The Boys in the Band gather for this cabinet card photograph by photographer John Strunk, in Reading, Pennsylvania. The uniformed brass band consists of four member. A consultation from the Cabinet Card Gallery’s unpaid research department would be helpful, but for the time being, I will identify the bandsmen’s instruments as being a clarinet, trumpet, french horn and a flute. To view other photographs by Strunk, click on the category of “Photographer: Strunk”.
A well dressed man poses for his portrait at the studio of Charles Keeping in Exeter, England. The subjects beard looks remarkably similar to a Brillo pad. Pity his poor wife during their amorous times together. The photographer, Charles Keeping (1842-?) was born at Lymington in Hampshire. He first worked as a photographer in Exeter in about 1870.He set up a studio at New Bridge Street after moving to Exeter from Torquay between 1867 and 1870. The studio moved to the address listed on this cabinet card (1, Exe Bridge) in 1873. Keeping also had a number of branch studios. In the mid to late 1880’s the business was known as the “Exonia Studio”. The available history indicates that this image was produced between 1873 and the late 1880’s. The subjects steel wool type beard is his ticket to enter the Cabinet Card Gallery’s category “Beards (Only the Best). Click on the category to see an amazing collection of unusual and interesting beards.
This cabinet card photograph features a couple dressed in Salvation Army Uniforms. They are likely a married couple considering the familiarity evident by the woman resting her hand on the mans shoulder. The man is holding his hat on his knee and is wearing a Salvation Army Badge. The photograph was taken at Lachman’s Studio in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. A photographic journal (1894) cites a studio called Isaac S. Lachman & Son located in Pottstown. Anthony’s Photographic Bulletin (1901) reports the “recent death” of Isaac Lachman.
A good looking young man, adorned in a fur coat, poses for his portrait. The photographer is J. Fraser Bryce and his studio was located on 107 King Street West, in Toronto, Canada. Bryce was born in 1852 in Dundas, Ontario. After completing his education he went to Toronto and studied photography with Thomas Hunter. He supplemented his training with then acclaimed photographers, C. C. Randall of Detroit, Michigan, and J. F. Ryder of Cleveland, Ohio. In 1884, Bryce located permanently in Toronto buying Hunter’s studio. Bryce is cited in the American Annuals of Photography (1887) as a member of the executive committee of the Photographic Association of Canada.
A gentleman, identified as J. B. Titus (on the reverse of the cabinet card) is the subject of this photograph by G. E. Lawrence, of Los Angeles, California. George E. Lawrence was also a member of the California National Guard and was listed as holding a rank of Major and as being a Signal Officer. The military information is listed in a publication of the California Adjutant General’s Office (1906). The subject, Mr. Titus, has an interesting thick and scraggly beard which qualifies him to join the Cabinet Card Gallery’s category of “Beards (Only the Best)”. Click on the category to view multiple photographs of remarkable beards.
Marion Manola (1865-1914) is the subject of this cabinet card photograph by celebrity photographer, Benjamin Falk. Manola was born in Cleveland, Ohio. She was a popular comic opera star during the late 1880’s and 1890’s. The New York Times (1894) featured a headline stating “A Brilliant Future Sacrificed for a Life of Excitement” referring to Ms. Manola. The newspaper reported that the theatrical community was upset by the actress’s “insanity”. She was described as one of the more popular singer/actresses on American stage. She was known to be a bit eccentric but she was “heartily liked by everybody”. She was described as light hearted, having a joyous nature, and as vivacious. She was discovered by Colonel John A. McCaull, who cast her in a comic opera company. She aggressively pursued her career and had “late suppers”, “early rehearsals”, and worked hard. The stress of her theatrical life caused her to become irritable, fretful and difficult to manage. When her theatre company dissolved, she joined De Wolff Hopper’s company where she became the prima donna. After about a year she lost her job because of difficulty with a manager. She then went to Europe where she played the role of Maid Marion in “Robin Hood”. While in Europe she met her soon to be second husband, John Mason. Mason had his own personal problems including a great deal of debt. They joined a comic opera company in Boston but they quickly lost their jobs due to problems getting along with management. They organized their own company but it went bust. Manola’s mind began to fail and it became known that she had a opium habit. The press had a field day covering Ms. Manola’s psychiatric and substance abuse difficulties, as well as her entry into a rehab facility. Does any of this sound familiar? Think about the press coverage of Lindsay Lohan or a number of other celebrities of today who experience emotional or addiction problems. Manola also made her mark in the courts. In fact, Judge Louis Brandeis, one of America’s great Justices, was involved in an interesting and important case Manola brought to the legal system. The actress brought suit against a theatre manager and a photographer because she was photographed on the stage, without permission, while wearing an outfit (tights) she felt were too immodest to be photographed in. After being photographed, she ran off the stage in distress. The court supported Ms Manola’s suit and forbid the photographs from being distributed. The court took the position of there being a need for morality in the press. Some skeptics felt that the actresses real issue with the photographs had more to do with her not getting financially compensated for the photographs, rather than her claims that her privacy was violated. To view other photographs by Benjamin Falk, click on the category “Photographer: Falk”.
This Cabinet Card captures young Master R. Demarst sitting at a piano in the studio of W. J. Root, in Chicago, Illinois. An inscription on the reverse of the photograph indicates that the boy musician was six years old at the time the image was produced. He is very well dressed in his velvet suit. He is wearing a ring on his right middle finger. The photographer’s studio was located at 243-253 Wabash Avenue, in Chicago. The back stamp on the reverse of the card states that Root’s studio was located in Kimball Hall. When Root began his business, he took souvenir photographs at the Worlds Columbian Exposition of 1893. He is mentioned in various photographic journals from 1892 until 1897. To view other photographs by Root, click on Cabinet Card Gallery’s category “Photographer: Root.” Thanks to the amazing research department of the Cabinet Gallery (see comments), additional identifying information about the young boy in this photograph has been discovered. In the book, “Musical Instruments at the World’s Columbian Exposition: A Review (1895), it is noted that Master Rubinstein Demarest, aged 5, won the love of all who met him. He appeared at the Exposition and “his piano playing was almost marvelous considering his youth”. The boy was a native of St. Paul, Minnesota where he was regarded as a protege of great promise.
This cabinet card features four uniformed firemen who are members of the fire department’s chemical brigade (#1). The fire fighter on the extreme right is holding a metal hose nozzle and his uniform indicates that he is a foreman of the brigade. The fireman on the far left sideis wearing a corsage and holding a cigar. A backstamp on this cabinet card indicates that the photographer is J.P.Kildahl of Dundee, Illinois. To view other photographs of firemen, click the Cabinet Card Gallery’s category of “Firemen and Policemen”.
A cute girl poses for her portrait at the studio of Latto, of Boston, Massachusetts. The youth is wearing a lot of jewelry; including a necklace, bracelets, and rings. She is also wearing a ribbon as well as an interesting belt and button sweater. She has moderately long hair and it is quite curly. The photographer, John C. Latto is listed as a photographer in the 1873 Boston Directory. At that time, he was partnered with George T. Rand. A publication of the South Boston Citizen’s Association(1900) mentions the “recent” death of Latto and the sale of his business to photographer, Lester Ayer. The publication also cites Latto as one of the leading photographers of Boston.
This cabinet card captures a little girl snug in her sled. Standing beside her, is her father. Both are wearing winter clothing including gloves and a warm hat. This photograph was taken inside a studio and the setting includes fake falling snow and fake snow on the ground and sled, as well as on the man and his daughter. The photographer is Severn, of Joliet, Illinois.
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