POSTCARD 1 (SOLD)
POSTCARD 1 (CLOSE-UP)
POSTCARD 2 (SOLD)
The pretty woman seen in this vintage real photo postcard is American silent film actress, Viola Dana (1897-1987). The photographer captured Miss Dana as she was about to eat something that looks a lot like dessert. Dana hailed from Brooklyn, New York. Her given name was Virginia Flugrath. I understand why she changed her name in the interest of her film career. She had two sisters, and they both became actresses. Their names were Shirley Mason and Edna Flugrath. Dana began performing on the stage at the ripe old age of three years-old. She continued to act in theater but between 1910 and 1912, she made appearances in four films. At age 16, she became an audience favorite in David Belasco’s “Poor Little Rich Girl”. Around this time, she began to perform in vaudeville with famed actor, Dustin Farnum. In the early part of her film career she became a star with Edison Studios. She fell in love with a studio director there, John Hancock Collins. She married him in 1915, at or around the age of eighteen. In 1916, Dana and Collins went to work for Rolfe Photoplays which released their films through Metro Pictures. Tragedy struck when Collins died from influenza during the 1918 flu pandemic. Dana continued acting for Metro through the 1920’s. Over time her popularity faded. Interestingly, one of her roles toward the end of her career, was in Frank Capra’s first film, “That Certain Thing” (1928). She retired in 1929, at about 32 years of age. She had appeared in over one hundred films. Dana, like many other film performers, was a casualty of the transition from silent films to sound films. Her voice was not compatible with the new medium. Dana had more than her share of tragedy in her personal life. After losing her first husband, she began a relationship with Ormer Locklear. He was an aviator and a burgeoning actor. He also was a married man. In 1920, while filming the movie, “The Skywayman”, Locklear was killed when his aircraft crashed. Dana witnessed the accident and did not fly again for 25 years. In 1925, she married Yale football star and actor Maurice “Lefty” Flynn. The marriage ended in divorce in 1929. Her third marriage was to Jimmy Thompson, a professional golfer. The marriage lasted fifteen years and ended in divorce in 1945. During her later years, she volunteered at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital. She became a resident there in 1979.
— Postcard 1 was published by Iris Verlag as part of a series (no 370). AMAG, another publishing house is also listed on the card. The bottom left corner of the image has the name “Metro Pictures”, which as stated earlier, was the company responsible for releasing a number of Dana, and her husband Collins, films. (SOLD) –
-Postcard 2 was published by the Photo Card Co. of Los Angeles, California. This photo card was likely published in 1929. The AZO stamp box indicates that the postcard itself was made sometime between 1910 and 1930. Miss Dana’s beauty is evident in this image. She has lovely eyes. (SOLD)
POSTCARD 1
POSTCARD 1 (SOLD)
POSTCARD 1 (CLOSE-UP) (SOLD)
POSTCARD 2 (SOLD)
POSTCARD 2 (CLOSE-UP) (SOLD)
POSTCARD 1
POSTCARD 2
This vintage real photo postcard features Hungarian actress Camilla von Hollay (1899-1967). She was born in Budapest. Her father was a factory director and as she entered young adulthood her parents tried to steer her into going to medical school. Instead, Camilla pursued acting. She was active in film during the silent film era. IMDb credits her with sixty-eight film credits between 1916 and 1930. Early in her movie career she appeared in films with Bela Lugosi. Later, he became known in the US for his portrayal of Dracula. Camilla was blonde and attractive. Many of her films in the 1920’s were filmed in Germany. Her first acclaimed role was in “The Lightship” (1922). Camilla is quoted as stating that film “offers me the opportunity to live my life, to walk in many different forms, and to see myself in a hundred mirrors of just as many human figures”. It is believed that Camilla’s acting career disappeared with the advent of sound film. It is likely her Hungarian accent was seen by film companies as unsuitable for significant roles. She was married to a journalist. Nothing is known about her post acting life. This portrait postcard was published by Iris Verlag/Amag. Iris Verlag was a popular Austrian postcard producer. Amag (Albrecht & Meister) was a publisher located in Berlin. The company took over Aristophot in 1909. Amag ceased production in 1920. This photo portrait postcard is in excellent condition (see scans).
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