Vintage “Be Wise” Owl Advertising Broadside by Tribune Showprint
c. 1940s; Tribune Showprint Inc. - Earl Park, IN
Bright, attention-grabbing advertising broadside promoting the services of Tribune Showprint Inc., featuring their iconic bespectacled owl mascot rendered in bold blue, yellow, and brown. The composition pairs playful character illustration with heavy, legible block typography, reinforcing the message "Be Wise" while directly marketing fair, carnival, and bumper sticker printing services. Designed as both a self-promotional piece and a visual sample of their capabilities, the poster exemplifies the graphic clarity and saturated color palette favored by Midwestern show printers catering to fairs, carnivals, and traveling entertainment.
Tribune Showprint Inc., based in Earl Park, Indiana, was part of the long-standing American show printing tradition, supplying posters, broadsides, and promotional material to fairs, carnivals, and touring entertainment throughout the Midwest during the 20th century. In addition to general event and self-promotional work, Tribune Showprint is well known among collectors for producing concert posters for major touring acts and venues, with surviving examples tied to artists such as Jimi Hendrix, The Ramones, Sonic Youth, Nirvana, Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, Lil' Kim, Busta Rhymes, and The Allman Brothers, among many others.
Shows general surface wear consistent with age and use, including edge wear, scattered scuffing, minor paint loss, and handling marks. Colors remain vivid overall, with strong contrast and clear legibility throughout the text and illustration.
17" W x 26" H
MM - 18408 - 121925
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