A sweet little girl and her father pose for their cabinet card portrait at the studio of photographer O. C. Jarmuth, in South Chicago, Illinois. The little girl has cute curls and the front of her dress has a couple of large ribbons. Note dad’s wire rim glasses. Otto C. Jarmuth was educated in photography in both Europe and in the United States. He had two galleries in Chicago and ran the Jarmuth School of Photography, which was located in the Central Music Hall building in Chicago. The school is mentioned in the Anthony Photographic Bulletin (1896).
DADDY’S LITTLE GIRL IN SOUTH CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
ANNABELLE MOORE: STAGE AND EARLY FILM DANCER
Annabelle Moore (1878-1961) was born Annabella Whitford in Chicago, Illinois. In 1910 she married Edward James Buchan and they remained married until his death in 1958. She appeared in at least nine films beween 1894 and 1897. Film companies included Edison and Biograph. The films were dance films and included “A Mermaid Dance”, “Butterfly Dance” and “Serpentine Dance”. These films can be seen on “You Tube”. Annabelle starred as the Gibson Bathing Girl in the first of the Ziegfeld Follies (1907). She remained as part of the Ziegfeld Follies company until her marriage and retirement in 1912. The cabinet card is stamped on the reverse with the following words; “This No. 46 is the property of the American Lithographic Company” of New York.
ADORABLE CURLEY HAIRED CHILD IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
A very cute child is photographed for this cabinet card by Hartley of Chicago, Illinois. The child appears to be a boy with incredible curls. He is wearing a very large bow tie, or ascot. Edward F. Hartley (1847-1887) was born in Wadsworth, Ohio; and became a photographer is Jacksonville, Illinois in 1873. In 1876 he moved his trade to Chicago and was quite successful in establishing a business. A photographic journal of his time reports that he underpriced his photographs and as a result, he was not included in many professional photographic associations and won few awards for his work. To view additional photographs by this photographer, click on the category “Photographer: Hartley”.
MELVILLE ELIJAH STONE: NOTED CHICAGO JOURNALIST
This cabinet card is a portrait of Melville Elijah Stone (1848-1929). Stone was a reporter when in 1876 he founded Chicago’s first penny paper, “The Chicago Daily News”. In 1881 he established the “Chicago Morning News” which became the “Chicago Record”. In 1893, while employed with a bank, he was named General Manager of the “Associated Press” which under his stewardship became a major news agency. Stone retired in 1921. The photographer who produced this portrait was W. J. Root, a celebrated Chicago photographer.
MABEL EATON: STAGE ACTRESS AT THE HAYMARKET THEATRE IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
This Cabinet Card is an image of stage actress Mabel Eaton. Eaton’s appearances on Broadway in New York City included the productions of “Diplomacy” (1892) and “Woman and Wine” (1900). She appeared in many stage productions in Chicago and New York City. She appeared in Shakespeare productions. She was married to prominent stage and film star, William Farnum (1876-1953). An 1893 edition of the New York Times reported that her hotel room (Ashland House) was robbed while she was appearing in “Diplomacy” at the Fifth Avenue Theater. Eaton also appeared in a short silent film (1914). In 1916, Eaton died in Chicago, Illinois. The photographer of this Cabinet Card is celebrity photographer Morrison, located in the Haymarket Theatre. The Haymarket Theatre opened in 1887 as a legitimate playhouse with seating for an audience of 2,475. By 1896, it became a vaudeville house and between 1916 and 1932 the theatre was one of Chicago’s best known burlesque houses. Between 1932 and 1948, the Haymarket became a second-run movie theater and it was condemned in 1949. William Morrison began his photography business in 1889 at the Haymarket. He was born in Detroit in 1857 and educated in Chicago’s public schools and at the Metropolitan Business College. The New York Times reported in 1892 that there was a fire at the Haymarket that badly damaged offices, saloons and stores in the building. The article states that Morrison’s business had the worst damage of all the businesses, while the theatre itself only suffered water damage. Morrison’s studio lost 37,000 negatives. In 1899 he moved his business to the Champlain Building.
PROUD MOM AND CUTE BABY IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
Young mother and her adorable baby pose for their portrait at the studio of William Neidhardt in Chicago, Illinois.
FANTASTIC PORTRAIT OF A CHICAGO JUDGE BY MOSHER
This terrific Cabinet Card is a portrait of a Judge in Chicago, Illinois. The clarity and detail of this image is remarkable. The photographer was C. D. Mosher of Chicago, Illinois. Mosher was an important early photographer of Chicago and made national news for an ambitious endeavor he undertook. The New York Times wrote a story in 1885 about Mosher’s project to collect 10,000 portraits of prominent residents of Chicago. His goal was to finish collecting the images by 1888. The photographs were placed in a special safe and placed in a vault provided by the city to only be opened for the nations bicentennial in 1876. Perhaps this Cabinet Card is one of the photographs that was locked away for Mosher’s effort to preserve history. To view other cabinet cards by Mosher, click on the category “Photographer: Mosher”.
Fireman in Chicago, Illinois
This fantastic Cabinet card captures a Fireman in an old style uniform. He is seated in the photographic studio of Alex. Hesler of Chicago, Illinois. Note the pin on his bib that looks like a hydrant. Also note that his belt has some numbers and some writing. It would be terrific to have someone knowledgeable about fire department history to leave a comment explaining his uniform, pin and belt.
Black Man in Chicago
This distinguished looking black gentleman posed for this photograph at the studio of Huszagh in Chicago, Illinois. Check out the interesting backdrop and props. Note the pattern on the curtain and how his right hand is resting next to a pair of gloves on what seems to be a fur covered table. Do you think that this well dressed gentleman is wearing his best suit or, judging by his attire, do you think he may be a member of the clergy? Let me know your opinion.
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 