New York Public Library - Billy Rose Theater Collection

For classic cancan fans there is a trove of photos available at the New York Public Library's Billy Rose Theater Collection.  The online site includes photos from 1940s and 1950s and even earlier performances of The Merry Widow and a few other productions.  Unfortunately, many are defaced by proof marks and numbering, but they are still a marvelous find.

The link below will take you to the results of a search for The Merry Widow.  (It gets better on page 2 and subsequent pages.)

You can also run other searches from there.  I tried "Can-Can" thinking there would be a lot from the 1953 Broadway production, but there wasn't anything I could find.

If anyone discovers more of interest with other searches, please post a message or comment.

Happy hunting.  Barbebleu

http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgkeysearchresult.cfm?num=0&word=merry%20widow&s=1&notword=&d=&c=&f=&k=1&lWord=&lField=&sScope=&sLevel=&sLabel=&sort=&imgs=20&pNum=

A Classic Performance

But I don't know where it occurred.  This photo is old enough that I do not have information about its provenance   The costumes say Paris in the 1950s, but that 's a guess.

From the ground up

The photographer certainly had the angle on this one.  It appears to be from the circa 1950s Moulin Rouge, but the source doesn't identify it.  See the original at:

http://pinterest.com/pin/480829697685898054/

Lizzi Waldmuller - Frau Luna

Lizzi Waldmuller, mentioned in the last post about "Bel Ami", also starred in another German film with a cancan, "Frau Luna"

There is a slide show from the film at YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9a2ySpTT3M

Ms. Waldmuller was killed in an air raid toward the end of the War.  Biographies can be found at:

http://filmstarpostcards.blogspot.com/2013/01/lizzi-waldmuller.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lizzi_Waldm%C3%BCller

Bel Ami (1939)

The German film Bel Ami from 1939, based on de Maupassant's story, contains a cancan by Lizzi Waldmuller.  See a photo in the Pictures Section of this site:

https://picasaweb.google.com/111110048689955606979/BerlinNights?authkey=Gv1sRgCIO_3Ou7naiEPw#5799240935496056002

The above photo is from a film magazine of the period and shows the cancan chorus girls in the background.  See the original at a  German EBay auction:

http://www.ebay.de/itm/IFB-Nr-679-Bel-ami-Willi-Forst-/150989488466?pt=DE_Filme_DVD_s_TV_Fanartikel&hash=item2327acc152

More about the film:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031092/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bel_Ami_(1939_film)

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bel_Ami_(1939)

Marika Rökk

 

Marika Rökk was Nazi Germany's answer to Ginger Rogers, Eleanor Powell and Betty Grable, all rolled into one.  She appeared in several films and television shows with cancans, including most notably, "Die Frau meiner Träume":


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUJ4TwYcDBU
(At about 7:00)


The above photo is not from one of her cancan roles, but gives an idea. It was posted by Truus, Bob & Jan too! at Flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/truusbobjantoo/5972838153/in/set-72157632355653790

I'd really like to find a nice clear still photo of the cancan scene from "Die Frau meiner Träume", but no luck yet.

For a biography of Ms. Rökk see:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marika_R%C3%B6kk

Miss Gabrielle Ray

Gabrielle Ray was a star of the Edwardian music hall and considered one of the most beautiful women of her time.  Her Wikipedia biography states,

"In 1907, Ray played Frou Frou in Edwardes' adaptation of The Merry Widow, which ran for 778 performances at Daly's Theatre. Ray's dance number, complete with handstands and high kicks, all performed on a table at Maxim's held head high by four men, was a show stopper."

For the full biography see:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabrielle_Ray

The original postings of these photos can be found at:

http://maudelynn.tumblr.com/post/42516860511/miss-gabrielle-ray

http://www.ananasamiami.com/2011/07/gabrielle-ray-and-plays.html#!/2011/07/gabrielle-ray-and-plays.html

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lat44mxdXj1qzdzano1_500.jpg

http://throughframes.blogspot.com/2012/12/talbot-hughes.html

And for many more you can Google her name.

Bal Tabarin 1937

A program from the Bal Tabarin circa 1937.  See the originals at the following French/German EBay auction:

http://www.ebay.fr/itm/Tabarin-Album-erotik-Variete-Paris-Programme-1937-44-Seiten-/261029270541?pt=Antiquarische_B%C3%BCcher&hash=item3cc68e940d

Bal Tabarin 1944

A 1944 photo from the Bal Tabarin.  Guess who was in the audience.

Originally posted at Flickr by tetra1949:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/50831621@N08/8470191988/in/set-72157632634777759

Karussell - Hessische Fernsehfastnacht mit Operettenmelodien 1965

This is an excerpt from a German Fastnacht television program with a nice 60's style cancan in it.  The longer original version posted by fritz51111 can be seen at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LaEIXzlUq0

La Chaste Suzanne (La Casta Susana)

Marujita Diaz literally kicks up her heels in this black and white publicity photo from the French/Spanish  co-production of La Chaste Suzanne (La Casta Susana).

This photo is available at auction on Spanish EBay:

http://www.ebay.es/itm/Photo-CASTA-SUSANA-la-/160741882133?pt=FR_SK_dvd_Photo&hash=item256cf67915

See the two excellent cancans from this film at:

http://clubccd.blogspot.com/2013/01/la-casta-susanala-chaste-suzanne.html

http://clubccd.blogspot.com/2013/01/la-casta-susanala-chaste-suzanne-second.html

Seattle Welcomes Home Vets

A little something to welcome the Korean War vets home.

Mistinguett

One usually thinks of Mistinguett as a French music-hall star of the 1920's-30's paired with Maurice Chevalier, but she apparently also enjoyed an earlier career as a cancan dancer, as the above poster would indicate.  This is from an EBay France auction, where you can see a larger version of this poster and also another more famous one from later in her career.:

http://www.ebay.fr/itm/C1977-Poster-Bergere-Paris-Music-Hall-Theatre-Ladies-/350701416052?pt=UK_art_prints_GL&hash=item51a76eee74

See a brief biography at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mistinguett

Daring, but Modest

You want ruffles?  You can get them at these two EBay France auctions:

http://www.ebay.fr/itm/GRAVURE-ANCIENNE-FEMMES-1900-EROTISME-CHANTEUR-CAFE-CONCERT-ET-MUSIC-HALL-/170988450213?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_71&hash=item27cfb4b1a5

http://www.ebay.fr/itm/GRAVURE-ANCIENNE-FEMMES-1900-CAFE-CONCERT-ET-MUSIC-HALL-/170988450254?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_71&hash=item27cfb4b1ce

These photos show just how extravagant some of the Belle Epoque dresses worn by the cancan dancers, and the underpinnings, actually were.  The Hollywood films weren't exaggerating on that.

These are outside the time period for this group, but they really are great images, and they stick to the black and white theme.

Strictly Amateur

From an Ebay France auction, where a much larger version of this photo can be seen:

http://www.ebay.fr/itm/SPECTACLE-MUSIC-HALL-AMATEUR-argentique-c-1950-/270770806034?pt=FR_SK_dvd_Photo&hash=item3f0b329d12

Protective coloration?  With these dresses the dancers are about to fade into the wallpaper behind them, but the raised skirts give away the game.  No information about the dancers is available,

The View from the Balcony

One of the balcony shots from French Cancan.  It would really have been been something to have been an "extra" on the set when this was being filmed, undoubtedly with a number of retakes.

This photo and several others can be found at the Movie Mail site:

http://www.moviemail.com/film/dvd+blu-ray/French-Cancan/

Ezzola & Resee

Two dancers in a posed "at ease" shot.  This is from an Etsy sale by maclancy:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/112752207/vintage-photo-ezzola-and-resee-moulin

There is no information on which show the dancers are from, although the sale describes them as Parisian.

The Lodger

Merle Oberon demonstrates the "Parisian Trot" as she makes her way between rows of cancan dancers as Jack the Ripper becomes increasingly outraged in the audience.

This photo was found on The Bourne Legacy blog:

http://thebourne-legacy.blogspot.com/2011/04/the-lodger-friedhofer-bellwood-herbert.html

Folies Bergere - 1970s

Folies Bergere - 1970s

From a Del Campe auction:

http://www.delcampe.fr/page/item/id,148905957,var,PARIStheatre-des-folies-bergeres-de-paul-derval-septembre-1970music-hall-Parisienneannees-follesrevues-dansees,language,F.html

"Can-Can"

A photo group from the original 1953 Broadway production of "Can-Can" showing Lilo, Gwen Verdon and Hans Conreid.  These are for auction at:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vint-53-Entertainer-Lilo-Broadway-CAN-CAN-Doubleweight-Glamour-Photo-by-Darby-/160967930054?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item257a6fb0c6

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-53-Gwen-Verdon-Broadway-CAN-CAN-Seductive-Glamour-Doubleweight-Photo-/390536315148?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5aedc7410c

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1953-Gwen-Verdon-Lilo-Broadway-CAN-CAN-Doubleweight-Glamour-Stage-Photo-by-Darby-/160967930072?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item257a6fb0d8

Bal Bullier

A period photo from the famous Bal Bullier where the scene seems to have been just as lively as the more famous (today, at least) Moulin Rouge.

This photo is available in a Del Campe auction:

http://old-paper.delcampe.net/page/item/id,55596078,var,PARIS--Une-Soiree-au-Bal-BULLIER--Interieur--Danse-Spectacle-French-Cancan,language,E.html

Georgia Theater Girls

Pass the popcorn and Junior Mints  These dancers entertain at a Georgia theater..The original is up for auction at EBay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1961-Press-Photo-Georgia-Theater-Can-Can-Girls-/350707106600?pt=Art_Photo_Images&hash=item51a7c5c328

A Fine Pair

 Two dancers, who appear to be from the 1930s, pose on risers for the photographer, Mayor, whose name appears above on the photo.  There's a nice contrast between the dark petticoats and the dancers' legs.  No clues as to the identity of the dancers, the date or the occasion.  The original is for sale at Del Campe:

http://old-paper.delcampe.net/page/item/id,63326236,var,FRENCH-CANCAN,language,E.html

Lucky Seven

A splendid photo offered in a Del Campe auction by Eldede:

http://old-paper.delcampe.net/page/item/id,42472936,var,French-Cancan,language,E,adult,accept.html

No description is given as to the identity of the dancers, the place or date.  My guess, judging from the costumes, would be the 1930s or, possibly, the late 1920s.

Pre-Classic Classic

A really neat old photo from a Del Campe auction. There is no information to pinpoint the time period, the event or the dancer's identity.  1910-20 possibly.  Not sure if those are super ruffled pantalets or a drooping petticoat.

See the auction at:

http://old-paper.delcampe.net/page/item/id,204409316,var,DANSE-cp-photo-danseuse-de-french-cancan-2-scans,language,E.html