Hatch Show Print was started in 1879
by brothers C. R. and H. H. Hatch. Hatch began printing primarily show
poster products, such as handbills and posters for vaudeville, minstrel
and gospel shows. They later branched into advertising materials for the
Grand Ole Opry and the Negro Baseball League. Eventually, Hatch Show Prints
began regional distribution of movie materials. The bulk of their movie
posters were produced during the 1950's.
Hatch Show Print movie posters were
printed on a heavy paper stock. The majority of their materials were window
card size, although they did produce other sizes. Most of their materials
were printed for "B" or low budget movies. Hatch posters were normally
printed in one, two or three colors.
The Hatch Show Print materials are
distinguishable by their "wood block style." All of their materials were
printed on century-old heavy presses, and they utilized hard-carved wood
blocks as printing plates. Instead of using separate pieces of wood set
by hand, their posters are carved out of one big block of wood.
Hatch Show Print continues to produce
advertising materials for today's entertainment market, utilizing the
same "wood block" process, from their Nashville facilities.
