THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WOMEN OF FRANCE : FLOWER SERIES : LE MUGUET : NOYER : RPPC

This vintage real photo postcard features a profile view of a beautiful model. The postcard is part of a “Most Beautiful Women of France ” series (no. 5). The women in this series each represent different flowers. The model in this postcard represents “Le Muguet”, or “Morning Lillies”. This pretty women ws photographed by Alfred Noyer. His studio was located in Paris, France. This postcard portrait is unposted and in very good condition (see scans).

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MARY ASTOR : PRETTY FILM, TELEVISION, AND STAGE ACTRESS : TRAUMATIZED BY FAMILY

POSTCARD 1

POSTCARD 2

This vintage real photo postcard features American film, stage, and television actress and musician, Mary Astor (1906-1987). She played many memorable roles but she is most associated with her performance in “The Maltese Falcon” (1941). Astor also wrote five novels and an autobiography. She began her film career as a teenager by appearing in silent movies during the early 1920’s. Her career continued with the introduction of “talkies”. In 1936, Astor’s career was almost ruined by a scandal in which she had an affair with playwright George Kaufman. A custody fight with her ex-husband stigmatized her as being an adulterous wife. She managed to overcome the poor PR and in 1941, won an Academy Award fo Best Supporting Actress in “The Great Lie”.  Astor was born in Quincy, Illinois. Her father was a German teacher and her mother taught drama and elocution. Astor was home schooled by her father who also taught her the piano. In 1919, she sent her photo to a beauty contest in Motion Picture Magazine. She was chosen as a semi finalist. When she was fifteen, she and her family moved to Chicago where she took drama lessons and performed on the stage. She and her family moved to New York City so she could act in motion pictures. A Manhattan photographer asked Astor to pose for him and the resulting photographs led her to be signed by Paramount pictures. In 1921, at age fourteen, she made her film debut. In 1923, she and her family moved to Hollywood. During the filming of one movie, the underage actress was wooed off set by the significantly older actor, John Barrymore. She became a “WAMPAS Baby Star” in 1926. In Hollywood, her controlling parents kept her a virtual prisoner and lived lavishly off her earnings. They gave her a five dollar a week allowance while she was earning 2500 dollars a week. Her father was emotionally and physically abusive. She did not gain control of her salary until she was 26 years old. However, this resulted in her parents suing her for financial support.  In 1928 she married film director Kenneth Hawkes. In 1928, he was killed in a plane crash while filming sequences for a movie. After Astor appeared in a few more movies, she suffered a nervous breakdown related to the loss of her husband. She married the doctor who treated her for her psychiatric illness. By 1933, she had a child, and was seeking a divorce. Her personal life was coming apart at the seams. That is when the aforementioned scandal occurred. She continued to appear in films during the 1930’s but had entered the early stages of alcoholism. By 1949, she entered a sanitarium for alcoholics. In 1951, she experienced her third suicide attempt. Astor’s filmography credits her with 155 film appearances between 1921 and 1964. The IMDb reports that she appeared in two Broadway plays between 1945 and 1954. Astor was a very successful performer but was plagued by problems in her personal life.

Postcard 1 was published by Picturegoer as part of a series (no.240b). The firm was located in London, England. This postcard is in very good condition (see scans). 

Postcard 2 was published by Picturegoer as part of a series (no.240a). The firm was located in London, England. This postcard is in very good condition (see scans). 

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$15.75

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$25.00

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Buy this Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes shipping within the US) #5171

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$14.00

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$24.00

Postcard 1

Postcard 2

FROMENTIN : PRETTY FRENCH PERFORMER : RISQUE : SAZERAC : PIPROT : PARIS : RPPC

This risque vintage real photo postcard features a fashionable performer named Fromentin.  The card is color tinted. She has a string of flowers wrapped around her shoulders and her dress is a flower pattern. The combination is a nice touch. “The Theatre” (1882) states that Fromentin, among others, present grace and beauty difficult to match. Fromentin was photographed by Sazerac. He was a photographer well known for his portraits of the showgirls of Paris. The publisher of this postcard, was Monsieur G. Piprot, of “Etoille” or “Star” publishing in Paris. The card is part of a series (No.854). The postcard has a postmark from 1905.  SOLD

MISS DOROTHY RUNDELL AS CINDERELLA : IN COSTUME : ROTARY PHOTO : RPPC

This vintage real photo postcard features actress Dorothy Rundell in costume for her role as Cinderella. She is holding a broom and has a look of despondency. Rundell was a sitter for six portraits in the collection of England’s National Portrait Gallery. In 1913, Rundell appeared in  “This Way Madam! at London’s Queens Theatre. A World War I website presents an article about Captain Leopold Profeit. The author mentions that in 1915, about nine months after he enlisted into the army, Profeit married Dorothy Rundell. She was 26 years old, nine years younger than Captain Profeit. In 1917, less than two years after the nuptials, Profeit was killed at the Battle of Dorian fighting against the Bulgarians. A review in the “Tatler” (1917) reports that Dorothy replaced Doris Keane in the London production of “Romance”. The reviewer wrote that Dorothy “won all hearts by her personal charm, and delicate sensibility”.  This postcard was published by Rotary Photo as part of a series (No.11588 A). The photo of Miss Rundell was taken by the Foulsham & Banfield studio.  Frank Foulsham and A. C. Banfield operated a studio from the 1900’s through the 1920’s and were well known celebrity photographers. SOLD

LINA CAVALIERI :ITALIAN OPERA STAR : STAGE BEAUTY :PORTRAIT BY REUTLINGER : 1906

Lina Cavalieri was an Italian operatic soprano and renowned beauty who captivated audiences in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born on Christmas day in1874, in Viterbo, Italy, as Natalina Cavalieri, she would go on to become one of the most celebrated and iconic sopranos of her time. Cavalieri’s journey into the world of opera began at a young age when her exceptional vocal talent was discovered. She received formal training in Milan, where she honed her skills and developed a remarkable voice. Her operatic debut occurred in 1892 at the Teatro Vittorio Emanuele in Turin, and she quickly gained recognition for her powerful and expressive singing. In addition to her vocal prowess, Lina Cavalieri was known for her striking beauty, and she was often referred to as the “World’s Most Beautiful Woman.” Her enchanting looks and captivating stage presence helped elevate her status beyond the opera world. As her fame grew, she became a sought-after performer in major opera houses across Europe, including La Scala in Milan and the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. Cavalieri’s repertoire included a wide range of operas, and she was particularly acclaimed for her performances in works by composers such as Giuseppe Verdi and Giacomo Puccini. Her ability to convey emotion through her singing and her charismatic stage presence endeared her to audiences worldwide. Beyond her operatic career, Lina Cavalieri ventured into the world of acting and appeared in several silent films. Her beauty made her a natural fit for the burgeoning film industry, and she transitioned seamlessly between the stage and screen. Despite her success, Cavalieri faced personal challenges, including a tumultuous love life and financial difficulties. She had an affair with a Russian Prince and was married multiple times. Her marriages were often short-lived. Tragically, Lina Cavalieri’s life was cut short when she perished in an allied bombing run over Florence, Italy. She was killed running from her house to a bomb shelter. Her legacy lives on through recordings of her performances, photographs, and the enduring image of the “World’s Most Beautiful Woman” who left an indelible mark on the world of opera and entertainment. Cavalieri’s photograph seen on this hand tinted postcard was taken by Leopold Reutlinger. The postcard has a 1906 postmark from Mexico. The card was published by SIP as part of a series (No. 52/19). SOLD

MARIA SOLVEG :(MARIA MATRAY) : PRETTY JEWISH ACTRESS, DANCER AND SCREENWRITER

This vintage real photo postcard features German film actress, dancer, and screenwriter Maria Solveg (1907-1993). She was also known as “Maria Matray”. Solveg was a star of the late Weimar film era. She married her mentor, director and choreographer, Ernst Matray. When Hitler rose to power, Solveg, who was Jewish, fled the country. She came to the United States in 1936 and launched a career as a choreographer and writer. She worked in Hollywood as a choreographer or assistant director during the 1940’s. Her well known movies included “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” (1939), “Pride and Prejudice” (1940), and “Dr Jekyl and Mr Hyde” (1941). In the 1950’s she wrote scripts for television. She became a German citizen again in 1960. The IMDb gives Solveg 52 credits for writing and 22 acting credits. This postcard was published by Ross Verlag as part of a series (no.2078/1).  (SOLD)

SUSANNE CRAMER : FILM AND TV ACTRESS : RISQUE : UFA FILM FOTO : RPPC

This risque vintage real photo postcard features German film and television actress, Susanne Cramer (1936-1969). She was born in Germany and died at the age of 32 in Hollywood. Her cause of death was pneumonia. During a six year career on American television (1963-1969) she appeared in popular shows, such as “The Man From Uncle”, “Perry Mason”, “Get Smart” and “Hogan’s Heroes”. The IMDb lists Cramer’s filmography as having 46 credits between 1956 and 1969. She began her career in Germany, working in theater and shifting into films. Cramer’s had an unstable private life. She was married five times. One of her husbands she married twice. Her first two marriages were to actors. The first marriage lasted a year and the second marriage ended after five months. During her first marriage, she had two suicide attempts. Her longest marriage was of two year duration. This vintage postcard is in very good condition (see scans).

Buy this Real Photo Vintage Postcard (includes shipping within the US) #5165

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$20.00

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$30.00

Published in: on December 5, 2023 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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NORA HAMILTON : PRETTY PERFORMER : DU CHATELET THEATRE : BROADWAY :UNCOMMON RPPC

This uncommon vintage real photo postcard features Nora Hamilton. She was a stage performer. Very little biographical information about Miss Hamilton could be found during my preliminary research. There was an actress by the same name who acted on Broadway during the era that this postcard was published. Nora Hamilton appeared in two plays; “The Merry Widow and the Devil” (1908) and “Miss Jack” (1911). The caption in the top left hand corner of the image provides the name of a French theatre named Theatre du Chatelet. Hamilton performed there. The theatre was built on the site of a small castle in about 1861. It was located in Paris, France. This postcard is color tinted. The card was published by S.I.P. and was part of a series (No.1264). This portrait postcard is in very good condition (see scans). 

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$22.00

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GINA PALERME : FRENCH ACTRESS AND DANCER : PHOTOS BY RITA MARTIN : RPPC

POSTCARD 1 (SOLD)

POSTCARD 2 (SOLD)

These vintage real photo postcards feature a portrait of French actress and dancer, Gina Palerme (1885-1977). She was an active performer between 1909 and 1929. She began her theater career in 1909 in France. An English impresario brought her to London in 1910. Her debut was in “The Quaker Girl” at the Adelphi Theater. This performance was followed by many more stage roles in West-end productions. Photographer, Cecil Beaton, wrote that she was glamorous and that “her off-stage appearances were as sensational as her stage escapades”. She returned to France in 1919 and starred in silent films. Her final screen appearance was in 1925. Her post film career was comprised of working in French cabarets, including Moulin Rouge. She also did revue work in the United States. The New York Times (1929) announced that French revue actress, Gina Palerme, from the Moulin Rouge in Paris, “arrived in America to appear in a new revue under the Shubert management. It was reported that Palerme spoke English well and this was her first trip to America. J. J. Shubert “discovered” her after hearing her sing at the Moulin Rouge. He offered her a six month contract to come to New York. There was also an option that offered her a three year contract upon finishing her Revue performances, to appear in “talkies”. Palerme was very pretty, as is apparent in these postcard photographs.

In Postcard 1, Palerme looks glamourous and her portrait can be seen as risque. Her ornate dress is low cut. This postcard was published by J. Beagles & Co. as part of a series (No.240A). Palerme’s photograph was taken by celebrity photographer, Rita Martin. Female photographers were uncommon during this era.  (SOLD)

Postcard 2 was published by J. Beagles & Co. as part of a series (No.240H). This card is part of the same series as Postcard 1. Rita Martin is the photographer who took both this portrait and the photo in Postcard 1. Note the golden color of Palerme’s hat. The color tinter clearly was a artist. Unlike many color tinters, this one believed in subtlety. (SOLD)

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Postcard 2

PAULA EDWARDS : MUSICAL COMEDY ACTRESS : “THE SHOW GIRL” : RPPC : 1910

This vintage real photo postcard features musical comedy actress, Paula Edwards. The performer’s name appeared in several theatrical publications. A 1902 article in “The Theatre” magazine presents a review of a show in which Edwards appeared. She performed in “The Showgirl” at Wallack’s theater in New York. The show was a musical comedy and the reviewer hated it. Here are some examples of the reviewer’s comments. He stated that the humor was as heavy as a church sermon. He added “the alleged comedians are not funny”, “the singers can’t sing”, and the director should put on his spectacles and look at the ballet. Finally, the ascerbic reviewer stated the the plot is “as thin as boardinghouse soup”. In regard to Paula Edwards, the writer declares that she helped “reconcile the audience to a very stupid evening”. This vintage postcard was published by Owens Bros. – Hilson Company (Boston, Massachusetts). The card was part of a series (No.015). The postcard was postmarked in Lansing, Michigan in 1910. This vintage photo postcard is in fair condition (see scans). (SOLD)

Published in: on November 22, 2023 at 2:23 pm  Leave a Comment  
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