This cabinet card features the portrait of a gray haired older man with an appearance problem. He apparently had a great deal of ambivalence about whether he should grow a beard. In a flash of brilliance, he decided to grow a half a beard, the bottom half. He is a distinguished looking man and no one could look as good as he does, with half a beard. This photograph is a fine example of creative facial hair styles; therefore it earns its place in Cabinet Card Gallery’s category of “Beards (Only the Best)”. This image was photographed by Chamberlain of Boston, Massachusetts.
DISTINGUISHED OLDER MAN WITH HALF A BEARD IN BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
EIGHT ATHLETIC LOOKING BLOKES IN SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
This cabinet card is a portrait of eight very athletic looking men. The men are dressed very similarly. Their pants appear to be identical and they each are wearing a wide white belt around their waists. The image presents a number of questions. Are these Aussie blokes wearing a uniform? Are they members of a sports team? Are they wearing work clothing and all share the same occupation? Hopefully some Cabinet Card Gallery visitors will leave a comment that gives their opinion as to the answers to the aforementioned questions. The photographer of this image is Herbst of Sydney, Australia. He is mentioned in a number of Sydney newspapers published in the 1890’s. Advertisements for his studio appear in the newspapers, and there is mention of some of the notables he photographed.
MISS JANE COOMBS: EARLY AMERICAN THEATRE ACTRESS
Jane Coombs (1842-?) was an American actress who made a sensational debut during the 1855-1856 theatre season. She starred opposite Edwin Forrest at New York’s Broadway Theatre. In 1861 she starred in a production at the Haymarket Theatre in London, England. The New York Times (1864) describes a graceful tribute to “the charming actress”. The Nebraska State Journal (1894) published a very insulting article about the actress. The article reports that a man stole large packages with Miss Coombs name printed on them, from a hotel baggage room. Apparently, he was hoping to find diamonds in the packages. Upon opening the packages he found two thousand billboard portraits of Miss Coombs. The journal concludes that “Anybody who has had the doubtful pleasure of beholding Miss Coombs, will sympathize with the thief, and decide that in this case, his punishment was greater than his crime”. The author of this article, may be gifted with a sense of humor, but his description of Jane Coombs, at age 52, is certainly quite cruel. She certainly does not look unattractive in this cabinet card portrait by Napoleon Sarony. Sarony was a famed celebrity photographer in New York. Other images by Sarony can be viewed by clicking on the category “Photographers: Sarony”.
FIVE PRETTY LITTLE GIRLS IN ARLINGTON, SOUTH DAKOTA
This cabinet card is a portrait of five pretty little girls in Arlington, South Dakota. The photographer, Glendenning, demonstrated talent, in the way he posed the children in this photograph. The girls are dressed in similar dark dresses and two are wearing necklaces with crosses. South Dakota became a state in 1889; therefore this cabinet card was photographed after 1889.
ADORABLE LITTLE GIRL IN WAUBEEK, IOWA
This cabinet card features a very adorable young girl. She is standing on a fur draped chair and wearing a fancy dress. A hair ribbon decorates her hair and adds to her “cutie pie” appearance. Handwriting on the reverse of the photograph identifies the child as “Elva Hemenway”. The 1900 Federal Census identifies a seven year-old named Elva L.Hemenway, who resided in Linn County, Iowa. Waubeek is in Linn County. The photographer is H. L. Warner of Waubeek, Iowa.
PRETTTY WOMAN IN PHILIPPOPOLI, BULGARIA
A pretty and beautifully dressed woman poses for her portrait at the studio of Cavra, located in Philippopoli (Plovdiv), Bulgaria. The street address of the studio was Grand Rue De Chemin De Fer. The woman is wearing a wonderful hat and earrings. A piece of jewelry on her collar features a portrait of an attractive woman. The subject of this photograph is wearing a glove on her right hand and she is holding a second glove in her left hand. Note that she is holding a walking stick with her gloved hand. To view other photographs by Cavra, and to learn more about Philippopoli, click on the category “Photographer: Cavra”.
MAN WITH A BILLY GOAT BEARD
This cabinet card presents a portrait of a middle aged man with a beard that is reminiscent of a beard that is normally found on a billy goat. The gentleman manages to maintain a distinguished appearance despite his unusual facial hair. The name and location of the photographer responsible for this image, is unknown. To view other notable beards, click on the category “Beards (Only the Best)”.
TWO YOUNG CHILDREN AND A TRICYCLE IN ST. JOSEPH, MISSOURI
This cabinet card captures two young children posing for photographer, J. W. Souder, of St. Joseph, Missouri. The children are adorable and they are most probably, siblings. The boy is wearing a bow tie and the girl is riding a tricycle. John W. Souder’s photography business was listed in St. Joseph directories between 1887 and 1896. It is unknown whether he was there during other years.
VERNONA JARBEAU: THEATRE ACTRESS
This cabinet card is a portrait of theatre actress, Vernona Jarbeau. Jarbeau often played comedienne roles. Performing Arts (1887) reported on the success of one of her performances. The writer states that 3,000 people crowded into Philadelphia’s Academy of Music to hear the Duff Opera Company perform Von Suppe’s “A Trip to Africa”. The cast was described as “strong” and included Lillian Russell (see her photographs in Cabinet Card Gallery), and Jarbeau. The article states that Jarbeau was the hit of opera when she performed a song in French. The audience applauded and laughed as loud as they possibly could, despite the fact that very few in the audience could understand what she was singing. This cabinet card image was photographed by celebrity photographer, Sarony. To view other photographs by Sarony, click on the category “Photographer: Sarony”.
MAJESTIC GREYHOUND IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA
This cabinet card is an excellent portrait of a majestic looking greyhound (possible whippet) . The dog sits on a bench with as much regal bearing as any king sits on a throne. The photographer of this image is Abner L. Blanks. He is known to have operated his studio in Birmingham, Alabama, between 1888 and 1890, but may have also been in business there during other years.
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 