Image of actor Minnie Palmer portraying multiple different stage characters in a single scene, with Palmer dressed as a male impersonator in the military uniform of a naval cadet standing before a fireplace and smoking a cigarette, while Palmer, dressed as a bootblack, falls out of the fireplace, Palmer dressed as a maid with two lap dogs looks on, and a miniature version of Palmer bent over to rearrange her dress stands on the fireplace mantle; with a portrait of Palmer in formal dress and a picture of a beach labeled "Long Branch" hanging above the mantle; the poster presumably advertises Palmer's play "My Brother's Sister" written by Leonard Grover in which she appears as those characters. Margins trimmed on local copy; probable date based on year the play "My Brother's Sister" was first performed as described in newspaper article: “Pretty Minnie Palmer has adopted a novel method of making her first appearance in ‘My Brother’s Sister,’ in which play the vivacious little star is to be seen … she is given a much wider scope to display her versatility, for she appears in several widely different characters: as a bootblack, a waiting maid, a society bell and a naval cadet, in all of which she is seen to advantage …" (“My Brother’s Sister,” Boston Daily Globe, 28 December 1887, page 8). "Forbes Lith Co Boston & N.Y."--text, bottom left.
Type
image
Extent
1 lithograph : color printed ; overall 64.77 x 52.39 cm (25 1/2 x 20 5/8 in.)
Palmer, Minnie, -1936--Portraits Actors--Portraits Actresses--Pictorial works Household employees--Pictorial works Soldiers--Pictorial works Theatrical productions Lithographs--Color--1875-1900. (gmgpc) Theatrical posters--American. (gmgpc)
Source
Jay T. Last Collection Entertainment Large Size Music and Theater The Jay T. Last Collection of Graphic Arts and Social History, Huntington Digital Library
If you're wondering about permissions and what you can do with this item, a good starting point is the "rights information" on this page. See our terms of use for more tips.
Share your story
Has Calisphere helped you advance your research, complete a project, or find something meaningful? We'd love to hear about it; please send us a message.