Farrell McDonald Tom Santschi Olive Borden in "Three Bad Men" Arcade Card 1926
Condition: Fair. Creasing and edge wear. Corner tear lower left.
Comments: ABOUT ARCADE/EXHIBIT CARDS
From the early 1900 to the 1960 these cards were sold for a penny each in arcade machines. These cards were almost always black and white or some type of single color toned cards. They issued cards on a variety of subjects, but the most sought after cards feature movie stars, cowboys and boxers.
The method of distribution of Arcade/Exhibit cards was unique in the first half of the 20th century. Until the period after World War 2, Americans did not have the incredible variety of home-delivered amusements that we find common today. Only radio provided home entertainment beginning in the 1920. When people wanted something to do, people left their homes for movie theaters, boardwalks, and arcades. Every town had annual fairs or carnivals that had arcade tents. ESCO manufactured amusement machines for those places: fortune telling machines, prize machines, scales, pin-balls, etc. It most historic development was the card dispensing machine.
The cards were dispensed for a penny (later, a nickel or dime) to the patron of the arcade. ESCO sold refill cards direct to vendors. There was no permanent place where you could get these cards in most cities. Usually buyers had to wait for a carnival or fair to come to town to have access to the cards. This limited availability has made many of these cards quite scarce today and in recent years they have become very desirable for collectors
Purchased at an estate sale of a lifelong collector of extremely rare and high quality paper items (postcards, manuals and other ephemera) and advertising items.
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