So, yesterday I went out for lunch, passed a bunch of garbage dumpsters, and right on top was a framed "Follies" poster.
The above image is similar to the poster. However, the poster I found has the Broadway credits on it.
A friend on Finishing the Chat sent me some information about these posters. I'm pasting what he wrote:
The color process was so expensive and delicate that blanks were printed first (with no credits). While this was started, David Byrd worked out that Triton Gallery would be permitted to sell some posters too but on paper with their trademark on them.
So the first black plate had just the cast credits with 5 supporting stars underneath (not counting Yvonne) on cardboard.
The 2nd printing was on paper for Triton and was the same except for the Triton trademark in the lower right.
You can see my #2 in the lower left corner of the photo. The rest are in order on the wall.
#3's black plate was printed after the reviews--they decided to include Arnold Moss and Sheila Smith on the supporting line as well. As well they should, why should Michael Bartlett as Roscoe have a credit when Dimitri doesn't? And I think Sheila as understudy moved up quite a bit so that was a gesture.
#4 was after the NY Drama Critics Award for Best Musical. I think the producers had SOOO many posters printed that were so expensive (like the show) and wanted to get people in by adding award credit. BUT they spelled Time Magazine Richard Kalem's name wrong on the mini-quotes above.
So #5 fixed that and added Terry Saunders to replace the left Ethel Barrymore Colt.
#6 has the same quotes but has Marion Marlowe in for Sheila Smith.
#7 has NO SUPPORTING CAST underneath but has a sticker about winning 7 Tony Awards.
There is a blank poster issued as a poster set by Byrd that included his other "head" posters like Godspell.