American Historical Ephemera & Photography Online

3 7/16 x 5 in. cabinet photograph on cardstock mount (toning and surface wear to print; soiling and wear to mount). New York: Newsboy, n.d. A studio portrait of Annie Pixley posed in tattered clothing, lying against a prop tree as if in the middle of the woods. -- 22 1/8 x 28 in. lithograph poster (staining to margins, light soiling throughout, light creasing to corners). Chicago: Shober & Carqueville Lith. Co., n.d. Poster features a large illustration of Annie Pixley as the title character of the play M'Liss. Vignettes of important moments from the play appear in each corner, and text at bottom reads, "Annie Pixley as M'Liss." -- Together, 2 items related to Annie Pixley and her role as M'Liss in the late nineteenth-century play by the same name. Accompanied by folder of market research for the items and the actress herself, gathered by James Frasca, along with modern photographs of the cabinet card and poster. 

[With:] 8 1/8 x 18 1/8 in. printed broadside promoting a Punch and Judy performance, "To conclude with the celebrated Nose Amputation!" Hartford, CT: Calhoun Steam Printing Co., 1855. Specific location, date, and time left blank, to be filled in upon scheduling. These compelling broadsides were posted from town to town by traveling magician and entrepreneur, Mr. A. Walker, as he conducted his evening of entertainment across the New England countryside. Under the bold heading “Splendid Amusement! Startling Feats of Legerdemain!,” Mr. Walker announces and promises to his audience “A variety of novel, original and startling Feats of Natural Magic!” combined with “the extremely Laughable Performance of PUNCH & JUDY consisting of Ten Beautiful Mechanical Figures!”

Annie Pixley (1858-1893) was born in Brooklyn and raised in California. She began a stage career playing roles in The Danites and Snowflake before playing her most memorable role, the title figure of M'liss when that play hit the stage in 1878. She went on to have a successful stage career, with many important roles, including singing and dancing roles, delighting American play-goers as a popular favorite.