Milewski & Short MARY PICKFORD COLLECTION: Unknown

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Little Mary of the IMP Company - Empress Theatre RPPC / Postcard - 1911

"'Little Mary' of the IMP Company" RPPC / postcard produced in 1911 by the Empress Theatre which once "catered to the intelligent" at 416 9th Street NW in Washington, DC. The front of the card features a nice portrait of Mary that was often used by IMP during her somewhat brief and largely subpar stint with the company (photographer unknown and incidentally, with Mary in a dress that she wears in her first IMP, Their First Misunderstanding (1911.))

Regarding the postcard, the May 6, 1911 issue of The Moving Picture News noted, "Manager [Marcus] Notes, of the Empress, is issuing postals to his patrons of 'Little Mary,' of the Imp Company. These are artistically gotten up and form an attractive souvenir. This house makes a practice of advertising in its lobby its program for the week, arranged not by the photoplay to be seen, but the manufacturer of the film. In the way Manager Notes is furthering the cause of the Independents in a most unique manner, calling attention more to the producer of the film rather than to the subject." Or perhaps, we can assume, in some cases advertising not by the photoplay to be seen or the manufacturer of the film, but the star.

Perhaps one of my personal favorite pieces in the collection.

Mary Pickford - Wyanoak print -1914

Well-used portrait of Mary at the time by photographer unknown, perhaps Apeda? White? This particular print was produced by the Wyanoak Company of New York in 1914. Signature printed in image.

Mary Pickford - Photograph - ca. 1917

This powerful composite photograph depicts a half-resolved Mary Pickford rising above several fallen soldiers. Unfortunately, it's bit of a mystery. While it may have some connection to her film The Little American (1917,) it could just as well be a generic, albeit very well-done, patriotic piece related to the overall zeitgeist of the time (ie. World War 1.) More details to come as they are uncovered. ca. 1917/1918.

Postcard - Photo by White? - 1914

Postcard featuring a Mary Pickford portrait by what I believe to be White Studio but I can be wrong about that. (Or maybe Gould & Marsden? Apeda?) The reverse advertises a July 24, 1914 screening of Never Again (1910) and When We Were In Our Teens (1910) at Marcus Loews' Royal Theatre at Pearl and Willoughby in Brooklyn, NY. Incidentally, those two shorts are among my favorites of Mary Biographs as she truly excelled at comedy and played best alongside Billy Quirk.

Mary Pickford portrait - Photographer Unknown - ca. 1913

8x10 portrait of Mary Pickford with a stylized signature in image, ca. 1913. Despite being marked, the photographer remains unknown at this time. I suspect it was a NYC-based studio but that is only a guess. It could just as well be from the west coast or anywhere in between. Do you know recognize the studio mark or know the photographer?

Tess of the Storm Country - photographs - 1914

Mary Pickford, posing like the Tess cover/frontispiece illustration from the 1909 book by Grace Miller (thank you to Pamela Short for pointing that out; book scan is for reference only) in a Tess of the Storm Country (1914) promotional photo. Photographer unknown. Part of NZ Photo Album.

Tess of the Storm Country (1914) publicity still. It is worth noting that this very layout, with the paper label glued on recto, was imaged for the Krauss Mfg. postcard series for the film. Typewritten on verso is "I swears that I won't tell." From NZ.

Tess of the Storm Country (1914) "Tess steals milk for Teola's child" mini lobby card from Mary's Estate. Not to be redundant, but written on verso seemingly in Mary's hand: "Mary Pickford in 'Tess of the Storm Country' first production 1914"

Mary Pickford - Signed Apeda Studio Photograph c. 1914

Lightly-tinted Mary Pickford 5.75x8 photo, stamped Apeda Studios (which is Art Photography Etchings Drawings and Architecture -- run by Alexander W. Dreyfoos Sr.) on reverse, but was the photo taken by Apeda? It may have actually been taken by White Studio, Gould & Marsden, or some other photographer. Hand-signed in ink. It's clear that Mary's handwriting changed like the wind, but this variant of her signature is seen around 1913/1914. Part of NZ Photo Album.

Apeda was known more as a photograph printer than a photography studio (though it seems they did take photos too.) They partook in the shady business of printing photos taken by other studios, but not before removing the original studio mark and adding their own. In fact, NYC powerhouse White took them to court -- and lost! The June 14, 1913 issue of Abel’s Photographic Weekly explained the court’s decision, “In the Apeda case, the customer goes to them with his or her own picture, whoever it is made by, and orders in writing extra copies of that picture. If that picture is not copyrighted by the original photographer, it is then clearly lawful — even if it is not ethical — for the Apeda Company to copy it and sell as many copies as they have orders for.” The suit further noted that the photographer that took the photo (in this court case, White NY) has no right to reproduce the photograph if it was not copyrighted and not given consent by the sitter.

5.75x7 photo, by Apeda? White? Gould & Marsden? Stamped Signature. ca. 1913.

Miscellaneous Mary Pickford Portraits by Photographers Unknown

While there are many other portraits on this website that are by photographers unknown, this page consists of miscellaneous portaits that don't fit in anywhere else for which the photographers are too, unfortunaely, unknown. If you can fill in any information, please get in touch!

A very nice, slightly unusual Mary Pickford portrait. ca. 1920. Possibly Nelson Evans or K.O. Rahmn?

Mary Pickford portrait by photographer unknown. Possibly Campbell Studios. ca. 1920

Mary Pickford portrait. ca. 1930s. Possibly K.O. Rahmn?

Mary Pickford portrait. ca. 1930s. Handsigned in ink. Possibly K.O. Rahmn?

Mary Pickford - Portraits - Unknown - ca. 1926

Mary Pickford portrait I believe by Lindstedt-Phelan, but perhaps Hesser? Stamped signature. ca. 1926.

Mary Pickford portrait I believe by Lindstedt-Phelan, but perhaps Hesser? Handsigned in ink, but clearly seems to be fake. ca. 1926.

Mary Pickford portrait I believe by Lindstedt-Phelan, but perhaps Hesser? ca. 1926. Stamped "Mary Pickford" on verso.

Often noted as being by Hesser, but I still believe this 6.5x8 Mary Pickford portrait is by Lindstedt-Phelan. Of course, I can certainly be wrong. Handwritten on verso “No. 6 Received May 17, 1927. Mary Pickford Studios Hollywood California.” ca. 1926.

Often noted as being by Hesser, but I still believe this 6.5x8 Mary Pickford portrait is by Lindstedt-Phelan. Of course, I can certainly be wrong. Handwritten on verso "Jan 1928," perhaps when received or hand-colored. Stamped signature. ca. 1926.

Mary Pickford portrait I believe by Lindstedt-Phelan, but perhaps Hesser? Stamped "Mary Pickford" in purple on verso. ca. 1926.

Mary Pickford in her victory garden - Photos - ca. 1917

Mary with a hose. Artcraft photo. 1917.

Mary inspecting limes. (Or as noted in the July 12, 1919 issue of The Picture Show, “The pick of the bunch, and there as many luscious fruit trees in her garden.”)

These photos show, at least according to an article (marketing) in the September 3, 1917 Artcraft Advance, Mary in the victory garden she created at her California bungalow in which she tended with the help of a "real farmer." In the article, Mary (or perhaps the Artcraft publicity department) stated "This is the first time I have ever given any personal attention to the nursing of a bean or a potato, and if I do not make a good Rebecca [of Sunnybrook Farm] it will not be because of lack of farm mannerisms." Photographer unknown. 1917. Part of NZ Photo Album.

Mary sitting on a car. While she isn't gardening, this photo is part of the same series. The July 12, 1919 isue of The Picture Show captioned it, "A reverie. Mary can act, but she can't mend her motor when it breaks down." Artcraft photo. 1917.