MURIEL FOSTER : ENGLISH OPERA SINGER : PORTRAIT BY ERNEST WALTER HISTED

This vintage real photo postcard features English contralto, Muriel Foster (1877-1937). Foster and her twin sister, Hilda, were trained at the Royal College of Music in London. In 1896, he made her debut in the production of “King Saul”. In 1899, the sisters performed in a series of duets. In 1900, Hilda retired after getting married. Muriel, who had the command of several languages, continued her singing and had a very successful international opera career. Muriel was photographed for this portrait by Ernest Walter Histed (1862-1947). Histed was born in England but achieved his success as a photographer in Chicago, and later, in Pittsburgh. He then returned to England and opened a photography studio there. His subjects there included Clara Butt (Opera Star) Pope Pius X, and the Empress of Germany. Histed returned to the US and opened a studio on Fifth Avenue in New York City. He later moved to Palm Beach, Florida and continued his profession until 1934. The Museum of the City of New York has a large collection of his work. The National Portrait Gallery (England) has 32 of his photographs in their collection. This postcard was published by London’s J. Beagles & Co. as part of a series (No. G386).The company was started by John Beagles (1844-1909). The company produced a variety of postcards including an extensive catalog of celebrity (stage and screen) portrait postcards. After Beagle’s death, the business continued as J. Beagles & Co. until it closed in 1939. SOLD

Published in: on May 24, 2021 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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MISS MARIE BLANCHE : TRANSITIONED FROM A PEACOCK TO A STARLET

POSTCARD 1   (SOLD)

marie blanche 3POSTCARD 2

marie blanche 4POSTCARD 2

–The pretty actress seen in these vintage real photo postcards, is Miss Marie Blanche (c 1893-1973). Her birth name was Marie Peacock and she was born in Scarborough, England. Her father was stage actor William Peacock. She was a child stage actress in the early 1900’s. Later she became a starlet when she appeared in a few comedy and drama films. One of her important roles was in the silent film drama, “The Great Impostor” (1918). In 1919 she appeared in “The Elusive Pimpernel” for the Stoll Film Company. She was married to E. Lewis Waller (1884-1951), a stage and screen actor. Blanche’s IMDb filmography reveals that she appeared in four films between 1918 and 1924. She was a sitter in eight portraits that are part of the National Portrait Gallery’s collection.

–The portrait of Miss Blanche seen in Postcard 1 was photographed by Rita Martin. Miss Martin was well known for her expertise in taking portraits of theater stars and other celebrities. She was considered one of the best British photographers of her time. She opened her studio in 1906. Martin’s sister, Lallie Charles was an esteemed society photographer. The Cabinet Card Gallery has several photographs by Rita Martin. Place her name in the search box to peruse them. Postcard 1 was printed and published by J. Beagles & Company of London, England. The company was started by John Beagles (1844-1909). The company produced a variety of postcards including an extensive catalog of celebrity (stage and screen) portrait postcards. After Beagle’s death, the business continued as J. Beagles & Co. until it closed in 1939.  (SOLD)                                                     

 -Postcard 2 provides a more complete view of Miss Blanche. She is dressed very fashionably. Her dress has a sash-like belt worn below the waist which I believe is quite unusual. Note her feathered hat. The photographer and publisher of the postcard are unidentified. The postcard is in excellent condition. 

Buy this Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes shipping within the US) #3029

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POSTCARD 1  (SOLD)

marie blanche 2POSTCARD 2

 

 

Published in: on March 23, 2020 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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MISS SARI PETRASS : BEAUTIFUL HUNGARIAN SINGER AND ACTRESS WHO BECAME AN INTERNATIONAL STAR (TWO REAL PHOTO POSTCARDS)

 POSTCARD 1  (SOLD)

petrass POSTCARD 2   (SOLD)

Sari Petrass (1888-1930) was a Hungarian operetta actress and singer. She played leading soprano parts during the 1910’s and 1920’s. She appeared all over the globe. She gave performances in Budapest, Vienna, London, and Broadway. In 1911 she made her debut as a lead singer in a show in Budapest. The show became an international hit. Petrass wasted little time learning to sing in English. She performed in “Gipsy Love” (1912) at England’s Daly’s Theatre. The show ran for 299 performances. She next appeared at Daly’s in “The Marriage Market” (1913). This postcard features her in the role of “Mariposa Gilroy” in that show. She appeared alongside Gertie Millar. Interestingly, Petrass was a skillful horse rider and had an opportunity to ride a donkey in the opening scene of the play. The show ran for 423 performances. A photo from the show can be seen below. Sari Petrass and her costar, Robert Michaelis are seen in the photograph.  In 1916, Petrass was the subject of a rumor in America. It was falsely reported that she was executed in Hungary for being a British spy during World War 1. It was “fake news”. In late 1916, she moved to New York where she starred in “Miss Springtime” at the New Amsterdam Theatre on Broadway. In 1917, she married a Long Island stock broker named Felix Augustus Eugene Sommerhoff. Sommerhoff was the nephew of composer Robert Schumann. Petrass continued performing after her marriage. In 1930, Sari Petrass and a friend (Lady Horne) were killed in an accident while in Belgium. Their chaufffeur was attempting to drive onto a ferry but he was blinded by beam from a lighthouse and crashed into the Scheldt River. Both Petrass, and her friend, died from drowning.                                                                                                                               

Postcard 1 is part of the “Arcadian Series” (no. A 67). The publisher was formerly The Arcadia Bazaar Co and was also known as the A B Company based in Ramsgate, England. Petrass was a sitter in six portraits in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery. The photographer of this image is Rita Martin. Miss Martin was well known for her expertise in taking portraits of theater stars and other celebrities. The message on the reverse of the postcard is signed in a cute manner, “Heaps of Love, Lucy”. (SOLD)       

Postcard 2 is a close-up portrait of Miss Petrass. Her beauty is captured in this photograph by Rita Martin. The postcard is published by Beagles Postcards as part of a series (no. 218 K). The publishing house was located in London, England.  (SOLD)

POSTCARD 1   (SOLD)

petrass 1 POSTCARD 2  (SOLD)

Published in: on November 6, 2019 at 1:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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MISS GRACE CHALMERS – HER TALENT PROVES THAT GREAT “ACTRESSES ARE BORN AND NOT MADE”

mess chalmers

mess chalmers 1

This vintage real photo postcard features stage actress Grace Chalmers. Her portrait can be found at Britain’s National Portrait Gallery. Research reveals that Miss Chalmers received acclaim for her role as “Glory Quayle” in “The Christian”. A photo of Grace Chalmers, with a brief caption, appears in the “Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic News (1908). She is reviewed in the magazine, “Navy and Army Illustrated” (1905). The reviewer must have been impressed with her acting. He points out that Miss Chalmers has “wonderful histrionic abilities” despite her lack of theatrical training and theatrical genes. According to the writer, Chalmers talent roves that “actresses are born and not made”. This vintage postcard was published by J. Beagles of London, England. It is part of a series (no. 289D). Miss Chalmers portrait was photographed by Denton & Co..   SOLD

mess chalmers 2

Published in: on April 15, 2019 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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