Cinema Pressbooks 1920-1940 reproduces on microfiche 774 pressbooks promoting the films of the eight major studios - MGM, Twentieth Century Fox, Warner Brothers, Paramount, RKO, Columbia, Universal and United Artists - as well as smaller independents.

Filled with visual and textual detail, from posters and stills to press stories and reviews, the pressbooks are invaluable records of cinematic creation and promotion. Not only are they guides to the changing movie industry offering researchers a wealth of insights into the workings of the major studios and the contributions of actors, directors and producers, they also reflect the changing cultural and social values of the time.