how to make node data available in the page.tpl.php
If you are on Drupal 7 you can edit your theme's template.php and add (or edit) the function

function &lt;YOUR_THEME_NAME&gt;_preprocess_page(&amp;$vars) { 
  if (isset($vars['node']-&gt;type)) { 
    $vars['theme_hook_suggestions'][] = 'page__' . $vars['node']-&gt;type; 
  } 
}


The same task in Drupal 6 is accomplished by adding/editing in template.php

function &lt;YOUR_THEME_NAME&gt;_preprocess_page(&amp;$variables) {
  if (isset($variables['node']-&gt;type)) {
    $variables['template_files'][] = "page-" . $variables['node']-&gt;type;
  }
}


Then you can add page--&lt;YOUR_CONTENT_TYPE_MACHINE_NAME&gt;.tpl.php (or page-&lt;YOUR_CONTENT_TYPE_MACHINE_NAME&gt;.tpl.php in Drupal 6)  to your theme. Remember to clear the theme cache.