I have a small display of 49ers posters in my home office, situated right next to the 49ers Den/Bar. I wish I could display all the posters, but I don't have the space to do that. I would need at least a dozen of those dual sided poster holders which holds 24 or so posters from the video store, even then I don't think that would be enough. Most of the posters are in storage with tubes and rolls holding them for the ages. Of the posters I could get to, I decided show what poster manufactures and other companies have done, using my beloved 49ers.
The Oldies but Goodies
Older 49ers posters seemed to use art more than pictures.
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| Classic 49ers Art Poster |
Ah, simple artists rendering of all the folklore of the 49ers
The manufactures of these posters
made playing cards of these posters as well.
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Then they used actual pictures
My Hero's John Brodie, and Gene Washington...
They used super thin poster paper so then the manufactures decided to laminate.
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| John Brodie doing his thing |
The problem is GLARE . . . but it was durable.
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Then as time went on mass production of posters had more
manufactures trying their hand at immortalizing these gods of the gridiron.
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| Gene Washington hey what's with the cast? |
They would put their names on...I guess so you wouldn't be confused. Then for added fun they'd add an autograph. The problem is, most all of the autographs didn't match the actual players signature. Probably some worker was pulled aside to sign the printing plate.
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Then advertising companies saw that people really wanted these posters, so if you could print something on the poster kids would be more willing to hang it on their wall, even if it were a public service announcement about, say . . . Drugs
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| 49ers John Brodie DEA poster |
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| 49ers Jimmy Johnson DEA Poster |
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| 49ers Ted Kwalick DEA Poster |
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| 49ers Gene Washington DEA Poster |
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| 49ers Dave Wilcox DEA Poster |
Now, manufactures could use even a lineman to help get a message across.
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The Gold Rush
Then as the 49ers went on to Super Bowl victory
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| 49ers SB XVI Poster |
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| 49ers SB XIX Poster |
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| 49ers SB XXIII Poster |
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| 49ers SB XXIV Poster | | | | | | | |
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| 49ers SB XXIX Poster |
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after Super Bowl Victory,
...advertising companies knew that 49er fans would be able to relate to their
favorite athlete and would place many beloved 49ers into their folds and
place them in various ads for poster prints or even on TV.
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| Randy Cross for McDonalds |
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| Tom Rathman for the Dairy Council |
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| Jerry Rice for ESPN-Monday Night Football |
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| Steve Young for TV Guide |
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| Ronnie Lot for PG&E |
And there where some Niners who were going for the female audience...
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| Dwight Clark for Adidas |
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| Roger Craig for Macy's |
But the advertisers loved JOE -
Montana that is.
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| Coors |
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| Diet Pepsi |
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| Mizuno |
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| L.A. Gear |
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| Adidas |
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| California Dental Assoc. |
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| Samsung |
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| Easton |
And much more !
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Notables and Namables
Nick names and catchy slogans have been added to certain players to lend more of a swagger to their posters.
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| Rice/Young-The Bay Bombers-2 Versions |
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| Young - Golden Arm |
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| Montana - The Golden Great |
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| Lott - Designated Hitter |
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| Sanders - The Golden Child |
Jerry got a few more than most.
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| Mr T (Touchdown) |
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| Goldfingers |
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| Speed Of Light |
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| Rice Be Nimble, Rice Be Quick |
NIKE even decided to take the Rice a-Roni marketing to the next level with two of the most notable Niners. By making a BOX poster, it actually folds out to a box...great marketing tool.
Jerry has even been portrayed as a Super Hero
And then some posters of the 49ers don't even need fancy slogans or creative packaging...
Some
49er
players
will
always
be
remembered ! ! !
(O.J. Simpson 49ers - Spot-Bilt Promo Poster - 1979 - Autographed)
whether the poster is Autographed or not...
All in all, I have many, many more and could come up with many more story lines, but I think you get the picture...49ers posters are ultimately supposed to make you eventually say one thing...
GO NINERS ! ! !
