This cabinet card features Marie Wainwright (1853-1923), an American stage actress and singer. She also appeared in three silent films between 1918 and 1920. Most of her fame came from the Victorian stage. She was born in Philadelphia and as educated in Paris, France. She received her acting training in Paris.This photographic portrait is by Napoleon Sarony’s New York City studio. Sarony was a famous celebrity photographer. This image shows Wainwright wearing a white gown and bonnet. A copy of this photograph can be found in Wikipedia’s entry for Wainwright. She is holding a book and rosary beads. This cabinet card portrait has some cornerwear and a slight curl. The photo is on thinner than usual card stock. Overall, this photograph is in good condition (see scans).
Buy this Cabinet Card (includes shipping within the US) #3886
To purchase this item, click on the Pay with PayPal button below
$27.75
Buy this Cabinet Card Photograph (includes International shipping outside the US) 3886
To purchase this item, click on the Pay with PayPal button below
This cabinet card is a portrait of theatre actress, Lorraine Dreux. The image is part of the Newsboy Series (#385) and was published in New York City. The Newsboy series was used for advertising purposes by the Newsboy Tobacco Company. Celebrity photographs were given away as premiums upon the sale of tobacco products. Ms. Dreux looks like she ran through the woods in order to arrive at the photography studio in a timely fashion. She has twigs and leaves on her head and even is wearing a necklace of branches around her shoulders. It seems she is modeling “the natural” look. Her eyes are looking upward, as if to say, “Am I really wearing sticks and leaves?”. Who was Lorraine Dreux? The Illustrated America (1893) describes her as “young and pretty, with soft dark eyes, a tremulous little mouth, and a dazzling complexion”. She was born in Marquette, Michigan, of well to do parents. Her father did a great deal of business in the East and she spent much time on the banks of the Hudson River in New York. She was educated at home by a governess supervised by Dreux’s beautiful mother. She decided that she wanted to be an actress while in her early teens. Her parents reluctantly gave her permission and her first experience acting occurred while she was in London, England, with her mother. She was engaged by Mr Charles Wyndham to play comedy parts in London stage shows. She next joined the London Globe Theatre Stock Company playing sentimental roles. She then joined an English traveling theatre company. She soon returned to America and appeared in a number of plays, including “Ninety Days” with William Gillette. The article closes with the prediction that Dreux would be a successful actress in America because she possessed both beauty and talent. The New York Times (1894) reported on Dreaux’s appearance in “Lem Kettle” at the Bijou theatre. She also appeared in “Rush City” (1894) which was staged in Brooklyn (New York), and also in “Nance Oldfield” (1896) in New York. Dreux appeared in one Broadway production, “The Spectator” (1896). The New York Dramatic Mirror (1908) reported the tragic death of Lorraine Dreux. She was described as a well known and capable leading women of many stock companies outside of New York City. She died in New York’s Bellvue Hospital at age 35. The article reports that she “had fallen on evil days” and was “too proud to let her friends know of her plight”. She let an illness go till it turned into acute pneumonia which led to her death. Her last two engagements were in Worcester, Massachusetts and Rochester, New York. She received excellent reviews for her acting in both productions. However, her wardrobe was stolen and she was criticized for the way she dressed for her part in Rochester. She returned home “down hearted and discouraged” and sick, penniless and homeless. She met an old friend on the streets of New York who took her home to be fed and cared for but her condition worsened. A collection was made from other actors and actresses and the money was used to admit her to Bellvue Hospital where she died. Aid from the Actors Fund paid for her funeral and burial at Evergreen Cemetery. (SOLD)
This vintage real photo postcard features performer, Miss Watt.. The title on the card indicates that Miss Watt performed at the La Scala in Paris, France. Miss Watt was photographed in costume. This photo portrait was taken by Walery at his Paris studio. He was a well known and talented celebrity photographer. (SOLD)
I am not prone to hyperbole. Without exaggeration, I find this cabinet card portrait (photo 1) quite extraordinary. The pretty woman in this photograph is beautifully dressed. She deserves the moniker of “fashionista”. If she walked into a noisy crowded room, I’m quite sure all activity would cease, and she would become the center of attention. I wish I knew the identity of this fabulous lady. She is probably an actress, which I assume by her appearance, and by the fact that she was photographed by celebrity photographer, Benjamin Falk. An inscription on the reverse of this photograph identifies her as “E Vinning”. I could not find any information about any performer with that name. However, my research did discover an actress named “Susy Vining”. Photographs of Susy Vining show a person who looks similar to the woman in this cabinet card photo. Note the real photo postcard image of Susy Vining below. Do you think “E Vinning” and “Susy Vining” are one and the same person? Just a few more words about this cabinet card. The subject is holding a fur stole and umbrella in one hand, and a top hat in the other. Considering that she is already wearing a head covering, I would love to know the story behind the top hat. This cabinet card image is not on regular cabinet card stock paper. This photograph is printed on thinner than usual stock paper. The card is gold beveled. There is a bar code sticker on the reverse of the photograph. It is very possible that this image is a REPRODUCTION, rather than an original photograph. (SOLD)
Photograph 2 is a vintage real photo postcard of actress Susie Vining. Her bare shoulder dress makes this photograph a bit risque. The actress is holding a cute small dog. The dog looks like a Yorkshire Terrier. This photograph was taken by the Foulsham & Banfield studio as part of a series (no.1946 A). Foulsham & Banfield were well known celebrity photographers. Frank Foulsham and A. C. Banfield operated a studio from the 1900’s through the 1920’s. The postcard was published by Rotary Photo. (SOLD)
Photograph 3 was published by C. W. Faulkner & Co. as part of a series (no.483A). The postcard’s message was written in 1905. The writer tells the addressee that “our Meg has got a place at Fisherrow School”. The postmark is also from 1905. The card was postmarked in Kirkcaldy, Scotland and addressed to Musselburgh, Scotland. (SOLD)
This vintage real photo postcard features pretty British theater actress, Audrey Ford. “The Sketch” (1896) includes her in their review of the stage play, “Josiah’s Dream”. The reviewer states that “Miss Audrey Ford is very piquant, and has a charming turn of humour”. A visit to the dictionary revealed that “piquant” is defined as intriguing or stimulating. This postcard was published by Rotary Photo as part of a series (No.4416 C). Miss Ford’s portrait is by the Foulsham & Banfield studio. The card was postmarked in 1910. This postcard is in fair condition. Note the stain in the upper left hand corner of the card (see scans).
Buy this Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes shipping within the US) #3876
To purchase this item, click on the Pay with PayPal button below
$10.22
Buy this Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes International shipping outside the US) 3876
To purchase this item, click on the Pay with PayPal button below
This vintage real photo postcard features British beauty and actress, Drina Verchesi. This postcard captures Miss Verchesi in, what was meant to be, a “provocative” pose. Information about Verchesi is not readily available. A deeper dive into theater sources, will uncover some details of her life. It is a safe bet that she was not a major player on the British stage, but established enough to be featured on this postcard. This card was published by Rotary Photo as part of the “British Beauty” series (no.A1106-2). The firm operated in London, England. This postcard is in good condition (see scans).
Buy this Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes shipping within the US) #3864
To purchase this item, click on the Pay with PayPal button below
$12.43
Buy this Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes International shipping outside the US) 3864
To purchase this item, click on the Pay with PayPal button below
This vintage real photo postcard features American film and stage actress, model and vaudeville player, Lila Hyams (1905-1977). Her parents were vaudeville comedy performers and her mother was also a well thought of actress. Her parents also appeared together in a number of films. Leila began acting on stage as a child. In her teenage years, she worked as a model and became nationally known. She modelled for the first ad for Listerine. Leila’s film career was during the silent film and early talkie era and spanned from 1924 through 1936. Often playing leading lady roles, she appeared in more than fifty films. “Freaks” (1932) was one of best known movies. Leila married her talent agent in 1927 and they stayed together for 50 years. The New York Times wrote in her obituary that she was “an attractive blonde actress who was eminently successful at playing ingenues. This vintage postcard portrait is in very good condition (see scans). SOLD
This vintage real photo postcard features English actress, Frances Wetherall (1868-1923). She appeared in films and on stage. Her filmography includes three films; “A Place in the Sun” (1916), “Nobody’s Child” (1919), and “Cinderella” (1921). She was married to film actor, H. R. Hignett. Wetherall acted in the play, “Gamblers All”, with Lewis Waller. Between 1894 and 1895, Wetherall was a member of the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company. She continued to perform in musical and legitimate theater the rest of her life. This postcard portrait was taken at the Guttenberg Studio, in Manchester, England. The phtograher captured Miss Wetherall in her role as Cynisca in”Pygmalion and Galatia”. The photographer of this photograph is Percy Guttenberg of Manchester, England. The photo was taken in about 1905. Alexander Percy Guttenberg (1870-?) came from a family that produced a number of photographers. His father, Marcus Guttenberg (1828-1891) began as a daguerreotypist in Hungary, Prussia, Poland and Germany before starting a photography business in England (1851). One source reports that he established 24 studios in England but settled in the Manchester area. Percy, like his father, was also very successful. In fact, there are fourteen of his photographs in England’s National Portrait Gallery. Percy was famous for his work photographing actors and actresses. (SOLD)
This vintage real photo postcard and this cabinet card features acclaimed theater actress, Minnie Maddern Fiske (1865-1932). When performing, she was often billed as “Mrs. Fiske”. She was one of America’s leading actresses during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She performed in several Henrik Ibsen plays and is recognized as introducing American audiences to the Norwegian playwright. She was born in New Orleans, Lousiana, to parents that worked in the theater world. Her first professional acting gig was playing a role in a Shakespeare play. She was only three years old. By the age of four, she made her New York debut. Much of her childhood was spent touring with theater companies. At age sixteen, she played leading lady roles. She was recognized for her acting, but also for her beauty and singing voice. In 1890, she married Harrison Grey Fiske, successful playwright and Broadway producer. After takin three years off from acting, she returned to the theater in 1893 as an actor, playwright and director. The IBDb reports that she had 55 Broadway credits, combining her acting, writing, and directing. Among her successes on Broadway were “Tess of the d’Urbervilles (1897), “A Dolls House” (1902), “The Rose” (1905), and “The High Road” (1912). Her Broadway credits spanned from 1871 through 1930. In the mid 1910’s, Mrs Fiske starred in film adaptations of two of her stage successes. Although the films were well received, she believed she was more suited for theater than film. Despite her success in the theater, the talented actress died poverty stricken. Her financial downfall was realted to her battling against a group of producers that organized the Theatrical Trust (or Syndicate). The Syndicate controlled the nation’s best theaters and dictated what plays would appear and which actors would be in the cast. They relegated Mrs Fiske to appear in third rate theaters, churches, and skating rinks. Mrs. Fiske was not to be intimidated. She also was an advocate for animal welfare. She was involved in the activities of the ASPCA and other human leagues. She fought against the fashion craze of decorating hats with bird feathers. Many bird lives were sacrificed, and entire species were nearly wiped out as a result of this fad. She also educated the public about the cruelty involved in trapping animals. Because she was well known, respected and popular, she was able to influence animal reform. Mrs Fiske won a number of humanitarian awards. She was a strict vegetarian and was anti vivisection. During World War II, there was a liberty ship named the “SS Minnie M Fiske”. Minnie Maddern Fiske was a woman born before her time. She was a feisty activist.
Cabinet Card 1 features acclaimed theater actress, Minnie Maddern Fiske (1865-1932). The photograph captures her in her role in “Tess of the d’Urbervilles (1897). Mrs. Fiske’s photograph for this cabinet card was taken by eccentric celebrity photographer, Napoleon Sarony. (SOLD)
Mrs. Fiske’s photograph on Postcard 1 was taken by William Morrison of Chicago, Illinois. The card was published by Rotograph as part of a series (no.B 627). (SOLD)
This vintage real photo postcard features performer, M Louise Derval. Miss Derval looks pretty and fashionable. Note her elegant green gown, large fancy hat, long necklace, and small coin purse. Pablo Picasso drew a pen and brush portrait of Derval. It was one of four illustrations of Paris Entertainers drawn from sketches made in Paris theaters and cabarets. The portrait drawn in 1901, is now in the collection of the Morgan Library and Museum in New York City. This postcard was published by S.I.P. as part of a series (no.1305). Miss Derval’s photo portrait was taken by the well known celebrity photographer, Paul Boyer. His studio was located in Paris, France. This postcard is in very good condition (see scans).
Buy this original Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes shipping within the US) #3846
To purchase this item, click on the Pay with PayPal button below
$23.64
Buy this Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes International shipping outside the US) 3846
To purchase this item, click on the Pay with PayPal button below