Motion Picture Classic Magazines 1923-26

[silentmovies742]

I bought an original binder containing a batch of the above some time ago. The binder is in pretty awful shape, but the magazines themselves are in good condition, generally. I have two questions. Firstly, does anyone know how to remove the mags from these binders without damaging them? I;d like to ry scanning them, but it's impossible as they are. And secondly, does anyone know the value of these types of magazines? The issues within the binder are:

June 1923 (Florence Vidor cover + Linder, Barthelmess, Blythe and Charles Ray articles inside)
Sepember 1923 (Norma Talmadge cover + Mae Murray, Renee Adoree)
October 1923 (Alice Terry cover + Barthelmess)
December 1923 (Baby Peggy cover + Leatrice Joy)
Febuary 1924 (Lillian Gish + Pola Negri)
October 1924 (Bebe Daniels + Blanche Sweet)
April 1926 (Renee Adoree + William Boyd, Laura La Plante)
May 1926 (Colleen Moore + Garbo)
June 1926 (Clara Bow + Valentino)
July 1926 (Richard Dix + W C Fields, Farrell)
August 1926 (Dolores Costello + George O Brien, Corrinne Griffith)
September 1926 (Claire Windsor + Lya dePutti, W C Fields)
October 1926 (Louise Brooks + Carol Dempster)

[mndean]

I bought an original binder containing a batch of the above some time ago. The binder is in pretty awful shape, but the magazines themselves are in good condition, generally. I have two questions. Firstly, does anyone know how to remove the mags from these binders without damaging them? I;d like to ry scanning them, but it's impossible as they are. And secondly, does anyone know the value of these types of magazines? The issues within the binder are:

June 1923 (Florence Vidor cover + Linder, Barthelmess, Blythe and Charles Ray articles inside)
Sepember 1923 (Norma Talmadge cover + Mae Murray, Renee Adoree)
October 1923 (Alice Terry cover + Barthelmess)
December 1923 (Baby Peggy cover + Leatrice Joy)
Febuary 1924 (Lillian Gish + Pola Negri)
October 1924 (Bebe Daniels + Blanche Sweet)
April 1926 (Renee Adoree + William Boyd, Laura La Plante)
May 1926 (Colleen Moore + Garbo)
June 1926 (Clara Bow + Valentino)
July 1926 (Richard Dix + W C Fields, Farrell)
August 1926 (Dolores Costello + George O Brien, Corrinne Griffith)
September 1926 (Claire Windsor + Lya dePutti, W C Fields)
October 1926 (Louise Brooks + Carol Dempster)

When you say "binder", can you tell how they were bound? Is it the normal binding done by libraries? I've had some success with those, but hesitate to suggest anything until I would know how it was done, as the collection doesn't seem to be typical with gaps within and between years.

[silentmovies742]

Hi, basically they have been put together in book form. Probably a home-made job, but done rather well and some time ago it seems, hence why the front and back cover have fallen off! But they appear to be glued rather than stitched from what i can see. The problem with taking them apart, of course, is that paper this old becomes brittle and falls apart. It would just be nice to scan them in both for my own use and for other people too, especially as I'm guessing the Bow/Moore and Brookes editions probably sell for silly prices these days and so unobtainable for many.

[entredeuxguerres]

If glued only, it IS a home-made job. Damage (by the glue) to the spines has already diminished collector value substantially, so you probably have little to loose by slicing them apart at the spine with a razor blade.

[Rob Farr]

I can't speak for the staff of the Media History Digital Library project, but if you contact them it is possible they will scan your issues professionally if you allow them to post the contents on their website. They already have a single year of Motion Picture Classic, from 1920.

[silentmovies742]

thank you. i will check that out.

[mndean]

Thanks for the update. I wouldn't touch it if bound by glue, too many variables about when it was bound/what glue was used. There may be a way to separate the magazines non-destructively, but I don't know it. Rob's suggestion is best, though their choice of using JPEG2000 as the page scan format is one I find baffling.

[silentmovies742]

shipping a book this size is going to be fun too - and darned expensive! But we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. I may well sell at a later date too. I saw it in a shop window a couple of years ago, and couldn't resist. While they are lovely to have, they just sit on a shelf, and I have a feeling that others would get more enjoyment from them in the long run.

[entredeuxguerres]

shipping a book this size is going to be fun too - and darned expensive!

Not at all, if mailed Book Rate.

But there's no magic way to separate those glued spines--whoever does it will use a sharp blade.

[silentmovies742]

I'm in the UK. Probably looking at around £30-40 to America. I emailed the website mentioned, and will see what response we get"

[Piraya]

You might consider taking it to your public library, if you are in a larger city.
They often do restoration in back areas and might be able to make suggestions.
Also visit a museum or gallery.
Curators can often identify glues and will be able to suggest solvents.
Good luck.

[silentmovies742]

It looks as if the the mags will be scanned in by the Media History Digital Library. Apparantly it's easier for them to scan something in book form, so the magazines won't have to be cut up, which is nice. I shall probably sell the volume once I get it back, as I'm sure someone else will be able to store it better than me, and probably get more use out of it as well.

[SteppenBow59]

Just don't do what JFK did, it seems copies of Motion Picture Classic take on an interesting texture when soaked in syrup.

HENRY B WAFFLE

[silentmovies742]

To bring an end to this story:

http://archive.org/details/motion1724moti

[mndean]

Thank you! It looks quite interesting.

[craig2010]

Those 1276 pages contain many amazing images. Thanks!

[silentmovies742]

Thank the lovely people who scanned it at the media history digital library project as well. Looks like they did a great job

[Gagman 66]

Great stuff. This fills in a few gaps of missing issues here and there. Some really tremendous photos. I can't find the Colleen Moore article on the issue where she is on the cover. I found the Renee Adoree article in the previous issue, and the Clara Bow in the next one. Where is the Colleen Moore piece? Are those pages missing?

[silentmovies742]

I don't think there is always an article on the cover star. No pages missing that I know of, but will check when I get it back.

[SteppenBow59]

Looks great!

[Harlowgold]

Where is the Colleen Moore piece? Are those pages missing?

It was extremely common for movie magazines to put a popular movie star on the cover and not have a word on that star in the issue, even a mention in the gossip columns. Couldn't count the 20s/50s movie mags I've seen like that.

[Gagman 66]

Well, what is with this cover? Claire Windsor's neck is as long as one of those Ethiopian Tribes Women! And it looks like her head is growing out of some blooming shrub? Spooky! That Collar is much to tight! How can she breath?

[mndean]

Where is the Colleen Moore piece? Are those pages missing?

It was extremely common for movie magazines to put a popular movie star on the cover and not have a word on that star in the issue, even a mention in the gossip columns. Couldn't count the 20s/50s movie mags I've seen like that.

Yes, I've noticed it a lot myself just perusing the '20s-'30s issues. Often times if there's a word on the star inside the covers, it's incidental or just an ad with the star in it.