Sophie Eyre (1853?-1892) was a moderately successful stage actress. She was successful enough for the New York Times to publish a detailed obituary upon her death from heart disease while traveling in Naples, Italy. Eyre was born in Tipperary, Ireland. She married an English Army officer and went on the stage after his death. In 1884 she took the place of Rose Coghlan in the company at Wallach’s Theatre. In 1885 she appeared in New York in a “feeble and speedily forgotten” piece called “In His Power”. The debut was unfortunate “for the part was bad and the play was worse“. The debut was further spoiled by the “extraordinary stupidity of her maid” who followed her mistress on the stage bearing the train of her gown wrapped in a sheet”. Other New York appearances included “Valerie”, “Diplomacy” (by David Belasco), “She Loved Him”, “Home”, “Central Park: or the House with Two Doors”, and “The Palace of Truth”. During her stay in the United States, she was the subject of much gossip in the newspapers. This cabinet card was produced by Falk, a well-know celebrity photographer in New York City. Additional Cabinet Card Gallery photographs by Falk can be seen by clicking on the category “Photographer: Falk”. (SOLD)
SOPHIE EYRE: STAGE ACTRESS SUFFERS AN UNFORTUNATE DEBUT
Marie Tempest: English Singer and Actress
Marie Temptest (1864-1942) was a famous soprano in late Victorian light opera and Edwardian musical comedies. She later became a a leading comic actress. She toured in North America and other parts of the world. She was also a significant force behind the founding of the actors union Actors’ Equity in England. She was born in London, England and educated in Belgium. Her later musical education took place in Paris and London. She had her debut in 1885 in the operetta Boccaccio in London. After a few years in other performances, she performed on Broadway over a three year span. She was in numerous productions including The Tyrolean, and The Fencing Master. She was considered on the few rivals to Lillian Russell. Tempest was a difficult star but mellowed in middle age. She was a very active actress and performed in numerous productions over the years. She was created a Dame Commander of the British Empire in 1937. The top Cabinet Cafd was photographed by famous celebrity photographer Falk, of New York City. The bottom Cabinet Card was produced by A. Bassano of London, England.
SWASHBUCKLING THEATRE ACTOR AND MURDER VICTIM: WILLIAM TERRISS
William Terriss (1847-1897) was an English theatre actor known for his swashbuckling roles. He played Robin Hood and a number of Shakespeare roles. He was also known for his early demise; the victim of a murder. His killer was a disgruntled and deranged actor who held a grudge against Terriss for getting him dismissed from a role he played in one of Terriss’s productions. Interestingly, Terriss still helped him financially and theatrically after his dismissal. Terriss was murdered outside of the Adelphi Theatre where he had arrived to prepare for that evenings performance of “Secret Service”. Terriss’s daughter, Ellaline Terriss was a star of Edwardian Musical Comedy and his son, Tom, was a well known film director,writer and actor. William Terriss was an adventurer and an outdoorsman in real life, not just in theatrical roles. Before entering acting in 1867 he pursued merchant service, medicine, sheep farming in the Falklands, and Tea Planting in Bengal. The photographer of this Cabinet Card was Falk, a well known celebrity photographer in New York City.
LETTICE FAIRFAX: THEATRE ACTRESS (PRETTY THE WAY AN ENGLISH GARDNER’S DAUGHTER IS PRETTY)
Lettice Fairfax, an English actress, is the subject of this cabinet card. Her first stage appearance in America was at Daly’s Theater in New York City. She had a role in “Number Nine” in December of 1897. The reviewer in the New York Times wrote that she was “a pretty, fragile and very nervous” actress. He also labelled her the “new ingenue” and reported that she was pretty the way an English Gardner’s daughter is pretty. I guess that means that she was pretty in “the girl next door” kind of way. The photographer of this cabinet card was famed theatre photographer, B. J. Falk and the photograph is copyrighted in 1898. The reverse of the cabinet card is stamped “Charles L Ritzmann” of Broadway, New York.
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.
Alice Evans: Stage Beauty
Alice Evans was a theatrical star and her beauty is apparent in this Cabinet card by celebrity photographer Falk of New York City. Further research is required to find biographical information concerning this lovely actress.
Jessie Bartlett Davis: American Actress and Opera Singer
Jessie Bartlett Davis (1859?-1905) was an American actress and operatic singer from Illinois who was billed as “America’s Representative Contralto”. Her father was a farmer and country school master and she was one of ten children. She was discovered when she was performing locally and was taken by traveling managers to perform on the west coast. In 1879 she made her debut in the opera H.M.S. Pinafore. She performed with several opera companies before joining the new Boston Ideal Opera and remained with this troupe until 1901 performing as their prima donna. She is most well known for her role as Alan a-Dale in the 1890 opera Robin Hood. She also toured performing opera in Europe one season and in 1897 she opened on Broadway in The Serenade. She played Broadway again in 1903 in Jakobowski”s operetta Erminie. This versatile performer also performed vaudeville, wrote songs, stories and poems. She had a home in Chicago and summer home in Indiana where she raised horses, collies and fox terriers. In 1905 she died of Brights disease and is buried in Chicago. The photographer of this portrait is renowned theatrical photogarpher Benjamin J Falk of New York City.
Frankie Kemble: Stage Actress
Frankie Kemble, stage actress, is seen in this Cabinet card by Benjamin Falk of New York City. Falk was a very well known photographer who specialized in photographing theatrical celebrities. I have yet to find much information about Kemble except that she did reach “stardom”. This beautiful actress appeared in a number of plays including “Sybil” (1888) and “The Mikado (1885).
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 