GODZILLA: Vintage American Theatrical Promotional Items (1956-1985)

This page is an attempt to list what promotional, theatrical, non-retail items exist for each vintage Godzilla film.  If you want to see the various posters and lobby cards available for each film--which is too vast a subject to cover on a webpage--then you need THE ART OF JAPANESE MONSTERS by Sean Linkenback, which is the final word on the subject. 

For other categories:

*Chronological list of vintage American Godzilla items (1961-93)

*The Trendmasters Godzilla era  (1994-1997)

*American Godzilla video games (1986-present) 

*For home video, see the VHS/Beta/CED/Laserdisc/Misc. page and

*The Godzilla DVD and Blu-Ray page

*Chronological list of Godzilla American comics (1976-present)

    

American Release:  1956 (Trans World)

Posters: YES (as shown in pressbook)

Lobby Cards: YES (set of 8)

Stills: YES (black and white)

Pressbook: YES 

Ad Slicks: YES 

Ad Molds/Mats: YES

Radio Spots: YES (12-inch record, available in both 33&1/3 and 78 rpm)

TV Spots: YES

Other Items: Window Card, Herald; various local flyers made from the ad slicks shown above

American Release:  1959 (Warner Bros.)

Posters: YES including advance "teaser" poster (as shown in pressbook)

Lobby Cards: YES (set of 8)

Stills: YES (black and white)

Pressbook: YES 

Ad Slicks: YES 

Ad Molds/Mats: YES (also included with press kit, below)

Radio Spots: YES, 12-inch, 33&1/3 one-sided record (seen, but unfortunately not heard, in this post)

TV Spots: YES (1 minute x1; 20-second x3)

Press Kit: YES (included typed sheets, stills, and sample ad molds)

Other Items: Window Card

American Release:  1963 (Universal)

Posters: YES (as shown in pressbook)

Lobby Cards: YES (set of 8)

Stills: YES (black and white)

Pressbook: YES, "Showman's Manual" 

Ad Slicks: ? (outside of pressbook)

Ad Molds/Mats: YES Below, newspaper ad block made from an ad mold (reversed):

Radio Spots: YES (7-inch, 45 rpm red vinyl record)

TV Spots: YES (1 minute, 20-second, 10-second)

Other Items: Window Card (2 different), Glass Slide (Telop), Ice Cream Sundae Banner, Preview Record (7-inch, 33&1/3 in-theater record); Continuity and Dialogue Script

American Release:  1964 (American International)

Posters: YES (as shown in pressbook)

Lobby Cards: YES (set of 8)

Stills: YES (black and white)

Pressbook: YES

Ad Molds/Mats: ? Newspaper ad block exists, below: 

Ad Slicks: YES (double-feature; 1976 re-release)

Radio Spots: YES (7-inch, 45 rpm record)

TV Spots: YES (60-second, 20-second, 10-second)

Other Items: Window Card, Herald

     

American Release:  1965 (Continental Distributing)

Posters: YES

Lobby Cards: YES (set of 8)

Stills: YES (black and white)

Pressbook: YES

Ad Slicks: ? (outside of pressbook)

Radio Spots: YES (10-inch, 33&1/3 rpm record)

TV Spots: YES (60-second, 10-second, 20-second x2)

Other Items: Window card; Ghidrah mask

American Release:  1970 (Maron Films, double-feature)

Posters: YES

Lobby Cards: YES (set of 4)

Stills: YES (black & white)

Pressbook: YES

Ad Slicks: YES (original; re-release w/ GODZILLA'S REVENGE)

Radio Spots: YES (7-inch, 45 rpm record)

TV Spots: YES (60-second & 20-second)

NOTE:  Both GODZILLA vs. THE SEA MONSTER and SON OF GODZILLA had no U.S. theatrical release, and instead went to television.

 

American Release:  1969 (American International)

Posters: YES

Lobby Cards: YES (set of 8)

Stills: YES (black & white)

Pressbook: YES

Ad Molds/Mats: YES

Ad Slicks: YES (original; 1976 re-release; quadruple feature); Giant (23x35") Ad Mat

Radio Spots: YES (7-inch, 45 rpm record)

TV Spots: YES (60-second, 30-second, 20-second, 10-second)

Other: "Coming Soon" Motion Picture Daily Ad

American Release:  1971* (Maron Films, double-feature)

Posters: YES

Lobby Cards: NO

Stills: YES (black & white)

Pressbook: NO

Ad Slicks: YES (also triple-feature with MONSTER ZERO & WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS)

Radio Spots: NO

*Film first released in New York City as MINYA, SON OF GODZILLA (poster exists), then in double-feature with ISLAND OF THE BURNING DAMNED, then in 1972 as a double-feature with WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS (poster exists), and on from there.

American Release:  1972 (American International)

Posters: YES

Lobby Cards: YES (set of 8)

Stills: YES (black and white)

Pressbook: YES

Ad Slicks: YES (original; 1976 re-release)

Ad Molds/Mats: ? Newspaper ad blocks exist, below:

Radio Spots: YES (7-inch 45 rpm record)

TV Spots: YES (60-second, 30-second, 20 second)

Other Items: Window Card; Herald; "Hi-Rise Standee"

American Release:  1977 (Cinema Shares, International)

Posters: YES

Lobby Cards: NO

Stills: YES (black and white)

Pressbook: NO

Ad Slicks: YES (letter-sized; legal-sized)

Radio Spots: YES (5-inch reel-to-reel tape)

TV Spots: YES (30-second)

American Release:  1976 (Cinema Shares International)

Posters:  YES

Lobby Cards: NO

Stills: YES (Color, set of 8)

Pressbook: YES note: last full Godzilla pressbook made

Ad Slicks: ? (outside of pressbook); Theatre Ad Slick

Ad Molds/Mats: ? Newspaper ad block exists, below:

Radio Spots: ? Pressbook says "RADIO SPOTS - (30-second)"

TV Spots: YES (60-second, 30-second, 10-second x2)

Other Items: Herald; Pinback Buttons (4 different); Godzilla For President flyer; Comic Book; Monster Convoy Car Decorations); Distributor Synopsis Sheet; "Shock Around The Clock 2" Cinema Shares Flyer

American Release:  1977* (Cinema Shares) 

Posters: YES (note: 2 different 1-sheets)

Lobby Cards: NO

Stills: YES (black and white)

Pressbook: NO

Ad Slicks: YES

Radio Spots: NO

TV Spots: YES (15-second, 20-second)

Other Items: Herald; Distributor Sales Brochure

*NOTE: Film was pulled soon after release and re-titled (below)

American Release:  1977 (Cinema Shares)

Posters: YES

Lobby Cards: NO

Stills: YES (black and white)

Pressbook: NO

Ad Slicks: YES

Radio Spots: NO

TV Spots: YES (as part of 1978 Godzilla triple-feature)

Other Items: Distributor Synopsis Sheet (title crossed out and COSMIC written in); military flyer

American Release:  1978 (Bob Conn Enterprises)

Posters: YES

Lobby Cards: NO

Stills: NO

Pressbook: NO

Ad Slicks: YES

Radio Spots: YES (30-sec ad played in the commentary track of the 2008 Classic Media DVD!)

TV Spots: YES (20-second, 30 second)

And, for good measure:

NOTE: This list is only concerned with theatrical-related (and its home video release) promotional items; for the Dr. Pepper campaign during this time, see the Vintage American Items page.

American Release:  1985

Posters: YES

Lobby Cards: NO

Stills: YES (black and white)

Pressbook:  NO

Ad Slicks: YES (4-page set [light backgrounds]; 5-page set [dark backgrounds]; Mini Ad Sheet)

Radio Spots: ? (This vintage article says there would be some, and one is also mentioned in this book.)

TV Spots: YES (several, including:  30-second x5, 60-second x2)

Press Kit: YES (included 10-page typed document & 4 b&w stills; some mini-press kits were also sent out that included an unofficial wind-up toy and a joke sheet entitled "Everything You Wanted To Know About Godzilla But Didn't Have The Guts" )

Other Items: Theatre Standee; Promo Single (Jill Elliott - I Was Afraid To Love You); Video Store Countertop Standee & Sign; Video Store Poster; New World Video "Godzilla Beach Patrol" Safety Vest; New World Video Promotional Mug; Dr. Pepper Commercial (35mm Theatrical Version); Video Order Card; Video Store Standee