George McManus Theatrical Poster Art

Original McManus gouache and ink on board for the three-sheet movie poster for the "Bringing Up Father Abroad" stage show which ran somewhere between 1915-1921. This art has the title in pencil at top and the order for 1500 three-sheets on back. Check out "The Holloway Pages" for more info on the Bringing Up Father theatrical shows. This was a fluke buy off eBay around 2000. I bought a lot of about 6 six illustration pieces, purportedly from an old printing company (presumably the one that printed the three sheets) and after a few years figured out exactly what I had. I would have to say this ranks as one the earliest McManus pieces I've seen (though unsigned, as was nearly all poster art). As far as I can tell no copies of the poster have survived.