RENEE ADOREE : HOLLYWOOD SILENT & “TALKIE” FILM STAR : TRAGIC DEATH AT 35

POSTCARD 1 (SOLD)

POSTCARD 2 (SOLD)

POSTCARD 3 (SOLD)

These vintage real photo postcards feature French stage and film actress, Renee Adoree (1898-1933). She also appeared in silent movies produced by Hollywood in the 1910’s. Her most well known film was the melodramatic romance and war epic, “The Big Parade”. She played the love interest of John Gilbert. Renee’s parents were circus artists. She would perform with them at times. She was a dancer, acrobat artist, and bareback rider. She perfomed throughout Europe. She made her movie debut in 1918. In 1919, she went to New York City and played in a vaudeville-style musical. Several other stage appearances followed. In 1920, she began to perform in movies again. In total, Renee performed with John Gilbert nine times. She appeared with actor Ramon Novarro four times. In a 1928 Howard Hughes film, “The Mating Call”, Renee had a brief scene in which she swam in the nude. This act created much controversy. Renee’s personal life included two marriages and two divorces between 1921 and 1929. Renee, unlike many other actresses of her time, was successful in making the transition to sound film. She appeared in four “talkies” before her early death. In all, by the end of 1920, Renee had appeared in forty-five films. The IBDb reports that she appeared in two Broadway productions, both occurred in 1919, It was in 1930 that Renee was diagnosed with tuberculosis. Despite her doctor’s advice, she continued her participation in the filming of a movie. After completing the movie, she was rushed to an Arizona sanitorium. She was flat on her back for two years during her recovery. Post discharge, Renee’s health began to deteriorate until she died in 1933. She was only about 35 years old at the time of her death.

Postcard 1 features Renee in a risque pose. She is dressed quite provocatively. This postcard was published by “Ross Verlag” as part of a series (No.4350/1). SOLD

Postcard 2   features Renee standing in front of a horse. She is holding the horse’s harness. Apparently, she liked animals and possessed a sense of humor. She had a dog named “Useless”, and a cat named “Worthless”. The logo for MGM can be seen in the lower right hand corner of the image. She was under contract with MGM from 1930 until her death. This postcard was published by “Europe” as part of a series (No.395). SOLD

Postcard 3 offers a view of Renee that illustrates her beauty. She is fashionable and her attire includes a jacket with a fur collar. The card features a logo for MGM in its lower right corner. The card was published by Ross Verlag and is part of a series (No.3794/1). SOLD

POSTCARD 1

POSTCARD 2

A PRETTY WOMAN WEARS A FEATHER IN NEW YORK CITY

A pretty woman wears a feather and a hair comb in her hair , as she sits for her portrait at the studio of Hargrave in New York City. The young woman is very stylishly dressed. Hargrave Portraits was located at 68 West 23rd Street. To view other photographs by Hargrave, click on the category “Photographer: Hargrave”.  SOLD

Published in: on August 20, 2025 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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PORTRAIT OF A FASHIONABLE AND PRETTY YOUNG WOMAN IN BRADFORD, ENGLAND

This vintage real photo postcard features a pretty and fashionable young woman reading a magazine or book. Her dress is accentuated with lace and she is wearing a necklace and a collar pin. The young woman appears to be in her early twenties, or perhaps in her teenage years. Her eyes are open wide and she has a nice smile. The photographer of this image is W. A. Brown & Son. The studio was located in Bradford, a city in West Yorkshire, England.  SOLD

Published in: on August 19, 2025 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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VIRGINIA HARNED :PORTRAIT OF A THEATRE ACTRESS : NAPOLEON SARONY : CABINET CARD

This cabinet card features noted American stage actress, Virginia Harned (1869-1946). She was known for her beauty (said to resemble Sarah Bernhardt), her fashion sense, and her intensity on stage. Harned was audacious. She was associated with creating the new social perception of the modern woman. She is most recognized for playing the title role in the Broadway premiere of “Trilby (1895)”. The IBDb reveals that Harned performed in 21 Broadway plays between 1894 and 1936. Harned was married to two (not at the same time) famous actors. Her second husband was E. H. Sothern who later married actress Julia Marlowe. Her third husband was William Courtenay. During her marriage to Sothern, Harned took a turn at writing and produced several plays. Harned’s portrait seen on this cabinet card was taken by celebrated New York City photographer, Napoleon Sarony. A hand stamp on the reverse of this photograph indicates that the photo was formerly in the collection of Frederick H. Meserve (1865-1962). Meserve was a businessman and a had a large collection of photographs. In 1944 he worked with Carl Sandburg, American poet and biographer, to publish 100 photographs of Abraham Lincoln. Meserve’s collection included 10,000 original Matthew Brady negatives and 75,000 photographs of famous theatrical figures. SOLD

PORTRAIT OF A WOMAN WITH A BEAUTIFUL SMILE

It is reported that actress, Marilyn Monroe, once stated that “A smile is the best makeup any girl can wear.”. The pretty woman seen in this vintage photograph must subscribe to Monroe’s philosophy. The bright eyed woman pictured in this image is wearing a fur collared coat, a ring, and a wide bracelet. Her hair is styled accentuating her lovely curls. The photo is a former resident of an album (see reverse of image) and likely dates back to the 1940’s. SOLD

Published in: on August 17, 2025 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  

PORTRAIT OF TWO AFFECTIONATE YOUNG GIRLS AT THE BEACH

TWO GIRLS BEACH

TWO GIRLS BEACH 1 Two young girls pose for a vintage snapshot photograph as they sit on the sand at the beach. One girl has her arm affectionately around the shoulder of the second girl. The recipient of the affection is displaying a sour expression. Are the girls sisters? Could they be close friends? The answer is lost to history. The girls names are written on the reverse of the photo. I can only decipher one of the names. It is “Ingrid”. A stamp on the reverse of the snapshot indicates that the photograph was developed in Dresden, Germany. Dresden is the second largest city in Saxony. It is situated on the banks of the River Elbe. It is near the border of the Czech Republic. There are beaches along the Elbe and perhaps this image captures one of them.  SOLD

TWO GIRLS BEACH 2

Published in: on August 16, 2025 at 12:00 pm  Comments (4)  
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SEBASTOPOL, CALIFORNIA : BUSY STREET SCENE : OLD CARS: GREAT SIGNAGE : RPPC c1934

This real photo postcard features a street scene in Sebastopol, California. The postcard pictures a street in the business district. This postcard view includes a number of shops, old cars, and much signage. Note the signs advertising a drug store, two bakeries, the Fleming Market, and a clothing store. Sebastopol is in Sonoma County and is located a little more than an hour north of San Francisco. 
This postcard’s photograph was taken by Peck Photo. The card’s stamp box indicates that it was published sometime between 1925 and 1942.  SOLD

KITTY COLYER – ENGLISH TRIPLE THREAT (SINGER, DANCER, ACTRESS) – PLAYED CINDERELLA

kitty coyler

kitty coyler 2

The pretty actress seen in this vintage real photo postcard, is Miss Kitty Colyer (1897-?). Here are some biographical facts that I discovered in preliminary research about the English actress. She started her career at age eleven. In addition to being an actress, she was also a dancer. She has also been described as a music hall singer and a comedian. Her dance routines were varied but her favorites were acrobatic, toe, buck, and national dancing. She performed primarily in the 1920’s. She played the role of Cinderella in “Cinderella” (1920).  As the roaring twenties came to a close, her career fizzled out and she left the entertainment business. A review of Miss Colyer can be found in John Culme’s “Footlight Notes” (website). A writer from “The Era” (1911) wrote “Miss Kitty Colyer’s sensational dancing reaches its climax in some very energetic handsprings and her lissomness and activity are quite irresistible in her rendering of “By the Light of the Silvery Moon”. Look below to see an example of sheet music (1920) featuring Kitty Colyer. Now, back to the vintage postcard. It was published by Rotary Photo and is part of the Rotary Photographic Series (no. 11522 C). The photographer is unknown.   SOLD

kitty coyler 3

U.S. NAVY SAILOR : LANE STUDIO : BROOKLYN, NEW YORK : CABINET CARD 1890’s

This original cabinet card photograph, measuring approximately 4¼ x 6½ inches, features a striking portrait of a young U.S. Navy sailor, captured in formal studio attire. The sailor wears a traditional dark naval jumper with a wide collar and a neatly tied neckerchief. His uniform displays the eagle and chevron insignia on his right sleeve, identifying him as a petty officer in the United States Navy, likely from the late 1880s to 1890s, based on the style of dress and photograph mount. He also wears a flat, round sailor’s cap with a trailing ribbon, typical of American naval uniforms from this period. The sailor has a composed, thoughtful expression, with a full mustache and clear eyes gazing slightly off camera, conveying quiet confidence and professionalism. The photograph was taken by Lane Studio, located at 461 Fulton Street in Brooklyn, New York, a prominent address in the borough’s thriving commercial and photographic district during the late 19th century. The word “Carbonette” on the card refers to a photographic printing process used around the 1890s, known for its rich tonal quality and lasting image stability. It was considered a premium finish for portrait photography during that era.  (SOLD)

Published in: on August 13, 2025 at 12:50 pm  Leave a Comment  
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MADAME KIRKBY LUNN : ENGLISH OPERA DIVA : METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE : RPPC

This vintage real photo postcard features English mezzo soprano, Louise Kirkby Lunn (1873-1930). She appeared in many French and Italian operas. She was best known for singing operas by Richard Wagner. She had many appearances at the Royal Opera House, Convent Garden as well as at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. This postcard was published by Rotary Photo as part of a series (No.2025B) The card was produced around 1905.  SOLD