Set of eight lobby cards for the film “Open Secret” (1948)
Extent and Medium
.1: Height: 11.000 inches (27.94 cm) | Width: 14.000 inches (35.56 cm)
.2: Height: 11.000 inches (27.94 cm) | Width: 14.000 inches (35.56 cm)
.3: Height: 11.000 inches (27.94 cm) | Width: 14.000 inches (35.56 cm)
.4: Height: 11.000 inches (27.94 cm) | Width: 14.000 inches (35.56 cm)
.5: Height: 11.000 inches (27.94 cm) | Width: 14.000 inches (35.56 cm)
.6: Height: 11.000 inches (27.94 cm) | Width: 14.000 inches (35.56 cm)
.7: Height: 11.000 inches (27.94 cm) | Width: 14.000 inches (35.56 cm)
.8: Height: 11.000 inches (27.94 cm) | Width: 14.000 inches (35.56 cm)
Creator(s)
- Ken Sutak (Compiler)
- Eagle-Lion Films, Inc. (Distributor)
- Marathon Pictures Corp. (Production Company)
Biographical History
The Cinema Judaica Collection consists of more than 1,200 objects relating to films about World War II and the Holocaust as well as Jewish, Israeli, and biblical subjects, from 1923 to 2000, from the United States, Europe, Israel, Canada, Mexico, and Argentina. The collection was amassed by film memorabilia collector Ken Sutak, to document Holocaust-and Jewish-themed movies of the World War II era and the postwar years. The collection includes posters, lobby and photo cards, scene stills, pressbooks, trade ads, programs, magazines, books, VHS tapes, DVDS, and 78 rpm records. Sutak organized these materials into two groups, “Cinema Judaica: The War Years, 1939–1949” and “Cinema Judaica: The Epic Cycle, 1950–1972” and, in conjunction with the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion Museum (now the Dr. Bernard Heller Museum in New York), organized exhibitions on these two themes in 2007 and 2008. Sutak subsequently authored companion books with the same titles.
Archival History
The lobby cards were donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2018 by Ken Sutak and Sherri Venokur.
Acquisition
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Ken Sutak and Sherri Venokur
Scope and Content
Set of eight lobby cards for the film, “Open Secret,” released on February 14, 1948. Lobby cards are promotional materials placed in theater lobby windows to highlight specific movie scenes, rather than the broader themes often depicted on posters. The film follows a newlywed couple as they work to figure out what happened to their friend, who goes missing just before they arrive for a visit. They discover that he attempted to infiltrate an antisemitic ring of thugs, and become embroiled themselves trying to bring the gang to justice. The low budget B-film, “Open Secret,” was poorly received, and panned as a subpar knockoff to films like “Crossfire” and “Gentleman’s Agreement.” Unlike the other films, however, “Open Secret” depicts post-war antisemitism from a working-class perspective. It was also the first to show a Jewish character physically fighting back against his aggressors. This object is one of more than 1,200 objects in the Cinema Judaica Collection of materials related to films about World War II and the Holocaust as well as Jewish, Israeli, and biblical themes.
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on access
Conditions Governing Reproduction
Restrictions on use. Copyright status is unknown.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
.1 Lobby card printed on rectangular off-white paper, with a black-and-yellow background, and a narrow white margin on all four sides. At the top, advertising copy is printed in yellow text, directly above three assorted images: the image on the left is a red-haired woman in a pink dress with a plunging neckline, depicted from the torso up. In the center is an illustration of a man in a tan-colored suit and hat, grabbing the collar of another man in a blue suit with one hand, while the other hand raised ready to strike the blue-suited man with the butt of a pistol. The blue-suited man’s arms are spread in a questioning manner. They are drawn within a nonagon, which appears to be bursting through the center of a newspaper. On the right is a larger-scale image of a dark-haired man, depicted from the shoulders up, looking sideways, and holding up a small, silver-colored revolver. The film title is printed in large, canted, red-and-black text in the bottom center and right of the card. In the bottom left corner, cast and film credits are printed in blue ink. Printing information is in blue in the bottom right margin. The edges of the card are torn, creased, and discolored, and there are pinholes in the corners. There is ink transfer from another image on the back. Depicted: Jane Randolph as Nancy Lester, John Ireland as Paul Lester, others unidentified . 2 Lobby card printed on rectangular off-white paper, with a large, photographic image in the center, a narrow white margin on the top and left sides, and a wider margin on the bottom and right. The image depicts a scene inside a home with a man in a brown suit and hat, standing on the right and holding a revolver. He is pointing it at a second, younger man on the left, who has his hands raised. The younger man is standing directly behind an older woman, who is wearing a pink dress and is seated at a table set with silverware and white porcelain dishes. She is leaning slightly backwards and looking up at the man with the pistol. On the right side of the card, partially overlaying the image, is a dark green right triangle with an amorphous angled side. The triangle contains two small, tonal illustrations. One is of a man in a suit and hat, grabbing the collar of another man with one hand, and the other hand raised, ready to strike him with the butt of a pistol. The other man is wearing a suit and his arms spread in a questioning manner. The other illustration is of a woman in a dress with a plunging neckline, depicted from the torso up. Between the small illustrations is a larger-scale color image of a dark-haired man, depicted from the shoulders up, holding up a small revolver. In the bottom right corner is the film title, printed in large, canted, red-and-white text, and credits printed in white. Printing information is in blue in the bottom right margin. The corners of the card are slightly creased, and there are tears along the left and top edges. There are several losses along the top edge, and light ink transfer from another image on the back. Depicted: John Ireland as Paul Lester, Ellen Lowe as Mae Locke, Roman Bohnen as Roy Locke . 3 Lobby card printed on rectangular off-white paper, with a large, photographic image in the center, a narrow white margin on the top and left sides, and a wider margin on the bottom and right. The image depicts a scene inside a home. An older man with a bleeding cut on his forehead is on the ground in front of a jostled cabinet and behind a knocked-over chair. A younger man in a black suit is standing over him and grabbing his collar, with a small revolver in his opposite hand. On the right side of the card, partially overlaying the image, is a dark green right triangle with an amorphous angled side. The triangle contains two small, tonal illustrations. One is of a man in a suit and hat, grabbing the collar of another man with one hand, and the other hand raised, ready to strike him with the butt of a pistol. The other man is wearing a suit and his arms spread in a questioning manner. The other illustration is of a woman in a dress with a plunging neckline, depicted from the torso up. Between the small illustrations is a larger-scale, color image of a dark-haired man, depicted from the shoulders up, holding up a small revolver. In the bottom right corner is the film title, printed in large, canted, red-and-white text, and credits printed in white. Printing information is in blue in the bottom right margin. The upper corners have some small tears along the edges and there are losses in the left corner. Depicted: Roman Bohnen as Roy Locke, John Ireland as Paul Lester . 4 Lobby card printed on rectangular off-white paper, with a large, photographic image in the center, a narrow white margin on the top and left sides, and a wider margin on the bottom and right. The image depicts an indoor scene with seven men around a card table. In the center is a man in a dark suit and tousled hair who is being restrained by two men. He is looking towards two men on the right, one in a green suit and cream hat, the other in a yellow suit. On the left, there are three shorter men, one in a dark suit, one in a tan suit and hat, and the last in a purple shirt with rolled-up sleeves and a raised right fist. The last man, wearing a white shirt, is sitting at the table and holding a glass mug over his head. On the right side of the card, partially overlaying the image, is a dark green right triangle with an amorphous angled side. The triangle contains two small, tonal illustrations. One is of a man in a suit and hat, grabbing the collar of another man with one hand, and the other hand raised ready to strike him with the butt of a pistol. The other man is wearing a suit and his arms spread in a questioning manner. The other illustration is of a woman in a dress with a plunging neckline, depicted from the torso up. Between the small illustrations is a larger-scale, color image of a dark-haired man, depicted from the shoulders up, holding up a small revolver. In the bottom right corner is the film title, printed in large, canted, red-and-white text, and credits printed in white. Printing information is in blue in the bottom right margin. The edges have some small tears and light discoloration. There are small losses in the left corner, and small circular stains throughout the margins. There is light ink transfer from another image on the back. Depicted: Bert Conway as Mace, Arthur O'Connell as Carter, Tommy Noonan as Bob, Roman Bohnen as Roy Locke, John Ireland as Paul Lester, Rory Mallinson as Chuck Hill, John Alvin as Ralph .5 Lobby card printed on rectangular off-white paper, with a large, photographic image in the center, a narrow white margin on the top and left sides, and a wider margin on the bottom and right. The image depicts a night scene on a street lit by a streetlight anchored to a sidewalk. A light blue car is depicted at an angle in front of the streetlight with a man in a gray suit and black hat lying on the ground partially under the bumper. On the sidewalk, three crouching or kneeling men are arranged around the man on the ground. On the right side of the card, partially overlaying the image, is a dark green right triangle with an amorphous angled side. The triangle contains two small, tonal illustrations. One is of a man in a suit and hat, grabbing the collar of another man with one hand, and the other hand raised, ready to strike him with the butt of a pistol. The other man is wearing a suit and his arms spread in a questioning manner. The other illustration is of a woman in a dress with a plunging neckline, depicted from the torso up. Between the small illustrations is a larger-scale, color image of a dark-haired man, depicted from the shoulders up, holding up a small revolver. In the bottom right corner is the film title, printed in large, canted, red-and-white text, and credits printed in white. Printing information is in blue in the bottom right margin. There is light creasing on the left side of the card, and soiling along the bottom edge. There is heavy staining on the back, likely from a liquid. Depicted: Roman Bohnen as Roy Locke, Bert Conway as Mace, Charles Waldron Jr. as Ed Stevens, other unidentified .6 Lobby card printed on rectangular off-white paper, with a large, photographic image in the center, a narrow white margin on the top and left sides, and a wider margin on the bottom and right. The image depicts a scene inside a morgue with a large spotlight overhead. One man is laying on the exam table, covered with a white sheet. Two men are standing behind him. On the left, a man in a pinstriped suit is looking down and holding a section of the sheet in his hands. The man on the right is wearing a yellow-brown suit and turned towards the man in the pinstripes. On the right side of the card, partially overlaying the image, is a dark green right triangle with an amorphous angled side. The triangle contains two small, tonal illustrations. One is of a man in a suit and hat, grabbing the collar of another man with one hand, and the other hand raised, ready to strike him with the butt of a pistol. The other man is wearing a suit and his arms spread in a questioning manner. The other illustration is of a woman in a dress with a plunging neckline, depicted from the torso up. Between the small illustrations is a larger-scale, color image of a dark-haired man, depicted from the shoulders up, holding up a small revolver. In the bottom right corner is the film title, printed in large, canted, red-and-white text, and credits printed in white. Printing information is in blue in the bottom right margin. The top edge of the card is heavily soiled. There is heavy staining on the back, likely from a liquid. Depicted: Sheldon Leonard as Detective Sgt. Mike Frontelli, John Ireland as Paul Lester, Charles Waldron Jr. as Ed Stevens .7 Lobby card printed on rectangular off-white paper, with a large, photographic image in the center, a narrow white margin on the top and left sides, and a wider margin on the bottom and right. The image depicts an indoor scene with a man and a woman, both shown from the torso up. On the left, the man is wearing a dark, pinstripe suit, and holding a telephone receiver to his ear. On the right, the woman has short, curled, red hair, and is wearing a black top. She is looking at the man, with one hand resting on his elbow. On the right side of the card, partially overlaying the image, is a dark green right triangle with an amorphous angled side. The triangle contains two small, tonal illustrations. One is of a man in a suit and hat, grabbing the collar of another man with one hand, and the other hand raised, ready to strike him with the butt of a pistol. The other man is wearing a suit and his arms spread in a questioning manner. The other illustration is of a woman in a dress with a plunging neckline, depicted from the torso up. Between the small illustrations is a larger-scale, color image of a dark-haired man, depicted from the shoulders up, holding up a small revolver. In the bottom right corner is the film title, printed in large, canted, red-and-white text, and credits printed in white. Printing information is in blue in the bottom right margin. The top edge of the card is heavily soiled, and there are small tears along the bottom edge. There is heavy staining on the back, likely from a liquid. Depicted: John Ireland as Paul Lester, Jane Randolph as Nancy Lester .8 Lobby card printed on rectangular off-white paper, with a large, photographic image in the center, a narrow white margin on the top and left sides, and a wider margin on the bottom and right. The image depicts an interior scene with a man and a woman, shown from the waist up, in a room with pink, flowered wallpaper. The man on the left is wearing a green suit and white, brimmed hat, and is standing in right profile. He is pinning the woman against the wall, his right arm outstretched and grasping her hand. The woman has short, curled, red hair and is wearing a white jacket over a black dress, is looking sideways at the man. On the right side of the card, partially overlaying the image, is a dark green right triangle with an amorphous angled side. The triangle contains two small, tonal illustrations. One is of a man in a suit and hat, grabbing the collar of another man with one hand, and the other hand raised, ready to strike him with the butt of a pistol. The other man is wearing a suit and his arms spread in a questioning manner. The other illustration is of a woman in a dress with a plunging neckline, depicted from the torso up. Between the small illustrations is a larger-scale, color image of a dark-haired man, depicted from the shoulders up, holding up a small revolver. In the bottom right corner is the film title, printed in large, canted, red-and-white text, and credits printed in white. Printing information is in blue in the bottom right margin. The card is torn at the top left corner and has light discoloration along the edges. Depicted: Morgan Farley as Larry Mitchell, Jane Randolph as Nancy Lester
.5 back, upper left, handwritten, pencil : 12 – .6 back, upper left, handwritten, pencil : 10 – .7 back, upper left, handwritten, pencil : 8 - .8 back, upper left, handwritten, pencil : 10 –
People
- Ireland, John, 1914-1992.
- Randolph, Jane, 1915-2009.
Subjects
- Murder in motion pictures.
- Discrimination in motion pictures.
- Social problems in motion pictures.
- United States.
- Film noir.
- Antisemitism in motion pictures.
- Jews in motion pictures.
Genre
- Posters
- Object
- Display cards.