Mary Pickford Cap - 1914

Manufactured by Chicago's Vassar Cap Company, the Mary Pickford Cap (actually a variety of caps) was "the greatest sensation in years" and "the craze of the age" -- the age being late-1914, when the hats cost an upwards of $2.95, until about the mid-1915 when some were on special for as low as $.59.

In otherwise good condition, this black cloth cap may be missing its light-colored trimming/band that is present in several photos of Mary sporting it by White Studio (unless that was a personal add on as it seems to be missing in at least one of Mary's photo.) Printed logo inside the hat. Gifted from the Pamela Short Collection.

The November 11, 1914 Dry Goods Reporter reported, "A new cap, called the 'Mary Pickford,' which is said to have been designed by the popular moving picture star of that name, has made its appearance and through the publicity given it in an advertising way in the Chicago daily papers, gives promise of becoming popular.

"The cap is made of cloth, velvet, corduroy, satin and mohair and it comes in a variety of the season's favored colors. It is made with a pleated full crown with a rubber in the back which persists of adjustment. The front of the cap has a visor which protects the face and gives an air of jauntiness which is becoming to young girls, for whom the cap is intended.

"The Vassar Cap Company, the manufacturers, announced in an advertisement in the Sunday papers that on Monday several pretty girls would promenade about the downtown streets between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. The first fifty persons who said to one of the girls, 'You are wearing the new Mary Pickford caps,' would be presented with an order for one of the caps which could be procured at any of the leading State street stores. Although a perfect blizzard raged in Chicago at the time, the girls were approached many times over fifty times by women who wanted one of the caps. The was the means by which the cap was brought directly to the attention of the consumer."

For more information, see the sampling of advertisements below (from Photoplay 12/1914, Fort Wayne Sentinel 11/19/1914, Dry Goods Reporter 11/11/1914, and Duluth Herald 11/20/1914.) These ads are for reference only and not part of this collection.