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Apeda Photogapher Actress c.1915 Unknown Subject - Edith Ford Gresham Collection
Stunning gaze from an unknown actress with inscription, \"To my twin with love from the original\". Signed in negative \"Apeda\" with faint, pencil note.
V good vintage condition. Verso has remnants of adhesive, stock number in pencil. See images.
DIM: 9 x 8 inches
With Certificate of provenance from Rare Nest GalleryChicago; CAT #: PMK0037
COLLECTOR BIOGRAPHY: Edith Ford Gresham(Granddaughter of John T. Ford)
1897, Manhattan – 1976, Riverdale
Edith Gresham’s incredibly diverse career ranged fromprep school performances (as Romeo) to Broadway to radio and television (ThePhil Silvers Show, others) to film. Her breakthrough role was playing SadieClarence in 39 East by Rachel Crothers (in 1919 on Broadway and reprised in alost silent film in 1920).
Edith began as an ingénue eventually settling in as ago-to character actress. She was often called upon to replace short-livedoriginal performers. Edith helped define the roles of Aunt Eller in Oklahoma(Broadway and travelling) and the outlandish Countess de Lage in Clare BoothLuce’s classic The Women. In all, Edith has at least twelve Broadway creditsthrough 1966 (The Caucasian Chalk Circle).
Considering her grandfather and father’s theatricalmanagement it is somewhat surprising that Edith was proud of her participationin the Actor’s Strike of 1919 which led the way for labor reforms and helped tocement Actors Equity as a bargaining and governance powerhouse in theentertainment industry.
During the period of World War II and after, Edithorganized and supported charitable programs for refugees and promoted bonddrives. Her sub-collection includes numerous receipts and moving letters ofthanks to the Oklahoma company from war survivors and refugees.
A dedicated career actress, Edith remained singlethroughout her life.
We are selling hundreds of pieces related to JohnT. Ford, Ford’s Theater and Ford’s descendants who were all figures in Americantheater from 1840 – 1970. Check out mystore – category “American Theater” and subscribe.
