1952 NYSE Promotional Pamphlet – “What Makes Us Tick” (Tri-Fold) – VG

Step back into postwar America with this 1952 New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) promotional pamphlet for the animated short film “What Makes Us Tick”. Designed to explain the stock market in plain, everyday terms, this tri-fold, illustrated piece is a great addition for collectors of NYSE ephemera, vintage finance education materials, and animation/history.

Item Details

Type: NYSE promotional pamphlet (for an animated short)
Title: “What Makes Us Tick”
Year/Age: 1952
Format: Tri-fold pamphlet (multi-fold, illustrated)
Approx. Size: 11 5/8" x 9 1/8" (unfolded)
Condition: VG

About the Film (What This Pamphlet Promotes)

What Makes Us Tick is a 1952 color animated short produced by John Sutherland Productions and commissioned by the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) to help everyday Americans understand how the stock market works.

Film Snapshot

Runtime: 12 minutes
Director: Carl Urbano
Producer: John Sutherland (former Disney animator)
Voice Talent: John Hiestand and Herb Vigran
Preservation: preserved by the Library of Congress

Storyline Highlights (Why It Was Made)

Follows John Q. Public, a typical citizen looking to invest savings for retirement
Uses a fictional example business: Oil Drum Manufacturing Co.
Shows the steps of incorporation, securing a state charter, and partnering with investment bankers
Explains the role of the SEC prospectus to support investor transparency
Illustrates how shares ultimately reach the NYSE trading floor so the public can share in corporate growth

Core Message (The “Tick” in Plain English)

Demystifies finance with easy explanations of capital, dividends, and stock ownership
Postwar optimism—the stock market as part of America’s economic growth
Pro-capitalist, pro-investment tone emphasizing honest investment and development over speculation

Collector Appeal

This 1952 NYSE promotional pamphlet is an engaging, illustrated snapshot of how major financial institutions once educated the public—perfect for anyone building a collection of vintage stock market ephemera, promotional finance history, or mid-century educational media.