LITTLE EDDIE

Who is Little Eddie? “Little Eddie” is the subject of this cabinet card photograph but research yielded no information about him. In this image, long haired Little Eddie is wearing a top coat and top hat. He is also wearing a lace collar with a triangular bib. He has a flower pinned to his lapel and a white handkerchief in his breast pocket. He is holding a wand type stick. The object has a small handle. The boy in this picture has a look of a showman. Perhaps he wasn’t even a boy but instead an adult midget (the term “little person” was not yet used).  The photographer of this image was Edward A. Remington who was a native of Greenfield, Massachusetts and came to Buffalo, New York from Chicago, Illinois. Remington’s obituary appears in The Professional and Amateur Photographer (1909). The article states that he was a “widely known” photographer in Buffalo for 15 years. He left behind a widow, Mrs. Mamie Remington.

LESTER WALLACK: THEATRE ACTOR AND PLAYWRIGHT

This Cabinet Card was published by celebrity photographer, Napoleon Sarony. His studio was located in New York City. The subject of this portrait is actor, playwright, and theatre manager, John Lester Wallack (1820-1888). Wallack was born into a theatrical family. Wallack served in the British Army before appearing on the Dublin and London stage. His first stage appearance in New York was in 1847 in Boucicault’s adaptation of “Used Up.” Wallack became what many consider,  the leading light comedian on the American stage.  His autobiography, “Memories of Fifty Years”, was published in 1889. To view other photographs by Sarony, click on category “Photographers: Sarony”. To view other actors, click on category “Actor”.

ONE MUSKETEER IN LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND

This cabinet card captures an actor in costume. He is dressed like a musketeer. Note those long tresses. It is difficult to decipher the photographers name. It may be Oswald Wetti, but that is just a guess. The photographer’s studio was located in Lausanne, Switzerland. Lausanne is a city in French speaking Switzerland. The city lies on the shore of Lake Geneva.

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR IN NEW YORK (PHOTOGRAPH BY SARONY)

This cabinet card, by Sarony of New York City, presents a challenge to the research department of the Cabinet Card Gallery. The research department is composed of all the visitors to this site who bring with them a vast amount of knowledge which they generously share through their comments. So, what is the challenge? The challenge is; “Who is the subject of this photograph?”. This intense and interesting looking gentleman, is likely an actor. Although the evidence would not hold up in court, it does lean toward the hypothesis that this fur collared and mustachioed man, is a stage performer. The subject has the “look” of  a performer and the photographer is Sarony, who was a noted photographer of theatre stars. If any visitors have some ideas as to the identity of this gentleman, please leave a comment. Other photographs by Sarony may be seen by clicking on Cabinet Card Gallery’s category of “Photographer: Sarony”.

FRANCIS WILSON: EARLY AMERICAN THEATRE STAR, PLAYWRIGHT, AND AUTHOR

Francis Wilson (1854-1935) was an American actor born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He began his career in minstrel shows but by the time he was 24 year-old he was playing in Philadelphia’s Chestnut Theatre. He worked several years in regular comedy and later took up opera, most successfully in “Eminie” (1886). He later starred in “The Oolah” (1889), The Lion Tamer (1891), The Little Corporal (1898), and then in a play that he authored, “The Bachelor’s Baby (1909). Wilson authored additional plays as well as books. He wrote  books about fellow actors Joseph Jefferson and John Wilkes Booth. He also penned an autobiography. The photographer of this cabinet card portrait of the handsome Wilson, is Falk, a photographer known for his celebrity portraits. To view other images by Falk, click on this site’s category “Photographer: Falk”. To see other cabinet card images of actors, click on the category “Actors”.

STAGE ACTOR: FREDERIC ROBINSON

Fredric Robinson (1832-1912) is featured in this cabinet card by Falk, of New York City, New York. Robinson was an English theatrical performer who played York, Liverpool, and finally had his debut in London in 1851. In 1865 he was engaged by Lester Wallack to perform in America. He played Boston between 1868 and 1870. He later played in many of the major cities in the United States, including New York, San Francisco and Chicago. Robinson was an avid fisherman and he was known to travel with fishing tackle that was worth more than a thousand dollars.  The photographer of this cabinet card, Falk, was a celebrated photographer of celebrities. To see other photographs by Falk in the Cabinet Card Gallery; click on the category “Photographer: Falk”.

CHILD ACTOR IN LONDON, ENGLAND (LITTLE LORD FAUNTLEROY)

A young actor, in costume, poses for this cabinet card photographed by Ernest Pearce. Pearce’s studio was located at 46 Stamfield Hill, in London, England. The reverse of the card indicates that the photograph was taken in 1897. The child is dressed in the finery that was popular during the “Little Lord Fauntleroy” era. The bottom of the cabinet card has pencil writing that states “Rough Proof”. It appears that this card may have been one of many different images that were produced of this young actor.

JOSEPH WHEELOCK SR: LEADING THEATRE ACTOR

This cabinet card features stage actor, Joseph Wheelock Sr. (1839-1908). He began his careeer in Boston and later played leads in various stock companies. His first hit was his appearance in  ”The Stranger”. His principal stock company was the Meech Brothers. During his career he appeared with many of the most renowned theatre actors. His fellow cast members included Edwin Booth, Agnes Booth, Adelaide Neilson, Mary Anderson, Edward Sothern and Julia Marlowe. Wheelock was one of the founders and the first President of the Actors Society of America. The society was organized in 1895 and its purpose was to regulate and standardize contractual obligations between performers and producers. The group dissolved in 1912.  This cabinet card was photographed by Napoleon Sarony of New York City, one of the most popular celebrity photographers of this era. To see other photographs in the Cabinet Card Gallery by Sarony, click on the category “Photographer: Sarony”. It is important to note that Joseph Wheelock Sr. had a son who was also an actor. Judging by the estimated age of the subject of this photograph, and the estimated date of this photograph; it seems almost certain that this image is that of Joseph Wheelock Sr., and not Joseph Wheelock Jr.

WELL DRESSED AND HANDSOME BLACK GENTLEMAN: POSSIBLE CELEBRITY

This cabinet card features a handsome and fashionably dressed black man. He appears very confident in his three piece suit with his overcoat slung over his arm. This dapper man seems to be going someplace. The photographer and the location of the studio is unknown as this photograph has been trimmed to fit into an album or picture frame. The man may be a celebrity. The number (805) on the left side bottom of the card likely is a card number, indicating that the photograph is one of a series of photographs. Tobacco companies published cabinet card series, including series of cards featuring famous individuals.  Perhaps a visitor to this site will leave a comment providing additional information about the identity of the subject of this photograph.

SWASHBUCKLING THEATRE ACTOR AND MURDER VICTIM: WILLIAM TERRISS

William Terriss (1847-1897) was an English theatre actor known for his swashbuckling roles. He played Robin Hood and a number of Shakespeare roles. He was also known for his early demise; the victim of a murder. His killer was a disgruntled and deranged actor who held a grudge against Terriss for getting him dismissed from a role he played in one of Terriss’s productions. Interestingly, Terriss still helped him financially and theatrically after his dismissal. Terriss was murdered outside of the Adelphi Theatre where he had arrived to prepare for that evenings performance of “Secret Service”. Terriss’s daughter, Ellaline Terriss was a star of Edwardian Musical Comedy and his son, Tom, was a well known film director,writer and actor. William Terriss was an adventurer and an outdoorsman in real life, not just in theatrical roles. Before entering acting in 1867 he pursued merchant service, medicine, sheep farming in the Falklands, and Tea Planting in Bengal. The photographer of this Cabinet Card was Falk, a well known celebrity photographer in New York City.