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In a full-page ad published in the Hollywood Reporter on 3rd May 1938, the Independent Theater Owners Association blamed declining ticket sales on some of the era\u2019s biggest names in cinema, including Mae West, Greta Garbo and Katharine Hepburn \u2013 all of whom were labelled \u201cbox office poison.\u201d\xa0\nThe attention-grabbing tagline quickly took on a life of its own and within just four days, more than thirty newspapers across the US had reported on the story.\nIn this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly explain why movie ticket sales were actually dropping off towards the end of the 1930s; revisit how the stars who were named in the ad attempted to laugh the accusation off; and debate who is the box office poison of today\u2026\nFurther Reading:\n\u2022 \u2018Why The Legendary Katharine Hepburn Was Declared \u201cBox Office Poison\u201d\u2019 (Slashfilm, 2023): https://www.slashfilm.com/921488/why-the-legendary-katherine-hepburn-was-declared-box-office-poison/\xa0\n\u2022 \u2018Poison at the box office\u2019 (Vienna\u2019s Classic Hollywood, 2020): https://viennasclassichollywood.com/2020/06/01/poison-at-the-box-office/\xa0\n\u2022 \u2018Box Office Poison - Celebrities Canceled in the Golden Age of Hollywood\u2019 (Classic Kelly, 2022): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7Hx6_7mlb4\xa0\nLove the show? Join\xa0\U0001f334CLUB RETROSPECTORS\xa0\U0001f334 to DITCH THE ADS and get an additional full-length episode every SUNDAY!\nPlus, get weekly bonus bits, unlock over 70 bits of extra content and support our independent podcast.\nJoin now via\xa0Apple Podcasts\xa0or\xa0Patreon.\n\ufeff\xa0\nWe'll be back tomorrow! Follow us wherever you get your podcasts: podfollow.com/Retrospectors\n\xa0\nThe Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.\nTheme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Sophie King.\nCopyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2023.\n Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices