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Maria Corda (1898-1976) was a Hungarian actress and a star during the silent film era in German and Austria. She began her career in acting in the theaters of Budapest during the beginning period of World War I. One of her gigs was working as a dancer with the Royal Opera in Budapest. When the Austria-Hungary Empire fell apart, she began working in the film industry. She appeared in her first film in 1919 ;under the direction of Hungarian, Korda Sandor, who later changed his name to Alexander Korda. Korda was the leading movie director in Hungary and he featured her in three of his films in 1919. Maria became the most famous actress in Hungary. Hungary’s leader had Alexander seized by the secret police. Maria and her brother-in-law exerted pressure on the British Military consulate and was able to get her husband freed. The couple fled Hungary and settled in Vienna, Austria. It was in Vienna that the pair changed their names. He became Alexander Korda and she, for some unknown reason, became Maria Corda. In 1920, Alexander began directing films in Austria and Maria became an Austrian silent screen star. Alexander directed Maria in a number of films including “Samson and Delila” (1923). In 1926, the couple moved to Germany the couple teamed up again and were able to continue their film career success. The caught the attention of First National, a Hollywood movie studio. Alexander and Maria were offered a package deal to come to American and make movies. They settled in Beverly Hills. Maria did not encounter the success that she had in Europe. Her Hollywood career aspirations were crushed in 1928 by the advent of sound pictures. She knew little English and had a thick accent. In addition to her movie career, her turbulent marriage also came to an end. They divorced in 1930. Her husband returned to Europe where he had a long successful career in British filmmaking. Maria moved to New York and wrote a number of novels. She spent her later years in Switzerland. In 1942, her husband was knighted and she insisted upon being called “Lady Korda”, even though Alexander was remarried. When Alexander died in 1956, he was onto his third marriage, but that did not stop Maria from trying to claim an inheritance. Maria had an interesting personality. Writers have asserted that she was temperamental and ambitious. She had a tendency to embellish her background. She often described herself as the “Hungarian Garbo”, an opinion reflecting aggrandizement. The IMDb reports that Maria had 28 film credits between 1919 and 1929. —–Postcard 1 was published by Ross Verlag (Berlin), The card was part of a series (no.1633/1). Note the “Fox” logo on the bottom right hand corner of the image. Maria starred in a Korda film for a Berlin based subsidiary of Fox in 1926. Therefore, this postcard is likely from 1926. The film was entitled “Madame Wants No Children”. The postcard was sold exclusively by Ballerini & Fratini of Florence, Italy. SOLD —–Postcard 2 was published by “Europe” which I believe was based in France. It is part of a series (no.315). This photograph of Corda is risque. She is barely covering herself with what appears to be a blanket. Only her strategically placed arm shields her from crossing the risque border. At the time that this photograph was taken, Maria Corda was under contract with Mercure Film. The logo of the company can be seen in the lower right corner of the card. This photo postcard features Corda in costume for her starring role in “The Private Life of Helen of Troy (1927). The film was directed by her husband, Alexander Korda. (SOLD)
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This vintage real photo postcard features American silent and sound film star, Virginia Brown Faire (1904-1980). She was born in Brooklyn, New York. In 1919, after being a winner of the Motion Picture Classic magazine’s “Fame and Fortune” contest, she went to Hollywood. At age 15, she was hired by Metro studio. She then appeared in movies for Fox, followed by Universal. Her first film “Runnin’ Straight” (1920) was a Hoot Gibson short western. She was the leading lady for John Gilbert in Monte Cristo (1922). She was chosen as one of the WAMPAS Baby Stars in 1923. Included in this group of beautiful actresses was Laura La Plante and Evelyn Brent. La Plante and Brent both had successful acting careers. She is most remembered for her role as Tinker Bell in Peter Pan (1924). Faire made a successful transition into sound films. Her first successful talkie was her role in Frank Capra’s “The Donovan Affair” (1929). She appeared in several westerns. Among the western stars that she played opposite to; was John Wayne,Hoot Gibson, and Buck Jones. In the late 1930’s she left Hollywood and moved to Chicago and worked in radio and industrial films. She retired in about 1935. According to the IMDb, she appeared in 74 films between 1920 and 1935. Faire had three marriages. The first, was to actor Jack Dougherty and the marriage lasted just over a year. She then married director Duke Worne, a film director. He died after three years and she then married William Bayer, a furniture manufacturer. She died of cancer in 1980. This vintage postcard was published by Ross Verlag of Berlin, Germany. It is part of a series (no, 736/1). SOLD
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The lovely actress seen in this vintage real photo postcard is named Gerda Maurus (1903-1968). She is posed next to a beautiful Airedale terrier. This unusual profile photograph was taken by celebrity photographer Alex Binder. His studio was located in Berlin, Germany. Maurus was active in film and television between 1928 and 1968. She was an Austrian actress of Croatian descent. Maurus was the daughter of an engineer/inventor. She grew up in Vienna and received training as a singer and dancer. She hit the stage at age fifteen. The IMDb biography of Maurus describes her as ” a strikingly beautiful blonde with high cheekbones an expressive blue eyes”. She began her career on the stages of Vienna. She was “discovered” by director Fritz Lang and he cast her in the female lead in the silent film “Spione” (1928). Lang was smitten by maurus and his marriage was destroyed. She then appeared in a number of German films during the Weimar and Nazi eras. Maurus married director Robert A. Stemmie in 1937. He directed her in “Daphne and the Diplomat” (1937). Like many actresses of her time, her acting career was hurt by the introduction of “talkies”. Further complicating matters was her nebulous association with Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels. This relationship had negative impact on her career after World War II. Due to lack of film offers, Maurus retreated to the German stage. The IMDb filmography of Gerda Maurus lists 33 credits. Here is a side note about Airedales. The first World War increased the popularity of Airedales because they became famous for their bravery on the battlefield. In the US, Presidents Theodore Roosevelt, Calvin Coolidge, and Warren Harding all owned Airedales. In the 1920’s, Airedales became the most popular dog in the US. This postcard was published by Ross Verlag and is part of a series (no. A1320/1). (SOLD)
This vintage real photo postcard features Danish actress, Lillian Ellis (1907-1951). She made fer film debut in 1928. Many of her roles were in German films. Her stardom in Germany peaked at the end of the 1920’s. The IMDb credits Ellis with 18 acting roles between 1928 and 1959. This vintage postcard was published by Ross Verlag and was part of a series (no. 5281/1). The photographer who took this photograph was Alex Binder, a celebrity photographer located in Berlin, Germany. This portrait postcard is in very good condition.
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