Cinema posters issued by the production companies and bought from them by the cinema on a destroy or return and refund agreement mainly came in two sizes. The most commonly found posters are quad crown posters (30" x 40") though some films had double crown posters (20" x 30"). The posters issued by the production companies are all shown in the press and campaign books, though some variances do exist.

NB: The crown being a standard measurement of paper, 10" x 15".

Many cinema’s produced their own advertising posters. Most notably was the ABC group of cinemas who were prolific; producing both unique quad crown and double crown posters which have completely different artwork to the production company produced posters. Most ABC posters were double bill posters (giving two-thirds over to the main title and one-third to the support film). There are also a large number of program posters produced by local cinemas. These are basically a list of titles with dates of the cinema’s programming schedule of films to be screened, and vary in size and paper thickness. Also within the poster group would be the hand written, painted or screen painted posters produced in house by a local cinema and used as part of their promotional display. Many people may not consider these collectable as they are very crudely made, they were however integral to the promotional campaigns of cinemas and are certainly part of collecting Elvis film memorabilia in the UK

LOVE ME TENDER

1956 Love Me Tender Front of House - Quad poster 30" x 40"

The above poster is commonly sold with a description of a poster for a 1960 re-release of the film in cinemas while others have described it as a teaser poster used prior to the original film release 1957. Both descriptions may have some validity. The second explanation may have some supporting evidence in that it is the same artwork from the 1957 press book for pre-release of the film and carries the wording ‘Introducing Elvis Presley’ and ‘Hear Mr Rock ‘n’ Roll’ with a list of the songs from the film all suggest the poster is from the time of the films release or just prior to it. Below is a variant of the poster with the same image but the ‘Introducing Elvis Presley’ and ‘Hear Mr Rock ‘n’ Roll’ and list of the songs are omitted. It is the poster below that is most likely to be from 1960 for a later screening. The variant below was printed by Kent Art Printers Ltd, based in Chatham, Kent

LOVING YOU

1957 Loving You Front of House - Quad poster 30" x 40"

Quad crown poster (30" x 40"). It is unsure when his was issued - There has been suggestion it was an advance poster for the film in 1957. The artwork is similar to some of the press book trade advert designs used in 1957. It has also been suggested that this was for a later screening of the film has been re-screened several times over the years.

A later mid 1960s print of the quad crown poster (30" x 40")

JAILHOUSE ROCK

1958 Jailhouse Rock Front of House - Quad poster 30" x 40"

1958 quad crown poster for the ABC Regal Cinema, Wembley, London

30" x 40" variation. The above poster was used in 1959. Unlike most posters that are ink printed this one has been screen printed using paints.

30" x 40". The above poster is a reissue from 1963 when Regal Films bought the rights to distribute the film

KING CREOLE

1958 King Creole Front of House - Quad poster 30" x 40"

This quad poster that has been adapted by the cinema to show the support film for King Creole. Country Music Holiday (03/11/1959)

A reissue from most likely a re-run of the film in 1965. 30" x 40"

G. I. BLUES

1960 G. I. Blues Front of House - Quad poster 30" x 40"

This poster is a reissue from most likely a re-run of the film in 1965. 30” x 40”

FLAMING STAR

1961 Flaming Star Front of House - Quad poster 30" x 40"(*)

Flaming Star quad poster with completely different artwork. It is the same artwork as the advertisement block from the press book - version 1. Some have suggested that this is a prototype with the artwork being decided against and was never used. Interestingly the image is the same used in newspaper advertisements for early promotion which may suggest it was more likely an early pre-release promotional poster. Size 30" x 40".

WILD IN THE COUNTRY

1961 Wild In The Country Front of House - Quad poster 30" x 40"

An quad poster that has been adapted by the cinema to show the other film on the bill Thin Ice and its screening run for six days from the 24/07/1961

BLUE HAWAII

1961 Blue Hawaii Front of House - with the ‘14 TERRIFIC SONGS’ box over the banner in r-h corner. Quad poster 30" x 40"

Variation with the ‘14 TERRIFIC SONGS’ box under banner in r-h corner. 30” x 40”

FOLLOW THAT DREAM

1962 Follow Tat Dream Front of House - Quad poster 30” x 40”

A rare example of a cinema produced double feature for Follow That Dream and Kid Galahad. Screening dates 16/06/1967 and 17/07/1967 (Quad Crown Poster 30" x 40")

KID GALAHAD

1962 Kid Galahad Front of House - Quad poster 30” x 40”

GIRLS! GIRLS! GIRLS!

1963 Girls! Girls! Girls! Front of House - Quad poster 30" x 40"

Unknown cinema in house produced quad poster (30" x 40") 27/01/1973

IT HAPPENED AT THE WORLD'S FAIR

1963 It Happened At The World's Fair Front of House - Quad poster 30" x 40"

FUN IN ACAPULCO

1963 Fun In Acapulco Front of House - Quad poster 30" x 40"

LOVE IN LAS VEGAS

1964 Love In Las Vegas Front of House - Quad poster 30" x 40"

KISSIN COUSINS

1964  Kissin Cousins Front of House - Quad poster 30" x 40"

ABC Cinema quad crown poster 30" x 40". Cheltenham ABC (16/08/1964, for seven days) Double bill with Never Put It In Writing as the support film

ROUSTABOUT

1964 Roustabout Front of House - Quad poster 30" x 40"

GIRL HAPPY

1965 GIrl Happy Front of House - Quad poster 30" x 40"

A cinema produced 30" x 40" poster used in the Odeon cinema in Stroud. This was a stock poster printed for the cinema. Originally for a seven day screening it has been crudely changed to a four day run. The film titles have been put in by hand, obviously a cost saving idea by the cinema. Notably Elvis’s name does not appear and neither does a printers name, both rather unusual.

1965 - ABC Cinema Quad Poster 30" x 40" billed with Sandokan The Great

TICKLE ME

1965 Tickle Me Front of House - Quad poster 30" x 40"

1965 - Quad Poster 30" x 40" which has had a banner pasted on to the bottom of the poster to show the second film on the bill - Soldier In The Rain

1965 - ABC Quad Crown Poster 30" x 40" which has had printed into the redesign a banner at the bottom of the poster showing the second film on the bill - Soldier In The Rain

1965 - Tickle Me - UK Quad Crown Poster 30" x 40" (variant). This one has a reddish background as opposed to the more common yellow background and has additional artwork on the right hand side of the poster.

HAREM HOLIDAY

1965 Harem Holiday Front of House - Quad poster 30" x 40"

Two variants of the 1965 UK ABC Cinema Quad 30" x 40" also advertising the support film The Spartan Gladiators

Above - Beau Nash Bath. This poster was for a seven day screen run from Sunday 09/01/1966

Below - an ABC stock poster for use in any cinema at anytime

FRANKIE AND JOHNNY

1966 Frankie and Johnny Front of House - Quad poster 30" x 40"

1966 - Quad Crown Poster billed with The Swingin’ Set (30" x 40")

PARADISE HAWAIIAN STYLE

1966 Paradise Hawaiian Style Front of House - Quad poster 30" x 40"

ABC Quad Poster used at the Grand Cinema, Mansfield. - 30" x 40" with the second bill film Kid Rodelo.ñ

CALIFORNIA HOLIDAY

1966 California Holiday Front of House - Quad poster 30" x 40"

ABC Cinema Quad Poster (30" x 40") posters that was sent to most ABC cinemas. ‘ABC The First Name In Entertainment’. With the support film Hercules, Samson and Ulysses

A blank variant of the same quad poster (30" x 40") , with the support film Hercules, Samson and Ulysses (1966)

EASY COME, EASY GO

1967 Easy Come, Easy Go Front of House - Quad poster 30" x 40"

A cinema adapted quad crown poster for a double bill screening with Paradise Hawaiian Style (30" x 40")

Above - ABC Cinema Quad Poster (30" x 40") with the support film Fort Utah . Printed with the cinema name, ABC Birkenhead. Screened from 02/07/1967 for seven days

Below - The more common, standard variant of the same poster that was sent to most ABC cinemas. ‘ABC The First Name In Entertainment’. (30" x 40") with the support film Fort Utah (1967)

DOUBLE TROUBLE

1966 Double Trouble Front of House - Quad poster 30" x 40"

Cinema produced Quad Crown Poster 30" x 40" (unknown cinema and date of use)

CLAMBAKE

1968 Clambake Front of House - Quad poster 30" x 40"

1968 Quad Poster 30" x 40" with second film on the bill Eight On The Run

SPEEDWAY

1968 Speedway Front of House - Quad poster 30" x 40"

STAY AWAY JOE

1969 Stay Away Joe Front of House - Quad poster 30" x 40"

CHARRO!

1971 Charro! Front of House - Quad poster 30" x 40"

1971 Front of House - Quad poster 30" x 40" Double Bill with The Only Way Is Dead!

TROUBLE WITH GIRLS (and how to get into it)

1969 The Trouble With Girls (and how to get in to it) Front of House - Quad poster 30" x 40"

ELVIS THAT'S THE WAY IT IS

1971 That's The Way It Is Front of House - Quad poster 30" x 40"

Poster variant - with word - ELVIS - in white writing as opposed the more common yellow writing version

ELVIS ON TOUR

1973 Elvis On Tour Front of House - Quad poster 30” x 40”

LAST TRAIN FROM GUNHILL/KING CREOLE

1975 Last Train From Gunhill/King Creole Front of House - Quad poster 30" x 40"

GIRLS! GIRLS! GIRLS!/PARADISE HAWAIIAN STYLE

1975 Girls! GIRLS! Girls!/Paradise Hawaiian Style Front of House - Quad poster 30" x 40"

BLUE HAWAII/G. I. BLUES

1975 Blue Hawaii/G. I. Blues Front of House - Quad poster 30" x 40"

JAILHOUSE ROCK/IT HAPPENED AT THE WORLD'S FAIR

1966 Jailhouse Rock/It Happened At The World's Fair - Front of House Quad Poster 30” x 40”

1966 - Jailhouse Rock/It Happened At The World's Fair Cinema made quad poster for this double bill

POST 1977 UK CINEMA POSTERS

ELVIS THE MOVIE

Elvis The Movie was released in 1979 and the first docu-drama about the Elvis' life. The film stars Kurt Russell and Shelley Winters. This is a rare Elvis connected poster that does not have an image of him or he did not appear in that collectors are interested in.

THIS IS ELVIS

This Is Elvis was released in 1981. The film had a mix of actors and actual film of Elvis creating a documentary of his life. Critically acclaimed, wgen ussuwd on tge then new video format was extended considerably.  

ELVIS THAT'S THE WAY IT IS 2000 SPECIAL EDITION

Elvis That's The Way It Is Special Edition (2000). The film was a remastering of the original film with new footage added to replace the nonsensical fans and fan club film. The film was released on 16/08/2000 and had an extended cinema run in the UK.

ELVIS 50 YEARS 68 COMEBACK SPECIAL

Elvis Fifty Years 68 Comeback Special was released for one night only, 16/08/2018. It's surprising success in cinemas across the UK saw many screening it for up to a week. 

ELVIS THAT'S THE WAY IT IS 50 YEARS LATER

Elvis That's The Way It is 50 Years Later was to be released on the 20/04/2020. The film was delayed due to the worldwide Covid epidemic and was eventually screened in UK cinemas on 09/08/2020. No poster was reissued for the later screenings with cinemas using this pister and adapting the screenibg date.

ELVIS UNLEASHED