Lot #53

Bonnie and Clyde Freak Show Banner

An amazing, and all together totally unique, item in the world of serious Gangster collectibles, an original and authentic early 1930s traveling side-show banner exploiting the antics of criminals, Bonnie and Clyde, and perhaps the onlyone of it's type still in existence upon the face of the planet.

This banner measures 12' x 9', and is a side show banner dated to the early 1930s, or before simply from how the banner is hung. From these dates, side show banners were traditionally hung from having a straight board sewn in at the banners top side to simply hang the banner when arriving to the next location. This is banner is clearly fabricated like this, along with the leather attachment loops, and hardware matching a banner from this time. Soon after freak show banners started attaching corner leather loops which is how they were made until now. The banner was made in the early 1930s. The banners of this type are hand-painted works upon canvas. This banner was manufactured in Kansas, Mo. and illustrated by an artist, “Gene,” who signed the work “Gene,” in his monogram. Emblazoned on the banner in large print is “Crime Wave…Boy & Girl Gangsters. See Inside. The Wages Of Crime Is Death.”

This Crime Wave Bonnie and Clyde banner was originally found by noted freak show banner expert, Bruce Webb. He found the banner in Kansas City, Missouri, nearly two decades ago inside a barn. He professionally unwrapped the piece, and produced what you see now. The banner has never been restored, nor requires a restoration as the rotted left side, and few holes within the piece remain as a natural testament for what it is!  Webb did 'treat' the banner to prevent any further damage resulting from insects, or the like, and has made the canvas stable.

The banner being offered here is one of he first ever Bonnie and Clyde roadshow banners to to exploit Bonnie and Clyde when they were still living. Bonnie’s beret is featured on in this banner's art (like the Joplin, Mo. pictures), which could date the banner back to 1933, but the banner could have possibly been manufactured at the very first part of 1934. These dates all are in sync with how this particular banner was constructed.This is why their names are not printed at all upon the poster as the roadshow profiteers were not stupid, because if their names were on it, that might have led to a visit from the gangsters, and the outcome of that visit could have been less than pleasant.

The banner has been on exhibit for the past several months in a freak show banner display held at the Webb Gallery in Waxahachie, Texas. The art style is like that of freak show banners, which are highly sought and collected today.

From the Collection of Thomas Carl Rainone.