DUMBO Daybill Movie Poster Original or Reissue?

There has always been some uncertainty about the release dates of Dumbo Australian daybills. The original daybill is so rare that it led many to believe that another RKO version was original. However, when the original did turn up in a major collection that I purchased it was clearly the true first Australian release. 

 

The daybill pictured in the photo top left has a four star RKO logo. This was used for daybills in 1941/2 which coincides with the original release of the film. The daybill second from the left is difficult to date but definitely not first release. It has the RKO logo without the four stars and also has borders (albeit the rh border appears to have been trimmed off). RKO daybills from this era were predominantly full bleed with only a border at the bottom so this daybill is a curiosity. A few RKO daybills were printed in the late 50s with borders but it is thought that the Dumbo daybill with borders and very similar art to the original might be late 40s.

 

The third daybill (bottom left) is a 1972 release hand litho and the daybill pictured bottom right is for the 1976 release.

 

Dumbo (1941)
Directors: Samuel Armstrong (as Sam Armstrong), Norman Ferguson
Writers: Joe Grant (screen story), Dick Huemer (screen story)
Stars: Sterling Holloway, Edward Brophy, James Baskett

 
Ridiculed because of his enormous ears, a young circus elephant is assisted by a mouse to achieve his full potential.

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