This undivided vintage theatrical postcard features advertising for the play, “The Mummy And The Hummingbird”.The play was performed by the Jules Murry Company. Murry’s obituary appears in the New York Times (12/31/39). The newspaper reports that Murry was in charge of booking for the Shubert theatrical enterprises. He was born in Germany but lived in the United States for 50 years. HIs show business career began with his working as an independent manager and producer. He then joined the Shuberts. “The Mummy And The Hummingbird” was also a silent film. It was released in 1915 by Paramount Pictures. This vintage theatrical postcard is in good condition (see scans). (SOLD)
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)


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)

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).

Buy this original Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes shipping within the US) #3583
To purchase this item, click on the Pay with PayPal button below
$25.50

Buy this Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes International shipping outside the US) 3583
To purchase this item, click on the Pay with PayPal button below
$34.50


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).

Buy this Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes shipping within the US) #3527
To purchase this item, click on the Pay with PayPal button below
$18.33

Buy this Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes International shipping outside the US) 3527
To purchase this item, click on the Pay with PayPal button below
$27.33

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).

Buy this Cabinet Card (includes shipping within the US) #3498
To purchase this item, click on the Pay with PayPal button below
$68.50

Buy this Cabinet Card Photograph (includes International shipping outside the US) 3498
To purchase this item, click on the Pay with PayPal button below
$77.50

THE WHITNEY OPERA HOUSE PRESENTS “MY CINDERELLA GIRL” (1910 ADVERTISING POSTCARD)
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

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

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.
