Mary Pickford photographie ancienne 1915 signée à la main collections Hartsook Studios

My grandmother Clara “Billie“ Wines (who was born in 1898) collected these pictures as a hobby in 1914 & 1915 when she was a teenager. She either met these stars in person or wrote a letter to receive one as was the way back in her time. She hand dated on the back in pencil some of them with the year. She was born in Glencoe, IL and grew up in Chicago. These have been in a box in my closet since my father gave them to me in 1976 when she died. She was affiliated with Essanay Studios and Vitagraph Studios and the Vitagraph Theater in Chicago.

All items are packed in acid-free self sealing cellophane bag and sent in a plastic bubble envelope with cardboard on sides or a cardboard flat envelope with Do Not Bend & Fragile stickers.

If you have any other questions, please ask BEFORE sending payment. Please feel free to contact me about any item you are interested in. Additional pictures available upon request. I check my account regularly everyday and respond quickly.

I aim for positive feedback. When you receive your item please leave me feedback and I will do collections the same for you right away. If you have any questions about your order when you receive it or have an issue with it please message me with your concerns right away. I stand behind my stock.

Mary Pickford was born Gladys Louise Smith in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to Elsie Charlotte (Hennessy) and John Charles Smith. She was of English and Irish descent. Pickford began in the theater at age seven. Then known as "Baby Gladys Smith", she toured with her family in a number of theater companies. At some point, at her devout maternal grandmothers insistence, when young Gladys was seriously ill with diphtheria, she received a Catholic baptism and her middle name was changed to "Marie".

In 1907, she adopted a family name Pickford and joined theDavid Belascotroupe, appearing in the long-running "The Warrens of Virginia". She began in films in 1909 with the American Mutoscope & Biograph, working with directorD.W. Griffith.

For a short time in 1911, to earn more money, she joined the IMP Film Co. underCarl Laemmle. She returned to Biograph in 1912, then, in 1913 joined the Famous Players Film Company underAdolph Zukor. She then joined First National Exhibitors Circuit in 1918. In 1919, she co-founded United Artists with D.W. Griffith, Charlie Chaplin and then-future husband, Douglas Fairbanks.

WasJoan Crawfords mother-in-law, while Crawford was married to Pickfords son,Douglas Fairbanks Jr..