This vintage real photo postcard features the theater at Lakewood, Maine. The theater gives the appearance of a large colonial home. The marquee on the front porch is displaying the photograph of the actors and actresses appearing in the current show. Note the two 1940’s automobiles parked in front of the theater. The postcard’s message states that the writer is at the theater for an afternoon matinee. The postcard is addressed to a couple living in Port Washington (Long Island). New York. The card’s postmark reveals that it was mailed in 1950. The postcard has a small chip on the left side of the top border but is in otherwise good condition (see scans). The Lakewood theatre is the official state theater of Maine. It received that title in 1967 from the state legislature. Before that time, the theater was known as “Broadway in Maine”. It began as a vaudeville play house. It was originally built as a hall for Spiritualist Camp Association meetings. The building was built in 1882. In 1884 it was converted into a roller skating rink. In 1898, it became a theater. (SOLD)
This carte de visite portrait features a well-dressed and distinguished looking gentleman posing for his portrait at the Crosby studio in Lewiston, Maine. He has piercing eyes and a wiry beard and mustache. The photographer of this image is A B Crosby (1836-1879). Crosby worked alone during his career but he was also involved in two partnerships. He had a brief partnership with George W Barnes in Topsham, Maine. He also was in business in Lewiston with C W Curtis. Both of these business relationships occurred in the 1870’s. The earliest record I could find of Crosby working as a photographer was in an 1864 Lewiston business directory. Crosby’s life was cut short when he succumbed to brain disease at the age of 43. He was married at the time of his death. I have seen a number of Crosby’s photographs and it is clear that he was a talented lensman. The carte de visite’s bottom is trimmed. The portrait has excellent clarity and is in very good condition (see scans).
This cabinet card portrait features a well dressed gentleman with an extremely bushy mustache. In addition, his hair is longer than most men of his era. This photograph was produced by the Howe studio in Pittsfield, Maine. W. H. Howe is listed as a photographer in the Pittsfield Register (1904). SOLD
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 