Central Library

This portrait depicts Zaina Curzon a performance artist from the 1912 "Ziegfeld Follies". Curzon is captured in an intimate pose with her figure filling the entirety of the space. She is dressed with a lace adorned white dressing gown and matching shawl looped in the crook of her left arm. Curzon clasps a small beds...

Valeska Suratt was born in Terre Haute, Indiana. She became known as “The Vampire Woman” on the silent screen and appeared in vaudeville with Billy Gould. She began acting in film after being noticed by producer Edward Edelston. The “flapper age” put an end to her obsolete vampy style resulting in her early retirement...

Nance O'Neil was called the American Bernhardt, playing significant roles such as Lady Macbeth and Camille. She moved from theatre to silent film in 1915 after signing with William Fox. She was overshadowed by Fox's other star, Theda Bara, and returned to the theatre in 1918. O'Neil returned to talking films around 192...

This portrait depicts a member of the Clyde McCoy Band. The orchestra member is dressed in dapper attire wearing a dark tuxedo suit, dark bow tie and white dress shirt with a crisp collar. The figure is positioned to the left of the portrait, capturing him from the midsection upward. The sophistication of the model...

Eddie Rickenbacker was an American Fighter Ace in World War I, a race car driver, airline executive, and Medal of Honor recipient. Of his successes, he had the most victories in aerial combat in WWI and also raced in the Indy 500 three times setting a record of 134 miles per hour. On a secret mission in World War II, t...

This portrait depicts the matriarchal figure of Ms. Nichols. The dignified character is captured from the waist up, wearing dark Victorian style clothing. The attire is concealing and covers the figure up to her chin. Around the collar, white lace lapels encircle her neck and run down to the bodice of her outfit, the...

This self-portrait of the young Orval Hixon shows him looking down and away from the camera, revealing a grave profile that appears deep in contemplation. He wears a white collared shirt that is bound with a scarf in place of a tie. The light that falls on the left side of Hizon's face outlines his features against the...

George White was variously skilled as a producer, director, author, dancer, and actor. He began dancing at a young age for a burlesque dancing team. He later performed in shows such as the "Ziegfeld Follies" and "The Pleasure Seekers", amongst others. In 1919, he produced and directed a series called "George White's Sc...

Kathleen O’Hanlon and her spouse, Theadore Zambuni, were both originally from Samos, Greece. The famed dance duo were popular among the vaudevillian circuit. O’Hanlon was noted for her performance in Schubert’s 1921 production of “The Passing Show” in the famous Winter Garden Theater. For the dancing duo, work with Sc...

Vera Beresford was born to two successful performers, Kitty Gordon and Harry Beresford. She appeared in three films including, "Paid In Full" (1919), "A Daughter Of The Old South" (1918) and "The Devine Sacrifice" (1918). She assumes a confident pose in this photograph with gaze turned directly to the camera while she...