Two years ago, EFSP had a post on the De Reszke film postcard series. De Reske was a, now forgotten, British cigarette brand, named after Jean de Reszke (1850-1925), a famous Polish opera star of the late 19th century. Ads suggested the cigarettes were 'mild and harmless' so that they would not damage De Reszke's voice. The brand was originally produced by J. Millhoff, a Russian living in London. In 1927, Millhoff sold out to Godrey Phillips, an international company which was a fellow competitor. In the early 1930s, Godfrey Phillips Associated brands published a series of hand-coloured film star postcards. Recently, I found 20 new cards of the series at eBay. Some numbers on the cards are the same, so there were probably more series of De Reszke postcards, including one with 24 and one with 48 postcards.
British postcard by De Reszke Cigarettes, no. 4. Caption: Loretta Young made her film debut as a dancer, and was later given a small role in Naughty, but Nice. Her great chance came in 1927, when, at the age of fifteen, she was selected by Lon Chaney as his leading lady in Laugh Clown, Laugh. Raised to stardom in 1932. Her films include The Honourable Mr. Wong, Man's Castle, and House of Rothschild.
British postcard by De Reszke Cigarettes, no. 5. Photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). Caption: Robert Montgomery, who was born in 1904, was left penniless at the age of sixteen, and became a mechanic's mate on a railway, a deck hand, and finally property man to a touring company, which resulted in a stage career. Played in stock for some time, mostly old man characters, and eventually reached New York. Film debut in So This is College. Recent pictures are Nor More Ladies, Mutiny on the Bounty and Piccadilly Jim.
British postcard by De Reszke Cigarettes, no. 6. Photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). W.C. Fields and Freddie Bartholomew in David Copperfield (George Cukor, 1935).
British postcard by De Reszke Cigarettes, no. 7. Photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). Una Merkel (1903–1986) was an American stage, film, radio, and television actress. Merkel relied mainly on numerous, mostly comical supporting roles. Often she was the wisecracking best friend of the heroine. One of the most famous appearances she had was in the 1939 comedy western Destry Rides Again, in which she delivers a 'cat-fight' with Marlene Dietrich. In addition, she played, among others, Sam Spade's secretary Effie in the first film version of The Maltese Falcon (1931), the streetwise choir singer Lorraine, buddy of Ginger Rogers, in the Busby Berkeley musical film 42nd Street (1933), and the eldest daughter of W. C. Fields in the comedy The Bank Detective (1940).
British postcard by De Reszke Cigarettes, no. 8. Maurice Chevalier (1888-1972) was a French actor, singer and entertainer with a very successful Hollywood career. His trademark was a casual straw hat, which he always wore on stage with a cane and a tuxedo.
British postcard by De Reszke Cigarettes, no. 8. Photo: Paramount. American film actress Carole Lombard (1908–1942) was the highest-paid star in Hollywood in the late 1930s. She was particularly noted for her energetic, ditzy and often off-beat roles in screwball comedies of the 1930s.
British postcard by De Reszke Cigarettes, no. 14. Marlene Dietrich (1901-1992) is regarded as the first German actress to become successful in Hollywood. Throughout her long career, she constantly re-invented herself, starting as a cabaret singer, chorus girl and film actress in 1920s Berlin, she became a Hollywood movie star in the 1930s, a World War II frontline entertainer, and finally an international stage show performer from the 1950s to the 1970s. Eventually she became one of the entertainment icons of the 20th century.
British postcard by De Reszke Cigarettes, no. 17. Caption: Frances Dee, born in 1907, was living in Los Angeles and hearing that Fox was making a college picture she suggested that they should use her to get the right college atmosphere. Her work in a minor role in Lubitsch's picture Monte Carlo attracted attention, and she was given the lead opposite Chevalier in Playboy of Paris. Since then she had principal parts in many important pictures, including Little Women, One Man's Journey and Blood Money.
British postcard by De Reszke Cigarettes, no. 17. Caption: Fredric March, the star of Death Takes a Holdiday, secured a small part in 'Debureau'. Played for a few years in stock, and, when talkies came in 1928, was offered a part in The Dummy. His performances have steadily grown in dramatic appeal; with The Royal Family of Broadway, he became a star.
British postcard by De Reszke Cigarettes, no. 18. Caption: Born in 1914, Mary Carlisle entered films at the age of fifteen as the result of a try-out of a drama. She and Ann Dvorak were chosen out of 600 applicants. Her first role was with Jackie Coogan in If I Were King, and after playing leads in short subjects appeared in Grand Hotel and other films, and soon started making a name for herself in featured roles.
British postcard by De Reszke Cigarettes, no. 19. American film actress Rochelle Hudson (1916–1972) appeared in Hollywood films from the early 1930s through the 1960s. Her roles went from ingenue to leading lady to character actress. She is best remembered for costarring in the tense and gripping social drama Wild Boys of the Road (William A. Wellman, 1933), playing Cosette in Les Misérables (Richard Boleslawski, 1935), as the older sister of Shirley Temple in Curly Top (Irving Cummings, 1935), and as Natalie Wood's mother in Rebel Without a Cause (Nicholas Ray, 1955).
British postcard by De Reszke Cigarettes, no. 25. Photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). Caption: Myrna Loy was born August 2nd, 1905, at Helena, Montana. Began as a prologue dancer in Hollywood and entered films in 1925 under the wing of Mrs. Rudolph Valentino. Gained fame as an actress of exotic roles, but recently her ability in straight comedy and dramatic roles has been recognised. Recent films, The Thin Man, Evelyn Prentice, Wife Versus Secretary and Wings in the Dark.
British postcard by De Reszke Cigarettes, no. 31. Photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). Swedish Greta Garbo (1905-1990) was one of the greatest and most glamorous film stars ever produced by the Hollywood studio system. She was part of the Golden Age of the silent cinema of the 1920s and was one of the few actors who made a glorious transition to the talkies. She started her career in the European cinema and would always stay more popular in Europe than in the USA.
British postcard by De Reszke Cigarettes, no. 34. Photo: Radio (RKO). Katharine Hepburn (1907-2003) was an indomitable American stage and film actress, known as a spirited performer with a touch of eccentricity. She introduced into her roles a strength of character previously considered to be undesirable in Hollywood leading ladies. As an actress, she was noted for her brisk upper-class New England accent and tomboyish beauty.
British postcard by De Reszke Cigarettes, no. 35. Photo: British & Dominions. Tall and slim actor and singer Jack Buchanan (1891–1957) was known for three decades as the embodiment of the quintessential Englishman, despite being a Scot. During his career, he was one of the major British screen stars of his day and incarnated the elegant, always immaculately clothed man about town in about three dozen films. In America, he is best known for his role opposite Fred Astaire in the classic Hollywood musical The Band Wagon (1953).
British postcard by De Reszke Cigarettes, no. 40. Photo: M.G.M. American film and stage actress Jean Parker (1915–2005) landed her first screen test while still in high school. She played the tragic Beth in the original Little Women (George Cukor, 1933), starred as the spoiled daughter of an American chainstore millionaire who persuades her nouveau riche father to transport a Scottish castle in the hilarious British comedy The Ghost Goes West (René Clair, 1936), and she was a perfect stooge for Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, as an innkeeper's daughter with whom Ollie falls in love in The Flying Deuces (A. Edward Sutherland, 1939). Parker remained active in film throughout the 1940s. Later in her career, she played in the West Coast theatre circuit and worked as an acting coach.
British postcard by De Reszke Cigarettes, no. 41. Photo: Columbia. Caption: One Night of Love, which gave Grace Moore her first starring role, was acclaimed one of the outstanding films of 1934-5. Miss Moore, famous American prima-donna, has had a distinguished career on the international opera and concert stages. Her previous films include New Moon and Jenny Lind. Has since made On Wings of Songs.
British postcard by De Reszke Cigarettes, no. 46. Photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). Wallace Beery and Jackie Cooper in Treasure Island (Victor Fleming, 1934).
British postcard by De Reszke Cigarettes, no. 47. Photo: M.G.M.. Joan Crawford and Clark Gable in Forsaking All Others (W.S. Van Dyke, 1934).
British postcard by De Reszke Cigarettes, no. 48. French film star Annabella (1909-1996) was France's most popular actress during the mid 1930s, but she also achieved some success in Hollywood films of the late 1930s.
Check out our earlier post on De Reszke.
British postcard by De Reszke Cigarettes, no. 4. Caption: Loretta Young made her film debut as a dancer, and was later given a small role in Naughty, but Nice. Her great chance came in 1927, when, at the age of fifteen, she was selected by Lon Chaney as his leading lady in Laugh Clown, Laugh. Raised to stardom in 1932. Her films include The Honourable Mr. Wong, Man's Castle, and House of Rothschild.
British postcard by De Reszke Cigarettes, no. 5. Photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). Caption: Robert Montgomery, who was born in 1904, was left penniless at the age of sixteen, and became a mechanic's mate on a railway, a deck hand, and finally property man to a touring company, which resulted in a stage career. Played in stock for some time, mostly old man characters, and eventually reached New York. Film debut in So This is College. Recent pictures are Nor More Ladies, Mutiny on the Bounty and Piccadilly Jim.
British postcard by De Reszke Cigarettes, no. 6. Photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). W.C. Fields and Freddie Bartholomew in David Copperfield (George Cukor, 1935).
British postcard by De Reszke Cigarettes, no. 7. Photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). Una Merkel (1903–1986) was an American stage, film, radio, and television actress. Merkel relied mainly on numerous, mostly comical supporting roles. Often she was the wisecracking best friend of the heroine. One of the most famous appearances she had was in the 1939 comedy western Destry Rides Again, in which she delivers a 'cat-fight' with Marlene Dietrich. In addition, she played, among others, Sam Spade's secretary Effie in the first film version of The Maltese Falcon (1931), the streetwise choir singer Lorraine, buddy of Ginger Rogers, in the Busby Berkeley musical film 42nd Street (1933), and the eldest daughter of W. C. Fields in the comedy The Bank Detective (1940).
British postcard by De Reszke Cigarettes, no. 8. Maurice Chevalier (1888-1972) was a French actor, singer and entertainer with a very successful Hollywood career. His trademark was a casual straw hat, which he always wore on stage with a cane and a tuxedo.
British postcard by De Reszke Cigarettes, no. 8. Photo: Paramount. American film actress Carole Lombard (1908–1942) was the highest-paid star in Hollywood in the late 1930s. She was particularly noted for her energetic, ditzy and often off-beat roles in screwball comedies of the 1930s.
British postcard by De Reszke Cigarettes, no. 14. Marlene Dietrich (1901-1992) is regarded as the first German actress to become successful in Hollywood. Throughout her long career, she constantly re-invented herself, starting as a cabaret singer, chorus girl and film actress in 1920s Berlin, she became a Hollywood movie star in the 1930s, a World War II frontline entertainer, and finally an international stage show performer from the 1950s to the 1970s. Eventually she became one of the entertainment icons of the 20th century.
British postcard by De Reszke Cigarettes, no. 17. Caption: Frances Dee, born in 1907, was living in Los Angeles and hearing that Fox was making a college picture she suggested that they should use her to get the right college atmosphere. Her work in a minor role in Lubitsch's picture Monte Carlo attracted attention, and she was given the lead opposite Chevalier in Playboy of Paris. Since then she had principal parts in many important pictures, including Little Women, One Man's Journey and Blood Money.
British postcard by De Reszke Cigarettes, no. 17. Caption: Fredric March, the star of Death Takes a Holdiday, secured a small part in 'Debureau'. Played for a few years in stock, and, when talkies came in 1928, was offered a part in The Dummy. His performances have steadily grown in dramatic appeal; with The Royal Family of Broadway, he became a star.
British postcard by De Reszke Cigarettes, no. 18. Caption: Born in 1914, Mary Carlisle entered films at the age of fifteen as the result of a try-out of a drama. She and Ann Dvorak were chosen out of 600 applicants. Her first role was with Jackie Coogan in If I Were King, and after playing leads in short subjects appeared in Grand Hotel and other films, and soon started making a name for herself in featured roles.
British postcard by De Reszke Cigarettes, no. 19. American film actress Rochelle Hudson (1916–1972) appeared in Hollywood films from the early 1930s through the 1960s. Her roles went from ingenue to leading lady to character actress. She is best remembered for costarring in the tense and gripping social drama Wild Boys of the Road (William A. Wellman, 1933), playing Cosette in Les Misérables (Richard Boleslawski, 1935), as the older sister of Shirley Temple in Curly Top (Irving Cummings, 1935), and as Natalie Wood's mother in Rebel Without a Cause (Nicholas Ray, 1955).
British postcard by De Reszke Cigarettes, no. 25. Photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). Caption: Myrna Loy was born August 2nd, 1905, at Helena, Montana. Began as a prologue dancer in Hollywood and entered films in 1925 under the wing of Mrs. Rudolph Valentino. Gained fame as an actress of exotic roles, but recently her ability in straight comedy and dramatic roles has been recognised. Recent films, The Thin Man, Evelyn Prentice, Wife Versus Secretary and Wings in the Dark.
British postcard by De Reszke Cigarettes, no. 31. Photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). Swedish Greta Garbo (1905-1990) was one of the greatest and most glamorous film stars ever produced by the Hollywood studio system. She was part of the Golden Age of the silent cinema of the 1920s and was one of the few actors who made a glorious transition to the talkies. She started her career in the European cinema and would always stay more popular in Europe than in the USA.
British postcard by De Reszke Cigarettes, no. 34. Photo: Radio (RKO). Katharine Hepburn (1907-2003) was an indomitable American stage and film actress, known as a spirited performer with a touch of eccentricity. She introduced into her roles a strength of character previously considered to be undesirable in Hollywood leading ladies. As an actress, she was noted for her brisk upper-class New England accent and tomboyish beauty.
British postcard by De Reszke Cigarettes, no. 35. Photo: British & Dominions. Tall and slim actor and singer Jack Buchanan (1891–1957) was known for three decades as the embodiment of the quintessential Englishman, despite being a Scot. During his career, he was one of the major British screen stars of his day and incarnated the elegant, always immaculately clothed man about town in about three dozen films. In America, he is best known for his role opposite Fred Astaire in the classic Hollywood musical The Band Wagon (1953).
British postcard by De Reszke Cigarettes, no. 40. Photo: M.G.M. American film and stage actress Jean Parker (1915–2005) landed her first screen test while still in high school. She played the tragic Beth in the original Little Women (George Cukor, 1933), starred as the spoiled daughter of an American chainstore millionaire who persuades her nouveau riche father to transport a Scottish castle in the hilarious British comedy The Ghost Goes West (René Clair, 1936), and she was a perfect stooge for Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, as an innkeeper's daughter with whom Ollie falls in love in The Flying Deuces (A. Edward Sutherland, 1939). Parker remained active in film throughout the 1940s. Later in her career, she played in the West Coast theatre circuit and worked as an acting coach.
British postcard by De Reszke Cigarettes, no. 41. Photo: Columbia. Caption: One Night of Love, which gave Grace Moore her first starring role, was acclaimed one of the outstanding films of 1934-5. Miss Moore, famous American prima-donna, has had a distinguished career on the international opera and concert stages. Her previous films include New Moon and Jenny Lind. Has since made On Wings of Songs.
British postcard by De Reszke Cigarettes, no. 46. Photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). Wallace Beery and Jackie Cooper in Treasure Island (Victor Fleming, 1934).
British postcard by De Reszke Cigarettes, no. 47. Photo: M.G.M.. Joan Crawford and Clark Gable in Forsaking All Others (W.S. Van Dyke, 1934).
British postcard by De Reszke Cigarettes, no. 48. French film star Annabella (1909-1996) was France's most popular actress during the mid 1930s, but she also achieved some success in Hollywood films of the late 1930s.
Check out our earlier post on De Reszke.
It was fun to read up on all the famous stars I remember from when I was younger. Younger, meaning in the 60's and 70's when these stars were still well-known. I especially enjoyed the postcard with Una Merkel from "Destry Rides Agai." That is a great movie. I actually have a copy of it! :D It is nice to hear from you, my Friend. I adore The Netherlands, always have, so is fun to know someone from that beautiful place. Have a lovely weekend.
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