Landy R. Hales Papers: 1908-1969.
Landy R. Hales was born on September 17, 1889 in Baltimore, Maryland to Landy J. Hales and Fanny Linthicum Hales. Hales grew up in Anne Arundel, Maryland and had one brother, Wesley Hales. Hales began his career with no formal art training and apprenticed as a sign painter in Baltimore, Maryland. In 1908, Hales formed the Brilliant Sign Company in Baltimore to design displays for area businesses. In 1913, Hales married Lenore McCully. They had two children, Elizabeth McCully Hales (b. 1915) and Landy Romain Hales (b. 1921).
During World War I, Hales designed posters for the Liberty Bond Program, created by then Secretary of the Treasury William Gibbs McAdoo (1863-1941). This poster campaign was intended to popularize the bonds, and Hales created posters using his "layer technique," which was a method of making a poster by placing cut-out pieces of materials such as composition board or wood on a background, then building layers to form three dimensions in the finished product. In the early 1920s, Hales moved to New York City to advance his career and expand his opportunities. In New York, Hales specialized in display devices, commercial art, and advertising. An artist-inventor, Hales patented two ideas, a display device (US Patent 1,563,485) and a manikin (US Patent 2,129,421). He founded Landy R. Hales, Inc. (1925), Hales Layer Poster Corporation (1925), Hales Manikins, Inc. (1941), and Hales Pictures, Inc. 1937. In 1937, Hales Pictures Inc., entered into a one-year agreement with Walt Disney Enterprises that granted Hales the right to reproduce Disney characters for his puzzles and poster pictures. During the same year, Hales leased office space at Rockefeller Center.
Hales worked for Morris Gest, a theatrical producer, creating advertising for the Russian show
Hales left New York City in 1945 and returned to Maryland, where he did commercial work for Carlin's Amusement Park in Baltimore and created layer posters for himself and family members. Hales died in 1972 at the age of 84.
The collection is arranged into ten series.
The papers document Hales's career as an inventor and commercial artist as well as his work in games, puzzles, educational tools, and posters. The collection includes sketches and design drawings, photographs, publicity materials, clippings and articles, and game prototypes.
The materials consist of stock shares and values, a certificate of incorporation, branded letterhead, correspondence, an order book (blank forms), a point-of-purchase ad featuring Little Red Riding Hood, a patent for a display device, layer poster instructions, examples of posters, sample card stock, and instructions for the ABCD Ease Game. The display device patent (US 1,563,485) was issued to Hales on December 1, 1925. The invention relates to display devices for commercial advertising arrangements constructed out of layers of veneer or cardboard for reproducing and illustrating articles for sale, magazines, posters or art works. The principal object was to provide a display picture having depth. The correspondence, 1922-1937, 1969 and undated, contains letters with individuals companies, hotels, and department stores primarily in New York City such as B.F. Keith's New York Hippodrome, Saks & Company, Hotel Nassau, Keystone Manufacturing Company, and Rialto Theatre. Much of the correspondence relates to services provided by Hales Layer Poster Corporation. Hales's correspondence with Morris Gest, a theatrical producer who introduced
The instructions for "how to make" a Hales layer poster are well documented, detailing the step-by-step process and including the use of Hales Studio colors for painting. Specific instructions for the "Tom, Tom Piper's Son" with color guide are found here. A full, unused layer poster kit is in box 14. Additionally, Hales created the ABCD Ease Game, a board game played with dice with the objective to reach "ease." The way to reach "Ease" is through truth, courage, justice, thrift, study, work, loyalty, and honesty. Instructions and prototypes of the gameboard are represented.
The first series of puzzles Hales introduced in 1937 were four subjects from Walt Disney's characters: Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Pluto, and Donald Duck. The object of the puzzle was to put all of the pieces together in their proper place--some of the puzzle pieces were raised to different levels. After the puzzle was completed, it could be glued to a backboard. There are prototypes for the Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and Donald Duck puzzles. Only the Mickey and Minnie puzzles contain puzzle pieces. The Donald Duck puzzle consists of the box only.
In August 1937, Hales Pictures Inc., entered into a one year agreement with Walt Disney Enterprises that granted Hales the right to reproduce Disney characters for his puzzles and poster pictures. Hales paid Disney the sum of five-hundred dollars as an advance on future royalties. Disney also provided to Hales typical representations of the Disney characters. There are a series of Kay Kamen Ltd., Disney character drawings for Pluto, Donald Duck, Minnie Mouse, and Mickey Mouse. These drawings were provided to Hales by Kamen. The Minnie and Mickey Mouse drawings have been heavily annotated and mocked up by Hales for the purposes of creating his signature Hales Puzzle Pictures. Kamen (d. 1949) began his professional career as a retail hat merchant and later entered advertising. In 1932, Kamen contacted Disney, soon signed a contract, and was named the company's sole licensing representative. Through merchandising, Kamen made Disney's mouse star popular.
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection is open for research but is stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
The collection was donated by Katharine Landa McNulty Hogben, Frances Helen McNulty Beverage, Margaret Ann McNulty Klipp, Lenore Hales McNulty Frey, and Elizabeth Stuart McNulty on November 27, 2005.
Warshaw Collection of Business Americana, Parades:stereographs, circa 1880-1908 (AC0060)
Messmore and Damon Company Records, 1930s-1990s (AC0846)
Hudson Fulton Celebration Parade Photograph Album, 1909 (AC1149)
William L. Bird "Holidays on Display" Collection (AC1288)
Landy R. Hales Papers, 1908-1969, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Processed by Alison Oswald, archivist, 2012. Elizabeth McNulty, granddaughter of Landy R. Hales, provided additional biographical information.
R. H. Macy and Company
Souvenir of MACY'S WONDERLAND Christmas 1927 [sic] : [printed cutout]
AC0906-0000002.tif (AC Scan No.)
Cartoon houses with faces.
Letterhead (business identity)
L.R. Hales, Inc. [letterhead stationery, blank page]
AC0906-0000024 (AC Scan No.)
Manikin and method of making the same (US Patent 2,129,421)
Manikin and method of making the same / Sept. 6, 1938 [xerographic copy of patent].
AC0906-0000023 (AC Scan No.: patent illustration)
Xerographic photocopy on paper.
Blueprints for rubber figures
[Drawing for skeleton framework for manikin : blueprint, circa 1930s.]
AC0906-0000032 (AC Scan No.)
Unrestricted research use on site by appointment. Photographs must be handled with cotton gloves unless protected by sleeves.
[Front view, half section of rubber figure, undated : blueprint.]
AC0906-0000033 (AC Scan No.)
Unrestricted research use on site by appointment. Photographs must be handled with cotton gloves unless protected by sleeves.
Floor plan
[Stock certificate for Hales Manikins, Incorporated, 1941 November 21.]
AC0906-0000030 (AC Scan No.)
Unrestricted research use on site by appointment. Photographs must be handled with cotton gloves unless protected by sleeves.
[Floor plan for Hales Manikins, Inc., undated : drawing.]
AC0906-0000031 (AC Scan No.)
"Matador"
"The Wise Women of Gotham"
The Wise Women of Gotham [sketch].
AC0906-0000026.tif (AC Scan No.)
Sketch signed by Landy R. Hales and notarized and blind-embossed by Harry Gersten, 29 May 1930, Kings County, New York.
[Matadors and bulls : pencil sketch.]
AC0906-0000025 (AC Scan No.)
With hand-written text about costume details.
Ragged edges and stains.
New York-related
[Boy with dog : drawing : circa 1920s.]
AC0906-0000027 (AC Scan No.)
Macy's / Come to Wonderland. [Color mockup of poster design for Macy's Wonderland.]
Macy's / Come to Wonderland. [Color mockup of poster design for Macy's Wonderland.]
Macy's / Come to Wonderland. [Color mockup of poster design for Macy's Wonderland.]
AC0906-0000006.tif (AC Scan No.)
AC0906-0000007.tif (AC Scan No.)
AC0906-0000008.tif (AC Scan No.)
Unrestricted research use on site by appointment. Photographs must be handled with cotton gloves unless protected by sleeves.
Ragged edges
[Week day chores. Color design illustrating 'Monday Wash', 'Tuesday Iron', 'Wednesday sew.']
AC0906-0000009.tif (AC Scan No.)
[Design for toy department--Toy drawbridge : color drawing on paper].
AC0906-0000010.tif (AC Scan No.)
[House : color drawing.]
AC0906-0000011.tif (AC Scan No.)
[Design of a toy soldier battle : color drawing.]
AC0906-0000012.tif (AC Scan No.)
Landy R. Hales Studio
Around the World at Christmas Time [Macy's Christmas display window : black-and-white photoprint]. "Red Star Express," "The New Photo Service, New York City, NY"
Around the World at Christmas Time [Macy's Christmas display window : black-and-white photoprint]. "Red Star Express," "The New Photo Service, New York City, NY"
Around the World at Christmas Time [Macy's Christmas display window : black-and-white photoprint]. "Red Star Express," "The New Photo Service, New York City, NY"
Around the World at Christmas Time [Macy's Christmas display window : black-and-white photoprint]. "Red Star Express," "The New Photo Service, New York City, NY"
Around the World at Christmas Time [Macy's Christmas display window : black-and-white photoprint]. "Red Star Express," "The New Photo Service, New York City, NY"
Around the World at Christmas Time [Macy's Christmas display window : black-and-white photoprint]. "Red Star Express," "The New Photo Service, New York City, NY"
AC0906-00000015 (AC Scan No.)
AC0906-00000016 (AC Scan No.)
AC0906-00000017 (AC Scan No.)
AC0906-00000018 (AC Scan No.)
AC0906-00000019 (AC Scan No.)
AC0906-00000020 (AC Scan No.)
Unrestricted research use on site by appointment. Photographs must be handled with cotton gloves unless protected by sleeves.
[Studio in Princess Theatre, West 39th Street, New York City, working on displays for Morris Gest's "Parade of the Wooden Soldiers" : black-and-white photoprint.]
AC0906-00000014 (AC Scan No.)
Silver gelatin paper.
In Box 13, Folder 8.
Unrestricted research use on site by appointment. Photographs must be handled with cotton gloves unless protected by sleeves.
"Freda[?] / N.Y.1." in negative, lower right.
Stained and faded; fragile, losses in corners.
[Toy Department?], Worsinger Window Service; "NY, NY" [black-and-white photoprint].
AC0906-00000021.tif (AC Scan No.)
Silver gelatin paper.
In Box 13, Folder 8.
Unrestricted research use on site by appointment. Photographs must be handled with cotton gloves unless protected by sleeves.
Interior of department store with toy display.
Stained, faded, discolored. Ragged edges.
[Winter store display, interior by Worsinger Window Service : black-and-white photoprint.]
AC0906-00000022.tif (AC Scan No.)
Silver gelatin on paper.
In Box 13, Folder 8.
Unrestricted research use on site by appointment. Photographs must be handled with cotton gloves unless protected by sleeves.
Stained and faded.
Work in New York City
Outdoor Advertising Ass'n [storefront] [black-and-white photoprint].
AC0906-0000003.tif (AC Scan No.)
Unrestricted research use on site by appointment. Photographs must be handled with cotton gloves unless protected by sleeves.
Faded, yellowed.
Macy's Christmas Around the World
Visit / Macy's Wonderland / 4th Floor / 34th Street & Broadway--New York [black-and-white photoprint of broadside].
AC0906-0000001 (AC Scan No.)
Unrestricted research use on site by appointment. Photographs must be handled with cotton gloves unless protected by sleeves.
Macy's and Gimbels Department Stores
[Easter display for Worsinger Window Service : black-and-white photoprint.]
AC0906-0000004 (AC Scan No.)
Unrestricted research use on site by appointment. Photographs must be handled with cotton gloves unless protected by sleeves.
[Easter display with man in bunny suit playing a clarinet and white rabbit in 'garden'. Worsinger Window Service : black-and-white photoprint.]
AC0906-0000005.tif (AC Scan No.)
Unrestricted research use on site by appointment. Photographs must be handled with cotton gloves unless protected by sleeves.
Inscription in negative, lower right of print: "11930 Photo Worsinger."
Ragged edges; loss in lower right corner.
Hales Manikin, Inc.
[Articulated, skeletal manikin with girl manikin : black-and-white photoprint, 1930s.]
AC0906-0000028 (AC Scan No.)
Unrestricted research use on site by appointment. Photographs must be handled with cotton gloves unless protected by sleeves.
[Manikin parts : black-and-white photoprint, circa 1930s.]
AC0906-0000035 (AC Scan No.)
Unrestricted research use on site by appointment. Photographs must be handled with cotton gloves unless protected by sleeves.
[Hales maninikin with figurines of children : black-and-white photoprint.]
AC0906-00000036 (AC Scan No.)
Unrestricted research use on site by appointment. Photographs must be handled with cotton gloves unless protected by sleeves.
[Manikin arm parts : black-and-white photoprint.]
AC0906-00000034 (AC Scan No.)
Unrestricted research use on site by appointment. Photographs must be handled with cotton gloves unless protected by sleeves.
[Two manikin prototypes : black-and-white photoprint.]
AC0906-00000029.tif (AC Scan No.)
Unrestricted research use on site by appointment. Photographs must be handled with cotton gloves unless protected by sleeves.
Faded, stained.