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 Daphne and the Pirate, with Lillian Gish, 1916 For Resnick, collecting movie art is "much more than simply amassing cinematic memorabilia. It's about making a close personal connection with the great films, directors, actors and actresses of the past, and helping preserve an important piece of American history." Resnick bought his first three items 40 years ago. He paid $50 for a title lobby card from Stage Door, and $35 each for one-sheets promoting Love Before Breakfast and The Awful Truth. He still has all three pieces. "Movie posters during the days of classic Hollywood, particularly under the studio system, were a film's main promotional vehicle," noted Resnick. "They were integrally connected to every aspect of a film's production and release, and each one tells a different story. When you look at a poster, you're reaching back to the people, the art and the history of great filmmaking."  Resnick's passion for cinema led him to attend the New York University Film School, where one of his instructors was Martin Scorsese. After graduating in 1971, he landed several jobs in the entertainment industry, from a movie production assistant to an associate producer on Broadway. Seeking a more personal form of self-expression, Resnick turned his attention to one of his other passions, photography. After a cross continental trip, taking photos of people and places along the way, he settled first in the San Francisco Bay area and eventually landed in Hollywood. He worked as a professional photographer for over ten years, capturing images of rock performances, art exhibits and personal collections. Johanna Enlists, starring Mary Pickford, Throughout the 1970s Resnick continued to collect vintage movie art. He searched flea markets, cinema memorabilia shops and auction houses. In the process he created his vast collection including thousands of posters and stills spanning the years 1912 to 1962. By the early 1980s, Resnick had become one of the world's largest private collectors of vintage movie art. As a way to both expand his collection and share it with others, he opened his own gallery, in December of 1982. The Motion Picture Arts Gallery in New York City was the first gallery devoted exclusively to the art of the movies. Originally located in the city center, about a block from Bloomingdales, rising costs and a changing industry led him to move to a more spacious New Jersey location five years ago. Ten years back the company established a website, www.mpagallery.com, which continues to do a busy international business. Resnick's favorite items include a rare and valuable Babe Ruth poster (he's a life-long Yankees fan), as well as a piece from the movie Dogsworth. "As a poster it stands alone," Resnick noted, "besides being one of my very favorite films." His collection spans a wide variety of movie genres, but common sub-themes include films from the 1930s, and women throughout the ages of Hollywood. Recently, Resnick was searching for a way to share his expansive collection, and his knowledge, with others. He began talking with Robert Osbourne of Turner Classic Movies about a possible documentary. As he described his vision, Osbourne commented, "It sounds like you have a book here." What resulted is Starstruck: Vintage Movie Posters from Classic Hollywood, a hardcopy book released in February. It features a firsthand account of the evolution of his collection, reprints of 286 of his best pieces, plus descriptions of the stars and films and a tour of cinematic history. It also contains a forward by director Martin Scorsese, who Resnick describes as "one of the great collectors". "This book reflects my 40 years of passion," Resnick stated. Resnick will tour the East Coast with lectures and book signing events in the next few months, and will feature part of his collection at two upcoming New York exhibits.  Not just a collector, Resnick is very active in the industry. In addition to owning the gallery, he serves as a trustee for the Film Society of Lincoln Center, the International Center for Photography and MUSE Film and Television. In 1994, he established the Ira M. Resnick foundation, which provides help to a wide range of performing arts organizations, services for the elderly, Jewish organizations, environmental initiatives and other worthy causes. He resides in New York City with his wife and two children. For more information or to contact Mr. Resnick, go to www.iraresnick.com. |
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