Grand Theatre Ad
This poster is for the movie Bright Road, and its premiere release in North Carolina at the Grand Theatre in Charlotte. The Grand Theatre was one of a few theaters exclusively available to the black community due to segregation during the era. Unlike many of its competitors the Grand Theatre still stands and operates today.
“Bright Road” is a dramatic mostly black casted movie produced by M.G.M studios in 1953. The movie is a heartwarming tale of a hopeful teacher, who just began her career, and her relationship with one of her troubled yet promising students. Based on an award winning story written by Mary Elizabeth Vroman, a young black teacher. The story was published in “The Ladies Home Journal” June Issue, 1951. The film stars two iconic classic Hollywood actors, Dorothy Dandridge (the teacher) and Harry Belafonte(the school principal) and is the acting debut for young Phillip Hepburn(the student). Dorothy Dandridge was a huge star during the era, as she is one of the first African American actresses ever to be nominated for an Oscar. She was breaking racial boundaries no one had before her.
Within the poster Dandridge is the main noticeable figure based on hierarchy and proportions. As her character is the narrator and she is clearly the star of the film, despite the story focusing more on the student’s journey. The only other non typographical elements present within the poster are a small bust portrait of Harry Belafonte and the front page cover of The Ladies Home Journal of which the original story is present. The poster delivers a lot of information to the viewer. Within the poster’s type we read that this is Dandridges first film role as prior she had only performed in nightclubs. So this is the start of her journey towards an Oscar. We also learn that this film was based on the award winning story published in the The Ladies Home Journal magazine. However it was not mentioned who the writer was, or that she was black. The viewer also learns that this is the first time the film will be shown in the state, and it will be playing throughout the week once the theater opens at 2pm. The poster ends with the Theaters branding type logo, as well as a slogan which announces that The Grand Theatre is “Charlotte’s Finest Colored Theatre”. So we learn that this is intended for an all black audience.
The poster uses very expressive san serif fonts, which give motion and enthusiasm to the words. A very delicate blending of both italicized, regular, thick and thin type styles bring this poster to life and helps to grab the attention of the viewer.
Uploaded to Cinema Treasures website by user Dallasmovietheaters
