LEWIS WALLER : BRITISH STAGE ACTOR : ROBINHOOD : RPPC : (1908)

This real photo postcard features British actor and theater manager, Lewis Waller (1860-1915). The photo shows Waller in costume for the production of “Robinhood”. After performing with a few theater companies, Waller entered the late 1880’s as an actor who played romantic leads in both Shakespeare and popular dramatic stage productions. He was a hit with the ladies and had a large vocal fan club. He managed theaters and theater tours from the 1885 through after the turn of the century. Waller achieved success in playing title roles in Booth Tarkington’s “Monsieur Beaucaire” and Arthur Conan Doyle’s “Brigadier Gerard”. However, Waller preferred acting in plays by Shakespeare. Waller was born in Spain but educated in London. He studied languages in Europe and for four years worked as a clerk in a London firm. In 1882 he married Florenc Isabella Brandon who became an actress under the name of Florence West. Waller acted in amateur productions and by 1883 began workeing as a professional actor. During 1911 and 1912. Waller toured and performed in the United States, Canada, and Australia. During his career he made recordings for the Gramophone Company and acted in three films. This vintage photo postcard was published by Rotary Photo as part of a series (no.4222G). Waller’s portrait photograph was taken by the Foulsham and Banfield Studio. The message on this postcard indicates that it was written in 1908.  (SOLD)

Published in: on May 17, 2022 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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GIPSY TOUZEAU : PRETTY STAGE ACTRESS : OBSCURE : CABINET CARD : ELLIS & WALERY

This cabinet card portrait features actress Gipsy Touzeau. She is pretty and she is an obscure performer. Information about her is not easily accessible. It would be interesting to do the research to discover more about her. This photograph of Touzeau was taken by the Ellis & Walery studio (London, England). Alfred Ellis was an active photographer between 1884 and 1899. He was a well regarded photographer who speciatlized in theatrical photography. He took photographs of individual performers, as well as whole scenes with multiple actors and actresses. Between 1890 and 1900, Ellis was joined by Stanislaw Julian Ignacy (aka Count Ostrong). The name “Walery” was adopted for professional purposes by his prominent photographer father. The younger Stanislaw kept the name.  (SOLD)

Published in: on October 25, 2021 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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MARCELLE YRVEN : FRENCH STAGE AND FILM STAR (1904)

This vintage real photo postcard features French stage and film star, Marcelle Yrven (1877-1954). Miss Yrven is pretty and photogenic. Her IMDb filmography reports that she was in thirteen films between 1925 and 1942. She also appeared in many theater productions between 1898 and 1935. This postcard is hand colored. The card was published in Germany by NPG (Neue Photographische Gesellschaft) as part of a series (no.435/3). A. G. Steglitz is also listed as a publisher. The postcard is an “Oranotypie” and was published in 1904. An oranotype is a trade name for a type of glossy real photo postcard published by NPG. The company was a leading bromide photo printing company for many years.at the beginning of the 20th century. This vintage photo postcard is in good condition (see scans).

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Published in: on July 3, 2021 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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GEORGE ALEXANDER : ENGLISH STAGE ACTOR, MANAGER, AND PRODUCER (RPPC 1907)

This real photo postcard features George Alexander, an English stage actor, theatre producer, and theatre manager. He began his professional acting career in 1879. He became interested in theatre management and in 1890, he leased a London theatre and began producing plays. In 1891, he moved to the St. James’s Theatre where he spent the rest of his career, acting and producing. Three of his most successful plays were Oscar Wilde’s ‘Lady Windermere’s Fan” (1892), “The Second Mrs Tanqueray” (1893), and Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest (1895). Alexander was born in Reading, Berkshire, England. His father was a travelling salesman. George was educated in private schools. He left school at the age of fifteen in order to pursue amateur acting. Upon becoming a professional actor, he joined a repertory company. That was followed by a stint in a touring company. He received positive reviews and his status as an actor rose. In 1882, George married Florence Jane Theleur (1857-1946). She shared his interest and involvement in the theatre and both also had strong engagement in public affairs. During the 1880’s, Alexander expanded his acting experience. His work for actor/manager, Henry Irving, provided him with an excellent theatrical education. During his time with Irving, George toured in the United States on two occasions. George served on the London County Council from 1907 to 1913. George was also a benefactor and a participant in many organizatIions that benefitted actors and the theatre. He also worked for charities like the Red Cross and the League of Mercy. In 1911, Alexander was knighted. He died from tuberculosis and diabetes in 1918. This postcard was published by Rotary Photo as part of a series (no. 4225 D). The portrait photo was taken by the celebrated studio of Ellis & Walery. The postmark on this card was stamped in 1907. This postcard is in very good condition (see scans).

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Published in: on May 10, 2021 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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A KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR (CABINET CARD)

This cabinet card features a knight in shining armor. You can be sure that he did not ride up to the studio on his trusty steed. I wish I could report that this photograph’s subject was Sir Galahad, Richard the Lionhearted, or even one of the Three Musketeers. Unfortunately, the timing is a “little off”. Instead, the knight seen in this photograph is probably an actor. His armor is quite impressive. Note his gloves (gauntlets) and the hilt of his sword. His helmet is also interesting. He is wearing the helmet with the visor in the up position. This is a beautiful photograph and that is not surprising because it was taken by Emilie Bieber’s photo studio. Emilie Bieber (1810-1884) had two studios in Germany: Berlin and Hamburg. She operated the Hamburg studio 1852 through 1872, when she was joined by her nephew, Leonard Berlin-Bieber. Emilie Bieber died in 1884. This photograph was taken in 1906, after Emilie Bieber had died. The 1906 date of the photo is apparent by the fact that “1906” is embossed on the lower right hand corner of the image. That same date is stamped on the reverse of the cabinet card. This photograph is mounted on very thick cardstock. There is a “fault line” on the reverse of the image. It is barely visible in the scan. Due to the fact that the cardstock is thick, the “fault line” is only a cosmetic issue. The photo is in good condition (see scans).

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Published in: on April 19, 2021 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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THE WHITNEY OPERA HOUSE PRESENTS “MY CINDERELLA GIRL” (1910 ADVERTISING POSTCARD)

 

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This vintage real photo postcard advertises the Whitney Opera House, which was located in Chicago, Illinois. It was located on East Van Buren Street. Also advertised on the postcard is the show that was playing there at the time of the postcard’s publishing. The production was named, “My Cinderella Girl” and the advertisement asserts that it was “Chicago’s Best Musical Show”. The advertisement credits “William Norris” (1871-1929) as the show’s producer. Research reveals that the play ran in Chicago in 1910. “The Theatre” magazine reported that the play was a popular success. “The Advocate” (1910), a Jewish newspaper, asserted that audience members thought it was the funniest play ever written. The newspaper adds that the show was close to becoming the longest running show in the history of the Whitney. It was not mentioned that the Whitney had been open for less than one year. The writer also stated that the show included some of the prettiest girls ever to appear on a Chicago stage. The “Dramatic Mirror” (1910) reveals that Norris was a big hit among female theatergoers. I wonder how the ladies felt, when in 1910, Norris married one of his co-stars in the “My Cinderella Girl” cast (Mabel Blanche Mordaunt). The show was a farce about a character named Tom Harrington. Harrington was a college student and captain of the schools baseball team. The play focuses on his romantic life and the pranks and stunts he pulled as he attends college. William Norris played Harrington. The Whitney Opera House has an interesting history. It has had many names.The theater was originally located in the Chicago Musical College Building which was designed in 1895. The theater had 850 seats and was known as Steinway Hall, since the piano company had built the building. By 1900, the theater was known as Ziegfeld Hall. A short time later, the theater became the Kelly and Leon Opera House and in 1910, it’s name was changed to the Whitney Opera House. By 1915, the hall was renamed, and even more names followed. It became a movie theater in 1930. Sadly, the theater finished its life as an adult film theater. The theater was closed in the late 1960s and was demolished in 1970. This photo postcard was published in Chicago by the Fine Arts Journal. The journal was published between 1899 and 1919.   SOLD

Published in: on August 18, 2019 at 12:00 pm  Comments (3)  
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PORTRAIT OF PRETTY THEATER ACTRESS: MILLIE COOK (PHOTOGRAPH BY NAPOLEON SARONY)

The pretty young woman seen in this cabinet card photograph is a theater actress named Millie Cook. She was a well-known New York variety entertainer and actress in the 1870’s. She played roles in such productions as “Blue Beard”,  “The Female Jack Sheppard” and in Niblo Garden’s ballet extravaganza “Leo and Lotos”. She was also a star at Tony Pastor’s and at the Union Square Theater. Tony Pastor is considered by many to be the “father of American Vaudeville”. Theater Magazine (1918) describes Miss Cook as “a good looker and a fair actress”. This cabinet card portrait was photographed by celebrity photographer, Napoleon Sarony. Note Millie Cook’s birds nest  hair-do.  SOLD

Published in: on May 8, 2018 at 12:02 pm  Comments (1)  
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MARGARET HALSTON: BEAUTIFUL SHAKESPEARIAN ACTRESS AND FILM STAR

Margaret Halston, in her role as Desdemona in Othello, is the subject of this real photo postcard published by Percy Guttenberg of Manchester, England. The postcard is part of the “Revival Series” (no.122). Margaret Halston (1879-1967) was an English actress born in London, England as Clara Maud Hertz. A number of references mention that she was of Jewish descent. She was known for both theater, film, and television performances. Among her popular performances was in “Tell Your Children” (1922), “The Holly and the Ivy” 1952, and “Touch and Go” (1955). She began her acting career in amateur theatre and she made her professional stage debut at the Haymarket Theater in 1895. Her roles became larger over time until she became a leading actress appearing in plays such as  ‘Hamlet   ‘ (1896), “Antony and Cleopatra” (1897), and “The Taming of the Shrew” (1897). At the turn of the century she became part of Frank Benson’s theatre group and took numerous roles in Shakespearian theatre. It is reported that she acted in almost all of Shakespeare’s plays. She later worked in George Alexander and Herbert Beerbohm-Tree’s theater groups. She became involved in film in 1916 when she made her debut with “A Bunch of Violets”. Over the next few years she appeared in a small number of silent movies. She adapted well to sound films and appeared in a number of them. IMDB credits her with appearing in sixteen films between 1917 and 1956. The site also lists three television credits between 1938 and 1955. Miss Halstan was certainly an entertainment star. It is interesting to note that she twice played in the role of “Queen of Transylvania” in the theatrical production of “My Fair Lady” (1957-1958, 1961-1963). There are three portraits of her in the National Portrait Gallery.

Published in: on July 18, 2017 at 10:59 am  Comments (4)  
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POSTCARD ADVERTISEMENT FOR LANGSTON HUGHES BROADWAY PLAY “MULATTO” (RPPC)

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This postcard is incredibly interesting in many ways. It is an artifact of theater history as well as American History (Race Relations). It also serves as an important symbol concerning African American History. The postcard appears to be simply an advertisement for a play produced by Martin Jones entitled “Mulatto”. The postcard offers rave reviews from New York newspapers. The New York Times reported the play was “Flaming with sincerity.” and the Mirror exclaimed “Stark realism”. The play was in it’s ninth month at the time of the issuance of this postcard and it was appearing at the Ambassador Theatre located just west of Broadway. Seats could be had for as low as 55 cents and for as high as $2.75. The play “Mulatto” was written by Langston Hughes. It was the first African American authored play to become a long-run Broadway hit. It opened in October (1935) and closed in September (1936) after running for 373 performances. The show then toured for two seasons. Langston Hughes wrote the play in 1930 and it was his first full-length play. The play covered powerful issues such as conflict between father and son, the power of class and whiteness, oppression of southern African Americans, and the lasting effects of slavery. The play also is seen by some as anti-lynching. The Broadway version of “Mulatto” was altered by producer Martin Jones without consulting with Langston Hughes. Jones took Hughes already shocking play and sensationalized it. Jones’s editing handiwork did not help Hughes’s reputation. The play, already emotionally charged, became very controversial. In fact, it was banned in Philadelphia. By the way, did you notice Mr. Hughes is not even mentioned on this advertising postcard? Hughes was much more than a talented playwright. He was also a poet, novelist, and social activist. He was one of the innovators of  “jazz poetry” and an important part of the “Harlem Renaissance”. He was born in Joplin, Missouri in 1902. He was left with his grandparents while his mother pursued a theatrical career. His grandmother’s first husband had fought and died for abolitionist John Brown. She helped shape his intense pursuit for social and racial equality. Hughes was an excellent student. In the 1910’s he moved to Illinois and joined his mother. They later moved to Cleveland, Ohio. After high school he lived a year in Mexico with his father and than enrolled in Columbia University (New York City) in 1921. He left school due to racial prejudice and held various jobs and published some of his writing. He received some harsh criticism from some of the African American community for his use of stereotypical African American dialects. He returned to college, graduated from Lincoln College, and continued writing becoming very well known. I mentioned that this postcard was very interesting from a number of perspectives. One feature that makes this postcard unique is the printed notation on it’s reverse. The “blurb” requests that theatre goers who attended a performance of “Mulatto”, write their comments about the play on the postcard and address it to a friend. The management promises to stamp the postcard and see to mailing it. This was a creative way to publicize and market the play to a “target audience”. This method was essentially low tech social media. The writer of this postcard utilized the opportunity to pen a message to a friend in Towanda, Pennsylvania. The postcard was mailed from New York in July of 1936. Referring to the play, the writer stated “You would like this. Remember our discussions on race prejudice in E. (Cornish’s?) class.” and “I know you would appreciate this”. One of the things that amazes me is that the writer actually discussed racial prejudice in school in the 1930’s and was interested in the topic.

LANGSTON HUGHES

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Published in: on December 25, 2016 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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PORTRAIT OF A “FLORODORA GIRL”….HEY, WHAT’S A FLORODORA GIRL? (VINTAGE PHOTOGRAPH)

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This vintage photograph features a portrait of a “Florodora Girl”.  You may be wondering “what the heck is a Florodora Girl”? I was asking myself the same question when the previous owner of this image described the pretty woman in this photograph as a “Florodora Girl”. Being curious, I did a little research and found that “Florodora” was an Edwardian musical comedy that became one of the first successful Broadway musicals of the twentieth century. The show opened in London in 1899. Actresses Evie Greene and Ada Reeve were among the show’s performers. The Broadway production was performed at the Casino Theater in 1900 and ran for 552 performances. The show achieved some of its success from it’s chorus line of “Florodora Girls”. A wikipedia entry describes the six female performers comprising the line as being”tall, gorgeous damsels, clad in pink walking costumes, black picture hats and carrying frilly parasols (who) swished onto the stage and captivated New York for no other reason than they were utterly stunning”. Please pardon my brief excursion to the land of theater history. Now, lets get back to this image. The reverse of this photograph has an inscription that states “Maid and the Mummy”. It is probably a safe bet to conclude that the subject of this photograph was an actress that appeared in the production of “Maid and the Mummy”. “The Maid and the Mummy (1904)” was a musical comedy that played at the New York Theater in New York City. The show played 42 performances. Actresses in the play included May Boley, Adele Rowland, Janet Priest, and Annie Yeamans. The Cornell Daily Sun (1905) reviewed the play and reported that the production was “one of the most elaborate the stage has seen in recent years”. Interestingly, the article also states that ” “The Maid and the Mummy’ is the biggest success since “Florodora”. After some investigating, I strongly believe that the actress seen in this image is Adele Rowland. Take a look at the photograph below which is a photograph of Miss Rowland taken by photographer Joseph Hall, the same photographer of the photograph seen above. Do the women in these two images resemble each other enough to be the same person? I think so. Who is Adele Rowland? Adele Rowland was born in 1883 in Washington D.C.. Her sister, Mabel Rowland (1882-1943) was also an actress. Adele was a soprano with an “effervescent personality” who excelled in musical comedies. The New York Times (1904) reviewed “The Maid and the Mummy” and wrote that Rowland and May Boley “had something to say and sing, but their chief duty was to be looked at”. In 1915, she introduced the song “Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit-Bag”. That song has stuck around over time. She also had a film career; appearing in six films between 1941 and 1950. She died in 1971. Here is some information about photographer Joseph Hall. He had studios in both Brooklyn and Manhattan, New York. He pursued his career between 1865 and 1915. Hall mass produced carte de visite portraits and albumin prints for the public. He also was a pioneer in producing photo-illustrated books in the 1860’s. He also was well known for being a premier photographer of professional baseball teams and players in the 1880’s. In addition, Hall did a lot of work in the area of photographing theatrical stars and productions. He died in 1915. To view more of Joseph Hall’s photographs, click on the category “Photographer: Hall”.  SOLD

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                                                                                                                                                Close-Up of Floradora Girl

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                                                                                                                                     Confirmed Photo of Adele Rowland

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                                                                                                                                       Reverse of Floradora Photograph

Published in: on August 3, 2016 at 4:44 pm  Comments (5)  
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