PHOTOS - - THE SEQUEL

Due to popular demand, I'm posting more photos from my private antique photo collection (he says with a smidgen of sarcasm). 

A continuation of my previous post.

William James Scanlan (1856 - 1898)

What? You've never heard of him?? Well, I never did, either - until I purchased this photo to add to my collection. Scanlan was an American composer and actor in theatrical musicals.
On Christmas Eve, 1891, during a performance of his musical "Mavourneen", Scanlan had a nervous breakdown, was restrained in a strait jacket, and was taken to Bloomingdale Insane Asylum in White Plains, New York. He remained there until his death in 1898.

King Ludwig of Bavaria (1845 - 1886)

I have three original photos of Ludwig in my collection (one of my favorite historical heroes).

He is erroneously referred as the "Mad King".

He was extremely eccentric, but definitely not mad. And he was most likely murdered.

King Ludwig had an enormous amount of political enemies, who used every ploy possible to destroy him and discredit his validity. The rumors of his supposed "insanity" were fabricated after his death.

Ironically, this unbridled political hatred is still prevalent today - and is rampant in our country.
Feel free to read between the lines.........

A beautiful portrait of Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II. There is no date on this photo.

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (the parents of Queen Elizabeth II)
No date on this photo.

Rare carte vista of Niccolo Paganini (1782 - 1840) - Italian violinist and composer.  Circa 1825.

American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807 - 1882). I have his signature (somewhere) and plan to frame it with this photo.

Beautiful Greta Garbo, sporting the worst hairdo in Hollywood history. Her hairdresser should have been hanged in the public square.

I have several portraits of Garbo, which I obtained from the MGM Archives.

An autographed photo of Marion Davies, silent screen actress and long-time mistress of William Randolph Hearst.

Ignancy Jan Paderewski (1860 - 1941) 

Polish pianist and composer, later became the Prime Minister of Poland. I have several portraits of him in my collection.

Anton Rubinstein (1829 - 1894) Russian pianist and composer (no relation to concert pianist Arthur Rubinstein).

I performed one of Anton Rubinstein's piano concertos at Cal State Fullerton when I was twenty years old.

Queen Alexandra (1844 - 1925) of the United Kingdom (former Princess of Denmark). She married Prince Edward, the eldest son of Queen Victoria. He became King Edward VII in 1901 when Victoria died. 

Edward was a notorious womanizer, having a multitude of affairs, mistresses, and scandals throughout his life. When he died in 1910, his wife Queen Alexandra said "Well, at least now I know where he is at night."
I love that quote!

Princess Alexandra and Prince Edward (before he was king) and their five children. 
Alexandra and Edward are in the center, second row.
This is a rare private photo I obtained from a collector in England.

Another of my numerous photos of Queen Victoria

Is this the end of the line???
I have many more photos in my collection.
Perhaps........perhaps someday I'll do a Part Three.
Maybe.

Cheers, Jon

FROZEN IN TIME

My life-long fascination with old photos  has inspired me to procure a vast collection that has spanned many years. My preference is varied, but I am specifically intrigued by anything to do with history - especially famous people - royalty, musicians, movie stars.

I only collect original photos - which have monetary value. Prints or copies are completely worthless.

I used to have hundreds (probably more) of photographs in my collection - but it dwindled over the years. I sold an enormous amount of them when I lived in Texas. Many more were "lost" or stolen when I moved to Tennessee.

Recently I was (pleasantly) surprised when I found a huge stash of antique photos in an old trunk - many of which I had completely forgotten about.

It's difficult to choose favorites. Here are a few hodgepodge samples

My old trunk where I keep the photos, and my cat Kitzee (now deceased) when she was a kitten

"Blackie" and "Tiger"
these are two cats that belonged to President Calvin Coolidge. The photo is dated October, 1923.

Playwright Edward Albee (Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?). I was never a fan of Albee, but I was intrigued by his cat. Circa 1961

Charles Lindberg and Amelia Earhart receiving medals for their aviation feats, presented by Charles Davila, Rumanian Minister to the U.S.

Photo dated 1933

 Lindberg and Spirit of St. Louis

Prince Philip and Elizabeth (before she was Queen) and their children Charles and Anne

photo dated "pre-1952"

I've never had any interest in Benito Mussolini whatsoever, but I got a series of his photos at auction for a very reasonable price. This is the Italian dictator with his son, dated 1933.

King George the Fifth and Queen Mary in 1917. I've always thought she looked more like a man than he did.

I have numerous photos of Queen Victoria. This one was taken in 1893.

A rare photo of composer Johann Strauss. It's not dated, but my guess is around 1870.

The 1863 wedding of midgets Tom Thumb (Charles Stratton) and Lavinia Warren, whose union was relentlessly promoted by P.T. Barnum. This is an original photo by Matthew Brady.

Is this a photo overdose??

I have so many photos in my collection, that I might be inspired to do a Part Two.

                                      Cheers, Jon