Photograph by
Unidentified
Subject of
Cathrell, Laura, 1914 - 1999
Edison, Birdie Warfield, American
Unidentified Woman or Women
Unidentified Man or Men
Date
1933-1950
Medium
silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
Dimensions
H x W (Image): 4 9/16 × 6 13/16 in. (11.6 × 17.3 cm)
H x W (Sheet): 5 1/16 × 6 15/16 in. (12.8 × 17.7 cm)
Description
A silver gelatin print depicting a black-and-white image of five female performers and one male performer in costume. Laura Cathrell is centrally depicted, with the male performer standing behind her and two female performers kneeling on either side of her. Laura Cathrell is depicted standing with her body facing the left edge of the photograph and her head turned towards the viewer. Her knees are bent and she is resting her proper left hand on her proper left knee. Her proper right hand rests on her proper right hip. She is wearing a satiny dress with short sleeves, a “V” neck, a knee-length skirt with two large ruffles at the waist, ballet slippers, and a polka dot headdress with large, fabric flowers gathered along the proper left side of her face. The male performer is wearing a black shirt, satiny pants with sequins at the pant cuffs, and a matching satiny beret. Birdie Warfield Edison is the performer on the far left of the image. She and another female performer are kneeling on their proper left knees with their proper right knees bent and placed directly over their ankles. Their hands are raised, and their hands and torsos are turned slightly towards Cathrell. The women on the right side image are posed in a mirror image of the women on the left. All of the female performers, except for Cathrell, are wearing identical costumes that include short sleeve dresses made from striped fabric. The dresses have wide collars embellished with sequins, black buttons down the front of the dress, and skirts that are short in front and long in the back. They are also wearing half hats with feathers extending over the brims. In the background is a drum and microphone stand on the left and a bar and tables covered with white tablecloths on the right. There are no inscriptions on the front or back of the photograph.
Collection title
The Laura Cathrell Show-Down Magazine Collection
Classification
Photographs and Still Images
Type
gelatin silver prints
Topic
Dance
Entertainers
Nightlife
Photography
Theatre
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2013.46.25.193
Restrictions & Rights
Unknown - Restrictions Possible
Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5628c41e6-8138-465f-a2bd-c4de7a6897e8

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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