Category Archives: 1960s posters

Rand-om Thoughts

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The self-taught graphic design guru, Paul Rand (1914-1996), was most famous for his corporate logos and identities for such companies as ABC, IBM, and UPS — and was even hired by Apple king, Steve Jobs, to develop the branding for his NeXT computers. Like Saul Bass, his clean, simple lines pretty much defines the 50’s and 60’s Mid-Century Modernist look. However, unlike Bass, he chose to stick to the more steady commercial work of designing trademarks and completed only one movie poster for No Way Out, starring Richard Widmark and Sidney Poitier.

It’s a shame, too. There’s no doubt Rand could’ve whipped out some classic one-sheets! If you want to learn more about the man and his philosophy, check out this video tribute.

Coconis Has Major Cojónes!

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Often mistaken for the elegant, elaborate movie posters of design legend, Bob Peak – Ted Coconis has proven that his work is just as masterful. Having covered everything from books and magazines as well as one sheets, Mr. Coconis now lives in Paris and The Greek Islands doing illustrations of exotic Parisian women. Not bad work if you can get it!

Off The Hooks!

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Most movie sites talk about Bond girls — but we here at Meansheets prefer Bond illustrators! Which brings us to Mitchell Hooks, the man who drew up the original poster for Dr. No. Like Robert McGinnis, he was also a very successful book cover jacket designer of paperback romances and pulp fiction novels, and was inducted into The Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame in 1999. So he’s kind of a big deal!


The British Godfather

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Eric Pulford was perhaps the most important figure in British movie poster history, conceiving thousands of designs in his storied fifty-year career. After buying a controlling interest in Downtons Advertising, he turned it into the chief film agency in England and employed numerous talented photographers and illustrators — most notably, “The Italian Connection” of Renato Fratini (From Russia With Love) and Arnaldo Putzu — to execute its brilliant print campaigns.

Mr. Pulford died in 2005 at the age of 89.

What A Putzu!

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Arnaldo Putzu, the brilliant, though unfortunately named Italian illustrator, stormed British shores in the late 1960’s and lit up England’s theatre lobbies and magazine covers for years to come with his dazzling, colorful, handcrafted posters. And rumor has it that he’s still alive and well and painting in Rome!

Tom Chantrell (1916-2001)

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Tom Chantrell was a prolific British illustrator who did one of the more legendary Star Wars posters as well as the infamous Raquel Welch stunner for One Million Years BC and a whole slew of others. And judging by his obit, he seemed like one heckuva charmer!

The Picasso of Film Titles

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Uncovered Films sent me a cool video about Pablo Ferro, the originator of the title sequences for Dr. Strangelove, Beetlejuice, and L.A. Confidential, to name just a few. So here’s a few more gems from the man that was once called a genius by Stanley Kubrick…

The Bassmaster (1920-1996)

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On Tyler Stout’s website, I came across a clip of a documentary with design legend, Saul Bass. The man’s name and work are so iconic, it was interesting to see what the real person had to say.

The House That Strausfeld Built

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For roughly 35 years, from post-WWII up until 1980, Peter Strausfeld created unique, limited edition movie posters in wood and lino-cuts for just one venue: the Academy Cinema theatre in London, England.

Think about it. That’s like if the Cinerama Dome or Grauman’s Chinese Theatre had their own personal movie poster designer back in the day. That said, Mr. Strausfeld’s painstakingly made posters are now extremely rare, but you can buy some affordable reproductions at various online print shops.