TRINIDAD, COLORADO : MAN AND MULE WORKING IN A COAL MINE : RPPC

This vintage real photo postcard features a view of a man and a mule at work in a coal mine near Trinidad, Colorado. The mule is pulling a small rail car along a narrow gauge track. The miner is wearing a hard hat equipped with a light and miner’s clothing.  SOLD

Published in: on December 9, 2024 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  

NORTHPORT, LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK : STREET SCENE : HIGHLAND AVENUE : POSTCARD 1912

This vintage postcard features a street scene in Northport, Long Island, New York. The postcard captures a residential street (Highland Avenue). Northport is a historic maritime village in the town of Huntington. The village is in Suffolk County on the North Shore of Long Island, New York. This postcard was published by C. E. Robertson. This card was postmarked in Northport in 1912. SOLD

Published in: on December 8, 2024 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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PRISCILLA DEAN: TALENTED SILENT FILM ACTRESS AND LESS TALENTED “TALKIE” ACTRESS

POSTCARD 1  (SOLD)

priscilla1POSTCARD 2  (SOLD)

POSTCARD 3   (SOLD)

Priscilla Dean (1896-1987) was a popular American actress who appeared in both silent films and theatre productions. Her career spanned two decades. She was born in New York to a theatrical family. Her mother and father were actors. She attended a convent school until she was fourteen and than launched her film career. Priscilla made her stage debut at the ripe old age of four and, as previously stated, her film debut at fourteen in films produced by Biograph and several other studios. She was signed to a contract by Universal (IMP) in 1911 and soon gained popularity as the female lead in the comedy series of Eddie Lyons and Lee Moran. She reached stardom after appearing in “The Gray Ghost” (1917). The advent of sound to the film industry impaired Dean’s career. She was relegated to low-budget films for minor independent studio during the 1930’s and her career fizzled out. Priscilla Dean has been called “an unlikely Diva”. She was described as being a plain woman, but cheerful. She is said to have had heavy features, a crooked smile, and an “unfashionably curvaceous figure”. However, her intensity on screen was considered “unmatched”. Dean was married to actor Wheeler Oakman (1890-1949) who was also under contract at Universal. The couple appeared together in “The Virgin of Stamboul”  (1920) and “Outside the Law” (1920). The pair divorced in the mid 1920’s and a few years later she married Leslie Arnold, a famous aviator. Dean died at the age of 91. Perusal of Miss Dean’s filmography reveals that she has 95 credits as an actress between 1912 and 1932. To view Miss Dean in the talkie film “Behind Stone Walls” (1932), click the You Tube link below. Keep in mind that she was considered a significantly better silent film actress than a “talkie” actress.

Postcard 1 was published  by Ross Verlag of Berlin, Germany. It was part of a series (No. 547/2) and was produced for Universal Studios. It was published sometime between 119 and 1924. The photographer of this portrait was Roman Freulich (1924-1974). Freulich was born in Poland and immigrated to the United States at the age of 14. He learned his trade from New York photographer Samuel Lumiere. He moved to Hollywood in the mid 1920’s where his brother Jack was a portrait photographer at Universal Pictures. Roman became a still photographer for Universal and produced many portraits of their major stars. He stayed at Universal until 1944 when he moved to Republic Studios. After Republic stopped production, Freulich did much work for United Artists.   (SOLD)

 Postcard 2 offers a close-up view of Priscilla Dean. She has a lovely smile. This photo postcard was produced by the Foto Luz studio, located in Bucharest, Romania. The postcard is part of a series (no.431). The postcard was exclusively sold by G. B. Falci of Milan, Italy.   (SOLD)

 Postcard 3 features Miss Dean in an elaborate attention grabbing costume. She likely wore it in a film role. This close-up photo highlights Priscilla Dean’s beauty. This vintage postcard was published by Ross Verlag of Berlin. A logo for “Unfilman” can be seen in the lower left hand corner of the image. “Unfilman” is an abbreviation for “Univeral-Film-Man. Co”. This vintage photo portrait postcard is in excellent condition (see scans).   (SOLD)

POSTCARD 1   (SOLD)

priscilla2 POSTCARD 2  (SOLD)

POSTCARD 3   (SOLD)

Published in: on December 7, 2024 at 12:00 pm  Comments (1)  
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PORTRAIT OF A FIREMAN : NEWARK, NEW JERSEY : IDENTIFIED : CABINET CARD

This cabinet card features a fireman, or possibly a policeman, posing for his portrait in the studio of F. L. Huff, in Newark, New Jersey. Huff’s studio was located at 707 & 839 Broad Street in Newark. Huff was a native “Jerseyman” and established his photographic studio in 1870.  SOLD

Published in: on December 6, 2024 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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WAR GLORY : THOROUGHBRED RACE HORSE : SON OF MAN o’ WAR : POSTCARD 1930s

This vintage lithographic postcard features “War Glory”, a famous thoroughbred stallion race horse. The horse was born in 1930 and was the son of the very famous race horse named “Man o War”. War Glory ran in 59 races and had 11 wins,12 places, and 8 shows. In other words, the horse was highly successful. This postcard was published by Standard Arts (Berkeley, California) and was part of a series (H-2). SOLD

Published in: on December 5, 2024 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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DISTINGUISED LOOKING OLDER GENTLEMAN IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

A distinguished looking older gentleman poses for his portrait at the Steckel studio in Los Angeles, California. The subject is very well dressed and has neatly cut hair, a walrus mustache, and a nicely shaped beard. The beard is shaped like the letter “V”. (To view other noteworthy beards, click on the category “Beards (Only the Best). Note that the gentleman is wearing a lapel pin which is probably representing a fraternal organization. George Steckel (1864-1938) was a highly skilled photographer and won many important awards for his work. In the book “Los Angeles from the Mountains to the Sea” (1921), author, John Steven McGroarty, provides some biographical informaion about the photographer. Stecker was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania and dropped out of public schools at age thirteen. He then worked for a photography studio for two years. He moved to Philadelphia and did photography work there. He then returned to Allentown and opened his own studio which was in business for three years. His next stop was Kansas City, where he worked in the Real Estate field until 1888. He then travelled to Los Angeles and opened a studio, partnering with Joseph H. Lamson (see images by Lamson by clicking on category “Photographer: Lamson”). The partnership eroded after two years, and Stecker opened his own studio in Las Angeles. It is interesting to note  that posters made from his 1894 photograph of Eugen Sandow (1867-1925), nude, with the exception of strategically placed fig leaf, are available for sale today. Sandow was a Prussian pioneering body-builder who was a celebrity of his era.  SOLD

Published in: on December 3, 2024 at 12:00 pm  Comments (4)  
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LONG BUSHY BEARD IN BLOSSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA

A man with a long bushy beard and formidable mustache poses for his portrait at the studio of E. L. Russell in Blossburg, Pennsylvania. Printed on the reverse of the card is the not so modest statement “From Russell, Blossburg’s Photographer”. Other interesting beards can be seen by clicking on this site’s category “Beards (Only the Best)”.  SOLD

 

Published in: on December 2, 2024 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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CARTE de VISITE PORTRAIT : HANDSOME WELL DRESSED GENTLEMAN : MADISON, WISCONSIN

This carte de visite portrait features a short bearded well dressed gentleman. The cdv photograph was taken by Edwin Rodney Curtiss (1836-1906). He operated a photo studio in Madison, Wisconsin. Curtiss was born in Southington, Connecticut and married Eva A. Lingenfetler of Fonda, New York in 1859. 

Published in: on December 1, 2024 at 12:00 pm  Comments (2)  
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PORT JEFFERSON, LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK : MAIN STREET : STREET SCENE : RPPC : 1912

This lithographic postcard features a street scene in Port Jefferson, Long Island, New York. The postcard pictures Main Street in 1912. The road, sidewalk, stores and trees, has a resemblance to the way the street looks today. Port Jefferson is a village in the town of Brookhaven. Port Jefferson is on the north shore of Long Island and is the home of a commercial ferry line that shuttles back and forth to Bridgeport, Connecticut. The village was first settled in the 17th century and became an active shipbuilding center in the mid 9th century. Port Jefferson was beautiful than, and beautiful now. Note the postcard view of quaint shops, a horse led delivery wagon, and the sign on a sidewalk pole advertising a ice cream shop. This postcard was published by the G. W. Dare as part of a series (No.23).  SOLD

Published in: on November 30, 2024 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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ANNY ONDRA: BEAUTIFUL AND TALENTED ACTRESS AND WIFE OF BOXING CHAMPION MAX SCHMELING

POSTCARD 6 (SOLD)

POSTCARD 5 (SOLD)


POSTCARD 1  (SOLD)

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POSTCARD 2  (SOLD)

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POSTCARD 3 (SOLD)

ANNY ONDRA: BEAUTIFUL & TALENTED ACTRESS : WIFE OF BOXING CHAMP MAX SCHMELING - Picture 1 of 3

POSTCARD 4

 This risque vintage real photo postcard (Postcard 1) features actress Anny Ondra. The postcard was published by Iris Verlag. The photograph is by Verleih Norbert & Co.. The postcard is part of a series (no. 5446). The photo seen on this postcard captures Ondra in a scene from the movie “Blackmail” (1929). This particular postcard is rare. I have searched extensively and have not been able to locate this particular image elsewhere. Anny Ondra (1903-1987) was a Czech film actress. She was born in Tarnow, Galicia, Austria-Hungary (now Poland). She was active in the movie industry between 1914 and 1957. She acted in Czech, Austrian, and German films in the 1920’s. She appeared in some British dramas, most notably, Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Manxman” (1929) and “Blackmail” (1929). The IMDb credits Ondra with over 90 acting credits between 1914 and 1957. She appeared in more than 40 films in the sound era. However, her career in British films was hurt by her thick accent. Check out the youtube video below. In this “test film”, Hitchcock “interviews” Ondra and makes her visibly uncomfortable and embarrassed by asking her very personal questions. She was married to German boxing champion Max Schmeling between 1933 and 1987. Schmeling was the world champion between 1930 and 1932. He is  well known for his fights with African American fighter, Joe Lewis. Ondra’s father was a Czech, Austro-Hungarian military officer and she grew up in Tarnow, Pula, and Prague. At the early age of seventeen, she acted in the theater as well as in a film. When her family learned that she had acted in a film, they were extremely angry. In fact, she reported that she was given a beating by her father. Post World War I was a time, for many people, that being an actress was akin to being a prostitute. Ondra began to live with her boyfriend (her debut film’s director) but after some time, the relationship ended because she wanted a family and he wanted nothing to do with marriage. In 1933, after a three year romance, Anny married Max Schmeling. She had been in a film with the boxer (“Knock-Out”, 1935). It was a “happy” marriage and the couple remained together until her death in 1987. Ondra and Schmeling were hot names in Nazi Germany. German fascists tried to exploit them in order to popularize their movement. Schmeling was seen as a German superman while Ondra represented the blonde Aryan type. The two celebrities refused to collaborate. Schmeling turned down honors and even helped hide two Jewish children, saving their lives. However, because of Nazi propoganda, many believed that the couple had collaborated. As a result, Schmeling and Ondra suffered financially for their fictional cooperation with the Nazis. Ondra was portrayed in two modern day movies, “Ring of Passion” (1978) and Joe and Max (2002).  (SOLD)

Postcard 2 was published by Ross Verlag. The photograph is from the Hammerer studio.  The logo for UFA, a German film company, can be seen in the right hand bottom corner of the image.   (SOLD)

Postcard 3 is risque for it’s time. The postcard was published by Ross Verlag. Ondra’s photograph is from the Schlosser & Wenisch  studio. (SOLD)

Postcard 4 is an uncommon vintage real photo postcard is of Dutch origin and was published by  Remaco. The photograph shows Anny working in a tailor shop. She is pressing a shirt and smiling while she works. This photo likely captures a scene from one of Ondra’s films. Note the other woman in the photo busy at work on their tailoring tasks. This postcard is in very good condition. See Scans.

Postcard 5

Postcard 5 was published by Ross Verlag. The photograph is by Alexander Binder. The postcard is part of a series (no. 5769/2).  (SOLD)

Postcard 6 features Ondra playing the piano. She is displaying a beautiful half smile. The postcard was published by Ross Verlag as part of a series (No.6740/1).The logo for UFA, a German film company, can be seen in the right hand bottom corner of the image.  (SOLD)

 

Published in: on November 29, 2024 at 12:00 pm  Comments (2)  
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