Historic Stage Performances

Vintage images depicting theatrical performances from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, featuring dancers and actors in unique costumes.

Tamara Karsavina and Vaslav Nijinsky in the Ballet Le Spectre de la Rose, Anonymous

Isadora Duncan as the first fairy in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream,' 1896., 1896. Isadora Duncan Dancers. Duncan, Isadora, 1877-1927. Dancing, United States, 1891-1900., 1 photographic print; 26 x 21 cm

Albumin photograph of Emil Rabending in Commedia dell'arte as a show-off, wearing a cardboard nose and holding a short sword, on an undercard box, circa 1864.

Card Number 600, Miss Jackson, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-3) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes. Dimensions: Sheet: 2 11/16 × 1 3/8 in. (6.8 × 3.5 cm). Publisher: Issued by W. Duke, Sons & Co. (New York and Durham, N.C.). Date: 1880s.Trade cards from the set "Actors and Actresses" (N145-3), issued in the 1880s by W. Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes. There are eight subsets of the N145 series. Various subsets sport different card designs and also promote different tobacco brands represented by W. Duke Sons & Company. This card is from the third subset, N145-3. Note that actors' names are spelled differently on cards throughout set and are not dependable for accuracy. Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.

Mlle Maria Gartang daughter of master, in ballet "Mazepa". Karl Karlovitz Bulla (Russian, 1854 - 1929)

Zampa, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-3) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes. Dimensions: Sheet: 2 11/16 × 1 3/8 in. (6.8 × 3.5 cm). Publisher: Issued by W. Duke, Sons & Co. (New York and Durham, N.C.). Date: 1880s.Trade cards from the set "Actors and Actresses" (N145-3), issued in the 1880s by W. Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes. There are eight subsets of the N145 series. Various subsets sport different card designs and also promote different tobacco brands represented by W. Duke Sons & Company. This card is from the third subset, N145-3. Note that actors' names are spelled differently on cards throughout set and are not dependable for accuracy. Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.

The Black Crook. Photographs. Billy Rose Theatre Division. Barras, Charles M., 1826-1873. Black crook, Musicals

Portrait of Solari, Dancer at the La Gaîté Theater, in the Ballet of Orpheus in Hell. ULric Grob. Portrait of Solari, Dancer at the La Gaîté Theater, in the Ballet of Orpheus in Hell. Business card (front). Draw on albuminum paper, 1860-1890.

Card Number 129, Kiralfy Troupe, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-6) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes. Dimensions: Sheet: 2 11/16 × 1 3/8 in. (6.8 × 3.5 cm). Publisher: Issued by W. Duke, Sons & Co. (New York and Durham, N.C.). Date: 1880s.Trade cards from the set "Actors and Actresses" (N145-6), issued in the 1880s by W. Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes. There are eight subsets of the N145 series. Various subsets sport different card designs and also promote different tobacco brands represented by W. Duke Sons & Company. This card is from the sixth subset, N145-6. Note that actors' names are spelled differently on cards throughout set and are not dependable for accuracy. Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.

Tamara Karsavina and Vaslav Nijinsky in the Ballet Le Spectre de la Rose, Anonymous

Eva from the east as Octavian

Two dancers with high kick, from the Actresses series (N245) issued by Kinney Brothers to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. Dimensions: Sheet: 2 1/2 × 1 7/16 in. (6.4 × 3.7 cm). Publisher: Issued by Kinney Brothers (American). Date: 1890.Trade cards from the set "Actors and Actresses" (N245), issued in 1890 by Kinney Brothers Tobacco to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.

Tamara Karsavina and Vaslav Nijinsky in the Ballet Le Spectre de la Rose by Anonymous /Private Collection/1911/Photograph/Opera, Ballet, Theatre

Grace Carberry as The Sun. Louis Fleckenstein, photographer (American, 1866 - 1943) about 1914-1918 "Fleckenstein / L.A. Cal.," white ink, recto bottom left "Grace Carberry / Takes the part of The Sun / in the Play California as It Is. / Written by Florence Fleckenstein / Photo by Fleckenstein," pencil, verso top

Charles Waldron, Clare Eames and Frank Reicher in the stage production Mary Stuart/A Man About Town. 1921. Photographs. Billy Rose Theatre Division. Drinkwater, John, 1882-1937. Mary Stuart

Actress balancing on ball while holding fan, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-8) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes ca. 1891 Issued by W. Duke, Sons & Co. Trade cards from the set "Actors and Actresses" (N145-8), issued in the 1880s by W. Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes. There are eight subsets of the N145 series. Various subsets sport different card designs and also promote different tobacco brands represented by W. Duke Sons & Company. This card is from the eighth subset, N145-8. Note that actors' names are spelled differently on cards throughout set and are not dependable for accuracy.. Actress balancing on ball while holding fan, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-8) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes. ca. 1891. Albumen photograph. Issued by W. Duke, Sons & Co. (New York and Durham, N.C.)

Danse Siamoise of Vaslav Nijinsky in the Ballet Les Orientales / Druet, Eugene (1868-1917) / Silver Gelatin Photography / 1910 / France / Private Collection / Opera, Ballet, Theatre

Aristocratic Ballet (Graf Lalongue with Baroness E. Rosin).. Iakob Vladimirovich Shteinberg (Russian, 1880 - 1942)

Gertrude Hoffman, as "Salome"

The Black Crook. Photographs. Billy Rose Theatre Division. Barras, Charles M., 1826-1873. Black crook, Musicals

Fritz Vogelstrom as Siegfried in the eponymous opera from Richard Wagner's tetralogie "The Ring of Nibelungen". Royal Opera House Dresden, New Studying 25.05.1913

The Deforests, Whirlwind Dancers, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 8) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes ca. 1888 Issued by Allen & Ginter American Trade cards from the "Actors and Actresses" series (N45, Type 8), issued ca. 1888 by Allen & Ginter to promote Virginia Brights, Dixie, Our Little Beauties and Opera Puffs Cigarettes.. The Deforests, Whirlwind Dancers, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 8) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 417433

Vaslav Nijinsky in the Ballet Petrushka by I. Stravinsky by Anonymous /Private Collection/1911/Photograph/Opera, Ballet, Theatre

Card Number 355, Pauline Hall, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-5) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cameo Cigarettes. Dimensions: Sheet: 2 11/16 × 1 3/8 in. (6.8 × 3.5 cm). Publisher: Issued by W. Duke, Sons & Co. (New York and Durham, N.C.). Date: 1880s.Trade cards from the set "Actors and Actresses" (N145-5), issued in the 1880s by W. Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cameo Cigarettes. There are eight subsets of the N145 series. Various subsets sport different card designs and also promote different tobacco brands represented by W. Duke Sons & Company. This card is from the fifth subset, N145-5. Note that actors' names are spelled differently on cards throughout set and are not dependable for accuracy. Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.

Portrait of dancer in stage costume Mlle Hausers (Hauters?) (entire figure). Vasseur, L. (fl. ca 1897), photographer

La actriz Margarita Xirgu.

The Burgraves, historic drama of Victor Hugo. Ms. Segond-Weber in the role of Guanhumara. 2nd part, scene 3. Comedy-French, Paris. Anonymous photography. 1902. Paris, house of Victor Hugo. 79198-11 French actress, channel, French comedy, French co -nomination, knife, prisoner, representation, scene

Reutlinger, Léopold (n.1863-03-17-D.1937-03-16), Théâtre des Varieties, Paris who walks, Melle Méaly (Username), 1897. Lithography and tramé photography. Carnavalet museum, history of Paris.

The Black Crook. Photographs. Billy Rose Theatre Division. Barras, Charles M., 1826-1873. Black crook, Musicals

Portrait of two dancers Gold radius and grasshopper, Cancan dancers. 1881-1891.

Card Number 199, Cora Winslaw, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-5) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cameo Cigarettes 1880s Issued by W. Duke, Sons & Co. Trade cards from the set "Actors and Actresses" (N145-5), issued in the 1880s by W. Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cameo Cigarettes. There are eight subsets of the N145 series. Various subsets sport different card designs and also promote different tobacco brands represented by W. Duke Sons & Company. This card is from the fifth subset, N145-5. Note that actors' names are spelled differently on cards throughout set and are not dependable for accuracy.. Card Number 199, Cora Winslaw, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-5) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cameo Cigarettes 647582

Elsevier photo collection. Actress Rika Hopper in "Resurrection". 1921

USA, New York, Studio shot of Adele Rowland in ""Katinka"" at 44th Street Theatre

Clara Dow and Henry Lytton in Iolanthe, 1907. Artist: Unknown

Isa Bowman as Alice and Empsie Bowman as the Dormouse, in a stage production of Alice in Wonderland. Date: 1888

Adolph Bolm and Tamara Karsavina in the Ballet Scheherazade by N. Rimsky-Korsakov, Anonymous

Portrait of Edward Reszke (1853-1917), Piwak, in a stage costume, in the role of MEFIST at the "Faust" opera of Charles Gount at the Grand Theater in Warsaw; Mieczkowski, Jan (Warsaw; photographic Zak 1893 (1893-00-00-1893-00-00);Gounod, Charles (1818-1893). Faust, Mephisto (lit.), Rajchman, Aleksander (1855-1915)-collection, Reszke, Edward (1853-1917), Reszke, Edward (1853-1917)-iconography, Grand Theater (Warsaw), guitars, musical instruments, musical instruments, Theater costumes, opera (artist), portraits, men's portraits, theater (artist), singers

Second Act, Second Scene - Venice; A Room in the House of Shylock.. 1923. Billy Rose Theatre Division. Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616

Anna Pawlowa ballet

Unidentified woman , Entertainers, Alexandre Benois Collection

Vaslav Nijinsky performed in the Ballets Russes production of SCHEHERAZADE in 1910. The ballet was based on Rimsky-Korsakov's orientalist orchestral suite (BSLOC_2018_3_26)

Photograph of Emil Rabending portraying Anton Ascher with a large hatchet, mounted on an undercard box, circa 1864.

Madrid, 12/22/1906. Work premiered at El Gran Teatro. The Misses Blanca and Loreto Prado, in the duo of the letters from La Pesadilla, one-act zarzuela with libretto by Luciano Boada and Vicente Castro, music by maestro Ruperto Chapi.

Clown ca. 1860 Charles DeForest Fredricks American Fredricks operated one of the most successful photographic studios in New York City, at 585 and 587 Broadway. Beginning in 1854 and for more than thirty years, its painted sign hailed it as a “Photographic Temple of Art.” Fredricks specialized in portraiture, producing large-format and cartes-de-visite likenesses of politicians, Civil War generals, celebrities, and actors, including Lincoln’s assassin,John Wilkes Booth. This light-hearted photograph depicts a costumed figure—possibly a character from the commedia dell’arte—striking a gallant pose in a dramatic composition that emphasizes the theatrical nature of studio portraiture.. Clown 647196

Le Karky Klara It Bardi Gabi

The Burgraves, historic drama of Victor Hugo. Mounet-Sully (1841-1916), Albert Lambert (1865-1941) and Julia Bartet (1854-1941) in the roles of Job, Otbert and Régina, 2nd part, stage 4. Comedy-French, Paris. Anonymous photography. 1902. Paris, house of Victor Hugo. 79198-13 French actor, French actress, Francaise comedy, French comedian, French Comedien, representation, couple, scene

Dancer with light globe.

Winifred Lenihan as Joan of Arc in the play Saint Joan by George Bernard Shaw in the Garrick Theatre, Anonymous

Helen Rintelen and Virginia Wynn in ""Flo Flo"", Cort Theater

Dancer Grimaldi

The Black Crook. Photographs. Billy Rose Theatre Division. Barras, Charles M., 1826-1873. Black crook, Musicals

Helena Forti als Brünnhilde

Les Burgraves ", Historical drama of Victor Hugo. Albert Lambert and Mme Segond-Weber in the roles of Otbert and Guanhumara, Comédie-Française. Anonyme. 1902. Paris, Maison de Victor Hugo. 54099-5 Actor, Comedie-Francaise, French comedian, costume, historical drama, in the foot, portrait, role, 20th XX 20th 20th 20th 20th century

Marcella Craft as "Salome"

Sarah Bernhardt in Tisbe and Deneubourg in Rodolfo, Act I, scene 2 Angelo, tyrant of Padua at the Sarah-Bernhardt theater (today theater of the city). Mate gelatin-argentic gelatin-argument. Paris (IVth arr.), February 7, 1905. Photograph by Henry Manuel (1874-1947). Paris, house of Victor Hugo. 76326-15 Actor, actress, love, comedian, comedian, drama, jealousy, theatral representation, the scene of theater

Dance masks "Toboggan woman" and "Toboggan man" by Lavinia Schulz. .

Harvest (cinema 1913). 1913. Photographs. Billy Rose Theatre Division

Adrià Gual / Fotografía de escena, actores. Institut del Teatre de Barcelona.

Tamara Karsavina and Max Frohman in the Ballet "Blue God" by R. Hahn, Anonymous

Lacressonnière in the role of Quasimodo, in "Notre-Dame de Paris" by Paul Foucher, according to the novel by Victor Hugo, at the Théâtre des Nations (today theater of the city). Paris (ivème arr.), June 7, 1879. Tax on albumin paper. Photography by Etienne Carjat (1828-1906). Paris, house of Victor Hugo. 76325-19 French actor, theatral attitude, French comedian, scene costume, foot portrait, 19th XIX 19th 19th 19th century

Scene from 'The Inconstant' with Kitty Cheatham and George Clarke

Vaslav Nijinsky in the Ballet "Le Pavillon d'Armide" by Nikolai Tcherepnin, Anonymous

The Greek influence upon the stage Art and archaeology. text. Clippings, Illustrations. 1916-05. Jerome Robbins Dance Division. Drama

Amalie Materna as Brünnhilde, 1876

Card Number 220, Floy Crowell, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-7) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1880s Issued by W. Duke, Sons & Co. Trade cards from the set "Actors and Actresses" (N145-7), issued in the 1880s by W. Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes. There are eight subsets of the N145 series. Various subsets sport different card designs and also promote different tobacco brands represented by W. Duke Sons & Company. This card is from the seventh subset, N145-7. Note that actors' names are spelled differently on cards throughout set and are not dependable for accuracy.. Card Number 220, Floy Crowell, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-7) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 648126

HUTIN, Jacques Antoine Francois.

BRETON , TOMAS. COMPOSITOR ESPAÑOL. SALAMANCA 1850 - 1923. " LA VERBENA DE LA PALOMA ". ZARZUELA DE RICARDO VEGA, MUSICA DE TOMAS BRETON. REPRESENTADA EN MADRID EN ELE AÑO 1894. ACTORES , EMILIO MESEJO Y LUISA CAMPOS.

Portrait quasi-naked dancer on a concert program; Advertising for Comptoir Photographique de l'Ouest in Le Mans.

Still from Paramount Picture Production 'Who Is Number One' - starring Kathleen Clifford (1887 - 1962) in the role of Aimee Villon. Here the star appears to be in perilous position, although it looks more like the ecstasy as well as the agony...! Date: 1917

Wini Grabitz und his call

Laura Hope Crews and John Drew in "Much Ado About Nothing"

Mary Garden as "Natoma"

Irene and Vernon Castle in Watch your step. 1914. Photographs. Jerome Robbins Dance Division. Castle, Irene, 1893-1969, Castle, Vernon, 1887-1918, Berlin, Irving, 1888-1989 , Watch your step, Theatrical productions , United States , 1911-1920, Musical theater , United States

Albumin photograph of actors wearing fool's costume, showing facial expression, posture, and costume details, framed in a small passe-partout.

A matte albumin photograph by Franz Löwy showing a ballet dancer, depicting posture, costume, and movement in a studio setting.

Portrait of Denain, theater of Folies-Bergère ". Anonymous photography. Stereoscopic view on albumin paper. Between 1850 and 1890. Paris, Carnavalet Museum. 99954-19 Stero, Vue stereo, Vue stereoscopique

Heinrich Wagner, Fleischelcher at the Macart Festival , Carl Karl Mahlknecht -, photographer

Cancan, from National Dances (N225, Type 1) issued by Kinney Bros. 1889 Issued by Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company Trade cards from the series "National Dances" (N225), issued in 1889 to promote Kinney Brothers Cigarettes for Kinney Tobacco Company. There were two card variations issued within the series. Type 1 cards display a white border around the edges whereas Type 2 have no border.. Cancan, from National Dances (N225, Type 1) issued by Kinney Bros.. 1889. Commercial color lithograph. Issued by Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company

Teresa Valerio in ""Jack O'lantern"" at Globe

Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, photo file 'A'. Photographs. Billy Rose Theatre Division. Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. Macbeth

Minto Cato. 1936. Photographs. Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Photographs and Prints Division. African Americans , Performing arts, African Americans , Theater, African American theater, African Americans in the performing arts, Plays, Theatrical productions, Operas, New York (N.Y.)

Tableau Vivant 'Antigone', 1888

The Ukrainian dancer Vaclav Fomic Nizinsky (1890-950) in stage costume, photo from L'Illustration, No 3456, May 22, 1909.

Duncan, Irma, 2. 1915. Photographs. Jerome Robbins Dance Division. Duncan, Irma

Mary Martini as a mischievous bag and Carl Sukfüll as John Jack

Swashbuckler

Bliżej Kultury Hanfstaengl, Fr.

René Didier and Alice Lody in the roles of Phoebus and Esmeralda, in "Notre-Dame de Paris" by Paul Foucher, according to the novel by Victor Hugo, at the Théâtre des Nations (today theater of the city). Paris (ivème arr.), June 7, 1879. Tax on albumin paper. Photography by Etienne Carjat (1828-1906). Paris, house of Victor Hugo. 76325-15 French actor, theatral attitude, French comedian, scene costume, foot portrait, 19th XIX 19th 19th 19th century

Charlotte Basté as Salome in the spectacle "John the Baptist", probably from Hermann Sudermann. Reproduction of a photograph (cabinet with embossed stamp of the recording year) from W. Höffert. Hoodtheater Dresden, 1898

USA, New York state, New York City, Portrait of Mr A Baldwin Sloane and Miss Marion Morgan performing in Castles in Palace, 44th street Theater

Constance Carpenter in ""Charlot's Revue"" at Selwyn Theatre

'Emma Calve, born Rose Emma Calve (1858-1942) French soprano, as Salome in the opera ''Herodiade'' by Jules Massenet.'

Miss Gabrielle Ray (1883-1973), English actress, dancer and singer in 'The Merry Widow', an operetta by the AustroHungarian composer Franz Lehar. In its English adaptation by Basil Hood, with lyrics by Adrian Ross, the operetta became a sensation in London, beginning on 8 June 1907, starring Lily Elsie and Joseph Coyne and featuring Robert Evett and Gabrielle Ray, with costumes by Lucile. It ran for 778 performances in London and toured extensively in Great Britain. Date: 1907

Notre-Dame de Paris "by Paul Foucher, according to the novel by Victor Hugo, at the Théâtre des Nations (today Théâtre de la Ville). Etienne Carjat (1828-1906). Lacressonnière in the role of quasimodo. Paris ( Ivme arr.), June 7, 1879. Tax on albumin paper. Photography by Etienne Carjat (1828-1906). Paris, Maison de Victor Hugo. 76324-21 French actor, theatral attitude, French comedian, scene costume, foot portrait, 19th XIX 19th 19th 19th century

Card Number 390, Selina Delaro, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-5) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cameo Cigarettes. Dimensions: Sheet: 2 11/16 × 1 3/8 in. (6.8 × 3.5 cm). Publisher: Issued by W. Duke, Sons & Co. (New York and Durham, N.C.). Date: 1880s.Trade cards from the set "Actors and Actresses" (N145-5), issued in the 1880s by W. Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cameo Cigarettes. There are eight subsets of the N145 series. Various subsets sport different card designs and also promote different tobacco brands represented by W. Duke Sons & Company. This card is from the fifth subset, N145-5. Note that actors' names are spelled differently on cards throughout set and are not dependable for accuracy. Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.

Gertrud Tressnitz and Willi Kleinschegg in "What you want

Film still from 'Orphans of the Storm' starring Lillian Gish, Dorothy Gish, Joseph Schildkraut, and Monte Blue.

Igor Ilyinsky in the theatre play 'The Forest' by A. Ostrovsky (Meyerhold's theatre) by Russian Photographer /The State Central A. Bakhrushin Theatre Museum, Moscow/1924/Photograph/Russia/Opera, Ballet, Theatre

Paris, France: c. 1929. Count and Countess Esders, whose father was a general in the Russian army and mother was a lady-in-waiting for the Tsaritsa, are now making a hit in the Paris night clubs with their singing and dancing.

Tamara Karsavina and Adolf Bolm in the ballet "Le Pavillon d'Armide" by Nikolai Tcherepnin, Anonymous

A Belle's Stratagem. Photographs. Billy Rose Theatre Division. Cowley, Hannah, 1743-1809. Belle's stratagem

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