POSTCARD 1 (SOLD)
POSTCARD 2 (SOLD)
Postcard 1 is a vintage real photo postcard featuring English stage and film actress and acting coach, Constance Collier (1878-1955). She also wrote hit plays and films. She has another claim to fame. She was the first person to be treated with insulin in Europe. This postcard captures Miss Collier in costume for her role of Cleopatra in “Antony and Cleopatra” (1906). Marc Antony was played by Herbert Beerbohm Tree and the production’s venue was at “His Majesty’s Theatre”. Collier began her stage career at the age of three. She appeared in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. At the age of 15, she became one of the “Gaiety Girls”. This group was a famous dance troupe based in London’s Gaiety Theatre. In 1905, Collier married English actor, Julian Boyle. He was better known as the famous theatrical cross-dresser, Julian L’Estrange. After appearing in “Antony and Cleopatra”, Collier became very popular and seen as a distinguished actress. In 1908, she made the first of several tours of the United States. In her 1916 tour of the US, she made four silent films including in D. W Griffith’s, “Intolerance”. In 1918, her husband died from the Spanish flu while the pair were on a US tour. The influenza epidemic of 1918-1919 killed 650,000 Americans. It was the era’s version of Covid-19. In the early 1920’s, Collier became close friends with actor, Ivor Novello. They acted and co-wrote together. In the late 1920’s, Collier relocated to Hollywood where she became a voice coach. She filled a valuable role because talkies were beginning to replace silent films and many actors were in need of help with the transition. Her most famous students were actresses, Colleen Moore, Marilyn Monroe, Vivien Leigh, and the Hepburn sisters. While teaching, she still performed on Broadway and made films. The IBDb reports that Collier was in 21 Broadway shows between 1908 and 1939. These shows included Oliver Twist (1912), Othello (1914), Camile (1931), and Dinner at Eight (1933). According to IMDb, Collier performed in 29 films, wrote 7, and was in the crew of 4. She performed for Otto Preminger as well as Alfred Hitchcock. She was awarded an American Shakespeare Festival Theatre Award for distinguished service for training actors for Shakespearean roles. This postcard was published by Rotary Photo as part of a series (No.4039H). Miss Collier’s photographic portrait was taken by the Foulsham & Banfield studio. The National Portrait Gallery possesses this same card in their Constance Collier postcard collection. They possess 33 different photographs of Miss Collier. (SOLD)
Postcard 2 was published by Rapid Photo as part of a series (No.1834). Note the size of the buttons on her dress and her hair ornament composed of four leaves. (SOLD)
POSTCARD 1
POSTCARD 2
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 