ETHEL BARRYMORE: A STAGE BEAUTY

blog1CABINET CARD 1

CABINET CARD 2

                                                                                                                                      brrymore

                                                                 POSTCARD 1  (SOLD)

ethelPOSTCARD 2  (SOLD)

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barrymore-againPOSTCARD 4   (SOLD)

BARRYMORE PCPOSTCARD 5  (SOLD)

ETHEL BARRYMORE: STAGE BEAUTY : BROADWAY : RPPC (1906) - Picture 1 of 2POSTCARD 6 (SOLD)

Ethel Barrymore (1879-1959) was an outstanding American actress and a member of the famous theatrical Barrymore family. She was born Ethel Mae Blythe in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her parents were actors and she was the sister of John and Lionel Barrymore.  She was the great aunt of modern day actress Drew Barrymore.

Ethel Barrymore was considered by many to be the greatest actress of her generation. She was a major Broadway performer and first appeared there in 1895. She had roles in A Dolls House by Ibsen (1905).  She was a strong supporter of the Actors’ Equity Association and played a major role in the 1919 strike. She played in Somerset Maugham’s comedy, The Constant Wife (1926). She also starred in motion pictures beginning her film career in 1914.  Notable films included None but the Lonely Heart (1944) and The Spiral Staircase (1946). Around 1900, Winston Churchill proposed marriage to Barrymore but she refused. She later married Russell Griswold Colt in 1909 and had three children. She died of cardiovascular disease in 1959 at her home in California. The Ethel Barrymore Theatre in New York City is named in her honor.

The cabinet card 1 portrait of Ethel Barrymore was photographed by Phillips Photographers of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. To view other photographs by Phillips, click on the category “Photographer: Phillips”. The second image (cabinet card 2) of the actress was produced by Sarony, the famous celebrity photographer who’s studio was located in New York City. To see other Sarony photographs, click on the category “Photographer: Sarony”.

The third portrait of Miss Barrymore appears on postcard 1, published by the Rotograph Company who operated in  New York City and Germany. This postcard portrait was taken by famed Chicago photographer William Morrison. He is well known for his excellent portraits of theatrical stars. He produced both real photo postcards and cabinet cards. This postcard is number HB/1422 of the “Rotograph Series”. The image on this postcard is color tinted. This postcard has been mailed and postmarked (1907). The reverse of this postcard can be seen below.To view other photographs by Morrison, click on the category “Photographer: Morrison”.

The fourth portrait of Ethel Barrymore is an uncommon one (postcard 2). The image provides a lovely profile view of this legendary actress. If you search for this exact postcard online, you likely won’t find it. This postcard was published by E. Frey & Company who operated in  New York City . Research reveals that postcards displaying the printed name of  “E. Frey” were actually published by the Souvenir Post Card Company which existed between 1905 and 1914. It was located at 268 Canal Street in New York City. The company was purchased by Valentine & Sons and the combined company became Valentine – Souvenir. This postcard was printed in Germany and is in good condition (see scan).

The fifth photograph (postcard 3) of Miss Barrymore was published by the Rotograph Company. This postcard portrait was taken by famed Chicago celebrity photographer William Morrison.This postcard is number B 662 of the “Rotograph Series”. The image has excellent clarity.

The sixth image (postcard 4) is a vintage real photo postcard portrait of Ethel Barrymore. The postcard was published by Albert Hahn who was based in New York City (200 Broadway) and Hamburg. Hahn operated his company between 1901 and 1919. The postcard was produced in Germany sometime in the decade of 1900-1910. The postcard is part of a series (no. 5271).  (SOLD)

Postcard 5 offers a profile view of Miss Barrymore. The postcard was published by the Rotograph Company as part of the Rotograph Series (No. A 112). The photographer of this image is Burr McIntosh of New York City. William Burr McIntosh (1862-1942) lived an interesting life. Among his job titles listed by Wikipedia, are photographer, lecturer, film studio owner, silent film actor, publisher of the “Burr McIntosh Monthly”, reporter, and radio and early film pioneer. His sister was Nancy McIntosh, a noted operatic soprano. He was a graduate of Lafayette College in 1884. His most noted film role was his appearance in D. W. Griffith’s film, “Way Down East” (1920). Wikipedia notes that he appeared in 53 films between 1914 and 1934. This vintage postcard is in very good condition.

Postcard 6 is a portrait of Miss Barrymore that was postmarked in 1907.   (SOLD)

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POSTCARD 4

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        POSTCARD 5   

ETHEL BARRYMORE: STAGE BEAUTY : BROADWAY : RPPC (1906) - Picture 2 of 2Postcard 6 (Sold)

Published in: on April 4, 2023 at 10:25 pm  Comments (5)  
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TURN OF THE CENTURY HANDSOME MAN WITH SLICKED BACK HAIR : CABINET CARD PORTRAIT

This cabinet card features a portrait of a handsome young man with slicked back hair. He is dressed beautifully and well groomed. The photographer is named Smith but the location of his studio is not listed on the front or the reverse of the photograph. The initials on the front of the card indicate that the photographers full name is C. R. Smith. There was a photographer named C. R. Smith located in Clearwater, Minnesota. He was listed in Camera Craft (1908) and also in The Photographic Journal of America (1917). It is not confirmed that this C. R. Smith is the photographer of this cabinet card. This cabinet card has slight cornerwear and is in overall excellent condition (see scans). 

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Buy this Vintage Cabinet Card photograph (includes shipping within the US) #5188

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Published in: on April 3, 2023 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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MARCELLE LOUYS : MOULIN ROUGE PERFORMER : PARIS, FRANCE : RPPC : (1909)

This vintage real photo postcard features Marcelle Louys, a pretty stage performer at the Moulin Rouge. The venue is located in Paris, France. The cabaret opened in 1889 and is best known as the birth place of the can-can dance. The Moulin Rouge remains in business and is a popular tourist destination. This postcard was published by EPR as part of a series (no.144). The postage stamp on this card is from France and the postmark is from 1909. This postcard is in very good condition (see scans)

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Published in: on April 1, 2023 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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PORTRAIT OF TWO HISPANIC MUSICIANS: TIN PAN ALLEY MEETS THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY

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Wow! I stumbled across this vintage photograph in an antique store in the Texas hill country. This great image features two men, who appear to be of Hispanic origin, playing a tune together. These country musicians are playing brass instruments. My best guess is that one of the men is playing a trumpet while the other is playing a tuba. The trumpet player looks quite intense while the tuba player appears to be “groovin”. The men are sharing sheet music which rests on a music stand. The sheet music is titled “The Witmark Folio”. The M Witmark and Sons company was a leading publisher of sheet music for the American “Tin Pan Alley” music industry. The firm was established in New York City in 1886. Marcus Witmark was legally the head of the company but it was actually run by his sons (Isidore, Julius, and Jay). The three sons were aged 14 to 17 when the company was established. The company published the music of many leading composers including George M. Cohan and Victor Herbert. M. Witmark and Sons was purchased by Warner Brothers in 1929. This vintage photograph measures about 6 1/4″ x 5 1/2″.

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Published in: on April 1, 2023 at 12:00 pm  Comments (2)  
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RETA WALTER : GERMAN OPERA STAR : MURDERED BY EX BOYFRIEND AT AGE TWENTY : RPPC

This vintage real photo postcard features a famous German opera singer who met a tragic end. In 1906, hours before she was to go on stage as Carmen, at the Opera Comique, Walter was murdered in her own home. She was killed by her ex boyfriend, Karl August Hesse, who suspected that Walter was planning on becoming engaged to Juan Raventos, a Spanish Tenor. Hesse committed suicide after killing the 21 year-old Miss Walter. Hesse was a frustrated opera singer who could not find success. He had a history of being jealous of other men. He also had a history of physically abusing Walter in his jealous tantrums. Walter had tried to end the relationship with Hesse but he would not comply. The police found letters from Raventos in Hesse’s apartment. Raventos had written to Hesse telling him that he would not end his relationship with Walter.  This postcard was published by Georg Gerlach & Co.. The firm was a real photo card publisher and printer based in Berlin, Germany. This antique postcard is in good condition (see scans). 

Buy this Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes shipping within the US) #5031

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Published in: on March 31, 2023 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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TWO FOR TEA IN JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK: LITTLE GIRL TEA PARTY

This cabinet card, by Eclipse Studios in Jamestown, New York, captures two very young girls at play. The girls are sitting in miniature chairs and a small cloth covered table, drinking tea from a miniature china tea set. The children have serious expressions as they sit down for tea. The photographer is G. H. Monroe who’s studio was located at the the corner of West Third and Washington Streets, in Jamestown. The Professional and Amateur Photographer (1900) reported that George H. Monroe was an officer with the Columbian Dry Plate Company. Research also revealed that he was the photographer of a number of postcards produced in the Jamestown area.   (SOLD)

Published in: on March 30, 2023 at 12:01 pm  Comments (2)  
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THE SAD STORY OF VILMA BANKY: BEAUTIFUL SILENT FILM STAR

This vintage real photo postcard features beautiful and sensuous actress Miss Vilma Banky (1901-1991). She was born in Hungary but was an American silent film actress. She began her acting career in Budapest and later France, Austria, and Germany. In 1925, Banky was plucked from Europe by Hollywood film producer Samuel Goldwyn. American audiences fell in love with her and she earned the moniker of “The Hungarian Rhapsody”. In a review of her first film, “The Dark Angel” (1925), the New York Times (1925) described Banky as “a young person of rare beauty”. In the mid and late 1920’s she was Goldwyn’s biggest money maker. Some of her most famous roles were in the films “The Eagle” (1925) and the “The Son of the Sheik” (1926). She played romantic roles opposite Ronald Coleman and Rudolph Valentino. The advent of sound films is believed to have short circuited her acting career. Apparently her thick Hungarian accent was unacceptable. However, around the time of the introduction of sound films, it is thought that she had lost her enthusiasm about films and was more interested in settling down with actor Rod La Rocque (1898-1969), whom she married in 1927. Goldwyn gave the bride away and Cecil B. DeMille was the best man. By 1928, she was talking of retirement. In all, she made 24 films of which only eight remain in existence in their complete form. Her filmography begins in 1919 and ends in 1933. After leaving filmdom, she and her husband had a career in real estate and she pursued the sport of golf. The Chicago Tribue (1993) entitled Banky’s obituary “Silent Film Star Makes Dramatic Exit”. It is interesting to note that the article appeared nearly two years after her death. It seems that the press and Hollywood watchers never noticed her death. Apparently she lay sick in bed for the last ten years of her life, at home, and later in a nursing facility, without any visitors. The author of the article asserts “She died the nightmare death of every elderly person, alone, her life unremembered, her passing unlamented”. Banky was upset and angry about being abandoned, that she instructed her attorney to inform no one, including the newspapers, upon her passing. The attorney followed her instructions but when the press eventually learned of her death, the lawyer stated to reporters that Banky had no visitors because none of her friends or family still survived. She left a $600,000 trust fund to her sister’s two children in Hungary. After a difficult search the attorney found the two nieces in rural Hungary “living in peasant squalor”. The women had never met their Aunt and the last letter exchanged with Banky had been thirty years earlier. Banky’s lawyer had his hands full because a German heir hunting company had found them first and got them to sign over twenty percent of their inheritance for a finding-fee. At the time of the articles publication, the lawyer planned to pay off the company with a smaller fee and set up distant banking for the nieces who lived in an area that had no banks. Although after her death, the lawyer turned out to be a committed and wonderful friend to Vilma Banky and her family. This vintage postcard was produced by the Iris Verlag company. Iris Verlag was the most important Austrian publisher of film star postcards. It operated from Vienna during the 1920’s and 1930’s. The postcard is part of a series (no.695/3). The photographer of this portrait of Banky is Halasz of Budapest. The postcard was made for Fanamet-film which was a Austrian film distribution company.     (SOLD)

Published in: on March 29, 2023 at 12:00 pm  Comments (14)  
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FASHIONABLE WOMAN : MONROE, MICHIGAN : CABINET CARD

This cabinet card serves as a period fashion photograph. The unidentified woman in this image is wearing a button down dress and a large hat. The photographer is J. G, Hill of  Monroe, Michigan. According to the 1880 US census,the thirty year-old  Hill (1850-?) was born in Canada and lived in Monroe with his wife Katie Hill (age 24) and their children, Willie (age 2) and Charles (age 10 months).  Katie’s 16 year-old brother also lived with the J. G. Hill family. The 1890 Detroit business directory lists Hill and his photography studio,  but from that point of time until 1897, Hill clearly relocated, and his studio can be found in the Toledo, Ohio business directory.   SOLD

Published in: on March 28, 2023 at 12:01 pm  Comments (2)  
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ROSARIO GUERRERO : SPANISH DANCER : INTERNATIONAL STAR : AFFAIR WITH BELGIAN KING

POSTCARD 1

POSTCARD 2

This lovely vintage real photo postcard (Postcard 1)features Spanish dancer and pantomimist, Rosario Guerrero (1880-1960). She was an international star who is most associated with the role of “Carmen”. She was not a singer. Instead, she performed in the ballet version of the opera. This performance occurred in 1903 at the Alhambra Theatre in London. In 1903 and 1904, she performed in New York. She had been brought to New York City by Florenz Ziegfeld. In 1905 she returned to the stage in London. It was reported that she had a breakdown from “excessive dancing” and was hospitalized in Vienna, Austria (1906). After that episode, she performed in US cities including New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Indianapolis. She owned an estate in France. Guerrero was noted to be quite beautiful. She modelled for well known artists of the day. Her sister, Enriqueta was also a dancer, and she performed in London in the 1900’s. When compared to Spanish dancer, Otero, Guerrero is considered a purer Spanish dancer. Otero’s spanish dancing was alongside her exotic dances. Otero’s fame also came from being a courtesan. However, Guerrero is said to have had an affair with King Leopold of Belgium. One article reports that he gave her over a million dollars worth of jewels. It is interesting to note that King Leopold also had a dalliance with Otero. A brief biographical article reports that Guerrero’s dancing career appears to have ended in 1912. This postcard was published by Rotophot (RPH) as part of a series (2209/3). The company was based in Berlin, Germany. (SOLD)

Postcard 2 was published by Rotophot (RPH) as part of a series (2209/2). The company was based in Berlin, Germany. This postcard is in very good condition (see scans).

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POSTCARD 1

POSTCARD 2

Published in: on March 26, 2023 at 12:00 pm  Comments (1)  
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TWO ADORABLE SISTERS : PRETTY DOLL : NEW YORK CITY : CABINET CARD PORTRAIT

This cabinet card portrait features two adorable sisters holdintg a pretty doll. Both girls have their eyes wide open as they stare at the photographer. This photo was taken by the Newman Photographic Art Studio in New York City. Samuel J. Newman originally had a partner, Edward Leaming, when he started his photography business. Between 1902 and 1906, Newman operated independently at a Lexington Avenue address. This photo was taken before he moved to the Lexington Avenue location. SOLD

Published in: on March 25, 2023 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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