This dramatic three-sheet from the early 1930s stands nearly seven-feet tall and unfortunately this small format doesn't do it justice. (The lion head itself is about four feet tall!) Clearly this is a great example of a poster that conveys the excitement of what was to come when the big show arrived about two weeks after it was pasted to the side of a barn or a fence. Although sometimes posted in an "empty" store window, three-sheets are overall considered to be "wall work" - usually slapped on the exterior of a building instead of taped to the inside of a shop window. I seem to recall that Ol' Whitey has a story about some three-sheets that Ringling-Barnum used to promote Lillian Leitzel, that created a bit of a stir when she found out how the boys on the bill car would refer to her -- and the lithos. I'm hoping he can refresh my memory and share the story with us. |
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Ringling Barnum LION HEAD (c_1933) Three Sheet
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8 comments:
Chris,
An article titled Three Sheet by Dave Price tells the story. It was published in the Jan-Feb 1975 issue of Bandwagon. The legend says that many three-sheet lithos were posted on outhouses. The billposters started calling the Leitzel poster "Outhouse Lil." She complained to John
Ringling and he ordered the poster to be discontinued. The article includes the words to the billposters song "Ballad of Outhouse Lil." — Larry Kellogg
Boys, I hadn't thought of this for years. Maybe I can come up with it.
Told me by an old timer, meaning he was almost my current age when I was in my early twenties. The billposters used to post three-sheets of Lillian Leitzel on so many outhouses that they started referring to her as "Outhouse Lil."
Supposedly she heard about this nickname and stormed in to see Mr (John) Ringling, who solved the problem by the simple expediency of canceling the order with the printers for Leitzel's three-sheets.
Story sounds vaguely apocryphal, nevertheless there is or at least was a mildly poetic bit of doggerel around the billcars that they called, "The Ballad of Outhouse Lil."
Down along the railroad
upon an outhouse door
you'll find a three-sheet standing
where it never stood before
To all the towners passing by
it's just another bill
but to those of us up on the car
it's good old Outhouse Lil
We put that bill of Lil's
on every outhouse we could find
but when Lil found out about it
she almost lost her mind
And then when Mr Ringling
found out it made her sore
he changed our paper order
and that three-sheet we saw no more
Now whenever I post an outhouse
I always put one on the door
in memory of that bill of Lil's
that I shall post no more
Her name was Lillian Leitzel
and she gave 'em all a thrill
but to those of us up on the car
she was plain old Outhouse Lil
Classic blog info from Whitey. Just great and guess it must be a true tale. Next time I see Leitzel mentioned I will immediately think of Outhouse Lil. Just great. Thanks. Tanglefoot
Dave, I could listen to you for hours, such great stories you have. This has got to be one of the best.
Thanks, guys.
I just try to spread a little chuckle here and there.
Great story !
Wonder if that title was scribed
on her headstone or the full lyric
Larry,
What about the posters Louie Knie had made for you? That's an even better story. Please share.
Pat
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