Nowadays the signing of a digital card for a famous person is quite easy: the interested fan is provided a link to the card either by email or social media, then navigates to the fields to fill out, such as name, city and state. But did you know that the non-digital card that Tom Tyler received was soon after he filmed “Adventures of Captain Marvel” in 1941?
The exact details of how this all came about are unknown, it could have been a marketing tactic offered through Republic Pictures, although it may have been an idea on behalf of the Odeon’s manager, Jack Smith, who offered the suggestion to Tom’s fans when the famous serial was released. Located on 7 E. Main Street in Shawnee, Oklahoma, the Odeon placed a special advertisement in the Shawnee News-Star dated February 21, 1942 requesting all young cinema patrons who attend the opening night of “Adventures of Captain Marvel” sign a large card measuring 60” x 40” in size. The card itself was most likely sturdy posterboard, white in color, large enough for many children to sign for it to be sent their hero. Once Smith mailed it to Tom Tyler on behalf of Republic Pictures, Tom in return sent a thank you letter to the Odeon. The letter was reproduced in full in the Shawnee News-Star dated March 29, 1942:
The signers of the card must have been pleased as punch to have Tom thank them for such a special gift. The cinema ad bearing the special notification appears below:
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