Original Star Wars and Jaws posters up for auction

Grace McGroryNewbald
News imageBBC The picture shows a collection of 40 x 30 inch film posters. The one on the left hand side, in the foreground, is Star Wars. At the top of the photo is an Enter the Dragon poster, and a Jaws poster. BBC
The selection of posters includes Star Wars (1977), Jaws (1975) and 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

A selection of original film posters that were collected by a teenager in the 1970s are to be auctioned.

Alan Moore, now 68, from Anlaby, only recently discovered the collection again when clearing out his late father's attic.

The selection includes posters used to advertise Jaws in 1975, Enter the Dragon in 1973 and Star Wars in 1977 - which was designed by illustrator Tom Chantrell.

Mr Moore said: "At the time they were the milestones – the ones that topped the box office at the time. For me, really, the memorabilia has served its purpose."

News imageAlan Moore The photo shows two man looking at the camera. The one closest to the camera, on the left, is wearing a blue patterned shirt, and has grey hair. The one furthest away from the camera is wearing a red shirt, and has brown hair. They're sat in a restaurant, and you can see a table with glasses on behind them. Alan Moore
Mr Moore's father, Raymond, was a film projectionist in the 1950s

Mr Moore said he first fell in love with cinema because of his dad, Raymond.

He worked as a film projectionist in the 1950s at the former Tivoli Cinema in Hull before it closed.

"We used to go to the cinema together in the 1960s when I was growing up, and my mum would come along with us," he said.

"If you had a camera on us, in the actual cinema - depending on the film of course - it was just joy. Real, sheer escapism."

News imageThe photo shows several posters side by side including for Star Wars and 2001: A Space Odyssey
Mr Moore says he cannot remember how much he originally paid for the posters

Mr Moore said he remembered seeing posters being unfolded and put in glass cases at the front of the cinema to advertise the films.

"I can't remember what I paid for them at the time. It was a film company that dealt with surplus stuff, which no longer exists."

He said he decided to sell the posters due to not having anyone to hand them down to - and has been shocked by the interest.

"I'm surprised as it stands - but if it went for hundreds of thousands, I'll be doing backflips down the street."

Caroline Hawley, auctioneer and owner of Hawleys Auctioneers & Valuers, said she had never seen a collection like this before.

"It's very rare to get them in such good condition, and such iconic films. There's going to be lots of excitement," she said.

The auction will be held by Hawleys Auctioneers & Valuers at Newbald Village Hall on Saturday 18 October.

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