HILDA HANBURY : BRITISH STAGE ACTRESS : STAGE BEAUTY : CABINET CARD

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PHOTO 2

This cabinet card (Photo 1) features early British theatre actress, Hilda Hanbury (1875-1961). She is dressed for winter in this portrait. Note her warm looking coat and her hand-warming muff. Her hat is quite elaborate. Hilda’s sister, Lily Hanbury (1874-1908), was also an actress. Lily’s cabinet card photo portrait can be found elsewhere in the Cabinet Card Gallery. Hilda and Lily were cousins to actress Julia Neilson. Hilda began her acting career in the late 19th century and went on to have a successful stage and film career that spanned several decades. Hanbury made her professional stage debut in 1897 and went on to perform in a variety of plays throughout her career, including Shakespearean productions and contemporary dramas. She was particularly known for her performances in the plays of Noël Coward, and appeared in several of his works, including “The Vortex” and “Hay Fever.” Hanbury also appeared in a number of films during the 1930s and 1940s, including “The Ghoul” (1933) and “The Saint in London” (1939). Unlike her sister Lily, her film appearances were often in supportive roles. However, Hilda was considered a “stage beauty” and her image was popular on cabinet cards, cigarette cards, and postcards. Hanbury continued to act into her seventies, and her final stage appearance was in a production of Coward’s “Waiting in the Wings” in 1960. Hanbury was a close friend of playwright Noël Coward, and she appeared in several of his plays over the course of her career. Hanbury was known to be an avid bicyclist and a passionate gardener and was a member of the Royal Horticultural Society. She was a judge at flower shows and often exhibited at the Chelsea Flower Show. Hilda married Arthur William Fox (1870-1956) in 1905. After the marriage, she retired from the stage and lived in a sixteen-room house. The couple had nine servants. Hilda and her husband divorced in 1923. The divorce was precipitated by her husband’s adultery. The photograph seen on this cabinet card was taken by the London Stereoscopic Company, located in Cheapside, England. The photo was taken sometime in the 1880’s or 1890’s. Interestingly, there is warning notice on the reverse of the photograph concerning it’s copyright. In addition, there is an advertisement offering photography lessons, on the card’s reverse. There is also an advertisement from H. G. Pearce & Co., a stationer and printer. SOLD

Photo 2 is a vintage real photo postcard featuring Hanbury holding her cute black dog over her shoulder. Note her flat hat. This postcard was published by Stewart & Woolf (London, England). SOLD

PHOTO 1

PHOTO 2

Published in: on May 15, 2024 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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EDITH TALIAFERRO : REBECCA OF SUNNYBROOK FARM : REAL PHOTO POSTCARD : (1914)

This vintage real photo postcard features actress Edith Taliaferro (1894-1958). She was an American stage and film actress in the late 19th and early 20th century. She was active on the stage until 1935. She played roles in three silent films. She is most famous for playing the role of Rebecca in the stage production of “Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm” (1910). Edith was born in Virginia. Her parents were theatre workers and her sister, Mabel, also became a stage actress. Edith made her stage debut at age two and by the time she was ten, she was performing in productions of Shakespeare. During her career, she performed in more than thirty stage productions. She appeared in sixteen Broadway shows.  (SOLD)

Published in: on March 31, 2024 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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ALEXANDRA DAGMAR : MUSIC HALL PERFORMER & PANTOMIMIST : RPPC 1904

This vintage real photo postcard features music hall vocalist and pantomime performer, Alexandra Dagmar (1868-1940). Dagmar appears to be making a toast in the postcard’s photo. She was born in Polar, England to Danish born parents. Her father was a ship chandler (seller of ship supplies and equipment), and later a wholesale provision merchant. Dagmar came to the public’s attention at the Grand National Amphitheatre in London. where she appeared in “Richard III”. She subsequently toured the United States where she met Edmond DeCelle (1854-1920), a tenor, who she married in New York (1888).The pair appeared together in both the United States and Great Britain for a few years until Dagmar resumed her solo career. She retired upon the onset of the First World War and she and her family made the US her home. She died in Mobile, Alabama at about 72 years of age. This postcard was published by Rotary Photo as part of a series (No.1682). The photo on this card was taken by the Langfer studio which was located in Glasgow, Scotland. This postcard was postmarked in Derby in 1904.  (SOLD)

Published in: on November 18, 2023 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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GRACE ELLISTON : STAGE ACTRESS : BROADWAY STAR : UNCOMMON : RPPC

This uncommon vintage real photo postcard features American theater actress, Grace Elliston (c1881-1950). Her original name was “Grace Rutter” and that is the name used in the caption seen on this postcard. Elliston was a noted Broadway actress. The IBDb reveals that she appeared in 22 Broadway shows between 1899 and 1922. Her plays included “The Ambassador” (1900),  “Her Husband’s Wife” (1910), “The Country Cousin” (1917) ” and a number of productions of Shakespeare. Elliston appeared with many noted performers including Julia Marlowe, Ethel Barrymore, William Farnum, and Viola Allen. She appeared in one silent film, “Black Fear” (1915). Elliston was a native of Memphis, Tennessee and came to New York as a young woman and went to work as a chorus girl. A successful Broadway career followed. This postcard was published by Rapid Photo as part of a series (no.1084). The card was printed in London. This vintage photo portrait postcard is in good condition (see scans).

Buy this Vintage Original Real Photo Postcard (includes shipping within the US) #5053

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Published in: on May 20, 2023 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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OCTAVIA KENMORE :BRITISH THEATER ACTRESS: SHAKESPEARE : BROADWAY : CLAUDE HARRIS

This vintage real photo postcard features British actress, Miss Octavia Kenmore. Kenmore was an actress who performed in many productions of Shakespeare’s and Ibsen’s plays. She also was a Broadway actress. She was in eight Broadway shows from 1921 through 1947. Her appearances included a role in Hedda Gabler. Kenmore received many fine reviews in her long theatrical career. In a review of her London debut performance, one critic was not totally impressed. He states that she had a pleasing voice, intelligent and pretty features, and a good presence. He continues with the comment that she should have had more experience before taking on the difficult role in W. S. Gilbert’s fairy comedy, “The Palace of Truth” (1888). The critic’s final assessment of Miss Kenmore was biting. He declared that “Her performance was emphatically one of promise, not of fulfillment.” This vintage portrait postcard is unique in that the reverse of the postcard has a message from Kenmore. She has also signed the postcard. Her signature has not been authenticated. The photograph of Miss Kenmore seen on this card, was taken by Claude Harris (1883-1961). He has 61 photographs in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery. His studio was located in London. He fought in the Boer War and World War I.  He produced and directed a film “The Sanctuary” (1916). He photographed many celebrated theater celebrities. Harris was considered a master of lighting.

Published in: on April 24, 2023 at 12:00 pm  Comments (1)  
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MARGARET HALSTON: BEAUTIFUL SHAKESPEARIAN ACTRESS AND FILM STAR

POSTCARD 1

POSTCARD 2

Margaret Halston, in her role as Desdemona in Othello, is the subject of Postcard 1. The card was published by Percy Guttenberg of Manchester, England. The postcard is part of the “Revival Series” (no.122). Margaret Halston (1879-1967) was an English actress born in London, England as Clara Maud Hertz. A number of references mention that she was of Jewish descent. She was known for both theater, film, and television performances. Among her popular performances was in “Tell Your Children” (1922), “The Holly and the Ivy” 1952, and “Touch and Go” (1955). She began her acting career in amateur theatre and she made her professional stage debut at the Haymarket Theater in 1895. Her roles became larger over time until she became a leading actress appearing in plays such as  ‘Hamlet   ‘ (1896), “Antony and Cleopatra” (1897), and “The Taming of the Shrew” (1897). At the turn of the century she became part of Frank Benson’s theatre group and took numerous roles in Shakespearian theatre. It is reported that she acted in almost all of Shakespeare’s plays. She later worked in George Alexander and Herbert Beerbohm-Tree’s theater groups. She became involved in film in 1916 when she made her debut with “A Bunch of Violets”. Over the next few years she appeared in a small number of silent movies. She adapted well to sound films and appeared in a number of them. IMDB credits her with appearing in sixteen films between 1917 and 1956. The site also lists three television credits between 1938 and 1955. Miss Halstan was certainly an entertainment star. It is interesting to note that she twice played in the role of “Queen of Transylvania” in the theatrical production of “My Fair Lady” (1957-1958, 1961-1963). There are three portraits of her in the National Portrait Gallery.

Postcard 2 features Margaret Halston, in her role in “As You Like It”. She is the subject of this real photo postcard published by Percy Guttenberg of Manchester, England. The postcard is part of the “Revival Series” (no.122). The photographer of this image is Alexander Percy Guttenberg (1870-?). He came from a family that produced a number of photographers. His father, Marcus Guttenberg (1828-1891) began as a daguerreotypist in Hungary, Prussia, Poland and Germany before starting a photography business in England (1851). One source reports that he established 24 studios in England but settled in the Manchester area. Percy, like his father, was also very successful. In fact, there are fourteen of his photographs in England’s National Portrait Gallery. Percy was famous for his work photographing actors and actresses. This portrait postcard, is in excellent condition (see scans). 

Buy this Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes shipping within the US) #5394

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POSTCARD 1

POSTCARD 2

Published in: on March 24, 2023 at 12:00 pm  Comments (4)  
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ALEXANDRA CARLISLE : SHAKESPEARE : BROADWAY : SUFFRAGETTE : COOLIDGE NOMINATOR

POSTCARD 1 (SOLD)

POSTCARD 2 (SOLD)

Postcard 1 features pretty stage and film actress Alexandra Carlisle (1886-1936). She is wearing a feathered hat and a sullen expression. Carlisle was an English actress as well as a suffragest. She was born in England. In 1903 she performed in two Shakespearian productions. In 1908, she performed the lead role in “The Mollusc” at the Garrick Theatre. IN 1908 she appeared in two productions of Shakespeare plays produced by Herbert Beerbohm Tree. In 1911, she acted in a Royal Command Performance for King George V and the Emperor and Empress of Germany. In 1912, she married for the third time. Her new husband was a dental surgeon from the US and in 1915 she settled there. She quickly became a noted speaker for women’s suffrage and for the Republican Party. In 1920, she directed a show for Harvard’s Hasty Pudding Club. Also in 1920, she was the main speaker for Massachusetts at the Republican Convention and she seconded the nomination of Calvin Coolidge for Vice President. Carlisle performed in two films (1917,1934). She was an active Broadway performer; performing in 17 Broadway productions between 1908 and 1936. The writer of this postcard mentions Miss Carlisle. She states that “we saw A. C. in Earl of Pawtucket”. This postcard was published by Rotary Photo as part of a series (no. 4073 H). Carlisle’s phototgraph was taken by Dover Street Studios. The postcard is postmarked 1907 and has a British stamp. (SOLD)

Postcard 2 also features pretty stage and film actress Alexandra Carlisle. She is wearing a hair ornament and a half smile. This postcard was published by Aristophot as part of a series (no.E1556). Carlisle’s photograph was taken by Dover Street Studios. The postcard is unused, hand tinted, and is of the embossed style. This postcard is beautifully colored and in very good condition.  (SOLD)

POSTCARD 1

POSTCARD 2

Published in: on January 20, 2023 at 12:00 pm  Comments (2)  
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LEWIS WALLER : BRITISH STAGE ACTOR : ROBINHOOD : RPPC : (1908)

This real photo postcard features British actor and theater manager, Lewis Waller (1860-1915). The photo shows Waller in costume for the production of “Robinhood”. After performing with a few theater companies, Waller entered the late 1880’s as an actor who played romantic leads in both Shakespeare and popular dramatic stage productions. He was a hit with the ladies and had a large vocal fan club. He managed theaters and theater tours from the 1885 through after the turn of the century. Waller achieved success in playing title roles in Booth Tarkington’s “Monsieur Beaucaire” and Arthur Conan Doyle’s “Brigadier Gerard”. However, Waller preferred acting in plays by Shakespeare. Waller was born in Spain but educated in London. He studied languages in Europe and for four years worked as a clerk in a London firm. In 1882 he married Florenc Isabella Brandon who became an actress under the name of Florence West. Waller acted in amateur productions and by 1883 began workeing as a professional actor. During 1911 and 1912. Waller toured and performed in the United States, Canada, and Australia. During his career he made recordings for the Gramophone Company and acted in three films. This vintage photo postcard was published by Rotary Photo as part of a series (no.4222G). Waller’s portrait photograph was taken by the Foulsham and Banfield Studio. The message on this postcard indicates that it was written in 1908.  (SOLD)

Published in: on May 17, 2022 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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MRS FISKE : THEATER STAR : ROTOGRAPH : BY MORRISON CHICAGO : RPPC

CABINET CARD 1 (SOLD)

POSTCARD 1 (SOLD)

This vintage real photo postcard and this cabinet card features acclaimed theater actress, Minnie Maddern Fiske (1865-1932). When performing, she was often billed as “Mrs. Fiske”. She was one of America’s leading actresses during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She performed in several Henrik Ibsen plays and is recognized as introducing American audiences to the Norwegian playwright. She was born in New Orleans, Lousiana, to parents that worked in the theater world. Her first professional acting gig was playing a role in a Shakespeare play. She was only three years old. By the age of four, she made her New York debut. Much of her childhood was spent touring with theater companies. At age sixteen, she played leading lady roles. She was recognized for her acting, but also for her beauty and singing voice. In 1890, she married Harrison Grey Fiske, successful playwright and Broadway producer. After takin three years off from acting, she returned to the theater in 1893 as an actor, playwright and director. The IBDb reports that she had 55 Broadway credits, combining her acting, writing, and directing. Among her successes on Broadway were “Tess of the d’Urbervilles (1897), “A Dolls House” (1902), “The Rose” (1905), and “The High Road” (1912). Her Broadway credits spanned from 1871 through 1930. In the mid 1910’s, Mrs Fiske starred in film adaptations of two of her stage successes. Although the films were well received, she believed she was more suited for theater than film. Despite her success in the theater, the talented actress died poverty stricken. Her financial downfall was realted to her battling against a group of producers that organized the Theatrical Trust (or Syndicate). The Syndicate controlled the nation’s best theaters and dictated what plays would appear and which actors would be in the cast. They relegated Mrs Fiske to appear in third rate theaters, churches, and skating rinks. Mrs. Fiske was not to be intimidated. She also was an advocate for animal welfare. She was involved in the activities of the ASPCA and other human leagues. She fought against the fashion craze of decorating hats with bird feathers. Many bird lives were sacrificed, and entire species were nearly wiped out as a result of this fad. She also educated the public about the cruelty involved in trapping animals. Because she was well known, respected and popular, she was able to influence animal reform. Mrs Fiske won a number of humanitarian awards. She was a strict vegetarian and was anti vivisection. During World War II, there was a liberty ship named  the “SS Minnie M Fiske”. Minnie Maddern Fiske was a woman born before her time. She was a feisty activist.

Cabinet Card 1 features acclaimed theater actress, Minnie Maddern Fiske (1865-1932). The photograph captures her in her role in “Tess of the d’Urbervilles (1897). Mrs. Fiske’s photograph for this cabinet card was taken by eccentric celebrity photographer, Napoleon Sarony. (SOLD)

Mrs. Fiske’s photograph on Postcard 1 was taken by William Morrison of Chicago, Illinois. The card was published by Rotograph as part of a series (no.B 627). (SOLD)

Published in: on March 3, 2022 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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FAY COMPTON : ENGLISH STAGE & FILM ACTRESS – SHE ADVOCATES “TAKING OFF A LITTLE BIT” TO ATTRACT A MAN

POSTCARD 1

compton 1                                                                                 POSTCARD 2     (SOLD)                       

Fay Compton (1894-1978) is the subject of this vintage real photo postcard. Compton was an English actress who appeared in many films, but was best known for her stage performances. She was a versatile actress who appeared in Shakespeare, Modern Drama, Comedy, and Classics (ie Ibsen and Chekhov. She appeared on  stage in Britain, and toured the United States and Australia. Compton was born in London. Her father, mother, brother, and grandfather were all actors. She was the younger sister of actress Viola Comton. Compton’s stage debut was in 1911 with Pelissier’s Follies which was produced by H. G. Pelissier. Though still a teenager, she married Mr. Pelissier who died soon thereafter, leaving her with a child. She quickly married singer Lauri de Frece. Compton’s first American appearance was in 1914 and occurred at the Shubert Theatre in New York. In 1917, she played the title role in the London performances of Peter Pan. In the 1920’s and 1930’s she performed in many of Shakespeare’s plays. She also played in a number of plays written by J. M. Barrie. Barrie wrote the play, “Mary Rose” especially for her. Her second husband died in 1921 and in 1923, she married actor Leon Quartermaine. During the 1930’s she played in both West End plays and Shakespeare. The 1940’s and 1950’s found Compton continuing to play in Shakespeare productions, and other roles including Noel Cowards “Blithe Spirit”, “The Importance of Being Earnest”, “Uncle Vanya”, and “What Every Woman Knows”. In 1942, her third marriage failed and she married actor Ralph Michael. Their marriage dissolved after four years. Compton also appeared in films. Her IMDb filmography reveals that she appeared in 82 films between 1914 and 1970. The IBDb indicates that she performed in three Broadway shows between 1915 and 1959. At one point, Compton had her own drama school. One of her students was actor Alec Guinness.

Postcard 1  Miss Compton’s portrait on this postcard was taken by Rita Martin, a well known celebrity photographer. The card was published by J. Beagles Postcards as part of a series (no.258.8). The company produced a variety of postcards including an extensive catalog of celebrity (stage and screen) portrait postcards. The company closed in 1939. The card was postmarked in 1920. The postcard is in very good condition (see scans).

Postcard 2 was printed in Britain and was part of the Lilywhite Photographic Series (no. L 4). Miss Compton looks absolutely beautiful . She is wearing a pretty dress and a beaded necklace (pearls?). The publisher, Lilywhite Ltd, Halifax (L.L.H.), was founded by Arthur Frederick Sergeant. He also was the founder of Halifax Photographic Company which was based in Halifax, England. Lilywhite began publishing postcards in 1910; and in the 1920’s, the company took over Arrow Series Postcards. The company then published postcards under both the Arrow and Lilywhite names.   SOLD

 

Buy this Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes shipping within the US) #3712

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POSTCARD 1
compton 2
POSTCARD 2
Published in: on September 3, 2021 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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