A MICHIGAN COWBOY : ANNE ARBOR : GHOSTS : CABINET CARD

This cabinet card photograph features a Michigan cowboy. If he is not a cowboy, he certainly is wearing a cowboy-like hat. This fellow has long hair. It is unusually long hair for the cabinet card era. The photographer of this portrait is Obadiah A. Kelley. He was a photographer in Ann Arbor, Michigan from at least 1862 and 1898. He was located at the 6 Huron Street address from 1886 until 1893. He was born in Vermont. He married Mary Elizabeth Frost in 1842. The couple had three sons. One son enlisted as a private in the First United States Sharp Shooters (Company F) and died of disease at City Point, Virginia in 1864. He served only slightly more than a month before meeting his end. Obadiah’s wife died in 1879. In 1880, he married Amelia Walker. An 1889 article in a local Ann Arbor newspaper, “The Argus” reports Obadiah’s brush with the spiritual world. A resident clairvoyant believed that the spirits were active in her community. To test her conviction, she hired Obadiah to accompany her and a friend to “one of the most romantic parts of the boulevard” and take their photograph. The newspaper reports a strange occurrence upon Obadiah removing the negative from the camera. He was shocked to see twelve figures in the photo, rather than the two figures he expected. The writer posits that Obadiah could never be convinced to take any more pictures on the boulevard again if there were any clairvoyants around. Note the chip in the top left hand corner of this cabinet card. Overall, this photograph is in good condition (see scans). (SOLD)

Published in: on June 5, 2021 at 12:00 pm  Comments (5)  
Tags: , , , ,

CATHERINE FERGUSON AS MAD MARGARET IN “RUDDIGORE” : D’OYLY CARTE OPERA COMPANY

This vintage real photo postcard features actress and singer, Miss Catherine Ferguson ( 1895-1972). At first glance, this image appears to be a photograph of a pretty woman on a bad hair day. However, this is actually a photograph of Miss Ferguson playing the role of “Mad Margaret” in “Ruddigore”. The comic opera was also known as “The Witches Curse”. The production was presented by the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company and the music and libretto was written by Gilbert and Sullivan. It was first performed in 1887 for a run of 288 performances and was revived in 1920. During World War 1, interest in Gilbert and Sullivan was waning. The company’s main soubrette, Nellie Briarcliffe, left the company. In 1918, the company signed Miss Ferguson to replace Briarcliffe. Ferguson’s stage debut occurred in 1915, in “The Girl in the Taxi”. Ferguson took advantage of the opportunity at D’Oyly and she received much recognition and praise for her performances. In fact, it was thought that she had won the role of principal soubrette on a permanent basis rather than on an interim one. However, in 1919, Briarcliffe returned to the company and resumed her position as major soubrette while Ferguson was relegated to minor roles. Briarcliffe only stayed for one season, and upon her departure, Ferguson returned to being principal soubrette. She left the company in 1923 because of hearing loss. This photo postcard was published by Parkslee Pictures as part of a series (No. 36). The Cabinet Card Gallery has another real photo postcard of an actress playing “Mad Margaret”. You can view it by placing the name, “Aileen Davies” in the search box. SOLD 

Published in: on June 4, 2021 at 12:00 pm  Comments (2)  
Tags: , , , , , ,

GABRIELLE DEMOUGEOT : BEAUTIFUL OPERA SINGER : REUTLINGER : PARIS : (1909)

This vintage real photo postcard features opera singer, Gabrielle Demougeot. This is a color tinted portrait of the pretty opera singer. There is little biographical information readily available about Miss Demougeot. I was able to find a snippet review of one of her performances. The writer describes her as “a pretty coquette with the voice of a high soprano, of a somewhat sour tone, who was charming and …”. Unfortunately, the snippet stopped mid sentence. This postcard is a studio portrait from the renowned French photographer, Leopold-Emile Reutlinger. His studio was located in Paris, France. The postcard was postmarked in 1909. The front (image side) is in excellent condition while the reverse has a scrape near the center bottom of the card (see scans). 

Buy this Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes shipping within the US) #3552

To purchase this item, click on the Pay with PayPal button below

$21.45

Buy this Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes International shipping outside the US) 3552

To purchase this item, click on the Pay with PayPal button below

$30.45

Published in: on June 3, 2021 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags: , ,

SCHINE’S KENTON THEATRE : KENTON, OHIO : GARBO TALKS

This vintage postcard features Schine’s Kenton Theatre, located in Kenton, Ohio. The Kenton Theatre was built in 1929 and joined the Schine’s theatre chain. The theatre was built in a Spanish Colonial style. It had murals painted on the auditorium and lobby walls. In 1993, the theatre was purchased by M. E. Theatres and the building was remodeled. The renovation included the construction of a new marquee modelled after the original (1930’s style). This postcard depiction of the Kenton Theatre shows the marquis advertising a film starring Greta Garbo. The sign states “Garbo Talks”. This reflects that transition from silent films to “talkies” which occurred between 1926 and 1930. Greta Garbo (1905-1990) was a Swedish American actress who was active in films between 1920 and 1941. She played many tragic characters in her career and is considered by many to be one of the greatest female stars of classic Hollywood movies. This postcard was published by the Wagner Post Card and Novelty Company. The firm was located in Delphos, Ohio. SOLD

Published in: on June 1, 2021 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags: , , , ,

ACTRESS MAUREEN O’SULLIVAN HOLDING A PING PONG PADDLE NEXT TO A PING PONG TABLE

This vintage real photo postcard features actress Maureen O’Sullivan (1911-1998). She is holding a ping pong paddle and standing next to a ping pong table. The Irish-American actress is best known for playing Jane in the Tarzan series of films. This postcard was published by Dutch publisher Jos-Pe. Arnhem. The card is part of a series (No. 432), and at the time this photograph was taken, O’Sullivan was under contract with Metro Goldwyn. The postcard is posted and has a Netherlands stamp. SOLD

Published in: on May 30, 2021 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags: , , ,

LITTLE GIRL WITH A TINY SUITCASE AND A FANCY HAT

This vintage real photo postcard features a little girl dressed in winter clothing and carrying a miniature suitcase. The “suitcase” may actually be a pocket book. Note the child’s button shoes. The postcard’s AZO stamp box dates this card to sometime between 1904 and 1918. SOLD

Published in: on May 29, 2021 at 12:00 pm  Comments (1)  
Tags: ,

PHOTOGRAPH OF DETROIT TIGER PITCHER ELON HOGSETT (1935 PRESS PHOTO)

This vintage press photo (9/15/1935) features Elon Hogsett who was a pitcher for the Detroit Tigers during the 1935 season. The caption, on the back of the photograph declares that the Tiger’s “supremacy for 1935 is virtually assured”. In fact the Tigers reached the World Series that year and Hogsett pitched in one the the games. Who was Elon Hogsett? Elon Chester “Chief” Hogsett (1903-2001) was a submarining left handed major league pitcher who played 11 seasons in the American League with Detroit (1920-1936, 1944), St. Louis Browns (1936-1937), and the Washington Senators (1938). He was known by his nickname “Chief” but he was only 1/32 a Native American (Cherokee). He stated that he received the nick name because he once had a teammate that he roomed with who was one hundred percent Native American (Kiowa). Hogsett was both a reliever and a starter during his pitching career. His career stats included a 63-87 won-loss record and a 5.02 ERA. Hogsett appeared in two World Series. This photograph is an interesting piece of baseball history. Elon Hogsett was not only an old time baseball player but he also looks the part. The photograph measures about 5″ x 7″. The photograph was once owned by Acme Newspictures of New York City and the company’s stamp appears on the reverse of the photo along with a caption. SOLD  

Published in: on May 28, 2021 at 12:00 pm  Comments (2)  
Tags: , ,

CLOSE-UP PHOTO OF ACTRESS MARIA PAUDLER WITH A GOOSE UNDER EACH ARM : RPPC

This vintage real photo postcard features actress Maria Paudler (1903-1990). She was an Austro-Hungarian born German actress. She was the daughter of an architect. She received her acting training in Prague, performing on stage in both classical and modern roles from 1923 to 1938. After World War II she was imprisoned in the Czech Republic and was only set free after intervention from the Red Army. In 1949, she was severely injured in a car accident. The injuries almost ended her acting career. In 1951 she returned to acting and also directed some theatre productions. Paudler received offers from Hollywood but always rejected them. She published her memoirs in 1977.  She was married to actor Georg Czimaq and when that marriage ended, she became engaged to actor Harry Liedtke. The IMDb credits Paudler with 63 acting appearances between 1926 and 1985. This photo postcard features Miss Paudler being upstaged by the geese that she is holding; one under each arm. Miss Paudler looks surprisingly comfortable in this pose. This postcard was published by Ross Verlag as part of a series (no. 3122/3). The logo for a film company appears in the lower right hand corner of the image. This vintage postcard is in very good condition (see scans).

mariapaudler20210523_0001-1

Buy this Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes shipping within the US) #3547

To purchase this item, click on the Pay with PayPal button below

$15.50

mariapaudler20210523_0001-2

Buy this Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes International shipping outside the US) 3547

To purchase this item, click on the Pay with PayPal button below

$24.50

Published in: on May 27, 2021 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags: , ,

A PRETTY GIRL WEARING AN EMBROIDED CAP : ART DECO : PHOTO BY ALFRED NOYER

This vintage real photo postcard features a pretty girl holding a bouquet of flowers. She is wearing a lovely embroidered cap. The photographer and publisher of this portrait postcard was Alfred Noyer. He was a well known and acclaimed photographer. His Paris studio operated between 1910 and the 1940’s. This art deco postcard has excellent clarity and is in excellent condition (see scans).

Buy this Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes shipping within the US) #3546

To purchase this item, click on the Pay with PayPal button below

$20.00

Buy this Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes International shipping outside the US) 3546

To purchase this item, click on the Pay with PayPal button below

$29.00

Published in: on May 26, 2021 at 12:00 pm  Comments (2)  
Tags: ,

BILLIE DOVE: BEAUTIFUL FILM ACTRESS, GIRL FRIEND OF FLORENZ ZIEGFELD AND HOWARD HUGHES

POSTCARD 1  (SOLD)

POSTCARD 1 (CLOSE-UP)  (SOLD)

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is billiedove_20210520_0001-1.jpgPOSTCARD 2

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is billiedove_20210520_0003.jpgPOSTCARD 2 (CLOSE-UP)

Billie Dove (1903-1997) was an American actress. Her parents were Swiss immigrants. During her teenage years, she worked as a model to support her family. Florenz Ziegfeld hired her as a teenager to appear in the Ziegfeld Follies Revue. She was not a particularly talented dancer or singer, her beauty and acting ability were her major assets. In the early 1920’s she moved to Hollywood and began appearing in silent films. It has been written that Ziegfield’s wife, actress Billie Burke, helped facilitate Dove’s transition to films. Apparently, Burke was trying to separate Dove from her husband because the pair were having an affair. It did not take long for her to become one of the more popular actresses of the 1920’s. Among her better known films was “The Black Pirate” (1926) with Douglas Fairbanks, and “The American Beauty” (1927). Dove was a ravishing beauty and was very photogenic. She married director, Irvin Willat, in 1923. The marriage had a six year duration. She then had a three year romance with Howard Hughes. Dove’s other interests included being a pilot, painter, and poet. After her last film, “Blondie of the Follies” (1932), Dove retired from films. It is thought that she retired because she was distraught about her role in her last film being “trimmed” by her co-star’s (Marion Davis) influential boyfriend (William Randloph Hearst). Hearst was upset because Miss Davis’s acting was overshadowed by Dove’s acting. Mr Hearst owned Cosmopolitan Productions which produced the movie. After retirement, Dove married oil executive Robert Kenaston in 1933 and the couple remained together until Kenaston’s death in 1970. She had a brief third marriage to an architect. It is interesting to note that jazz singer, Billie Holiday, borrowed Billie Dove’s first name when picking out her own stage name. Miss Holiday was an admirer of Miss Dove. The IMDb lists 50 movie credits for Billie Dove between 1921 and 1962.

Postcard 1 was published by “Ross Verlag”, The photographer of Miss Dove’s portrait was Defina of First National Pictures.  (SOLD)

Postcard 2 was also published by “Ross Verlag”.  Billie Dove looks beautiful in this portrait. Note the old style phone she is using. The postcard was sold exclusively by Ballerini & Fratini of Florence, Italy. The firm was known for producing a large number of postcards, including film stars of the 1920’s. I do not know why there were two publishing firms involved in producing this postcard. Perhaps there was a distribution agreement of some kind between the two companies. This vintage postcard is in very good condition (see scans).

Buy this Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes shipping within the US) #3545

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) 3545

To purchase this item, click on the Pay with PayPal button below

$34.50

POSTCARD 1
POSTCARD 2
Published in: on May 25, 2021 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
« Older Entries
Newer Entries »