Extremely Rare 1918 WWI Movie Ad - Crashing Through To Berlin - Pasadena, CA
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:411365 | Modified Item: No |
| Original/Reproduction: Original | Country/Region of Manufacture: United States |
It is rather difficult to get a good picture of this rare and unusual item. It is an advertisement for a movie showing at Clune's Pasadena Theater on November 18, 1918, titled "Crashing Through to Berlin". The ad is just a little larger than a business card when folded in half. The front show a Dachshund with the face of Kaiser with a blurb of "Every Dog Has Its Day". When it is opened it shows a sausage being sliced and has the blurb "The End of the Dog". This film was pro...duced by the Universal Film Manufacturing Company in August of 1918, just before World War I ended. By the time the film showed in Pasadena the war had been over by one week. The note on the back that states "A Timely Picture" is quite accurate. The card is 4 1/2 by 2 1/4 inches when closed and 4 1/2 by 4 1/2 inches when opened. It is a little damaged on the back where it might have stuck to something and marred the area where the theater name was and the showing dates, though it is easy to figure them out in spite of that. Other than that it is in good condition. These cards were handed out by theater employees who stood outside in front of the theater to advertise a show. Clune's Pasadena Theater was the first theater in Pasadena. The building still stands on Colorado Blvd.The following is a brief synopsis of the film: This documentary chronicles the main events of World War I, starting with the funeral of Francis Ferdinand, the Archduke of Austria, and his consort in 1914. Following scenes of the German invasion and occupation of Belgium, the entrance of the Allied armies, comprising Russian, French, English, Italian, Canadian, and American troops, is shown. War footage includes scenes from the battles of Louvain, the Marne, and Verdun, Alpine warfare in Italy, the Allied campaigns in Egypt, Mesopotamia and Palestine, and the battles at Catigny and Chateau-Thierry in France. In addition, the sinking of the Aztec and the Lusitania are depicted through the use of animation. Both German and Allied troops, as lead by Paul von Hindenburg of Germany, Sir Sam Hughes of England, General Gerard Mathieu Leman of Belgium, General Carlo Cadorna, Commander-in-Chief of the Italian army, and General John Pershing are featured, along with shots of Kaiser Wilhelm, the Crown Prince Wilhelm, King Albert, and Woodrow Wilson. Also seen is footage of shipbuilding in the United States and of the exploits of the Allied aviators.
