Portraits of Hollywood Actresses by Albert Witzel (1920s)

Witzel Studios was founded in Los Angeles by photographer Albert Walter Witzel (1879–1929) in 1909 and within a few years had become one of the city’s foremost portrait studios.

The rise of the business paralleled the emergence of the film industry following its relocation from the east coast, and Witzel was soon in demand from Hollywood studios seeking to create interest in movies by circulating promo shots of their stars. Distinguished by moody lighting and dramatic poses and settings, Witzel’s photos soon set the tone for Hollywood studio photography and from the mid-1910s they featured frequently in fan magazines like Photoplay, becoming an important promotional and publicity tool.

Witzel occasionally worked on assignment for the big picture studios, photographing many silent film luminaries including Theda Bara and Charlie Chaplin (source).

Portrait of American actress Clara Bow by American photographer Albert Witzel (1879-1929) via

Portrait of American actress & showgirl Blanche Mehaffey Witzel, 1920s by Albert Witzel (1879-1929) via

Portrait of Bebe Daniels by photographer Albert Witzel (1879-1929), 1920 via

Portrait of American actress Natalie Kingston by Albert Witzel (1879-1929) via

Portrait of American actress Melva Cornell by Albert Witzel (1879-1929), 1920s via

Portrait of American actress Bessie Love by Albert Witzel (1879-1929), 1920 via

Portrait of American actress Doris May by Albert Witzel (1879-1929) , 1920 via

A Collection of Vintage Photos Feat. Bebe Daniels

Bebe Daniels (1901 – 1971) was an American actress, singer, dancer, writer and producer. She began her career in Hollywood during the silent movie era as a child actress, became a star in musicals such as 42nd Street, and later gained further fame on radio and television in Britain. In a long career, Bebe Daniels made over 230 films.

By the age of seven Daniels had her first starring role in film as the young heroine in A Common Enemy. At the age of nine she starred as Dorothy Gale in the 1910 short film The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. At the age of fourteen she starred opposite film comedian Harold Lloyd in a series of Lonesome Luke two-reel comedies starting with the 1915 film Giving Them Fits. The two eventually developed a publicized romantic relationship and were known in Hollywood as “The Boy” and “The Girl.

Bebe Daniels in Love Comes Along via

Bebe Daniels via

Bebe Daniels in What a Night! via

Bebe Daniels Wedding Dress, 1923 via

Bebe Daniels via

Bebe Daniels in Dangerous Female (1931)

The Maltese Falcon (1931) is an American pre-code crime film, based on the novel of the same name by Dashiell Hammett and directed by Roy Del Ruth. The film stars Ricardo Cortez as private detective Sam Spade and Bebe Daniels as Ruth Wonderly.

The Plot of the film is that a lovely dame with dangerous lies employs the services of a private detective, who is quickly caught up in the mystery and intrigue of a statuette known as the Maltese Falcon.

Bebe Daniels as Ruth Wonderly, 1931

Bebe Daniels as Ruth Wonderly, 1931

Bebe Daniels as Ruth Wonderly, 1931

Bebe Daniels as Ruth Wonderly (1931)

Bebe Daniels adds to the cash she keeps in her stockings, 1931

Bebe Daniels as ‘Zaida’ “In She’s a Sheik” (1927)

She’s a Sheik is a 1927 silent film comedy adventure produced and distributed by Paramount Pictures. The film is possibly lost.

Bebe Daniels stars as Zaida the daughter of a desert chief who kidnaps a member of the French Foreign Legion in the hopes of wooing him.

The comedy pokes fun at the Valentino ‘sheik’ films with the exception that a woman, played by Bebe Daniels, is the protagonist.

 Bebe Daniels as ‘Zaida’, 1927

 Bebe Daniels as ‘Zaida’, 1927

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