MABEL RUSSELL BRITISH ACTRESS AND THIRD FEMALE MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

POSTCARD 1 (SOLD)
POSTCARD 2 (SOLD)

These vintage real photo postcards feature actress Miss Mabel Russell (1886-1951). She was also known as Mrs Hilton Philipson when off the stage. Russell was a British actor and politician. She was a gaiety girl and starred in many London plays. She left acting to marry politician, Hilton Philipson, in 1917. Mabel caught the political bug and became the third woman to take a seat in the House of Commons. She was quiet on the floor of the house but was active behind the scenes. One of her bills led to the 1927 Nursing Home Registration Act. After retiring in 1929, she returned to acting for a brief period by left the theatre to focus on her family. 

Postcard 1 was published by Tucks as part of the “Celebrities of the Stage” series (No.T 718). Miss Russell’s photo portrait was taken by Dover Street Studios. This postcard was postmarked in 1907. SOLD 

Postcard 2 captures Miss Russell playing “Forbidden Fruit” in the Chinese Comic Opera “See See” (1906). The production ran in London’s Prince of Wales Theatre for 330 performances. This postcard was published by Tucks as part of the “Celebrities of the Stage” series (No.T 713). Miss Russell’s photo portrait was taken by Dover Street Studios. This postcard was postmarked in 1908. SOLD

POSTCARD 1 (SOLD)
POSTCARD 2 (SOLD)
Published in: on May 15, 2021 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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PRETTY BRITISH STAGE ACTRESS: MISS ALMA GRIFFITHS

This vintage real photo postcard features pretty British stage actress Miss Alma Griffiths. Catherine Hindson’s book, “London’s West End Actresses and the Origins of Celebrity Charity, 1880-1920” mentions Miss Griffiths. Hindson describes a period of time when theaters became a vehicle for raising money for various charities.  Theaters selected certain matinee performances to donate ticket revenues to charity. Stage performers often did their part to further fill the charity coffers. The author mentions that Alma Griffiths, along with other actresses, including Ethel Warwick and Irene Desmond, sold programs and flowers to the audiences and raised significant funds. The writer of the message on the reverse of this postcard, printed the date (1908) he wrote the postcard below Alma Griffith’s photo.The photo was taken by the Dover Street Studio.  The studio was active between circa 1906 and circa 1912. The gallery specialized in taking theatrical portraits and was located in London, England. The writer of the message states that the postcard was for the addressee’s collection. The writer adds that Miss Griffiths was a “Cardiff girl”, just like the receiver of the postcard. Cardiff is a port city on the south coast of Wales.   (SOLD)

Published in: on September 20, 2018 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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