Picturing Dorothy Images 1909-1912

[Randy Bryan Bigham]

Jose,

No, according to what I've found, the model for that image was not Dorothy Gibson but one of three blondes he used between 1907 and 1909. Which one of them it is, I'm not sure but I think her name was Rita Rasmussen (best known by the print called variously "Sunbonnet Girl" and "Maud Muller"). I think Margery Allwork, another of his models from this time, was a blonde.

The illustration you are referring to, which was in the book "Women and Children First" by Judith Geller, was most commonly titled "Maid to Worship" but was also known as "The Blonde." It was first used by Fisher in his book "American Beauties" (1909). It was the cover picture in fact.

Only one image in this book has been identified as Dorothy Gibson and that is the full-length picture (see above) called "Roses." Which reminds me that the date I put below it is incorrect; it is 1909, not 1910. So far, there are no Harrison Fisher images positively "ID'ed" as Dorothy Gibson dating to earlier than this one.

Randy

 

[Randy Bryan Bigham]

Above is one of a series of publicity portraits of Dorothy Gibson taken in 1911 at the time of her start in films for the Eclair company.

Below is the familiar picture of Gibson which was used in promoting her only hit movie, "Saved From the Titanic" (1912). This image was first published in issues of Moving Picture News and Billboard Magazine in late 1911.

And finally, here's a 1910 photo of Dorothy Gibson posing for Harrison Fisher. It illustrated an interview with Fisher in the Ladies Home Journal.

 

[Jose C. Rivera Cosme]

Randy-

How do you know what model was used for what illustration? Can you share your source?

 

[Randy Bryan Bigham]

Jose,

I'm not making a general study of Harrison Fisher's models - he used hundreds, I understand - so I assure you that I don't know which model was used for each illustration. I don't know that all his models' names have even been recorded. The most famous ones, however, were Dorothy Gibson and Olive Thomas (who went into the "Ziegfeld Follies" and, like Gibson, into the movies)

I am concentrating only on those images that have been already identified as portraying Dorothy Gibson and others that can be identified with the help of collectors and art experts.

Some of my sources have already been shared above. Other references include the following books:

"The Complete Works of Harrison Fisher," by Naomi Welch (considered the most comprehensive study of his life and career)

"Harrison Fisher: Defining the American Beauty," by Tina Skinner.

"Harrison Fisher" by David Q. Bowers.

I have a number of articles that I could list, which also mention Gibson, but I don't think I should give the whole game away yet. No one has done a serious treatment of her career as a model and actress and so I am eager to do that. I will put what I have found into an article which will cover all bases, or as many as I can, and people can judge it for what it's worth at that time.

I try to be very meticulous and careful about attributions and sources so I promise the end result will not be a jumble of thrown-together, unresearched facts.

I am sorry your picture is not one of Gibson but you can fairly easily find one that is by checking eBay. Picture postcards of "Bows Attract Beaus" and "Mary" were both recently up for auction. And I believe the stunning "Roses" is available now as a poster print for a fairly reasonable price at some online art stores.

You can check with Amazon.com for books on Harrison Fisher or BookFinder.com but to buy one of his luxurious original art books, you might need to take out a bank loan!

Randy

 

[Randy Bryan Bigham]

All:

This is a general call for assistance with my project on Dorothy.

With a submission deadline set for August 31 for the marketing of a series of small books called "Titanic First Ladies", the publishing group I'm working with is in need of help from members for the first of this series, which will focus on the life and career of Dorothy Gibson.

The manuscript is almost finished at this point, with sections of the Titanic chapter still being ironed out. We plan to be in touch shortly with specialists and experts on the ship who can assist us in proofing this chapter.

Right now we are concentrating on collecting images from public and private sources. The Fort Lee Film Commission, the Library of Congress and the UCLA Film and Television Archive have been of inestimable help in tracking down photos of Dorothy, both while an actress with Eclair Films and as a model for Harrison Fisher. However we want to invite the Titanic community to share images or other material for consideration in publication. Phil Gowan has naturally been consulted for pictures of Dorothy in her later years, his collection being the best source by far.

One thing we are looking for is a photo of Dorothy's grave in the civil cemetery at Saint Germain-en-Laye. We are also very interested in photos/illustrations of Titanic that have not been generally published.

We are soon to be in touch privately with the following individuals whom we're hoping can assist us with specific questions - Phil Hind, Olivier Mendez, Phil Gowan, Brian Meister,Inger Sheil, Jenni Atkinson, Ben Holme, George Behe, Don Lynch, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Tennaro, Ken Marschall, etc. If other members of this forum have information to share or know of someone who does, please contact me at [email protected] or at [email protected]. We are happy to make appropriate acknowledgment to all contributors. Payment for photos used is negotiable.

For all my interest in and research on "Lucile" and Edith Russell, it's strange that my work on Dorothy Gibson will see print first! This will be a package that includes a book in magazine format (akin to the collectible celebrity special editions), a CD of images of the actress as well as separate art prints, suitable for framing, of Harrison Fisher's illustrations of her. The package will be advertised shortly on this site (I hope!) as well as at amazon.com and elsewhere. The title of this first book package is "Finding Dorothy."

I am arranging it so that a good portion of proceeds go to the Fort Lee Film Commission, the British Titanic Society and Encyclopedia Titanica.

Best wishes to all,
Randy

 

[Amanda Ratliff]

Wow. Randy, I absolutely loved this information on Dorothy and can't wait until the publication! Dorothy is certainly an interesting character. Thanks so much for the 'sneak peak'

 

[Randy Bryan Bigham]

Thanks for the enthusiasm, Amanda. At least one person will be buying the book!

I'm pretty weighted down with the writing at this point, the project being much larger than I'd envisioned, and with a deadline that is pretty tight. Otherwise, I would make a pitch for specific Titanic information and images that are needed. As it is, I must wait for the project editor Jennifer Mills, a former colleague of mine, to address this on the message board in the next few days. I know that she'll also be asking a few questions that have dogged us regarding people in Lifeboat 7 and the crew responsible for its launching. She will also be e-mailing a number of members personally with questions and requests for help.

Right now, I've been awake for 22 hours! This was supposed to be a small project but I have ended up with an assignment to basically write a book in a month's time!!

Randy

 

[Vicki Logan]

Hey Randy,
I know you will be able to count on lots more than one person to buy the book! Let me know where we can purchase and we will be in line.
Take care and get some sleep!
Vicki

 

[Michael H. Standart]

Randy, please count me in as a prospective customer too. Looks like your going for the varsity squad of the Titanic Community to help you out. With that and your own research, I'm sure it's going to be a "must have."

 

[Randy Bryan Bigham]

Just to follow up here on some old questions and comments from above posts.

Brian Aherne asked how much money Dorothy Gibson made as a model. I didn’t know at the time but I have some idea now. To judge from what other models of Harrison Fisher were making at the time she worked for him, she made something in the neighborhood of $30 to $75 a sitting. During most of the time that she was modeling she also worked in the theatre, making at one point $53 a week as a chorus girl in a Shubert Brothers musical. I’m not sure what she made when she first went into films, for Lubin and later IMP studios. She was then appearing only as an extra or supporting player, so her salary would not have been impressive. But when she was hired by í‰clair American as the studio’s leading lady, she made $120 a week, which apparently surpasses what Mary Pickford was making at that time!

Regarding some of the Fisher illustrations I posted above, Jennifer Mills and I want to confirm that the images named "The Rose" and "Behave" are NOT of Dorothy Gibson but of Margery Allwork, Fisher’s most prolific model. Sadly Miss Allwork did not have as good a press agent as Dorothy because if any woman was "The Original Harrison Fisher Girl," it would have been she and not Dorothy, although the latter sat for some of the artist’s most popular works.

We are weeks away from seeing our book on Dorothy hit the press so I am looking forward to that. We hope this biography will become an important source for collectors of Fisher art prints as well as for silent movie buffs. A large portion of the book is naturally devoted to the Titanic with some new and hopefully entertaining tidbits. Of course, those interested in spy stories sure won’t be let down!

 

[Michael H. Standart]

>>judge from what other models of Harrison Fisher were making at the time she worked for him, she made something in the neighborhood of $30 to $75 a sitting.<<

Not a bad showing for that day and age. While it doesn't approach what models make now even in equivalant 21st Century dollars, for a lot of people then, that was a months wages. Any idea when this book will become available for purchase?

 

[Kyrila Scully]

I'll certainly be buying a copy of your book - and maybe I'll get to Texas and get you to autograph it for me!

All the best,
Kyrila

 

[Donald J A Smith]

Hello Kyrila and Randy! A nagging long-term suspicion and a half-formed thought of mine re-surfaced a few minutes ago, and has just been discussed with a friend; the illustrator Roger J L Payne, whose mentor was Matania. I'm rather excited to tell you both first! The tinted photograph (dated 1911) which I e-mailed to you almost a year ago, is - we now believe - one of the same series of which Randy has shown us one: "Dorothy Gibson taken in 1911 at the time of her start in films for the Eclair company." I had titled the jpeg 'TitanHat'!

 

[Randy Bryan Bigham]

Hi, Kyrila and Donald:

Kyrila I will make sure you get a complimentary copy. You deserve it after surviving your own hurricane disaster of late.

And Don, although I recall the image you sent, I can’t find it. It did not strike me as Dorothy but I was not nearly so accustomed to identifying her as I am now, having found so many new photos. Can you re-send the picture? If it’s old Dot, I would love to use it for the book, if you’re agreeable. Which means you also get a free copy!

(Hmmm… I don’t think I’m going to make much money out of this! )

 

[Kyrila Scully]

Now, Randy, you don't have to do that!!! You certainly won't make much money this way - but then I know how that is, having probably broke even on my own book, if not a little bit of a loss. LOL

Kyrila