This vintage real photo postcard features Spanish actress, singer, and dancer, Carmen Sevilla (1930-2023). She started her career in the 1940’s and succeeded in becoming one of the most popular stars of the Spanish cinema until the 1970’s. Among her film roles were appearances in “Imperial Violets” (1952), “Vengeance” (1958), and “Antony and Cleopatra” (1972). She was also a successful singer who’s discography includes fifteen studio albums. Carmen was born in Seville, Spain. Her father was a composer. After the Spanish Civil War, she and her family moved to Madred and her father and grandfather worked as lyricists for major films. As a child, Sevilla enjoyed singing and dancing and made her stage debut at the age of twelve. In the 1940’s she studied at the Conservatory of Music and took dance lessons. She made her film debut in 1946. In 1947, she competed in the Miss Spain contest. Her first leading film role occurred in 1948 and her career quickly blossomed. Her popularity led to her being sought for advertising purposed. She was in Spain’s first Coca Cola commercial. She made her last film in 1978. In 1991 she began a new career as a television presenter. Sevilla was married twice. Her first marriage was to a well known composer / conductor. In 2012, she was diagnosed with Alzheimers. The disease led to her death just seven days before this posting. Sevilla’s photo portrait, seen on this postcard, was taken by the Harcourt studio. The card was published by the Globe (Paris) and is part of a series (No.203). SOLD
The pretty young woman seen in this vintage real photo postcards is a contestant in the 1931 Miss Europe beauty contest. She represented Spain in the competition. Her name was Ermelina Carreno (1912-1999). She became Miss Spain when she won the competition representing the region Castilla-La Mancha. A book about her was written by Enrique Sanchez Lubian and published in 2009. The book was entitled “Ermelin: The Beauty That Gave Birth To The Republic: Origins Of The Misses Contests In Spain, 1929-1932”. The Miss Europe contest was established by a French journalist in 1927. Most of the women in this event had won their own country’s national beauty contest, and used the Miss Europe contest as a warm-up for the Miss World pageant. This postcard was published by the well known and acclaimed photographer, Alfred Noyer. His Paris studio operated between 1910 and the 1940’s. Miss Carreno’s portrait was photographed by St Mano studio. This vintage postcard is in very good condition (see scans)..
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 