This series comprises records used in publicity and promotion efforts conducted by Lutheran Church Productions, Inc. (LCP), to promote its feature film Martin Luther. The records are from 1951-1960 with the bulk dating from 1952-1956. These records were generated in the course of regular publicity efforts taken during its release as a feature film. Record types include typewritten and handwritten business correspondence, news releases, newspaper articles, posters, leaflets, brochures, booklets, circular letters, and meeting minutes. Subject matter includes publicity for the film's initial premiere and efforts in subsequent years of the film's release; promotion efforts for sale of individual 16mm prints for private use; film reviews, both foreign and domestic; comments regarding the banning of the film in Canada's Quebec province; and preliminary scripts for an accompanying filmstrip of Martin Luther's life to be used in congregations as a educational supplement to the film. Also included in this series is a publicity notebook that was removed from a 3-ring binder for preservation purposes. A flat box contains photostatic copies of news articles, a bound book labeled, "Advertising Campaign Martin Luther," a folder titled, "The Showman's Manual of Promotion for Martin Luther," and a scrapbook pages of newspaper clippings related to the film. Additional publicity material, including movie posters and brochures are in two oversized folders kept in the mapcase drawer marked "Martin Luther." Because of the fragile condition of the large movie posters, handling should be kept to a minimum. The following is a description of the two posters. The first poster is known as a "one sheet" and measures 27 inches by 41 inches. It was created using offset printing lithography using three colors: yellow, magenta, and purple. It has a portrait orientation with a tag line at the top that reads "The man who changed the world forever!" next to an artist's rendering of Niall MacGinnis as Luther. The title "Martin Luther" is followed by another tag line "n︣o man can command my conscience!" with additional artwork comprising artist's renderings of scenes from the movie. Principal credits are at the bottom of the poster "With Niall MacGinnis as Martin Luther. Directed by Irving Pichel. Filmed by Louis de Rochemont Associates. Lothar Wolff Producer. Screenplay by Allan Sloane and Lothar Wolff." Printed below the bottom border is "Litho. in U.S.A. Copyright 1953 Property of National Screen Service Corp. Licensed for display only in connection with the exhibition of this picture at your theatre. Must be returned immediately." The back of the poster has evidence of previous attempts to repair tears. Stamped on the back of the poster is Theatre Poster Exchange, Inc., Memphis, Tn. There is also a number "53/505," a National Screen Service number assigned to the poster by National Screen Service Corporation (NSSC). The first two digits indicate the year of the movie's release and the digits after the slash indicate the movie's place in the sequential order of movie titles coded by NSSC. In this instance, this poster is the 505th movie title coded by NSSC in 1953. The second poster is known as a "3 sheet." It is three times the size of a one sheet and in this case the poster was produced in two pieces cut horizontally, but mounted in a large lobby display as one continuous piece. The two pieces measure 41 inches by 54 inches and 41 inches by 27 inches, respectively. This poster was produced by offset printing lithography that used four colors: black, yellow, red, and blue. It has a portrait orientation and has at the top the tag line "A Magnificent Motion Picture For Our Time!" Louis de Rochemont presents Martin Luther The man who changed the world forever! At the top of this poster is an artist's rendering of Niall MacGinnis as Luther. Around the border of the poster are artist's renderings of scenes from the movie. The same credits used in the one sheet poster are used in the three sheet poster. A stamp on the back indicates the poster is a three sheet and has the same NSS number as the one sheet poster, 53/505. Source for poster information: www.learnaboutmovieposters.com Accessed February 22, 2005.
