Does anyone know if there were promotional pins sold for the opening of Brother Rat in 1938? The reason I ask, I found an old 7/8" Bastian Bros. Co. pin that reads: " Hiya Brother Rat " also "when skirt meet's flirt it's " is written on top of the pin. The colors are red white and blue. Any information would be helpful. Thanks!
shareWeird that is interesting. Did they frequently make pins like that for films of the golden age?
kim
http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/index.jsp?cid=186977
The Truth is out there.
A March 28, 1939 edition of the Virginia Military Institute's newspaper - The V.M.I. Cadet, reprinted a story that originally ran in a local Warren, Pennsylvania newspaper - The Times-Mirror, which described the festivities surrounding the opening of "Brother Rat" in their area. In their story they described that a fine display of "Brother Rat Novelties" were on sale. These novelties included "Brother Rat" luncheon sets, aprons, handkerchiefs and "Brother Rat Dolls" that played the V.M.I. Spirit song.
My grandfather hosted this opening because he was a V.M.I. graduate in the class of '33 and knew the original authors and creators of the adapted play, John Monks, Jr., and Fred Finklehoff. Both were personal friends of my grandfather, when the three attended V.M.I. at the same time which ultimately inspired the creation of "Brother Rat" as a movie.
Though there is no specific mention of your pin as a novelty in that article, it is entirely plausible there may have been; which indicates your item may be authentic. At a minimum, this confirms that movie-based novelties were sold in the 1930’s no different than is done today. Adding more sentimental value to your pin is the fact that Ronald Reagan played a major role in this movie. Who knew he'd go down in history as one of the most popular president the world has known?