Mary Pickford Pillow Top - Stanbury - 1916

Photo pillow tops, popular in the early-1900s, were an easy way to dress up your boring couch pillows. One could have any photo printed on a sheet of fabric (typically an 18"x18" sateen square) which would would then be sewn onto a dull pillow and embellished however one's heart desired. R. K. Stanbury, seeing a way to cash in, printed the portraits of early stars on pillow tops and sold them, along with other photos and the like, via advertising in an assortment of publications. This Stanbury pillow top, cut down to 15"x15", trimmed with fringe and a back added, features a photo of Mary Pickford by White Studio.

An advertisement for the same. This ad is for reference only and is not part of the collection.

This pillow top on display at the Barrymore Film Center's 2023 exhibit, Power Couple: Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford in Hollywood, albeit erroneously noted as being produced by B.K. Stanbury. 

Mary Pickford Stanbury Photos - White / Alice McClure - c. 1916

Mary Pickford Famous Players-Lasky Star Paramount Program photo by Alice McClure. Alice McClure started a photo studio on 5th Avenue in NYC that was best known for Broadway portraiture — an art that, at the time, was dominated by men. Throughout her career, she recognized the importance of photography in the world, and as such, immersed herself in photographic clubs and societies to advance the field. The text in the lower right corner is handwritten in ink and additionally hand-signed Stanbury, New York. This was master layout that was reshot for prints issued by Stanbury (Robert K. Stanbury of New York) c. 1916. I assume the print itself is from McClure (unless Stanbury made a copyprint prior to marking it with ink.) The prints made from this master do turn up from time to time as I have seen at least two. Part of NZ Photo Album.

Mary Pickford photo by White. Printed and issued by Stanbury (Robert K. Stanbury of New York.) Signature in negative. c. 1916. It is worth noting that I have seen another Stanbury print of this same photo that is slightly different. It also appears on a Stabury-issue pillow top. Part of NZ Photo Album.

A Stanbury advertisement announcing such photos that could be found in a variety of publications at the time. This ad is for reference only and is not part of the collection.

Power Couple: Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford in Hollywood

For a good bit of 2023, the Barrymore Film Center in Fort Lee, NJ is running the Power Couple: Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford in Hollywood exhibit. While it mainly highlights some very nice pieces from Tracey Goessel's impressive collection, I was able to contribute, albeit in minor capacity, several things including a 1916 Stanbury pillowtop, which is on display, as well as a few photographs/scans. Admission is free during business hours and I encourage everyone to check it out if you're in the area. The exhibit is now over.

Below are a number of cellphone photos from opening night on June 10, 2023. It was indeed a packed house, but I was able to grab these mostly-unobstructed shots while The Thief of Bagdad was playing in the theatre.

Pardon the lack of a Fairbanks focus in my photos which is not indicative of the exhibit. But shouldn't that be expected?

Power Couple: Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford in Hollywood

A general view of the well-designed exhibit.

A general view of the well-designed exhibit.
The small box in case in the foreground contains one of Mary's curls.

A general view of the well-designed exhibit.

A general view of the well-designed exhibit.

A general view of the well-designed exhibit. Mary's Biograph The New York Hat (1912) directed by D. W. Griffith in Fort Lee / Coytesville, is playing on the screen the background.

Those responsible.

This mural shows several images of a few glass slides from my collection.

A small portion of a nice collection amassed by Richard S. Hoffman, a period fan, on loan from the Museum of the Moving Image. Several of Tracey Gossel's Pickford posters adorn the wall in the background (with a particularly nice piece for Maurice Tourneur's Pride of the Clan (1917.))

My 1916 Stanbury pillowtop, featuring a photo by White and fashioned into a fringed pillowcase, on display.

R.K. Stanbury erroneously noted as B.K. Stanbury and my reflection.

This graphic shows shows several Fort Lee locations from The New York Hat (1912,) some of which not at all far from the BFC, along with present-day photos taken by myself.

The aforementioned Pride of the Clan (1917) window card. I have never seen it before and I found it to be quite striking that is was singled out for a closeup. I admittedly feel a little strange posting it as it's from someone else's collection, but it was part of the exhibit... so...  

One of several display showing some of Mary's / Pickfair's personal effects. Here, hair-care-related items along with one of Mary's famous curls. Creepy to some. Interesting to others. Or, is is just a clump of hair?