Peter Strausfeld facts for kids

Peter Strausfeld was a talented artist, illustrator, and animator. Born in Germany in 1910, he became famous for creating unique posters for movies. He is especially known for his work at the Academy Cinema in London.

For 33 years, from 1947 until he passed away, Peter designed amazing hand-printed posters. He made a new poster for every film shown at the Academy Cinema. This cinema was known for showing artistic and important movies.

Early Life and Moving to England

Peter Strausfeld was born in the city of Cologne, Germany, in September 1910.

In 1938, Peter moved to Brighton, England. He left Germany because he disagreed with the government there at the time.

During World War II, from 1940 to 1941, he was held in a special camp on the Isle of Man. While there, he became good friends with an Austrian film producer named George Hoellering.

A Career in Art and Film

George Hoellering ran the Academy Cinema in London. He didn't like the movie posters that film studios usually provided. So, starting in 1947, Peter Strausfeld began designing original posters for the cinema's films. He continued this work until he died in 1980.

Creating Unique Film Posters

Peter made all his poster images using a technique called linocut or woodcut. This means he carved his designs into a block of linoleum or wood, then used it to print the images.

His posters were often displayed in many London Underground stations. He created posters for over 300 different films. Each poster was printed by hand.

At first, he made about 100 copies of each poster. By the mid-1970s, he was printing up to 300 copies. Since many were used in busy Underground stations, not many copies survived. Luckily, his wife, Peggy, admired his work and kept one copy of each poster. In some cases, her copy is the only one known to still exist today.

Animation and Awards

During World War II, after he was released from the camp, Peter worked on several short animated films. These films were made for the Ministry of Information. This government department shared important messages during the war.

He created the animation for films like Peak Load Electricity (1943) and Salvage Saves Shipping (1943). His friend George Hoellering often directed or produced these animated shorts.

In 1951, Peter worked as the production designer for the film Murder in the Cathedral. George Hoellering also directed and produced this movie. For his amazing work on this film, Peter won a special award. He received the Special Prize for best production design at the 12th Venice International Film Festival. For this project, he used the name Peter Pendrey.

Teaching Art

From 1959 to 1980, Peter Strausfeld shared his knowledge with others. He taught at the Brighton College of Art. Later, he lectured in the graphics department at Brighton Polytechnic.

Personal Life

Peter Strausfeld married Margaret B. "Peggy" Pendrey in Brighton in 1938. He sometimes used the name Peter Pendrey for his work.

Peter Strausfeld passed away in Brighton in 1980.