This vintage real photo postcard advertises the Whitney Opera House, which was located in Chicago, Illinois. It was located on East Van Buren Street. Also advertised on the postcard is the show that was playing there at the time of the postcard’s publishing. The production was named, “My Cinderella Girl” and the advertisement asserts that it was “Chicago’s Best Musical Show”. The advertisement credits “William Norris” (1871-1929) as the show’s producer. Research reveals that the play ran in Chicago in 1910. “The Theatre” magazine reported that the play was a popular success. “The Advocate” (1910), a Jewish newspaper, asserted that audience members thought it was the funniest play ever written. The newspaper adds that the show was close to becoming the longest running show in the history of the Whitney. It was not mentioned that the Whitney had been open for less than one year. The writer also stated that the show included some of the prettiest girls ever to appear on a Chicago stage. The “Dramatic Mirror” (1910) reveals that Norris was a big hit among female theatergoers. I wonder how the ladies felt, when in 1910, Norris married one of his co-stars in the “My Cinderella Girl” cast (Mabel Blanche Mordaunt). The show was a farce about a character named Tom Harrington. Harrington was a college student and captain of the schools baseball team. The play focuses on his romantic life and the pranks and stunts he pulled as he attends college. William Norris played Harrington. The Whitney Opera House has an interesting history. It has had many names.The theater was originally located in the Chicago Musical College Building which was designed in 1895. The theater had 850 seats and was known as Steinway Hall, since the piano company had built the building. By 1900, the theater was known as Ziegfeld Hall. A short time later, the theater became the Kelly and Leon Opera House and in 1910, it’s name was changed to the Whitney Opera House. By 1915, the hall was renamed, and even more names followed. It became a movie theater in 1930. Sadly, the theater finished its life as an adult film theater. The theater was closed in the late 1960s and was demolished in 1970. This photo postcard was published in Chicago by the Fine Arts Journal. The journal was published between 1899 and 1919. SOLD
This vintage postcard features a shirtless Vietnamese man. The man is from the region of Cochinchina which is comprised of the southern third of current Vietnam. The region’s principal city is Saigon. The area was a French colony from 1862 through 1954. In 1954, South Vietnam was created by combining Cochinchina with southern Annam. Printed near the top of the postcard is the word “Thu Dau Mot” which is the capital city of Binh Duong Province in Vietnam. The city is just 20 km from downtown Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). The photographer of this image was Pierre Dieulefils. He was the first established professional photographer in Hanoi. He worked in Indo-China from around 1900 to 1910. In addition, he was a postcard editor and explorer. He had an excellent reputation as a photographer throughout Europe and Indochina. He won many medals at Universal Exhibitions. It is estimated that he produced approximately five thousand photos and postcards and he is considered one of the greatest photographers of the region. His photographic expeditions included such locales as Vietnam, China, and Cambodia. His photographs are considered “the very best visual records of the life, people, customs, and native peoples” of North and South Vietnam. This postcard is part of a series (no.1471), The postcard was published between 1900 and 1910. SOLD
This vintage real photo postcard features four precious young boys playing soldier. They are posed in a formation which makes one think that a Sergeant just yelled to them, “Present Arms”. SOLD
This cabinet card portrait features a very pretty young woman. Her hat compliments her appearance. She is likely in her teenage years. The photograph is a bit unusual in that the cabinet card provides a close-up view horizontally rather than the typical vertical perspective. The photographer of this image is A. Brauner, who operated a studio in Zagreb, Croatia. In terms of present day geography, Zagreb is the capital and the largest city in Croatia. (SOLD)
This vintage photograph features a most adorable dachshund popping out of a wicker waste basket. I can not guarantee that this cute canine is a dachshund but that is my best guess. The photographer and the location that this photo was taken, are unidentified. The dog also preferred to remain anonymous. This image measures about 3 1/2″ x 5 1/2″ and is in very good condition.
This vintage photograph features a features a very pretty young woman with a magnificent radiant smile. She appears to be the type of person who is capable of lighting up a room with her smile and sparkling eyes. The more that I look at the photograph, the more I think that she looks as if she may be a teenager. The reverse of this photograph has an inscription indicating that the photo was taken in 1971, nearly fifty years ago. This vintage photograph measures about 3 1/4″ x 5 1/2″, has excellent clarity, and is in excellent condition.
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 