CLARITA VIDAL : PRETTY STAGE ACTRESS : WWI NURSE : ROTARY PHOTO : RPPC

POSTCARD 1

POSTCARD 2 (SOLD)

The pretty actress seen on these vintage real photo postcards is Clarita Vidal (1883-1919). She was an actress in Edwardian musical comedies. She was also known for her work in wartime Italy. She did this volunteer work as Countess Chiquita Mazzuchi. She once told a reporter that she did not know her nationality. There were varying stories about her background. She said she was born in Singapore and that her father was a Spanish Ambassador and her mother was from England. Vial also said that she was raised in Algiers among Spanish diplomat families. She stated her name there was Chiquita Saavedra de Cervantes. Vidal was a “Florodora girl”, a stage beauty.  “Florodora” was an Edwardian musical comedy that became one of the first successful Broadway musicals of the twentieth century. The show opened in London in 1899. Actresses Evie Greene and Ada Reeve were among the show’s performers. The Broadway production was performed at the Casino Theater in 1900 and ran for 552 performances. The show achieved some of its success from it’s chorus line of “Florodora Girls”. A Wikipedia entry describes the six female performers comprising the line as being ”tall, gorgeous damsels, clad in pink walking costumes, black picture hats and carrying frilly parasols (who) swished onto the stage and captivated New York for no other reason than they were utterly stunning”. The IBDB credits Vidal with two Broadway appearances; “The Silver Slipper” (1902) and “Cynthia” (1903). These appearances were followed by roles on the London stage, including “The School Girl” (1903). Renowned actress Billie Burke said of Vidal, “I remember Clarita Vidal, famous and smick-smack, who posed as if she were made of wax, with just one expression of sheer beauty”.  She left the stage after marrying in 1909. The press rediscovered her by late 1915. She was using the name “Countess Chiquita ‘Chick’ Mazzuchi” and was working as a nurse and ambulance driver during World War I. In 1917 she spoke at war relief fundraisers in New York City. She spoke about wounds she sustained during her service in Italy. Apparently, Miss Vidal was prone to exaggeration, or lying, depending on your perspective. The Italian Consul objected to her using the title of “Countess” and embellishing her nursing experiences in the war. The New York district attorney investigated her claims and she agreed to stop speaking and collecting money for the war effort.

The content of the message on Postcard 1 is interesting. The sender is wishing the addressee luck on her music performance exams. This postcard was published by Rotary Photo and is part of a series (no.1707). The postcard is in good condition (see scans).

Postcard 2 was published by Rotary Photo and is part of a series (no.1707C).  (SOLD)

Buy this Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes shipping within the US) #5135

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$32.00

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$42.00

POSTCARD 1

POSTCARD 2

Published in: on June 18, 2024 at 12:00 pm  Comments (1)  
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FRANCESCA BERTINI : INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED ITALIAN SILENT FILM STAR : RPPC

POSTCARD 1

POSTCARD 1 (CLOSE-UP)

POSTCARD 2 (SOLD)

These vintage photo postcards feature Italian silent film actress, Francesca Bertini (1892-1985). She is thought to be one of the leading silent film stars in the history of this movie form. Bertini was internationally acclaimed. She began her stage career at age seventeen and soon was performing on Italy’s silent screen. By 1915, she had made more than fifty films. She was thought to be beautiful, elegant, and charming. Hollywood’s Fox Film offered her a contract but she turned down the opportunity. She was married to Paul Cartier, a wealthiy Swiss banker, and wanted to move with him to Switzerland.

Postcard 1 measures about 3 3/8″ x 5 1/2″ and is in very good condition (see scans).  

Portrait Postcard 2 was taken by G. Vettori of Bologna, Italy. The card is part of a series (No.1050). (SOLD)

Buy this Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes shipping within the US) #3929

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$20.04

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$29.19

POSTCARD 1

POSTCARD 2

Published in: on June 17, 2024 at 12:00 pm  Comments (2)  
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LILIAN BRAITHWAITE : ENGLISH STAGE & FILM ACTRESS : “THE VORTEX” : RPPC

POSTCARD 1

POSTCARD 2

These vintage real photo postcards feature pretty English stage actress Lilian Braithwaite (1873-1948). Lilian’s major focus was the stage but she did appear in both silent and talkie films. Her father was a Vicar (member of the clergy). She first acted with amateur companies and when she decided to become a professional actress, her parents were opposed. Despite the parental opposition, in 1897, she joined a professional Shakespearean company. She married one of her fellow actors, Gerald Lawrence. They divorced in 1905 due to Lawrence’s adultery and desertion. Her first professional London appearance was in “As You Like It” in 1900. She joined a series of other stage companies over the years. Her major noted appearance was as the alcoholic mother in Noel Coward’s drama, “The Vortex” (1924). In 1927, she appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s film “Downhill”.

Postcard 1 was published by Philco. The card is part of a series (No.3067F). This unposted postcard is in Very Good condition (see scans).

Postcard 2 features Lilian in her role in the play, “If I Were King”. The publisher of this portrait postcard is Rotary Photo (No.3032). This unposted postcard is in Very Good condition (see scans).

5180_0001

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$14.85

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Buy this Real Photo Vintage Postcard (includes shipping within the US) #5213

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$12.48

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$22.48

POSTCARD 1

Published in: on June 14, 2024 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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HEDDA VERNON : PRETTY GERMAN SILENT FILM ACTRESS, WRITER AND PRODUCER : RPPC

This vintage real photo postcard features pretty German actress, screenwriter and film producer, Hedda Vernon (1888-1925). She was an important actress in Germany during the days of the early Weimar Republic. Hedda’s father was the owner of a brewery and her mother minded the home. In 1912, Hedda was signed by the German Bioscope as an actress. She made her screen debut that same year, acting in the silent film “The Paper Trail’. This was the beginning of a prolific screen career. In 1914 she began her own production company in Berlin and began to produce her own films. Her husband, Hubert Moest was a film director and also founded his own production company. Hetta wrote two screen plays that Moest turned into films. She acted in a silent film, The Women House of Brescia (1920), which was banned by the British Board of Film Classification. The reason for the banning was that the film depicted prostitution. In the 1920’s Hedda’s film career began to wane. New actresses became the hot commodity in the film industry. She began to act in film supporting roles. In total, Hedda acted in over 70 silent films between 1912 and 1925. Hedda was married three times. Her first two marriages ended in divorce. Hedda died in 1925 but the details of her death are shrouded in mystery. The stamp box of this postcard has an interesting story. “NBC” (Neue Bromsilber Convention) was a price cartel established in 1909 that continued until the 1930’s. The purpose of the cartel was to ensure that the minimum price charged for postcards was kept at a sufficiently profitable level. This photo postcard is in very good condition (see scans).

hedda-vernon_0001-1

Buy this Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes shipping within the US) #5211

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$9.95

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$19.95

Published in: on June 9, 2024 at 10:07 pm  Leave a Comment  
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MISS ETHEL HOLLINGSHEAD : ACTRESS : BROADWAY : MINK STOLE WITH HEAD : RARE RPPC

This rare vintage real photo postcard features pretty stage actress, Miss Ethel Hollingshead. Note her fur stole. The animals is whole, face and all. I believe the creature is a mink. Certainly, this garment is not politically correct in today’s world. Not much information about Miss Hollingshead is readily available. The IBDb reveals that she acted in two Broadway plays; “A Message From Mars” (1901) and “Saucy Sally” (1904).  She also appeared in “The Boatswain’s Mate” (1907) at London’s Wyndham’s Theatre. A deeper dive into the theater literature is required to learn more about Miss Hollingshead. This postcard was published by Rotary Photo as part of a series (No.1830A).  SOLD

Published in: on May 19, 2024 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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DAPHNE HOPE : ENGLISH MUSIC HALL ENTERTAINER : RISQUE : RARE RPPC

This very uncommon vintage real photo postcard features the pretty young actress and singer, Miss Daphne Hope. She is dressed and posed provocatively for this postcard portrait. Her legs are exposed and she is wearing a short top. Even though Daphne’s legs are covered with flesh colored stockings, this is a risque postcard for it’s era.. Daphne Hope postcards are rare. It is also difficult to find information about her. The website “Footlight Notes” reprinted a 1912 article about Daphne Hope and her performing partner, William Burr. The pair were English music hall entertainers that took their show on the road to New York’s Fifth Avenue Theater. The article states that their talking act and “double singing” was simply “delightful” and “unique”. Hope is described as a “comely blonde, of the robust type, with a very pleasant voice”. The reviewer enjoyed the humorous banter between Hope and Burr. The article described their act as a “sunbeam” compared to the “shadows” vaudeville has imported in the past. SOLD

Published in: on May 16, 2024 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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HILDA HANBURY : BRITISH STAGE ACTRESS : STAGE BEAUTY : CABINET CARD

PHOTO 1

PHOTO 2

This cabinet card (Photo 1) features early British theatre actress, Hilda Hanbury (1875-1961). She is dressed for winter in this portrait. Note her warm looking coat and her hand-warming muff. Her hat is quite elaborate. Hilda’s sister, Lily Hanbury (1874-1908), was also an actress. Lily’s cabinet card photo portrait can be found elsewhere in the Cabinet Card Gallery. Hilda and Lily were cousins to actress Julia Neilson. Hilda began her acting career in the late 19th century and went on to have a successful stage and film career that spanned several decades. Hanbury made her professional stage debut in 1897 and went on to perform in a variety of plays throughout her career, including Shakespearean productions and contemporary dramas. She was particularly known for her performances in the plays of Noël Coward, and appeared in several of his works, including “The Vortex” and “Hay Fever.” Hanbury also appeared in a number of films during the 1930s and 1940s, including “The Ghoul” (1933) and “The Saint in London” (1939). Unlike her sister Lily, her film appearances were often in supportive roles. However, Hilda was considered a “stage beauty” and her image was popular on cabinet cards, cigarette cards, and postcards. Hanbury continued to act into her seventies, and her final stage appearance was in a production of Coward’s “Waiting in the Wings” in 1960. Hanbury was a close friend of playwright Noël Coward, and she appeared in several of his plays over the course of her career. Hanbury was known to be an avid bicyclist and a passionate gardener and was a member of the Royal Horticultural Society. She was a judge at flower shows and often exhibited at the Chelsea Flower Show. Hilda married Arthur William Fox (1870-1956) in 1905. After the marriage, she retired from the stage and lived in a sixteen-room house. The couple had nine servants. Hilda and her husband divorced in 1923. The divorce was precipitated by her husband’s adultery. The photograph seen on this cabinet card was taken by the London Stereoscopic Company, located in Cheapside, England. The photo was taken sometime in the 1880’s or 1890’s. Interestingly, there is warning notice on the reverse of the photograph concerning it’s copyright. In addition, there is an advertisement offering photography lessons, on the card’s reverse. There is also an advertisement from H. G. Pearce & Co., a stationer and printer. SOLD

Photo 2 is a vintage real photo postcard featuring Hanbury holding her cute black dog over her shoulder. Note her flat hat. This postcard was published by Stewart & Woolf (London, England). SOLD

PHOTO 1

PHOTO 2

Published in: on May 15, 2024 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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MADY CHRISTIANS : GAY STAGE AND FILM ACTRESS : POLITICALLY INVOLVED : FBI : RPPC

Mady Christians (1892-1951) was an Austrian-American actress. She appeared in many films and stage productions, both in Europe and the United States. This photograph captures Christians and two dogs in a scene from the silent film “Zoph und Schwert (Braid and Sword)” (1926). Some of her most notable performances include roles in the films “The Great Dictator” (1940) and “The Shop Around the Corner” (1940). She was also a successful stage actress and appeared in several Broadway productions. Christians was forced to flee Nazi Germany in the 1930s and emigrated to the United States where she continued her acting career. She was an active performer between 1916 and 1951. She was born in Vienna. Her father was a well known German actor. The family moved to Berlin and in 1912 they moved to New York City where her father became the general manager of the Irving Place Theater. In 1917, she returned to Europe to study acting under Max Reinhardt. Before the early 1930’s she appeared in several European films. In 1929, she starred in the first full sound film made in Germany. After touring the United States in a play, she was offered a Broadway contract. While appearing in Broadway she became part of a small and influential group of lesbian theater producers, directors, and actors. Christians became involved in political issues. She worked to help refugees, to gain rights for workers, supported Russian War relief, and was involved in other political issues. Her political work brought her to the attention of the FBI and other anti Communist groups, notably the House Committee on Un-American Activities. The FBI investigated Christians when an informant identified her as a “concealed communist”. The investigation virtually ended her performing career. She passed away in 1951 This card was published by Ross Verlag. The firm operated in Berlin, Germany. Note the mention of the German film company Aafa Film-Regie and the film’s director, Victor Janson in the lower right corner of the image.  SOLD

Published in: on May 13, 2024 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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CARMEN SEVILLA : SPANISH ACTRESS, SINGER, AND DANCER

This vintage real photo postcard features Spanish actress, singer, and dancer, Carmen Sevilla (1930-2023). She started her career in the 1940’s and succeeded in becoming one of the most popular stars of the Spanish cinema until the 1970’s. Among her film roles were appearances in “Imperial Violets” (1952), “Vengeance” (1958), and “Antony and Cleopatra” (1972). She was also a successful singer who’s discography includes fifteen studio albums. Carmen was born in Seville, Spain. Her father was a composer. After the Spanish Civil War, she and her family moved to Madred and her father and grandfather worked as lyricists for major films. As a child, Sevilla enjoyed singing and dancing and made her stage debut at the age of twelve. In the 1940’s she studied at the Conservatory of Music and took dance lessons. She made her film debut in 1946. In 1947, she competed in the Miss Spain contest. Her first leading film role occurred in 1948 and her career quickly blossomed. Her popularity led to her being sought for advertising purposed. She was in Spain’s first Coca Cola commercial. She made her last film in 1978. In 1991 she began a new career as a television presenter. Sevilla was married twice. Her first marriage was to a well known composer / conductor. In 2012, she was diagnosed with Alzheimers. The disease led to her death just seven days before this posting. Sevilla’s photo portrait, seen on this postcard, was taken by the Harcourt studio. The card was published by the Globe (Paris) and is part of a series (No.203).  SOLD

Published in: on May 10, 2024 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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CLARA BOW : AMERICAN SILENT FILM ACTRESS : “THE IT GIRL” : RISQUE 

POSTCARD 1 (SOLD)

POSTCARD 2 (SOLD)

This uncommon vintage real photo postcard (Postcard 1) features silent film icon, Clara Bow (1905-1965 ). She successfully made the transition to talkies in 1929. Bow appeared in 46 silent movies and 11 talkies. She was known as the “It Girl” during the golden age of Hollywood. She was known for her vivacious energy, mesmerizing on-screen presence, and her impressive talent. She was born in Brooklyn, New York and grew up in the borough’s tenements. Both of her parents had mental health issues and she grew up in an unstable and chaotic environment. She was a resilient and determined child and she took on a caretaker role for her younger siblings. She was responsible and mature beyond her years. Despite her humble background, she became a very influential figure in cinema history. Her rise from poverty to stardom, and her groundbreaking portrayals of independent and liberated women, helped her gain an enduring legend of the silver screen. Clara Bow was discovered in 1922 when she participated in a magazine contest searching for new talent. Her photographs were seen by film producer B. P. Schulberg who saw her potential and offered her a screen test. Her screen presence was impressive and she signed a contract with Paramount Pictures. In her earliest films, her versatility was was obvious as she transitioned effortlessly between dramatic and comedic roles. It was the 1927 film, “It” that made Clara Bow a superstar and earned her the nickname of “The It Girl”. She was viewed as modern, charismatic, and sexually liberated. Bow was also successful in “talkie” films, despite her Brooklyn accent. While Bow was successful professionally, her personal life was a “hot mess”. She had a long term troubled marriage to actor Rex Bell (m.1931) and she battled her own mental health issues, including anxiety and depression. In 1933, Bow retired from acting and became a rancher. This vintage real photo postcard was published by Ross Verlag (Germany) as part of a series (No.3394/1). Bow is wearing a grass skirt, a Hawaiian Lei, and holding a ukulele. She is showing her bare legs. The card is risque for it’s era. The logo for Paramount Pictures can be found in the images bottom right hand corner.  SOLD

Postcard 2 was published by Ross Verlag (Germany) as part of a series (No.4480/1). Bow is wearing a short skirt. She is showing her bare legs. The card is risque for it’s era. The logo for Paramount Pictures can be found in the images bottom right hand corner.  SOLD

POSTCARD 1

POSTCARD 2

Published in: on May 7, 2024 at 12:00 pm  Comments (2)  
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