PORTRAIT OF A FATHER AND HIS YOUNG STALWART DAUGHTER

This vintage real photo postcard features a well dressed father and presumably, his daughter. The child rests her hand on the shoulder of her father. Judging by her expression, physical contact with her father appears to have given her a sense of security and confidence. The young girl’s hat may indicate her nationality or ethnicity. The only clue that I have about that matter is that the card was purchased from a collector in Greece. This postcard is in very good condition (see scans).

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Published in: on May 11, 2020 at 12:00 pm  Comments (2)  

MABLE WOODS : A LESSER KNOWN “GAIETY GIRL”

The pretty woman featured in this real photo postcard is Mable Woods. She was a theater actress. I could find little biographical information about her. I did discover that sometimes her name appeared as “Mabel” Woods rather than “Mable” Woods. I stumbled across a couple of real photo postcards in which Miss Woods made an appearance. Two of these cards were individual portraits of the actress but another postcard paired her with an actress name Rose de Vella. Mable Woods and Miss de Vella toured India together, performing in the chorus line for one of the “Gaiety Girls” touring companies. Irish born, George Edwards (1852-1915) was the theater manage of London’s Gaiety Theater. At one point he had sixteen touring companies. He had a propensity for hiring pretty young women to work as “Gaiety Girls”. These women were the chorus girls appearing in Edwardian musical comedies that began in the 1890’s. These women were an important ingredient for staging a successful musical production. They danced and appeared on stage in bathing attire and in the latest fashionable clothing. Unlike the corseted actresses from earlier musical burlesque shows, Gaiety Girls were viewed as respectable and refined. One writer reports that Gaiety girls “were polite, well-behaved young women”. Many Gaiety girls progressed to very successful acting careers. The list of former Gaiety girls reads like a hall of fame of celebrated actresses. Gaiety girls that catapulted to major roles include Marie Studholme, Mabel Love, Ellaline Terriss, Lily Elsie, Gladys Cooper, Phyllis Dare, and Gabrielle Ray. These and other starring alumni of the chorus, kept the moniker “Gaiety Girls”. The young women performing in Edward’s shows peaked the interest of wealthy gentlemen who became known as “Stage Door Johnnies”. They would wait outside the stage door and invite the actresses to dinner at fine restaurants. A number of women accepted the invitation.  Sometimes the women would eventually marry one of these dates. A number of these women married noblemen, while others became the wives of professionals. In the book, “The Gaiety Years”, author Alan Hyman refers to the chorus as becoming “a matrimonial agency for girls with ambitions” to marry titled men. This postcard is in very good condition (see scans).

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$16.89

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PORTRAIT OF THE COMMANDANT : ARMED WITH A RIFLE AND HAND GRENADES : WEARING AN AMMO BELT

This vintage postcard features a well armed soldier ready for battle. He is wearing an ammunition belt and at least a couple of hand grenades. He also has a rifle although only the barrel of the gun is visible. What nation is this warrior fighting for? Who is he fighting against? I wish I had answers. An inscription on the reverse of the photo indicates that the soldier is the Commandant (Commander) of his unit. The year that this photo was taken, according to the inscription is 1942. I believe, though not very confidently, that the language on the reverse of the photo is Greek. Perhaps this is a Greek or Turkish officer. This photograph was trimmed from a postcard. It measures about 2″ x 3″ and is in very good condition.

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Published in: on May 9, 2020 at 12:00 pm  Comments (1)  
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A PRETTY YOUNG WOMAN FROM MT. VERNON, OHIO

This cabinet card portrait features a pretty young woman posing for a photograph at the Crowell Gallery in Mount Vernon, Ohio. Her hair is wrapped in a bun and she is wearing a lace scarf and a pin. The photographer of this photo portrait is Fred S. Crowell. The Cabinet Card Gallery (CCG) has at least two other photographs by Mr Crowell. Based on the photographs in the CCG collection, he was a talented photographer. His name can  be found in the 1880 census. He was born in 1844 and lived with his wife Ella, and their three children. Other research reveals that there was a Fred Crowell from the Mount Vernon area who enlisted in the 142nd Regiment of the Ohio Infantry during the Civil War. He served only during 1864. Crowell trained as a photographer under Anna Payne, and worked in the profession in Norwalk, Sandusky, and Cleveland, Ohio. He then opened his own studio in Fredericktown in 1866. In 1869, he moved to Mount Vernon where he established a photography studio that was in business until at least 1889. This cabinet card photo is in good condition (see scans)

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$19.49

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VIOLET LLOYD: ENGLISH STAGE ACTRESS AND A PIQUANT SOUBRETTE

PHOTO 1

LLOYD FRONTPHOTO 2

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 Photograph 1 features stage actress Violet Lloyd posing for celebrity photographer Benjamin J. Falk at his New York City studio. Ms. Lloyd is adorned with flowers in her hair and looks quite beautiful as she poses with her rather large fan. Violet Lloyd was an English actress and singing comedienne. The New York Times (1896) published a favorable review of  “The Geisha”, a play appearing at Daly’s Theater. The critic wrote that  “The greatest individual hit last night was made by Violet Lloyd, an English Soubrette (female stock character in opera and theater)……….She is a piquant (engagingly provocative)  little person, with a droll (amusing in an odd way) but pretty face, sufficient voice, a sense of humor, and plenty of agility”.  It is clear that turn of the century newspaper writers were either better writers than today’s journalists, or else, their editors were more likely to  encourage and expect higher quality writing.  As a result, newspaper articles had a more literary style and used advanced vocabulary. Please forgive me for providing the definitions of some of the words in the quotation; I couldn’t stop myself. A stamp on the reverse of this cabinet card indicates that it was once part of the collection of Charles L. Ritzmann. Other photographs from Ritzmann can be viewed by clicking on the category “Charles Ritzmann Collection”.

The second photograph (PHOTO 2) was also done by a well known New York City celebrity photographer. Aime Dupont was of Belgian origin and he captured Miss. Lloyd wearing clothing that was likely costume from a play. Note the fan she holds above her head. Her pose, with her hand on her hip, likely reflects feigned shock or dismay. This cabinet card is also part of the Ritzmann collection. To view more photographs by Dupont and to learn more about him, click on the category “Photographer: Dupont”.                                                                                                                                                                     Photo 3  is a vintage real photo portrait of Violet Lloyd. It is interesting to note that the squiggly lines on Miss Lloyd’s dress are textured with sparkles. The postcard was published by Philco (no.3026F). The Philco publishing company was located in London, England. This vintage postcard is in good condition (see scans).

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lloyd 3 2020-05-04_205814

 

PORTRAIT OF THREE YOUNG MEN IDENTICALLY DRESSED IN READING, PENNSYLVANIA (CDV)

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Three handsome young men pose for their carte de visite portrait at the studio of Charles A. Taylor, in Reading, Pennsylvania. The men are dressed identically. Are they co-workers and wearing a uniform of some kind? Note their checkered shirts, bow ties, and work boots.   (SOLD)

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Published in: on May 6, 2020 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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RISQUE PORTRAIT OF A PRETTY WOMAN BY ALFRED NOYER

This french vintage real photo postcard is a wonderful example of Alfred Noyer’s work photographing nude, or partially clad, beautiful women. Noyer was a well known and acclaimed photographer. His Paris studio operated between 1910 and the 1940’s. Many of the postcards he produced featured nudes or risque images. This photo portrait postcard is part of a series (no.9517).     SOLD

LARGEST HAIR BOW IN THE HISTORY OF HUMANITY AND THE WOMAN WHO WORE IT

  This vintage real photo postcard is quite unique. It features the portrait of a well dressed lovely couple. The woman is wearing what is probably the largest hair bow ever worn in the history of the world. If she was outside and caught the wind just right, she would probably have the ability to fly. The message on the reverse of the postcard indicates that the couple’s first names are Jeanne and Willy and that they were photographed in 1920 by E. Lorsen in Strasbourg, France.   (SOLD)

Published in: on May 4, 2020 at 12:00 pm  Comments (3)  
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STONED FACE GENTLEMAN IN WAUSAU, OR MERRILL, WISCONSIN

This cabinet card portrait features a well dressed older man with a well groomed beard. Although his beard is full; it is not attached to sideburns. The gentleman appears tired and he exhibits no hint of a smile. The photographer of this photograph is Edgar G. Fleming. At the time that this photo was taken, Fleming had studios in both Wausau and Merrill, Wisconsin. According to a couple of Badger state directories, he was active in Wausau between 1884 and 1886 and active in Merrill between 1891 and 1895. These dates are not completely accurate because they do not show any overlap in years which would allow him to operate the two studios at the same time. Fleming also had a studio in Columbus, Wisconsin (1895-1896).   SOLD

Published in: on May 3, 2020 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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MLLE POLAIRE: FRENCH SINGER AND ACTRESS (PHOTOS BY REULINGER & NADAR)

polaire-2Photo 1

polaire 2020-05-01_075606  PHOTO 2

polaire2 2020-05-01_075728 PHOTO 2 (CLOSE-UP)

Mlle Polaire is actually the stage name used by French singer and actress Emilie Marie Bouchaud (1874-1939). Polaire was born in Algiers, Algeria and began her theatrical career as a cafe singer at the young age of 15. She moved to France two years later and ad0pted the stage name Polaire and became a music hall singer. In 1895, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec drew a sketch of her which appeared in the satirical magazine Le Rire. In 1900 her portrait was painted by Leonetto Cappiello and her popularity rose even more. She began acting in Paris in 1902 and became a major celebrity star. She was thought to be a gifted comedic actress but was also very well known for her beauty. She was famous for her tiny, corsetted waist. She was five feet and three inches tall. She lavishly overdressed in furs and dazzling jewels. In 1911 she appeared in her first silent film role and later appeared in six films of director Maurice Tourneur in 1912 and 1913. She then returned to the stage and toured the United States and England. She later made a reappearance in films, performing in ten (some were talkies). She died at age 65 and was buried in France. This cabinet card photograph (Photo 1) was taken in Paris, France at the studio of Reutlinger. Charles Reutlinger (1816-1860) was a French photographer whose studio operated between 1850-1937 in Paris, France. Among his subjects were many celebrities including the prettiest ladies of Paris. To view other photographs by Reutlinger, click on the category “Photographer: Reutlinger”.                                                       The second photo of Miss Polaire is featured in this vintage real photo postcard (Photo 2). She looks beautiful in this image. She is sitting cross-legged and wearing dark clothing, boots, and a large bow. Examining the print of the front of the card provides some interesting information.  We learn that the photographer of this image is the celebrated and talented Paul Nadar (1856-1939).He was a French photographer. He learned photography by his father, Felix Nadar, also a talented portraitist. Paul eventually ran his father’s studio. The establishment catered to a affluent clientele and was very successful. In 1890 he began shooting photographs from a hot air balloon. The press referred to him as “The Fearless Paul Nadar”. Nadar also photographed sites in Europe and Ssia along the ancient silk route. Some consider his work from that trip to be the first incidence of “photo-reportage”. In 1893 he became an agent in France for Eastman Kodak. The word “Eclair” appears in the bottom right hand corner of the photo. The Eclair Company was a movie production company established in 1907 and headquartered in Paris. The company produced many silent shorts in France beginning in 1908 and it’s American division produced films from 1911 through 1914. Included in their productions was one of the first film version of  “Robin Hood”.  In the top left hand corner of the photograph is the word “Bouffes”. The “Theatre des Bouffes-Parisiens” is a theatre located in Paris and founded in 1855. It was the location of the production that Miss Polaire was appearing in when she posed for this photograph. The name of the production can be seen in the bottom border of the card, “Claudine a l’Ecole”. The translated title of the play is “Claudine at School”. The story is from a 1900 novel by the French writer, Colette. It is a tale about a 15 year-old girl and her brazen conflicts with the headmistress and fellow students in her school. This vintage postcard has a great deal of back story. It is in excellent condition (see scans).

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polaire 3 2020-05-01_075923 PHOTO 2