Robin Hood Fotobusta and Lobby Cards

Matt Crandall has recently made me aware of an Italian fotobusta (above) from an early release of Walt Disney's live-action movie The Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952).

The fotobusta/photobusta serves a similar purpose to the 'lobby card' found in other countries.

They are usually issued in a set, each showing a different image or scene from a film. They can be found in both portrait and landscape formats. 

We now have a huge collection of film posters on this blog, issued during the various release dates of The Story of Robin Hood. But I think these lobby cards are also worth looking at.

The style and quality of this selection make me think they were produced during the early release dates of the film.

After seeing this wonderful film all those years ago, I would have loved to have owned these!

Don't forget to visit my 'Disney's Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men' Facebook page.

Posters and Lobby Cards

Below is a small sample of the fine artwork used to promote Walt Disney's live-action movie The Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men in 1952.

The first image is described by an online auction site, as an Australian Daybill (13'' x 30").

Australian Daybill

Also are two posters (below) that appeared in the media and cinemas. It is interesting to see the differences in design.

The 'Three Sheet' (41'' x 80.5")

I have also included a set of eight very colourful lobby cards, used during the release of the movie at various times. 

Lobby card set of eight (11'' x 14')

There were a vast array of posters used to advertise this film. Down the years I have managed to gain quite a collection on this blog, from all around the world. Including 24 pages of posters and 7 pages of lobby cards. To view them, just click on the links.

Real Actors!

Mexican Lobby Card

Vanessa has recently sent me this image of a Mexican lobby card for Walt Disney's Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952). The title of the film was changed as Los Arqueros Del Rey which translates from Spanish into English as 'The Archers of the King.'

I do not know when the film was released in Mexico, but it's premiere in Madrid, Spain was on the 17th May 1954.
Vanessa says:

Please note just under the picture of Robin and Marian in blue ink it says "con actores reales" (with real actors). I suppose they wanted to make it clear so audiences knew it was not a cartoon movie for children as most of Disney early movies were.

That is a very interesting observation. I have seen these lobby cards before but never noticed that particular description. It shows how the audiences of the time would have been unfamiliar with the Disney organisation being associated with anything else other than cartoon animation (even though this was their second live action movie picture).

Many thanks Vanessa for sending this to me.

To see a collection of film posters for Walt Disney's Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men from all over the world, please click here. There are also various lobby cards here.

Elton Hayes as Allan-a-Dale

Elton Hayes as Alan-a-Dale

Above is another still from Walt Disney's movie the Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men. It shows Elton Hayes (1915-2001) in his role as the minstrel Allan-a-Dale and I think you will agree that the lighting and atmosphere of this particular picture is quite unusual.

I have been amazed at how many various types of images from the film still exist. This is testament to the promotion and huge amount of publicity that surrounded Disney's second live-action film. The Story of Robin Hood would sadly be the last major movie to be produced at the legendary Denham Studios in Buckinghamshire, England but recent research on this blog has shown it to have been a big box-office success.

Down the years I have managed to accumulate many stills, posters and lobby cards from The Story of Robin Hood . In the Picture Gallery section there are now over 92 images and thanks to the input from my readers there are a lot more to come!

To access the Posters, Lobby Cards, Picture Gallery and the many other sections of this blog, just click on the links below and in the task bar.

Italian Poster

We now have a wide variety of  different posters and lobby cards from around the world, promoting Walt Disney's Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952) on this site. Above is an Italian poster from the 1950's. To see the others please click here.

Lobby Card

Above is another colourful lobby card, promoting Walt Disney's Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952). On the dais is Joan Rice (sitting far left) as Maid Marian, the fabulous Martitia Hunt (centre, standing)  as Queen Eleanor, Hubert Gregg (getting up) as Prince John  and the moody but magnificent Peter Finch (standing, far right) as the Sheriff of Nottingham.

Italian Lobby Card

Above is another of the well illustrated Italian lobby cards produced  to promote Walt Disney's Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952). It is interesting to see how the colour and tints of the costumes of both Richard Todd (Robin Hood) and James Hayter (Friar Tuck) have been changed by the designer.

Italian Lobby Card

I think the Italian lobby cards for Disney’s Story of Robin Hood are the best I have seen. I particularly like the detail around the movie still as seen in the example above. They seem to be of a far better quality than the English and American lobby cards of the time. What do you think?

Campaign Book

Above are pages from The RKO Campaign Book for promoting Walt Disney's Story of Robin Hood in 1952.