The origins of Movie Star News and its collection of Hollywood photographs

In the 20th century, before the internet and social media, fans of Hollywood stars relied on printed images to satisfy their fascination with their favourite celebrities. Movie stills and promotional photographs were widely distributed to promote films and were often purchased by fans and collectors. In 1938, Irving Klaw and his sister Paula Klaw founded Movie Star News, a shop that specialized in selling these types of images.

Located in midtown Manhattan, Movie Star News became a destination for movie fans and collectors from around the world. The shop was known for its extensive collection of Hollywood photographs, which included images of the most famous movie stars of the day, from Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor to Humphrey Bogart and James Dean.

But it was the shop's collection of pin-up photos featuring glamorous Hollywood stars that made it famous. The Klaws had a particular interest in taking and selling images of beautiful women, and they quickly became known for their provocative photos of Hollywood actresses in seductive poses. These images were hugely popular, especially among male fans, and helped to establish Movie Star News as a must-visit destination in New York City.

Pin-up Photos: the controversial images that made Movie Star News famous

In the 1950s, Movie Star News became embroiled in a controversy over its sale of fetish and bondage photos. The Klaws had begun producing more explicit images of women in bondage, and these photos were deemed by some to be pornographic. The United States Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency, which was investigating the effects of popular culture on young people, targeted the Klaws, accusing them of producing obscene material. The controversy ultimately led to the Klaws being forced to stop producing the fetish photos and instead focus on selling more traditional celebrity images.

Movie Star News and RKO Pictures: a mutually beneficial partnership

Movie Star News had a close relationship with RKO Pictures, one of the major film studios of the time. RKO frequently provided the shop with promotional stills and posters for their movies, and the Klaws would use these images to promote the films in their shop. In return, Movie Star News would often feature RKO stars prominently in their window displays, helping to promote the studio's films to a wider audience.

Despite the controversy with the Pin-Up photos, Movie Star News remained a popular destination for movie fans and collectors throughout the 20th century. In 1959, RKO declared bankruptcy, and Movie Star News' business changed dramatically. With no new films to promote, the shop shifted its focus to selling vintage and rare photographs of Hollywood stars from other studios, such as Warner Bros. and 20th Century Fox. This decision proved to be a smart one, as the shop's collection of vintage images became highly sought after by collectors and fans alike.

Under new ownership Movie Star News expands

In 1979, Irving Klaw passed away, and his widow, Paula Klaw, took over the business. However, Paula Klaw was not as passionate about the business as her husband had been, and she struggled to keep the shop afloat. In 1981, she sold the business to a young couple named Irving and Mary Epstein.

Under the Epsteins' ownership, Movie Star News continued to thrive. They expanded the shop's collection of photographs and opened new locations in New York City and Los Angeles. In 1991, they even published a book featuring some of the shop's most iconic images, titled "Hollywood Pinups." However, with the rise of the internet and the decline of physical media, Movie Star News began to struggle again.

In 2017, the Epsteins decided to retire and sold the business to a collector and dealer named Eric Caidin. Caidin, who had been a frequent customer of Movie Star News for years, was passionate about preserving the shop and its legacy, and he vowed to keep the shop open for as long as possible. However, in early 2021, Movie Star News announced that it would be closing its doors for good, citing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the business.

The legacy of Movie Star News and the end of an era in New York City

The closure of Movie Star News marks the end of an era in New York City. For over 80 years, the shop was a fixture of midtown Manhattan, attracting fans and collectors from around the world. Its extensive collection of Hollywood photographs, particularly its pin-up images, helped to define popular culture in the 20th century, and its influence can still be felt today.

While it's certainly sad to see such an iconic institution close its doors, the legacy of Movie Star News will live on through its vast collection of images. Many of the photos sold by the shop are now highly sought after by collectors, and they serve as a reminder of a bygone era when Hollywood stars were larger than life and movie fans relied on printed images to satisfy their fascination with their favourite celebrities.

The importance of the Movie Star News Archives for film culture

That near complete sequences of production negatives remained intact is evidence that Movie Star News was not compiled haphazardly. The archives must be considered, though by no means comprehensive, the core of what was originally the master files from RKO and several other studio sources representing the largest independent archive of film culture.

In conclusion, Movie Star News was an iconic shop that helped to define popular culture in the 20th century. Its extensive collection of Hollywood photographs, particularly its pin-up images, made it famous around the world, and its close relationship with RKO Pictures helped to promote some of the biggest films of the time. While the shop's business changed over the years, it remained a destination for movie fans and collectors throughout its 80-year history. While the shop may be gone, its legacy will live on through its vast collection of images, which serve as a reminder of a bygone era in Hollywood history.