STAGE ACTOR: FREDERIC ROBINSON

Fredric Robinson (1832-1912) is featured in this cabinet card by Falk, of New York City, New York. Robinson was an English theatrical performer who played York, Liverpool, and finally had his debut in London in 1851. In 1865 he was engaged by Lester Wallack to perform in America. He played Boston between 1868 and 1870. He later played in many of the major cities in the United States, including New York, San Francisco and Chicago. Robinson was an avid fisherman and he was known to travel with fishing tackle that was worth more than a thousand dollars.  The photographer of this cabinet card, Falk, was a celebrated photographer of celebrities. To see other photographs by Falk in the Cabinet Card Gallery; click on the category “Photographer: Falk”.

Published in: on October 24, 2010 at 12:01 am  Leave a Comment  
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CHILD ACTOR IN LONDON, ENGLAND (LITTLE LORD FAUNTLEROY)

A young actor, in costume, poses for this cabinet card photographed by Ernest Pearce. Pearce’s studio was located at 46 Stamfield Hill, in London, England. The reverse of the card indicates that the photograph was taken in 1897. The child is dressed in the finery that was popular during the “Little Lord Fauntleroy” era. The bottom of the cabinet card has pencil writing that states “Rough Proof”. It appears that this card may have been one of many different images that were produced of this young actor.

Published in: on October 9, 2010 at 12:01 am  Comments (3)  
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JOSEPH WHEELOCK SR: LEADING THEATRE ACTOR

This cabinet card features stage actor, Joseph Wheelock Sr. (1839-1908). He began his careeer in Boston and later played leads in various stock companies. His first hit was his appearance in  “The Stranger”. His principal stock company was the Meech Brothers. During his career he appeared with many of the most renowned theatre actors. His fellow cast members included Edwin Booth, Agnes Booth, Adelaide Neilson, Mary Anderson, Edward Sothern and Julia Marlowe. Wheelock was one of the founders and the first President of the Actors Society of America. The society was organized in 1895 and its purpose was to regulate and standardize contractual obligations between performers and producers. The group dissolved in 1912.  This cabinet card was photographed by Napoleon Sarony of New York City, one of the most popular celebrity photographers of this era. To see other photographs in the Cabinet Card Gallery by Sarony, click on the category “Photographer: Sarony”. It is important to note that Joseph Wheelock Sr. had a son who was also an actor. Judging by the estimated age of the subject of this photograph, and the estimated date of this photograph; it seems almost certain that this image is that of Joseph Wheelock Sr., and not Joseph Wheelock Jr.

Published in: on August 29, 2010 at 12:01 am  Leave a Comment  
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WELL DRESSED AND HANDSOME BLACK GENTLEMAN: POSSIBLE CELEBRITY

This cabinet card features a handsome and fashionably dressed black man. He appears very confident in his three piece suit with his overcoat slung over his arm. This dapper man seems to be going someplace. The photographer and the location of the studio is unknown as this photograph has been trimmed to fit into an album or picture frame. The man may be a celebrity. The number (805) on the left side bottom of the card likely is a card number, indicating that the photograph is one of a series of photographs. Tobacco companies published cabinet card series, including series of cards featuring famous individuals.  Perhaps a visitor to this site will leave a comment providing additional information about the identity of the subject of this photograph.

Published in: on May 9, 2010 at 12:01 am  Comments (4)  
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SWASHBUCKLING THEATRE ACTOR AND MURDER VICTIM: WILLIAM TERRISS

William Terriss (1847-1897) was an English theatre actor known for his swashbuckling roles. He played Robin Hood and a number of Shakespeare roles. He was also known for his early demise; the victim of a murder. His killer was a disgruntled and deranged actor who held a grudge against Terriss for getting him dismissed from a role he played in one of Terriss’s productions. Interestingly, Terriss still helped him financially and theatrically after his dismissal. Terriss was murdered outside of the Adelphi Theatre where he had arrived to prepare for that evenings performance of “Secret Service”. Terriss’s daughter, Ellaline Terriss was a star of Edwardian Musical Comedy and his son, Tom, was a well known film director,writer and actor. William Terriss was an adventurer and an outdoorsman in real life, not just in theatrical roles. Before entering acting in 1867 he pursued merchant service, medicine, sheep farming in the Falklands, and Tea Planting in Bengal. The photographer of this Cabinet Card was Falk, a well known celebrity photographer in New York City.

Published in: on January 10, 2010 at 2:48 pm  Leave a Comment  
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IS THIS GUY A FAMOUS ACTOR OR DOES HE JUST LOOK LIKE ONE?

This is another Cabinet Card which presents some mystery. Emil Scholl is the Philadelphia photographer who took this image but who is this interesting looking gentleman. On the reverse of the card is the scribbled name of what looks to be “Charles Thomas” or “Charles Thome”. Both names are names belonging to actors of this period.  The Cabinet Card Gallery includes images of actors photographed by Scholl . Even if the subject of this photograph is not an actor, the image has great clarity and presents an imposing man with much character. Note the handlebar mustache.

Published in: on January 5, 2010 at 9:25 am  Comments (4)  
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JEWISH COUPLE, REPORTEDLY BRODER SINGERS (YIDDISH) IN BRODY, UKRAINE

This Cabinet card featuring a well dressed couple, offers a bit of mystery. The last owner of this card states that this couple are “Brody Yiddish Singers”. So what does that mean? First of all, Brody is a city in Lviv Oblast (province) of western Ukraine. The city was a crossroads and jewish trade center in the 19th century. Brody is considered to be Shtetls,  Brodersanger, Purim, Jewish theater, CzarAlexander III, Berl Margulis, Berl Broder, one of the “shtetls”. The city was famous for the Brodersanger or Broder singers who were among the first Jews to publicly perform Yiddish songs outside of Purim (a holiday) and wedding celebrations. These performers were the precursors of jewish theater. Due to anti Jewish regulation enacted in 1882 by Czar Alexander III of Russia and the resulting exodus of Russian Jews; throughout 1881 hundreds of Jewish immigrants arrived in Brody daily. The most famous Broder singer was Berl Margulis also known as Berl Broder (1815  -1868). It is not certain that this cabinet card really depicts Broder singers and no evidence is available to support the claim , but it is not unusual for families to pass down such information over generations and  there is a reasonable chance that the history is correct and the story is worth telling. The photographer of this cabinet card is Buscdorf.

Published in: on December 22, 2009 at 12:19 am  Leave a Comment  
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Osmond Tearle: English Theatre Actor

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Osmond Tearle (1852-1901) was a very successful English stage actor and ran a professional theatre company. This Cabinet Card image is from the studio of Jose Mora, famed celebrity photographer of New York City.

Published in: on February 6, 2009 at 11:40 pm  Leave a Comment  
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