THE CABINET CARD GALLERY

This vintage real photo postcard is very unusual. It concerns itself with a topic that would be popular today. One could imagine seeing a modern version of this photo and an accompanying article in “People Magazine”. The title seen above the four actresses photograph (translated from German) is “World Famous Film Artists Who Earn Millions In Their Roles”. These beautiful film stars each hail from different countries. Pearl White (1889-1938) was an American actress of film and stage. She started her career on the stage at just 6 years’old in the play, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”. At thirteen years of age she was a bareback rider for a circus. She dropped out of high school to join a touring stage company. Next she worked as a singer in Cuba and South America. She made her appearances in dance halls and casinos. In 1910, her voice began to fail and she began to appear in silent films, including many popular serials. Her nickname was “Queen of the Serials’. She did the majority of her own stunts in these film serials. She is known well for her role in “The Perils of Pauline”. She was often cast in the role of an athletic heroine, rather than the more typical, innocent young woman. As a result of her appearances in “The Perils of Pauline”, she was soon earning $1,750 per week. She increased her star power as she appeared in other serials. In these films she flew airplanes, raced cars, and did other action hero feats. By 1919 White moved on to more dramatic roles. She appeared in ten drama films for Fox Film Corporation. She finished her career by taking roles in European films, and finally, appearing on the European stage. While performing in London, she earned three thousand dollars a week. At the time of her retirement (1924), White had banked two million dollars. She then began investing. Her investments included a hotel, a night club, and a stable of race horses. White was married twice, each time, for short duration to actors. White died of liver failure, possibly due to her history of heavy drinking. Her drinking may have been attributable to her problems with pain stemming from a spinal injury occurring during her stunt days. The IMDb site credits white with 228 film appearances between 1910 and 1924. Franceska Bertini (1892-1985) was an Italian silent film actress. She achieved stardom in her career. She began acting on the stage at the age of seventeen. She quickly became involved in the budding Italian film industry. By 1915, she appeared in 50 films. She was beautiful and and had an elegance and an intense and charming personality. She was one of the initiators of an acting technique that focused on reality, rather than the existing dramatic style. She played both dissolute heroines, as well as, common women. In 1920 she declined a contract offer from Fox Film Corp (Hollywood) because she wanted to move with her wealthy banker husband to Switzerland After his death, she returned to Rome.  The IMDb gives Bertini 146 film credits from 1907 through 1976. Henny Porten (1890-1960) was a silent film actress and producer. She was Germany’s first major film star. She had no stage experience. Her father, Franz Porten was an actor and film director. Her first husband was also a film director. He was killed during World War I. Her second husband was Jewish and when the Nazi’s took power, she was pressured to divorce him. She refused, and that had negative impact on her film career. She was denied an exit visa. She made ten films while the Nazis were in power. Her home was destroyed in an aerial bombardment Porten and her husband found themselves out on the street. No one could help them because it was a crime to shelter a Jew. The IMDb lists 199 acting credits for Porten (1906-1955). She also has 26 credits for her work as a producer. Stacia Napierkowska (1891-1945) was a French actress and dancer during the silent film era. She also directed films. She was born in Paris and began her theatrical career with the Folies-Bergeres. She was “discovered” by the director of the Opera Comique who signed her to theatrical work. Next, she acted in silent films and reached stardom after playing opposite Max Linder, an actor often considered the first international star. In 1913 she left Europe for the United States to begin her own international career. The painter, Francis Picabia, met her on the ocean trip and he produced a series of paintings for which she was the inspiration. During a dance performance in New York City, Napierkowska found herself under arrest for indecency. Upon returning to France, according to Wikipedia, she said “I have not brought away a single pleasant memory from the United States”. She also declared that Americans were “narrow-minded people” and that they were “utterly impervious to any beautiful impression”. IMDb reports that Napierkowska appeared in 91 films between 1908 and 1926. This portrait postcard has excellent clarity and is in very good condition. It is also a rare postcard and a great photo of four international film all-stars.  (SOLD)