The Poor Little Rich Girl - Glass Slide - 1917

Magic lantern glass slide made by the Excelsior Illustrating Co. for Maurice Tourneur's The Poor Little Rich Girl (1917.) Interiors for the film, including that depicted, were taken at Paragon Studios in Fort Lee, NJ. Not that it means much, but this is the first piece that, by chance, started it all for this collection.

Mary Pickford - Glass Slide - c. 1920s

Generic Mary Pickford personality glass slide from Australia, c. 1920s, featuring a photo by Alfred Lindstedt. The slide is labeled "LINTON SLIDE, 61 Market St., Sydney." and measures 3.25" x 3.25" English size,  slightly smaller than typical slides.

Suds - Glass Slide - 1920

Suds (directed by Jack Dillon) magic lantern glass slide made by the Excelsior Illustrating Co. 1920.

Mary Pickford / Artcraft Pictures - Glass Slide - c. 1917

In 1917, the “Exhibitor’s Service Department” of Artcraft Pictures issued a series of 9 slides depicting their biggest names and sent them free-of-charge to exhibitors “after the acceptance of their star series contracts.” (Artcraft Advance, September 24, 1917.) The set included Mary Pickford, seen here in a photo by Campbell Studio, along with George M. Cohan, Cecil B. DeMille, Douglas Fairbanks, Geraldine Farrar, Elsie Ferguson, David Wark Griffith, William S. Hart, Thomas H. Ince. As would be expected, the promotional stunt was well-received, but if you're signing a contract to show Artcraft films--were they really free? 

The Dawn of a Tomorrow - Glass Slide - 1915

The Dawn of a Tomorrow (directed by James Kirkwood and perhaps one of Mary's worst films) magic lantern glass slide made by the Excelsior Illustrating Co. 1915.

As usual with many things at the time, the October 1915 issue The Review had to throw Mary's name into its "The Use of the Slide" article where, while describing the proper use of glass slides, it is noted, ". . . if you are showing a Mary Pickford Exclusive and it gets a great reception (as of course it will do) put a slide on afterwards and say when you've got anotehr one coming, and what it is. It'll get a clap every time and people will go home and talk about i, and that is what you want them to do -- to carry your theatre into their homes."

Mary Pickford Maxwell Cabriolet Automobile - Glass Slide - 1915

A "reel" star in a real car. Winsome Mary Pickford, the famous motion picture actress in her Maxwell Cabriolet. Magic lantern glass slide showing Mary in a Maxwell at the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument on Riverside Dr. at W. 89th in NYC. Additional photos from this 1915 promotion were taken on W. 26th St. in front of the Famous Players Studio/Offices.

Little Lord Fauntleroy - Glass Slide - c. 1921

Not the most vibrant or beautifully-colored Little Lord Fauntleroy magic lantern glass slide c. 1921. Apologies for the poor quality photo.

Heart o' the Hills - Glass Slide - 1919

Heart O' The Hills (directed by Joseph De Grasse & Sidney Franklin) magic lantern glass slide made by the Excelsior Illustrating Co. 1919.

Daddy Long Legs - Glass Slide - 1919

Daddy Long Legs (1919, directed by Marshall Neilan) magic lantern glass slide made by the Norton Slide Co. 1919.

My Best Girl - Glass Slide - 1927

 

Magic Lantern Glass Slide advertising 1927's My Best Girl, Mary's last leading role in silent film. Manufactured by the Excelsior Illustrating Co., Inc. of NY.