I didn't know Esther well. She was a friend of friends. After she passed away, there was a box filled with snapshots she'd taken. Many were recognizable theatre celebs of long ago. Other photos were of her and others. Some photos had inscriptions on the reverse, which I've noted. Others had nothing. This box was destined for the trash bin. I saved it.


18 November 2009

Unmarked Photo


But I just love it.  Boyfriends, back in the day (when back in the day was REALLY BACK!)....and doesn't Mr. Left give off a Jon Hamm vibe?

"Provincetown"

"July 4, 1950"

"Provincetown"

"Race Point, July, 1947"





MY FAVORITE PHOTO OF THEM ALL!

I just adore this one....so provocative..so, so...Esther! How brazen she was, right there on Revere Beach, June 1948. Can'tcha just hear that oil sizzle on that thigh?

A Lesson in Lipstick


Someone's trying to show dear Esther how to fem it up!










Penny Singleton & her daughter Dorothy!

A Few More Unmarked Unknowns....





02 November 2009

More unmarked photos....



Any guesses?

and even more unmarked pictures....





Another unmarked photo....

I've stared at this woman's face with my magnifying glass (think Little Edie) and can't put a name to it. She's obviously fabulous....and possibly the star.



Unmarked Snapshots






I just love this set!

Can't recognize anyone in these or what show they were taken at. Boo-hoo.

21 September 2009

"Crazy With the Heat" "Shubert 1941"




Taken outside the Shubert Theatre, Boston while the revue, "Crazy With The Heat" was in the house. (It's time in New York was fleeting.) Is "Foreign Legion Dude" signing an autograph? Once again, Esther labeled the show & location, but no names. Grrr...
























If Anonymous is correct, the first two visible folks in the photo below are pictured here....Luella Gear & Willie Howard.











And here are two more from "CWTH". I have to presume that these are from the first incarnation of the show (the Boston tryouts) which went to Broadway & played a whopping 7 performances. After closing, it was then taken over by Ed Sullivan, restaged and played for 92 performances. Missing from this new production was Richard Kollmar, (Mr. Dorothy Killgallen) both his person & song writing credit gonzo. Ouch. If only Esther had managed to get a snapshot of Dickie!

14 September 2009

Billie Bernice, "Shubert B & G Together" Sept. 1940

The answer to this one was under my nose all the time. This is Billie Bernice, Esther's other swoon, who played Wynnsome Dancing Girl, "Down Mexico Way" Girl and Other girl in "Boys & Girls Together". (You'll find a Xmas card from Bernice {to Esther} as well as clippings as you scroll down.)  I don't know where these were snapped, NYC or Boston though as you can see, "George Washington Slept Here" is playing at the Plymouth. Might there have been a Plymouth Theatre in Boston?

WELCOME JANE PICKENS!


The back of this reads, "Shubert.....B & G Together 1940". The body language of Esther says she's not friends with these folks & is humbled to be getting a snapshot with them. This veiled dame's gotta be somebody! Help!













July 29, 2020- I just learned that there's a Jane Pickens Theatre in Newport, RI! I'm ashamed to admit that I guess didn't come across it when I put the blog together. Shows you what an idiot I am!