This cabinet card features stage, film and television actress, Frances Starr (1881-1973). The actress was photographed by Jacob Schloss of New York City, New York. Frances Grant Starr was an American stage, film and television actress. Her theatrical debut was in 1901 when she performed in an Albany (New York) stock company. In 1906, she appeared in New York City’s Garrick Theatre in “Gallops”. She then signed with David Belasco, a major theatrical producer, writer, impresario, and director. She worked for Belasco for the next 22 years. The role that propelled her to stardom was in “The Easiest Way” (1909). She had a long career in the theatre. The IMDb reports that she appeared in 26 Broadway plays from 1901 through 1953. Her longest run play was “Claudia” (1951). Starr appeared in one silent and three sound movies between 1923 and 1932. She also acted in 13 television series (!949-1958). Starr was married three times. One of her marriages was to the celebrated artist, William Haskell Coffin. He was an American painter and commercial artist. The photographer, Jacob Schloss was a well known New York City photographer who was famous for his portraits of theatrical stars. SOLD
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This vintage real photo postcard features American stage and film actress, Mayo Methot (1904-1951). Until encountering this postcard, I had never heard of Miss Methot. However, a Hollywood historian would easily recognize her name. The exact reason for her name recognition will become apparent in just a bit. Methot’s acting career spanned between 1909 and 1940. She was married three times and divorced three times. Her third husband was actor Humphrey Bogart. Their seven year marriage, beginning in 1938, is one of the reasons she is known by Hollywood aficionados. Their marriage was turbulent. The press reported many of their violent fights. The press called them the “Battling Bogarts”. Methot struggled with alcoholism and was diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic after she attempted suicide in 1943. Methot appeared in over 30 films, as well as many Broadway productions. The IBDb credits her with 11 appearances in Broadway shows. She was raised in Portland, Oregon, where she began her theater career at the age of 5. She was a prolific child actress and continued to perform in Portland through the 1910’s and 1920’s. In 1922 she moved to New York to pursue a career in Broadway theater. After starring in more than ten Broadway shows, she relocated to Los Angeles in 1930. She emigrated to the west coast to begin a film career. She was signed by Warner Brothers and appeared in a variety of supporting roles. She often portrayed hard edged women. The IMDb credits Methot with 28 film appearances between 1930 and 1940. After divorcing Bogart, Methot’s film career stalled and she returned to Portland. Her drinking and depression worsened and she died there from complications from alcoholism. This card was published by Societe Industrielle de Photograpie (SIP) of Rueil, France. It is part of the 77 series (no.5). Methot’s photograph was taken by celebrity photographer Jacob Schloss (1856-1938) in his Manhattan studio. Schloss received his education at the Cooper Union in New York City. He graduated in 1872 as an etcher. He joined Benjamin J. Falk’s photography studio and worked there in the mid 1870’s. He left Falk’s employ to open his own studio (54 West 23rd Street) where like Falk, he specialized in theatrical photography. He tended to favor photographing actresses in costume in front of generic studio furnishings. He produced many cabinet card photographs but also was active in the production of magazine images. By the 1890’s he was particularly known for his photographs of beautiful women, much like photographer Jose Maria Mora. Schloss also was an activist for photographers rights. He was very involved in the movement to copyright images. He sued those who used his photographs without crediting or paying him. He was very involved in national photographer associations and was an active photographer until the 1910’s. This postcard formerly resided in a postcard album. SOLD
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