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Tuesday, June 21, 2011

The Poli Stock Company - 1906


Paula Gloy may have been the most well-known of the Poli Stock Company of 1906. She at least, among other alumni of that stock theatre troupe that performed at the string of Poli theaters in New England, can be traced to other more prestigious roles on Broadway.


Here is a set of promotional postcards published by Sylvester Z. Poli, theatre impresario, to attract audiences, and serve as souvenirs to fans.  The obverse:



At some point in that 1906 season, Paula Gloy left for another minor part on Broadway, in the farce “Cousin Louisa.” From the acerbic drama critic (is there any other kind?) of the New York Dramatic Mirror, May 12, 1906:

“Paula Gloy was rather unattractive as Florence, though she extracted some comedy from the situations in the second and third acts.”

Though Paula Gloy left a footprint on Broadway in a string of plays from about 1900 to about 1907, we haven’t too much information on Ruth Blake.



Or the handsome Sidney Irving.



Or this unnamed actor from the 1907 season.



Here is an actress in costume for her role as “Le Domino Rouge”, which played at the Poli’s Springfield, Massachusetts theater the week of January 29, 1906. The play was made into a silent film in 1909.



Here are the players in a candid group shot for Poli’s 1906 company.



We’ll have more next week on the Poli Palace of Springfield, Massachusetts.

My thanks go to Gail Watson for finding, and sharing these postcards.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Fascinating images! I look forward to next week's feature!

Jacqueline T. Lynch said...

Thanks, John. I do wish I could find out more information about them. By and by, perhaps.

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