Celebrity photographer, Sarony, of New York City, produced this head and shoulders photograph of actress, Leslie Chester. The actress is wearing an incredible hat. A review of one of Ms Leslie’s performances appeared in Life (1886). The review states that “Miss Leslie Chester is so pretty that her dramatic sins can be magnanimously pardoned”. The review goes on to report that Ms Chester “appears (in a role) as an ambitious amateur, who has no idea of acting and the part is distinctly appropriate.” Hopefully, Ms. Chester was as thick skinned as she was beautiful.
MISS LESLIE CHESTER: A THEATRICAL ACTRESS WHOSE BEAUTY COMPENSATED FOR HER LACK OF TALENT
TEN YOUNG WOMEN DRESSED TO THE NINES IN CUMBERLAND, MARYLAND (1897)
This cabinet card presents ten beautifully and formally dressed young women. They are wearing corsages, decorative hats, and fancy white dresses. The photographer is Darnell, whose studio was located in Cumberland, Maryland. The photograph is dated 1897. The young women are identified on the reverse of the card. The first row includes Reushel, F. Babwin (?), A. Dilfer,and M. Stucklarcer. The middle row includes E. Frost, Minnie Wiesmiller, and S. Asenbacker. The third row includes Emma Miller, Emma Ebert, and Wilhemina Windemuth. (SOLD)
OLDER WOMAN MAKES FASHION STATEMENT IN ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI
This cabinet card features a very fashionably dressed older woman posing for her portrait at the Block Studio, in St. Louis Missouri (1225 Franklin Avenue). The woman is wearing a very interesting hat that includes feathers and assorted other materials. She is wearing a pin and earrings. Research indicates that Louis Block worked as a photographer in St. Louis between 1900 and 1919 although he may have also worked there during other additional years.
WOMAN POSES FOR INEPT PHOTOGRAPHER IN CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE
This cabinet card photograph features a fashionable New England young woman. However, the main focus of this photograph is the woman’s purse. The photographer ruined the photograph by forgetting to ask the woman to put her purse in a place out of range of the camera. The woman is wearing dress gloves, a large bow, a wide brimmed hat, and is slenderized by her corset. The photographer is Bailey of Concord, New Hampshire and he probably was not really inept. However, he certainly made an error when posing the subject for this photograph. A Concord business publication (1890) writes about a photographer named H. C. Bailey. The articles states that Bailey took possession of a photographic studio in Concord in 1888 and that he had lived in Concord since 1860. The article also states that Bailey had a branch studio and art store in Woodsville, New Hampshire. Bailey was reported to have been born in Lisbon, New Hampshire. There is no confirmation that this cabinet cards photographer was H. C. Bailey but it is likely to be the case. In 1890, the Bailey studio was located on State Block, on the corner of Main and School Street.
PRETTY WOMAN IN A FEATHERED HAT IN PORTSMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE
A very pretty woman poses for her portrait at the studio of the Davis Brothers, located at 15 Pleasant Street, in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. She is wearing a bustle and tailored jacket; as well as a fabulous feathered hat. A corset presents a flattering figure. Lewis and Charles Davis were pioneer photographers in Portsmouth They recorded thousands of images between 1856 and 1903. They produced stereoscopic cards and cabinet cards. A collection of their work is archived at the Portsmouth Athenaeum and 160 of their photographs were published in the book, “Around Portsmouth in the Victorian Era”.
WOMAN WEARING UNFASHIONABLE HAT IN PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND
This Cabinet Card features a young woman wearing a hat that is quite extraordinarily unpleasing to the eye. The photographer is C. Jessen & Co. of Providence, Rhode Island.
Helen Tracy: Stage Actress
Helen Tracy (1850-1924) was an American stage actress. A series of roles in the plays of Shakespeare is included in her acting resume. She’s wearing very interesting earrings and a great hat. The Cabinet card comes from the studio of Sarony, one of the renowned photographers of theatrical stars and other celebrities.
Tillie Salinger: Opera Star
This photograph is a cabinet card featuring opera star Tillie Salinger. She is photographed by a San Francisco, California photographer. Salinger performed in the late 1800’s and among her credits is the music ‘Looking Through the Gates (1892). To view other photographs by Louis Thors and to learn more about him, click on the category “Photographer: Thors”.
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