La Collectionneuse: Mother's Day

Today, on the 8th of May 2022, it’s Mother’s Day in many European countries. Spain and Portugal have already celebrated it on the 1st of May. France will wait until the 29th of May and Luxembourg until the 12th of June. Here is a selection of vintage postcards showing famous movie stars with their children or with their mothers.


Dutch postcard by Takken, Utrecht, no. 3151. Mamie Van Doren and her son Perry Ray. Perry Ray, born in 1956, was the son of bandleader Ray Anthony, Mamie Van Doren’s second husband, whom she divorced in 1961.


Finnish postcard by Korttiekeskus Kortcentralen, no. 10. Constance, Norma and Natalie Talmadge with their mother Margaret. One of the most famous stage mothers of Hollywood silent movie history, Margaret Talmadge, nicknamed Peg, was a determined and colourful character who always kept a watchful eye on her daughters’ careers and lives. The three sisters stayed very close to Mother Peg until her death from cancer in 1933.


Italian postcard by G.B. Falci, Milano, no. 877. Photo: M.G.M. Norma Shearer and her son Irving Jr. Irving, born in 1930, was the son of famous Hollywood producer Irving Thalberg, Norma Shearer’s first husband, who died in 1936.
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Dutch postcard by M. Bonnist & Zonen, Amsterdam, no. B357. Photo: MGM. Jean Harlow and her mother Jean. Jean Harlow’s mother’s real name was … Jean Harlow. That’s where the famous star’s pseudonym comes from. Having once thought to be a movie actress, Mama Jean saw her dreams realized through her daughter and always stayed very possessive of her. Allegedly, she signed herself most of Jean Harlow’s autographed photos.


German postcard by Ross Verlag, no. 6269/1, 1931-1932. Photo: Paramount. Marlene Dietrich and her daughter Maria. Maria, born in 1924, was the daughter of assistant director Rudolf Sieber, whom Dietrich married in 1923. Maria played Catherine II as a child in The Scarlett Empress (1934), starring her mother. She was also an extra in The Garden of Allah (1936). Later, as Maria Riva, she became a TV actress, nominated for Emmy Awards in 1952 and 1953. In 1992, she published a book about her mother.


German postcard by Ross Verlag, no. 7817/1, 1932-1933. Photo: Atelier Yva, Berlin. Olga Tschechowa and her daughter Olga a.k.a. Ada. Olga, born in 1916, was the daughter of actor Mikhail Chekhov, Olga Tschechowa’s first husband, whom she divorced in 1917. Later, as Ada Tschechowa, she became an actress, especially on stage, and also a manager of the Munich Kammerspiele. She appeared in a few movies, including three with her mother: Der Favorit der Kaiserin (1936), Mit den Augen einer Frau (1942) and Geheimnis einer Ehe (1951).


German postcard by Ross Verlag, no. 9560/12, 1935-1936. Photo: Fox. Shirley Temple and her mother Gertrude. In a 1988 interview, Shirley Temple said: “My mother was, I think, the most wonderful mother that a girl could have” and added that “My parents bathed me in love my whole life”.


German postcard by Film-Foto-Verlag, Berlin-Tempelhof, no. FK 284. Photo: 20th Century Fox. Linda Darnell and her daughter Charlotte. In 1948, Linda Darnell and her first husband, cameraman Peverell Marley, adopted Charlotte, who was quickly nicknamed Lola. The couple divorced in 1951. Peverell Marley died in 1964 and Linda Darnell died the following year.


Dutch postcard, no. 522. Photo: M.G.M. Jean Hagen and her daughter Christine Patricia. Christine Patricia, born in 1950, was the daughter of actor Tom Seidel, whom Jean Hagen divorced in 1965.


Dutch postcard, no. 519. Photo: MGM. Deborah Kerr and her daughter Melanie Jane. Melanie Jane, born in 1947, was the daughter of Anthony Bartley, Deborah Kerr’s first husband, whom she divorced in 1960.

Text and postcards: Marlene Pilaete.