KITTY COLYER – ENGLISH TRIPLE THREAT (SINGER, DANCER, ACTRESS) – PLAYED CINDERELLA

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The pretty actress seen in this vintage real photo postcard, is Miss Kitty Colyer (1897-?). Here are some biographical facts that I discovered in preliminary research about the English actress. She started her career at age eleven. In addition to being an actress, she was also a dancer. She has also been described as a music hall singer and a comedian. Her dance routines were varied but her favorites were acrobatic, toe, buck, and national dancing. She performed primarily in the 1920’s. She played the role of Cinderella in “Cinderella” (1920).  As the roaring twenties came to a close, her career fizzled out and she left the entertainment business. A review of Miss Colyer can be found in John Culme’s “Footlight Notes” (website). A writer from “The Era” (1911) wrote “Miss Kitty Colyer’s sensational dancing reaches its climax in some very energetic handsprings and her lissomness and activity are quite irresistible in her rendering of “By the Light of the Silvery Moon”. Look below to see an example of sheet music (1920) featuring Kitty Colyer. Now, back to the vintage postcard. It was published by Rotary Photo and is part of the Rotary Photographic Series (no. 11522 C). The photographer is unknown.   SOLD

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MADAME KIRKBY LUNN : ENGLISH OPERA DIVA : METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE : RPPC

This vintage real photo postcard features English mezzo soprano, Louise Kirkby Lunn (1873-1930). She appeared in many French and Italian operas. She was best known for singing operas by Richard Wagner. She had many appearances at the Royal Opera House, Convent Garden as well as at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. This postcard was published by Rotary Photo as part of a series (No.2025B) The card was produced around 1905.  SOLD

TWO RISQUE IMAGES OF A LOVELY BALLERINA PLAYING CUPID (TWO-SIDED CABINET CARD PHOTOGRAPH)

This cabinet card is quite unusual in that it has photographic images on both sides of the card. A very pretty ballet dancer is from the Alhambra Ballet production of Cupid is pictured in each image. In one photograph her legs are crossed while in the second photograph her legs are open and her undergarment is visible through her transparent tutu. The cabinet card is risque for it’s era. The Alhambra was a theatre in London, England. It was opened in 1854 as “The Royal Panopticon”. A circus ring was added and it was reopened in 1858 as the Alhambra. The theatre stage hosted music hall acts, aerial acts, ballet, light opera, and other events. The theatre was closed and demolished in 1936. This cabinet card features a dancer from the ballet, Cupid which opened at the Alhambra on 5/24/1886. The principal dancer in this production was Emma Bessone, and research reveals that the ballerina in this image is likely Emma Bessone. She was an Italian dancer who trained at La Scala and became prima ballerina for both the Maryinsky and Bolshoi companies in Russia. The photographer of this cabinet card was Samuel A. Walker whose studio was located in London.  SOLD

TWELVE BRITISH POLICEMEN & A CAT : UNIFORMED WITH HELMETS : RPPC c1905

This striking antique real photo postcard captures a formal group portrait of twelve British police officers, likely taken in the early 1900s during the Edwardian era. Dressed in full uniform, the men are arranged in two neat rows, seven standing in back and five seated in front—outside what appears to be a stone police station or municipal building. Their uniforms are traditional for the period, featuring double-breasted tunics with shiny metal buttons, high collars marked with identification numbers, and the iconic custodian helmets adorned with royal insignias. Adding a subtle touch of hierarchy to the scene, one officer seated in the middle wears a peaked cap instead of a helmet, suggesting he may have held a higher rank, possibly an inspector. A few of the officers also display chevrons on their sleeves, denoting the rank of sergeant. One especially charming detail that sets this postcard apart is the presence of a cat, calmly perched in the arms of one of the seated sergeants—an unusual and endearing addition to an otherwise formal composition. SOLD

PAULINE CHASE : AMERICAN ACTRESS : PETER PAN :POCKET VENUS : J. M. BARRIE

POSTCARD 1 (SOLD)

POSTCARD 2 (SOLD)

POSTCARD 3(SOLD)

POSTCARD 4 (SOLD)

This vintage real photo Postcard 1 features pretty American actress and dancer, Pauline Chase (1885-1962). She was a regular performer both in the United States and the United Kingdom. She is especially known for her extended starring role in the British production of “Peter Pan, The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up”. Her nickname was the “Pocket Venus of New York”. She was born in Washington D.C. and attended school in New York. She began acting when she was just fifteen years old. In 1901, producer, Charles Frohman recruited her to play in the London production of “The Girl From Up There”. She was just 15 years old. Upon her return to the US, she created a sensation as the “Pink Pajama Girl” in “The Liberty Belles”. She played one of the “lost boys” in the debut of Peter Pan (1904) in London. In 1906 she was chosen by producer, Charles Frohman, and playwright, J. M. Barrie, to play the title role in the production (1906-1913). This role brought her much fame and financial security. While in England, over the years, Chase developed quite a following. Charles Frohman had become her friend and mentor. Chase was a social beauty with many influential friends and admirers. She was a member of the socially elite and lived an extravagant life style. In 1913, Chase retired from the stage to marry a banker. The pair had three children. In 1916, Chase came out of retirement to play in her one and only movie appearance. There are 52 portraits of Chase in the National Portrait Gallery. The film “The Real Thing At Last” was a satirical film, based on MacBeth, written by Barrie. This postcard has a 1907 postmark. The card was published by Rotary Photo as part of a series (No.4083O). Miss Chase’s photograph was taken by the Hutchinson & Svendsen studio.  (SOLD)

Postcard 2 was published by Rotary Photo as part of a series (No.4950A). Miss Chase’s photograph was taken by Alexander Bassano. (SOLD)

Postcard 3 has a 1907 postmark. The card was published by Raphael Tuck & Sons as part of a series (No.T30). Miss Chase’s photograph was taken by the Johnston & Hoffmann studio.  (SOLD)

Postcard 4 features Chase wearing an interesting lace hat and she has a sweet, pure, and innocent appearance. This postcard was published circa 1909, the date of the cards postmark. The card was published by Rotary Photo as part of a series (No.4856L). Miss Chase’s photograph was taken by the Bassano studio.  (SOLD)

POSTCARD 1

POSTCARD 2

POSTCARD 3

POSTCARD 4

BEAUTIFUL STAGE ACTRESS DENISE ORME (THREE VINTAGE REAL PHOTO POSTCARDS)

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                                                                            POSTCARD 1

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                                                                              POSTCARD 2

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                                                                                 POSTCARD 3  (SOLD)

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                                                                            POSTCARD 4  (SOLD)

Postcard 1 features stage actress Miss Denise Orme. She is very attractive and beautifully dressed. She is wearing a fur stole and and fur muffs. She has a lovely hat and wonderful smile. Miss Orme’s given name was Jessie Smither, and was later known as Duchess of Leinster. Denise Orme (1885-1960) was an English music hall singer, actress and musician who was a regular performeer at the Alhambra and Gaiety Theatres in London during the early years of the twentieth century. Her mother was a professor of music. She trained for her theatrical career at the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal College of Music. Her stage debut was in 1906 in the chorus at Daly’s Theatre in London. Later that same year she appeared in the title role of “See See” at the Prince of Wales Theatre. In 1906 she participated in gramophone recordings of Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Mikado”. Her marital history reveals that she had a predilection to choosing husbands that were “rich and famous”. She was married to an English Baron, A Danish millionaire, and an Irish duke. She was the maternal grandmother of Aga Khan IV.who is the current Imam of Nizari Ismailism which is a denomination of of Ismailism within Shia Islam with 15 million adherents. He is also a British business magnate. Miss Orme’s photographic portrait was taken by the Foulsham and Banfield Studio. Foulsham & Banfield were well known celebrity photographers. Frank Foulsham and A. C. Banfield operated a studio in the 1900’s through the 1920’s. The postcard was published by Rotary Photo and is part of the Rotary Photographic Series (#4098 Q). The postcard has a postmark from London, England, and dated 1907. The postmark date reveals that this portrait of Miss Orme was taken at the beginning of her stage career. In the message section of the postcard, the sender asks the receiver, “What do you think of Denise?”. In addition, the sender asserts on the front of the postcard “Nice hat, isn’t it?”. I have to agree; not only is Miss Orme lovely, so is her hat…….  

Postcard 2 shows the beautiful and well dressed Miss Orme peeking out from behind a curtain. The photographer is Alexander Bassano (1829-1913) who was a leading royal and high society photographer located in London. This postcard, like the first was published by Rotary Photo and is part of the Rotary Photographic Series (no. 1933 I).

Postcard 3 presents a close-up profile view of this stunningly pretty young actress. Like the first two photo postcards, this one is also published by the Rotary Photo company and is part of the Rotary Photographic Series (no. 4098 M). The photograph was taken by “Play Pictorial” which was an English theatre magazine published in London between 1902 and 1939. The publication provided a pictorial presentation of West End theatrical productions with each issue focusing on just one play.  (SOLD)

Postcard 4 presents a close-up profile view of this stunningly pretty young actress. It is published by the Davidson Brothers and is part of the Real Photographic Series (no.1670). The photograph was taken by Alexander Bassano. Bassano  (1829 –1913) was a leading royal and high society photographer in Victorian London.  (SOLD)

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REVERSE OF FIRST POSTCARD

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REVERSE OF SECOND POSTCARD

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REVERSE OF THIRD POSTCARD

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YUPPIE VICTORIAN COUPLE POSE FOR THEIR PORTRAIT IN ENGLAND

An attractive couple pose for their portrait in Falmouth, England. The couple are very well dressed and appear very comfortable in front of the camera. The photographer is W. M. Harrison. Harrison had studios in Falmouth, Helson, Truro and Redruth. William Marsden Harrison (1852-?) worked as a photographer in Scotland but worked in Falmouth beginning the early 1880’s. By 1900, Harrison had won over 30 medals for his photographs, many of them from international competitions (ie. France, Austria, Belgium, Holland). Judging by the back design, this cabinet card photograph is circa 1902.   SOLD

Published in: on May 3, 2025 at 12:00 pm  Comments (1)  
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MISS VIOLET CAMERON: SCANDALOUS STAGE ACTRESS

CABINET CARD 1

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CAMERON FRONTCABINET CARD 4 MISS VIOLET CAMERON : SCANDALOUS STAGE ACTRESS : CDV ; AD FOR MINERAL WATER - Picture 1 of 2CARTE de VISITE 1

Violet Cameron (1862-1919), was an English stage star. She was the niece of burlesque legend Lydia Thompson. Cameron  began her stage career as a child in 1871. She played several child roles at the Drury Lane Pantomime theatre. As an adult, she played many prominent roles in the most important English theatres. In 1886 she came to America and played in “The Commodore” and “Kenilworth”. In 1893 she had great success in the stage play “Morocco Bound”. She was involved in several scandalous love affairs during her stage career.  

Cabinet Card 1 is a product of Elliot & Fry, a prominent London photography studio.

Cabinet Card 2 was produced at the studio of W & D Downey in London, England.

Cabinet Card 3 is also by Downey. She looks lovely in her ruffly dress and her plunging neckline (relative to the cabinet card era) highlights her necklace. The reverse of the cabinet card has the stamp of Charles Ritzmann of New York City indicating that it was once owned by the esteemed purveyor of theatrical photographs.

Cabinet Card 4 also comes from the Downey studio. Cameron appears to be wearing a wedding dress in this cabinet card portrait. 

The reverse of Carte de Visite 1 has an advertisement for Taunus Mineral Water. The natural sparkling water came from Springs located near Frankfurt, Germany. Miss Cameron’s portrait for this carte de visite was taken by the celebrated Walery studio in London, England.

MISS VIOLET CAMERON : SCANDALOUS STAGE ACTRESS : CDV ; AD FOR MINERAL WATER - Picture 2 of 2

CARTE de VISITE 1

GLADYS GRENVILLE : BRITISH SINGER AND ACTRESS : RPPC 1905

This vintage real photo postcard features British singer and actress, Gladys Grenville. A number of her stage appearances are credited in early British theatrical books and magazines. There is little biographical information about her life and career. She is pretty and has a great smile. The card has a 1905 postmark.This vintage postcard was published by Philco and is in overall good condition (See Scans).

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Buy this Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes shipping within the US) #5317

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$16.48

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Buy this Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes International shipping outside the US) #5317

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$28.48

DOROTHY THOMAS : PRETTY STAGE ACTRESS : RAPHAEL TUCK : RPCC

This vintage real photo postcard features stage actress, Dorothy Thomas (1882-?). She sat for five photographs in the collection of England’s National Portrait Gallery. She appeared in “The Prisoner of the Bastille” in 1909. Further research is needed to illuminate details of the pretty actress’s life. This postcard was published by Raphael Tuck & Sons as part of the “Celebrities of the Stage”  series (T183).This portrait postcard is in overall good condition. Note the album hinge on the reverse of the card. 

5321

Buy this Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes shipping within the US) #5321

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$14.40

5321

Buy this Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes International shipping outside the US) #5321

To purchase this item, click on the Pay with PayPal button below

$26.40