.
In the style of Feg Murray's "Seein' Stars", cartoonist Fred Morgan drew a strip called "Bits From the Hits!" Mainly a political cartoonist, Morgan took time out enough to draw his impressions of Hollywood, including this panel of King Kong from BROADWAY AND HOLLYWOOD MOVIES (March 1933).
Cool beans! I love this kind of material from bygone days. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteIt's fun and exhilarating to come across these little gems from so long ago. It's really fortunate that many of these trade and fan magazines stood the test of time long enough to be conserved.
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