June 2024
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The Joker of the Month May came from a deck, which we had bought before that section was started in March 2004. This Deck of the Month was bought in 2001, so years before we started this section in 2007. I came across it when I was preparing for the Collectors Day at the Turnhout Museum early this month and thought it would be worth showing here. So, introducing here.... "The Stage No. 65x". |
There are 2 versions of the deck: one with a single index in 2 corners (Hochman SE3) and one with an index and the denomination of the courts written in full in the large pip in the 2 corners (Hochman SE4). We liked that version better and were able to buy this deck on Ebay in November 2001. The deck was printed by the U.S. Playing Card Co. from Cincinnati and published in 1896. According to the Hochman both decks were produced until 1900, but apparently still sold somewhat later. Our deck came in a box with a tax stamp, which was canceled in 1901.
Each
of the courts and aces shows 4 circular pictures of different Stage Stars, set
against a similar, classical designed figure per denomination. The WOPC site shows 8
courts from the single index version and there are a few more differences
between the 2 versions than just the written denomination. There's a different
colour scheme used in the similar designed background figures. Most apparent on
the sword of the Kings, here embellished with a green stem with light green
leaves, which is done in red with dark green leaves in the single indexed
version. Also, on the Queen of Spades a different picture of Mrs. Leslie Carter is used, on the
Queen of Hearts a different picture of Mrs. Potter and on the Queen of Diamonds
a different picture of Jessie Bartlett-Davis. In the Hochman this was noticed
too: "As both of these decks were made until 1900 there may be a change or
two in the photo's on either deck". Because the WOPC only shows 8 courts I
can't check if the changes were confined to pictures only or that maybe a new
stage star was introduced too.
As said, the deck shows pictures of actors and actresses, who were well known by
the public from the roles they played on stage. No movie stars in this deck,
which can be explained by the fact that the first silent movie was introduced to
the American public about the same time that this deck was released. Sound
wasn't added until the late 1920's. But in 1896 there hadn't been time for movie
actors to become known to the public. It took 20 years before the first Movie
Stars Souvenir (USPC) was published by M.J. Moriarty. Going to a theatre to see
a play was still such a popular pastime, that in 1908 a second Stage Stars
was published. However, with a completely different layout and design and
showing a different star on each of the 52 cards.
Because
some of the names are hard to read, I've added all the names in full above and
below the cards. Of course for us these names have lost their meaning, these
stars have faded a long time ago. I could have given you a description of
each star, but I'll leave that up to you. If you see an interesting name, feel
free to google it. Adding actor or actress to the name should bring a
result.
I've done this for Roland Reed (JS) and Yvette Guilbert (AD). Click either of
their portraits above to read about their lives.
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Nat E. Goodwin / Robert Mantell |
Mrs. Leslie Carter / Julia Marlowe-Taber |
Robert Taber / Frederick Warde |
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| Wilton Lackaye / James O'Neil | Julia Arthur / Georgia Cayvan | Melbourne Mac Dowell / Roland Reed |
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Tony Pastor / Thomas W. Keene |
Fanny Davenport / Helena Modjeska |
Maurice Barrymore / Chauncey Olcott |
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Jas. A. Herne / Stuart Robson |
Ellen Terry / Mrs. Potter |
Henry E. Dixey / Walter Jones |
| B.E. Graham / Louis Harrison | Miss Billie Barlowe / Nellie McHenry | Jos. Holland / E.M. Holland | Yvette Guilbert / Loie Fuller |
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| William Collier / Neil Burgess | Dorothy Morjon / Anna Boyd | Henry Kellar / Albert Chevalier | Minnie French Evans / May Irwin |
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Francis Wilson / Frank Daniels |
Camille D'Arville / Anna Held |
Otis Harlan / Chas. H. Hopper |
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De Wolf Hopper / Jefferson De Angelis |
Edna Wallace-Hopper / Effie Ellsler |
Charles Evans / William Hoey |
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Wm. H. Crane / Joseph Murphy |
Della Fox / Caroline Miskel Hoyt |
John Kernell / James Powers |
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Sol Smith Russell / Denman Thompson |
Lillian Russell / Jessie Bartlett-Davis |
Henry V. Donnelly / Edward Girard |
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The deck consists of 52 cards and the joker with a portrait of Marshall P. Wilder. All with solid gold edges. |
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