Viola Allen (1869-1948) was an American theater and silent film actress who acted in roles between 1882-1919. She was born in Alabama and was the daughter of an actor. Her first stage appearance in New York City was at age 14 when she substituted for the ill Annie Russell who was playing the title role of Esmeralda at Madison Square Theater. Allen’s father was also a member of the cast. Allen appeared in many productions including Masqueraders, Twelfth Night, Under the Red Robe, The Christian, and the Winter Tale. Her most popular roles were in Shenendoah and Little Lord Fauntleroy. The reverse of this card has writing that indicates that this image is from Allen playing the role of Dolores in “In The Palace of the King” (1901). The photographer of this Cabinet Card was the studio of Sands & Brady in Providence, Rhode Island.
VIOLA ALLEN: THEATRICAL ACTRESS IN PERFORMANCE OF “IN THE PALACE OF THE KING” (1901)
MISS AGNES DELAPORTE AS MERCEDES IN “MONTE CRISTO JR” (1886)
Miss Agnes Delaporte is looking quite beautiful as she poses in her role as Mercedes in “Monte Cristo Jr”. The production first appeared at the Gaiety Theatre in December, 1886. The Cabinet Card was photographed by the Stereoscopic Company in England. The London Stereoscopic Co. billed itself as “Photographers to the Royal Family”. To view other photographics by the London Stereoscopic Company, click on the category “Photographer: London Stereoscopic Company”.
ROSE LEMOINE: PRETTY THEATER ACTRESS AND POSSIBLE MODEL FOR THE “GIBSON GIRL”
Theater actress Rose Lemoine is the subject of this Cabinet Card photographed by the Dana studio of New York. The photograph was part of the Charles L. Ritzmann collection. Ritzmann was a famous importer of theatrical photographs. The attractive Ms Lemoine was thought by some to be the model or the “Gibson Girl”. This upset some Americans because Lemoine was from Cuba, not the United States and the “Gibson Girl” was illustrator Charles Dana’s personification of the feminine ideal. The “Gibson Girl” was a popular figure for twenty years (about 1890-1910). Lemoine’s mother was Cuban and her father was a French coffee planter. In 1903, the New York Times mentions Lemoine as appearing in a Broadway play called “The Best of Friends”. Also appearing in that play was Lionel Barrymore and Agnes Booth.
BEAUTIFUL THEATRICAL ACTRESS: GLADYS (WHATS-HER-NAME?)
This is an image of a beautiful actress posing for her portrait holding a stringed instrument. Note her fashionable appearance highlighted by a terrific hat. The image comes from a collection of theatrical actresses. The photographer is Falk, famed theatrical photographer, of New York City. Perhaps a visitor to this blog will know this actresses last name. Her first name is Gladys. In addition, it is hoped that someone may be able to identify the type of stringed instrument she is holding.
DALLAS TYLER: THEATER AND FILM ACTRESS AND NEAR MURDER VICTIM
Theater and film actress, Dallas Tyler is seen in this Cabinet card by Newsboy of New York. She is quite beautiful and has remarkably expressive eyes. The photograph is copyrighted by B. Falk in 1894. Dallas Tyler (1880-1953) was a theater and film actress. She appeared in seven films between 1914 and 1916 including Jane Eyre (1914). She also wrote the film, The Devils Playground (1917). The New York Times reported in April, 1896 that Ms Tyler’s husband, actor George Bethel, fired four shots at her at the hotel she was residing in while performing in Hartford, Connecticut. Fortunately, he was quite intoxicated and all four shots missed their target. The actor denied trying to kill his wife. He stated that he was despondent about the breakup of his marriage and blamed his mother-in-law for marital interference.
MLLE TUSINI AND LYDIA BOREL IN LA CHERCHEUSE D’ESPRIT (NADAR)
This terrific theatrical cabinet card was photographed by famed French photographer P. Nadar. Mlle Tusini is seen with Lydia Borel in the production of La Chercheuse D’esprit. The play is a comic opera by Favart. The play premiered in 1864. The actresses are spectacularly dressed in this great image.
ANNIE EDMONDSON: THEATER ACTRESS
This cabinet card is an image of actress Annie Edmondson (1871-1923). She was married to Shakespeare actor Frederick Warde. The photographic studio is famed Boston portrait artist Warren’s Portraits and the photographer was George K. Warren. To view other images by this photographer, click on the category “Photographer: Warren (George K.).
ETHEL JACKSON (1877-1957): AMERICAN STAGE ACTRESS
Ethel Jackson (1877-1957) was an American stage actress and comic prima donna. She was the great granddaughter of the first Governor of Rhode Island. She was educated in Europe and began acting acting in London, England. She was brought to America by Charles Frohman to play the leading role in “Little Miss Nobody” in New York City. In 1914 she debuted in Vaudeville at the Orpheum in Brooklyn, New York. The photographer of this Cabinet Card is Gilbert & Bacon of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. To view other photographs by this studio, click on the category “Photographer: Gilbert & Bacon”.
Edith Chester (1861-1894): English Actress
This Cabinet Card photograph captures English Actress Edith Chester (1861-1894). She made her debut in America in 1885. The photograph was done by W & D Downey of London, England. This studio was renowned for celebrity photographs.
Beautiful Opera Star: Emma Abbott (1850-1891)
Emma Abbott was an American opera star and impresario. She began performing as a child and was encouraged by Clara Louise Kellogg to pursue an operatic career. She studied in New York, Milan and Paris and later worked at the Royal Opera in London. In a different company, she had her contract cancelled for refusing to perform in Verdi’s La Traviata on moral grounds. She had her American debut in 1877 and in 1878 founded her own opera company which received great public tribute but did not impress many opera critics. She died suddenly at around 40 years of age from pneumonia. This cabinet card was photographed by the celebrated photographer Joses Mora.
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 