WOODWARD STOCK CO : ACTOR PORTRAIT : BY JAMES MATZEN : OMAHA, NEB : CABINET CARD

This is an original cabinet card photograph issued as a compliment of the Woodward Stock Company, New Auditorium, Omaha, Nebraska, and photographed by James Matzen of Omaha. The image features a young actor posed in a casual, reclining position across a wooden bench. He wears a light-colored ribbed turtleneck sweater, checked trousers, dark socks, laced boots, and a checkered flat cap. His gaze is directed confidently toward the camera, with a subtle, knowing smile that suggests both charm and theatrical poise. The relaxed pose contrasts with the formal studio background, giving the portrait a sense of personality and individuality. The photograph is well composed, with strong detail in the face and costume. His expression conveys ease and charisma—qualities likely intended to resonate with audiences of the Woodward Stock Company’s theatrical productions. The Woodward Stock Company was a leading theatrical troupe based in Omaha, Nebraska, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They performed at the New Auditorium, also known as the Omaha Auditorium, which opened in 1898 and became a center for local and traveling productions. The Woodward troupe featured a rotating cast of actors who appeared in a wide range of plays and dramas, and cabinet card portraits such as this were distributed as souvenirs and promotional pieces. The photographer, James Matzen, was a prominent Omaha studio photographer who produced cabinet cards and theatrical portraits. This cabinet card has light edge wear and age toning; back shows surface wear; and the image is clear with strong detail.  (SOLD)

Published in: on November 4, 2025 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags: , ,

TWO ATTRACTIVE AND STYLISH TEENAGE GIRLS SHARE A TENDER MOMENT IN OMAHA, NEBRASKA

2020-05-18_214553 omaha1 2020-05-18_214659 omaha2

This cabinet card portrait features two pretty young women sharing a tender moment. The women are dressed stylishly. Note their gloves. The woman in the dark dress is sharing a sweet smile. It is likely that these young women are teenagers and sisters. This photograph was taken at the Elite Studio which was located in Omaha, Nebraska. The studio was operated by Charles M. Craven.  SOLD

2020-05-18_214921 omaha3

 

Published in: on May 19, 2020 at 5:11 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags: , ,

EVA McGINLEY: CHARACTER CHANGE ARTIST

mcginley_0004This composite cabinet card features Eva McGinley and is subtitled indicating that she was  a “character change artist”. The central portrait on the card shows a prim and proper lady but the image is surrounded by other images displaying Miss McGinley’s versatility and talent to play disparate character roles. Eva McGinley was not a major actress which is apparent by the dearth of information readily available in my preliminary research. However, two newspaper articles were found pertaining to Miss McGinley.  The New York Dramatic Mirror (1900) reported that “Eva McGinley’s voice failed her at Greenfield, Iowa last week” and she and her husband Bob went to Omaha to recuperate. A second article appeared in the New York National Police Gazette (1900) which proclaimed that Miss McGinley and her husband were enjoying themselves in Lakeview, Iowa and that she had shot and killed the largest pelican ever killed on Wall Lake. Imagining Miss Mcginley hunting pelicans with a rifle is distasteful to me but it certainly indicates that she really was quite a “character”. The photographer of this image is unidentified.

Published in: on February 12, 2013 at 12:01 am  Comments (5)  
Tags: , , , , , ,

PENSIVE AND PRETTY GIRL WITH LONG HAIR IN LINCOLN, NEBRASKA

A pensive and pretty young girl with very long hair poses for her portrait at the LeGrande studio in Lincoln, Nebraska.  She is wearing a necklace,  a collar pin, and a dark dress. Resarch found information concerning the LeGrande Studio to be sparse. At one point in time, the studio was located at 1245 Twelfth Street in Lincoln and its proprietors were named Speake and Peirson. Jefferson Grant Speake (1863-?) was listed in the 1891 and 1893 Lincoln Business Directory. He was listed as a photographer and owned the LeGrande studio. He is noted in the 1900 US census, and both he and his wife of 13 years, Hattie E. Speake (1863-?) appear in the census as living in Omaha, Nebraska and both Jefferson and Hattie were reported to be photographers. The 1902 Omaha business directory also lists Jefferson Speake as a photographer. No information could be found about Mr. Peirson, Speake’s Lincoln business partner.

 

Published in: on December 6, 2012 at 12:01 am  Comments (1)  
Tags: , , , , , , ,

WOMAN IN BUSTLE STYLE DRESS IN OMAHA, NEBRASKA

This  photograph features a woman in a bustle style dress posing for a full length portrait at the Gray studio in Omaha, Nebraska. The dress seems to play a more prominent role than the subject in this cabinet card image. In 1884 Howard E. Gray took over the Bee Hive Gallery at the address listed on this cabinet card. In about 1886 he changed the name of the studio to the H. E. Gray Studio. Omaha business directories indicate that he was operating a photography studio in Omaha  from 1884 through 1896. The 1896 directory announces that Gray had moved to Houston, Texas. Research was able to pick up Gray’s trail in Houston. Business directories state that he was a photo retoucher in in 1897 and from 1899 through 1911 operated a photography studio. Research yielded no definitive information about his family. He may be listed in the 1900 US census but there is no confirmation that Howard E. Gray listed is the same Howard E. Gray who worked as a photographer. The 1900 census Mr. Gray was 36 years-old and married to Maggie Gray (age 38). The couple was married in 1885 and had a son named Elmont (age 12). Interestingly, the census Mr Gray was listed as working as a stenographer. To view other photographs by Gray, click on the category “Photographer: Gray (NE)”.

Published in: on November 29, 2012 at 12:01 am  Leave a Comment  
Tags: , , , , ,

PORTRAIT OF A BRIDE AND GROOM IN OMAHA, NEBRASKA

This wedding photograph features a beautifully dressed and handsome bride and groom at the Emory studio in Omaha, Nebraska. The couple are wearing large rose corsages as well as wedding bands. The photographer utilized a wonderful backdrop in posing the newly married couple. A photographer historical directory indicates that Horace S. Emory (1864-1922) operated as a photographer in the 1880’s and 1890’s. He also appears in the US Census in both 1900 and 1920. His occupation is listed as photographer in both censuses. His wife’s name was Mary Emory. The Bulletin of Photography (1922) reported that Emory was working for the Dean Studio in Omaha when he “dropped dead on January 11th. He had just completed taking a photograph”. He was 58 years old.

Published in: on October 5, 2012 at 12:01 am  Comments (1)  
Tags: , , ,

Railway or Trolley Car Motorman in Omaha, Nebraska

omaha

This Cabinet card is an image of a railway or trolley car worker. The badge on his cap is labeled “motorman”. If he worked for a trolley line, than he worked for the Omaha Cable Tramway Company which operated in Omaha between 1884 and 1894. Instead, he may have worked on a train belonging to the Union Pacific Railroad which was one of several railroads operating in Omaha, Nebraska. It would be great to read some comments from readers who may have expertise or knowledge concerning the railway history of Omaha. The photographer of this photograph is Gray, of Omaha. To view other photographs by Gray, click on the category “Photographer: Gray (NE)”.

Published in: on January 7, 2009 at 2:53 am  Comments (2)  
Tags: , , , ,