A standee is any type of display that basically "stands
on its own or is able to be displayed with little or no outside support.
A standup can range from a small counter top standing display to a larger
than life lobby size display, and anything in between. Most standees are
constructed of heavy duty cardboard.
Standees in all forms are extensively used in today's
movie theatres. Some of the displays are extremely large, incorporating
motors, holograms, mobiles, window stickers and other types of advertising
materials to complete an elaborate lobby display.
Since the term "standee" can mean any
type of cardboard display, it is difficult to establish when the first such
display was used. It is known that some of the earliest theatres constructed
their own "lobby" setups and displays would could arguably be considered a
"standee." Since "standee" is a very general term, pinpointing a first is
virtually impossible.
Because many of the standups are "constructed"
or put together from a number of pieces to stand, they are sometimes difficult
to take apart without any damage. This makes an undamaged used standup rare.
Depending on their size, standups are often quite awkward, making them not
as desirable as a collectible. However, as with all other forms of movie poster
advertising, there are certain collectors who collect standup materials. In
addition, a collector may want a particular standup if they happen to like
the film.
