AGNES EVANS: THEATRE ACTRESS DRESSED IN QUITE RISQUE FASHION

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Agnes Evans poses for this cabinet card (top) photographed by Newsboy of New York.  Agnes Evans was a theatre actress who performed in the Broadway production of the Pit (1904). The actress is wearing a very revealing risque dress.  Further research by myself or assistance from visitors to this site will hopefully further illuminate her life and career. Newsboy was a brand of plug tobacco and Newsboy photographs were given away as a premium by tobacconists and drug stores who sold the tobacco. The images were produced by the National Tobacco Works of New York. They were likely produced and issued in the early 1890’s. The bottom image features Miss Evans in another Newsboy cabinet card (number 8 in a series). She is wearing a risque costume that includes fingerless gloves.

Published in: on February 23, 2013 at 12:01 am  Comments (5)  
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LULU GLASER: ROCKET ASCENT FROM UNDERSTUDY TO STAGE STAR

CABINET CARD 1 (SOLD)

CABINET CARD 2 & 3

CABINET CARD 4

CABINET  CARD 5

CABINET  CARD 6

CABINET CARD 7
glaser3_0001CABINET CARD 8

These cabinet cards features Lulu Glaser (1874-1958), a Pennsylvania born actress and singer. She came to Broadway with no previous professional experience when she was hired to play in the chorus of  “The Lion Tamer (1891)”. She was also given the role of understudy to the Prima Donna. After the star fell ill, Lulu Glaser took over the role and began a meteoric rise to stardom.  For the next twenty plus years, Glaser played many roles in such productions as “The Merry Monarch” (1892), “Erminie” (1893), “The Little Corporal” (1898), and “Miss Dolly Dollars” (1895). She achieved her greatest success in “Dolly Varden” (1902). Lulu Glaser was a beautiful woman and this portrait confirms that assessment.

In Cabinet Card 1 Glaser is holding a fan and her expression could be described as coy.  She is adorned with a great deal of  jewelry including multiple rings, a hair pin and a pin on the midsection of her dress. The photographer of this image, as well as the next four images,  is Morrison, of Chicago, Illinois. The photographs have a copyright date of 1894. Morrison was a well known celebrity photographer and his studio was housed in the Haymarket Theatre. To view other photographs by Morrison, click on this site’s category “Photographer: Morrison”.

The sixth photograph of Glaser is by celebrity photographer, Falk, of New York City, New York. This photograph is copyrighted 1893. The seventh photograph, also by Falk, captures Glaser in costume for an unknown titled play. She is holding a whip and not looking particularly friendly. The image looks like it would be appropriate accompanying an ad on one of the controversial sections of Craig’s List. The photograph is dated 1892. To see other photographs by Falk, click on the category “Photographer: Falk”.

Photograph number eight captures Lu Lu Glaser in the same costume she is wearing in photograph number five. The eighth photo was published by Newsboy as a premium used to accompany the sale of their tobacco products. The image is number 118 of a series of celebrity photographs. To view other Newsboy photographs, click on the cabinet card gallery category “Photographer: Newsboy”.

Published in: on February 5, 2013 at 12:01 am  Comments (2)  
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BLANCH WALSH: STAGE ACTRESS IN PROVOCATIVE POSE (PUBLISHED BY NEWSBOY)

BLANCH WALSH_0008This cabinet card photograph of actress, Blanch Walsh, was published by Newsboy and was given as a premium to buyers of  the company’s tobacco products. The photograph was number 12 of a series of celebrity photographic portraits. This particular photograph is particularly provocative and risque. Miss Walsh is exhibiting a great deal of exposed skin. Her pose and expression add to the subliminal sexuality. Miss Walsh is costumed as if to portray a gypsy. Note her jewelry. She is wearing a chain around her neck and multiple bracelets on her left arm. To view other theatrical images by Newsboy, click on category “Photographer: Newsboy”. Blanch Walsh (1873-1915) was a highly regarded American stage actress. She also appeared in one film, “Resurrection” (1912). She was born in New York City and educated in the public schools. Her father was T. P. Fatty Walsh, a Tammany politician and prison warden (The Tombs). Her stage debut was in 1888. She worked in the Charles Frohman Company as well as the William Gillette Company. She looked like a younger version of stage star Fanny Davenport. When Miss Davenport was ill for some time before dying in 1898, Blanch Walsh was given a number of her emotional roles. To view photographs of Miss Davenport, write Fanny Davenport in cabinet card gallery’s search box. Walsh’s most sensational role was as Maslova in Tolstoy’s “Resurrection” (1903). She also received much acclaim for her performance in “The Woman in the Case” (1905). The New York Times printed an article about Walsh upon her post surgical death. She was viewed as a major actress who likely would have risen to greater heights in the theater world if her life had not been cut short by her unfortunate early demise.

Published in: on February 2, 2013 at 12:01 am  Comments (1)  
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MISS HOWELL: PRETTY AND CURVACEOUS STAGE ACTRESS

miss howell_0004Miss Howell is the subject of this Newsboy cabinet card. Presumably, the busty and thin waisted  Miss Howell was a stage star. This photograph is number 64 of a series of theater cabinet cards. It is unknown why someone erased the Newsboy logo from the front of the photograph. Newsboy cabinet cards were distributed as premiums accompanying tobacco products. Miss Howell is quite attractive. She is wearing long gloves and a fancy hat.  An attempt to find further information about Miss Howell was unsuccessful. There was an opera singer named “Miss Howell” but it could not be confirmed that she was the appropriate age to be the woman in this photograph. Newspaper accounts reveal that Miss Dicie Howell was an American soprano who performed in many American and International cities during the 1920’s. This cabinet card was  published significantly before 1900. To view other Newsboy cabinet cards, click on the category “Photographer: Newsboy”.

Published in: on January 8, 2013 at 12:01 am  Comments (3)  
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CELEBRATED ACTRESS ADA REHAN AND HER LABORADOR RETRIEVER (PAGE INCLUDES ADDITIONAL PORTRAITS OF MISS REHAN)

PHOTOGRAPH 1  (SOLD)

PHOTOGRAPH 2

PHOTOGRAPH 3

Ada Rehan was a well known and respected American actress. The top cabinet card portrait of Ms Rehan and her dog was published by Napoleon Sarony, a famous celebrity photographer in New York City, New York. Ada Rehan was born in Ireland and came to the United States at six years of age. She grew up in Brooklyn, New York. She began acting as a child. From 1873 until 1875 she became more active in acting at Mrs. Drew’s Theatre in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She then joined John Albaugh’s company and appeared in Baltimore, Albany and numerous other cities. In 1879 she joined Augustin Daly’s company upon his opening of his New York theater. She worked with his company for twenty years and appeared throughout Europe. The IBDB reveals that Ada Rehan appeared in 12 Broadway productions.  Some of the Broadway and non Broadway plays she appeared in include a number of Shakespeare productions such as “As You Like It” and “Twelfth Night”. Rehan also acted in “The School for Scandal”, “Foresters”, “Cinderella at School”, and “Our English Friend”. She retired from the stage in 1906 and lived in New York City until her death. It is interesting to note that Ms Rehan’s dog is on a leash. The leash is made of metal links. She is holding the leash with both hands. This is the first leash that I have observed in the many cabinet card photographs of dogs that I have seen. The dog at the end of the leash in this image appears to be a laborador retriever.  (SOLD)

The second portrait of Miss Rehan was published by Newsboy of New York. The image was number 68 in a series of photographs. Newsboy distributed these images as premiums for their tobacco product sales.

The third image of Miss Rehan is a bust portrait by Louis Thors of San Francisco, California. Thors was born in Holland in 1845. He was of French descent and educated in France. He was fitted for service in the Merchant Marine and he served in that capacity for a number of years before coming to California in 1876. By 1880 he had established his photography business. One source states that his studio had more than twelve “apartments”. He won a Bronze Medal at the Paris Exposition in 1889. His wife, Gertrude M. Thors was also a photographer. Camera Craft: Photographic Association of California (1910)  printed Thors’s obituary. He was described as one of the highest esteemed photographers in San Francisco. He died of stomach cancer at age seventy-two. He worked in the photography business in San Francisco for over forty years. He left the city after the San Francisco fire and worked in St. Louis for two years before returning to California. The obituary reports that after his immigration to the United States, his skill as a painter earned him employment with photographers Bradley and Rulofsen (click on category “Photographer: Bradley and Rulofsen” to view some of  their photographs). In addition, the death notice asserted that besides his talents as a photographer, Thors had a charming personality and high moral character. To view other photographs by Thors, click on the category “Photographer: Thors”.

 

Published in: on July 23, 2012 at 12:01 am  Comments (1)  
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JENNIE JOYCE: TROUBLED STAGE STAR PHOTOGRAPHED BY FALK FOR NEWSBOY

This photograph, by celebrity photographer B. J. Falk, features stage star Jennie Joyce. She was photographed for the Newsboy tobacco company and the image was used as a premium to reward purchasers for buying Newsboy products. The image has a copyright date of 1891 and is number 307 in the Newsboy series. This photograph is risque for its era. Miss Joyce is showing much of her nearly bare legs and is exhibiting a sexually provocative pose. The New York Times (1892) published an article reporting that Jennie Joyce was sued by her husband for divorce. John E. Stanley’s request for a divorce was uncontested. The newspaper described Jennie Joyce as a variety actress and singer. An 1899 article in the same newspaper reported a story about problems in the marriage of Joyce and sportsman Phil Daly Jr..  Daly had told Joyce that he would be out all night but according to plan, returned home at two in the morning only to find his wife with another man (Phillip Wood). Daly fired a number of shots at Wood but missed. Daly’s parting shot was to file for divorce and end his five year marriage. The bad publicity caused by Joyce’s marital problems cause her to speculate in another 1899 Times article that she planned to leave the United States to perform pantomime in London until the fallout from her divorce had diminished. An additional conflict was in the news when the New York Times (1901) printed a story about Joyce successfully suing theatre manager, Alexander Hashim for unpaid salary. Jennie Joyce was clearly  a gossip magnet for the press and she provided  them with a lot of material.   SOLD

Published in: on April 6, 2012 at 12:01 am  Leave a Comment  
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BOULLARD: RISQUE PORTRAIT OF A PERFORMER BY NEWSBOY

First of all, who is Boullard? After viewing this cabinet card, the logical guess is that she is a stage performer. However, research has failed to discover any biographical information about this scantily clad woman. This photo is risque for the era it was published; even though she is wearing a body stocking underneath her costume. The cabinet card was produced for Newsboy (New York), as part of a series of premiums offered with the purchase of Newsboy’s tobacco products. This cabinet card is number 122 in the series. To view other photographs by Newsboy, click on the category “Newsboy”.  UPDATE:     Further research turned up the following information about the mysterious actress that is the subject of this photograph. I can’t believe it took me three years to learn her first name.  America: A Journal for Americans (1890) announced the appearance of Miss Marie Boullard in “Flying Dancer” at the Chicago Opera House. Prior to this appearance she had been dancing at a theater in New York City.  (SOLD)

Published in: on November 14, 2011 at 12:01 am  Comments (3)  
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FANNIE WARD: THEATRE AND EARLY FILM ACTRESS WHO PERFORMED IN A SEXUALLY PROVOCATIVE FILM BY DEMILLE

American stage and early film actress, Fannie Ward (1872-1952) is the subject of this cabinet card by Newsboy (New York). Ward was known for her comedic roles and her youthful appearance throughout most of her career. She also was well known for her role in “The Cheat” (1915). This film was by Cecil B. DeMille: and it was a very sexually charged silent film. Ward made her stage debut on Broadway a Cupid in “Pippino” with Eddie Foy. She went on to become a successful stage star in New York City. In 1898 she married a wealthy diamond merchant and retired from the stage. Her husbands business reversals spurred her to return to performing in 1905. She became very active in films between 1915 and 1929. Ward was one of those celebrities whose personal life often ended up in the newspapers. For example, the New York Times (1914), reported that Ward was being sued by actor John Dean’s wife. Mrs. Dean contended that Fannie Ward alienated Mr. Dean’s affections away from Mrs. Dean. Mr Dean and Fannie Ward had travelled together a great deal beginning in 1908 because they often acted together. Newsboy gave away cabinet cards, such as the one displayed here, as premiums to customers of their tobacco products. To view other cabinet cards by Newsboy, click on the category “Photographer: Newsboy”.

Published in: on June 7, 2011 at 12:01 am  Comments (2)  
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Geraldine McCann: Stage and Early Film Actress

This cabinet card features in costume, theatre actress, Geraldine McCann and is number 77 of a series of Newsboy photographs. These images by Newsboy served as premiums for tobacco purchases. The New York Times (1895) had complimentary comments about McCann’s dancing ability in their review of “a new musical travesty” called “A Stag Party“.  Geraldine McCann also played roles in early motion pictures. She appeared in “The Cabaret Singer” (1913),” Out of the Grave” (1913), “When Duty Calls” (1913), “Girls Will Be Boys” (1913) and “Fine Feathers” (1915). To view other photographs by Newsboy, of New York, click on the category “Photographer: Newsboy”.

Published in: on June 4, 2011 at 12:01 am  Leave a Comment  
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CAROLINE MISKEL: AMERICAN STAGE ACTRESS WITH “NOBLE FORM AND FEATURES”

Caroline Miskel (1873-1898) was born in Kentucky. Her father was a newspaper editor and state legislator. She began her acting debut season with John Augustin Daly’s theatre company. She played in comedies and classic revivals. In 1894 she married Charles Hoyt, a popular playwright of the “gay nineties”. She starred in his production of “A Temperance Town”. In 1895 she was named America’s most popular actress and was awarded with “a nickel plated bicycle with a solid silver searchlight lantern”. Miskel was considered one of the most beautiful of all American stage actresses. One writer described her as a beauty with “light auburn hair, creamy complexion, bright sapphire eyes, and noble form and features”. The writer added that she was “as intellectual as she was beautiful”. Miskel’s life was cut short when she tragically died at age 25 after giving birth to a son.  This cabinet card was published by Newsboy as part of a series of premium cards to be given away with the purchase of Newsboy tobacco products.

Published in: on May 15, 2010 at 12:01 am  Leave a Comment  
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