Original Abbott, George Movie Posters

George Abbott movie posters span one of American entertainment's longest and most productive careers — the 1920s through the 1980s, and his film work as director and producer brought the Broadway sensibility to Hollywood at critical moments in the musical film's development.

His film adaptations of stage musicals generated theatrical materials of considerable interest: The Pajama Game (1957), co-directed with Stanley Donen, brought Doris Day and John Raitt to the screen in a production that preserved the stage original's energy while opening it cinematically. Damn Yankees (1958), again with Donen, featured Tab Hunter and Gwen Verdon in a baseball-fantasy that is among the most entertaining Hollywood musicals of the decade. Abbott's name above the title was a reliable guarantee of professional showmanship.

Abbott's theatrical materials from his Broadway-to-Hollywood adaptations occupy a particular niche in poster collecting: they bridge the graphic traditions of theatrical advertising (where Abbott was dominant) and Hollywood movie marketing. His name above the title guaranteed a specific quality of musical entertainment, and the poster art reflects that reputation with images of energy, colour, and showbiz confidence. Earlier silent and early-sound film work produced more rudimentary but historically significant materials from his pre-Broadway peak. Original theatrical paper from his Broadway-to-Hollywood adaptations is now seldom found in fine condition.

Find original theatrical prints from this Broadway titan's screen career.

Browse alongside musical film posters and Oscar-winning film posters. All Film/Art Gallery movie posters and items are authenticated originals.