Miss Kate Uart, Corsair Co./ Eva Shaler, Corsair Co./ Eva Shaler, Corsair Co./ Carrie Behr, Corsair Co., from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 4) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This small card, printed by Allen & Ginter for Virginia Brights Cigarettes, is one of many that features actresses from the late 19th century American stage. These cards speak to the intertwined relationship between commerce, celebrity, and the burgeoning entertainment industry. Note the name 'Corsair Co', which refers to the theatre company these women worked for. The commercial logic behind these cards was simple: use the allure of actresses like Miss Kate Uart, Eva Shaler and Carrie Behr to sell cigarettes, thus popularizing both products while boosting the profiles of stage performers. This was happening at a time when theatre was a major form of mass entertainment. To fully understand this card, we'd delve into the history of tobacco advertising, the economics of the American theatre, and the social role of actresses. What did it mean to be a woman on stage at this time? This seemingly simple image offers a lens through which we can examine broader cultural and economic shifts.