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Belle Archer

Born in Easton, Pennsylvania - the daughter of the local postmaster, James Mingle - Belle Mingle Archer was a versatile actress and vocalist in the 1880s. The artist shone as Pitti-Sing in "The Mikado" at the Union Square Theatre in 1885. In that same year, Archer enjoyed a great hit as Tom Chickweed in "Alone in London," a melodrama, with Wallack's Theatre company. Here the actress poses in a snowy scene at the Falk studio in New York City. Archer was married to Herbert Archer, an actor who was best known for playing villains.

via Picture History, image via Sloth Unleashed























Alphons Mucha, Spring 1896

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Maude Fealy (March 4, 1883 – November 9, 1971) was an American stage and film actress. Fealy first gained public notice as a silent film actress, and successfully adapted to performing both on the stage, and, later, successfully adapted to acting in films with sound, a feat that many of her peers never successfully accomplished.

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Polaire was the stage name used by French singer and actress Émilie Marie Bouchaud (May 14, 1874 – October 14, 1939).

Born at Agha, Algiers, Algeria, she began her show-business career as a café singer, at age 15. At 17, she joined her older brother in Paris, France. Eventually adopting the stage name Polaire, she worked as a music-hall singer; in 1895, her fame increased significantly when Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec's sketch of her appeared in the satirical magazine Le Rire.

A gifted comedic actress, she became one of the major celebrities of her day.

At a time when tightlacing among women was in vogue, she was famous for her tiny, corsetted waist, which was sometimes reported to have a circumference no greater than 14 inches Talk of her figure and her lavish overdressing in fur coats and dazzling jewels preceded her appearances wherever she went.

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Fannie Ward (June 22, 1872 - January 27, 1952) was both a famous vaudeville and silent film actress.

Fannie Ward was born in St. Louis, Missouri and made her stage debut in 1890 in Peppina. She went on to become a very successful stage star for many years to come. Around 1890, she sailed for London and made a hit in music halls there, as well. She married diamond broker Joe Lewis who was worth an estimated $50 million. After a short break, she went back to the stage, returning to the United States in 1907. While playing in Madame President in 1913-1914, she divorced Lewis. In January 1916, she married her leading man, John Dean (1874-1950).

via Wikipedia, image via Turn of the Century