LEONA DARE

Leona Dare was an acrobat and trapeze artist noted for her exploits on a trapeze hanging from a balloon. In the 1870's and 1880's Leona Dare's beauty and daring won her a wide reputation. She appeared with circuses in this country, and at the Follies Bergere in Paris. One of her greatest performances was while suspended 5,000 feet above the crowd at the Crystal Palace in London.

In 1884 she was suspended by her feet from the roof of the Princess Theatre in London. She held in her teeth the ropes of a trapeze bar on which a male performer was suspended. For some unknown reason, explained in the newspapers of the times as a nervous fit, she released her grip and the male performer dropped to the floor. It is unknown if he died as a result of the fall. Miss Dare suffered a nervous breakdown after that incident.

Leona died in 1923 at the age of 67.

LEONA DARE

Portrait of Leona Dare

ADAH ISAACS MENKEN

Adah Isaacs Menken (1835-68), an American actress, became famous by playing the part of Mazeppa in which she rode on stage on horseback. The costume she wore made her appear nude.

ADAH ISAACS MENKEN

Adah Isaacs Menken in the part of William, the love-siick sailor-boy, in the play Black-Eyed Susan.

EDWARD S. STOKES

Stokes shot and killed James Fiske over the affections of actress Josie Mansfield on Jan. 6, 1872.

James Fisk, Jr.

Flamboyant U.S. financier, known as the "king" of Wall Street, shot and killed by his former partner over the affections of actress Josie Mansfield , on January 6, 1872.

Josephine (Josie) Mansfield - Fisk / Stokes Murder

This was the actress involved in the famous 1872 shooting of James Fisk, Jr., "king" of Wall Street, by Edward S. Stokes, his former partner, and the "handsomest man in town."

Fisk accused Stokes of embezzlement. Stokes sued Fisk for libel. The publication of Fisk's love letters to Josie Mansfield was threatened. The shooting immediately followed a court decision granting Fisk an injunction restraining the publication of the letters.

Photographs of the day leave little to indicate her reputed beauty and the charm she was supposed to exersice over men.

Thanks to Boss Tweed's influence and New York politics, Stokes, received a four year sentence after three trials. Fisk died the morning after the shooting.

Adelaide Neilson

Miss Neilson as Juliet, approximately 1872.

Adelaide Neilson

This photograph is Miss Neilson as Juliet, approximately 1872.

Adelaide Neilson

Photograph dates from about 1875. Miss Neilson was the most famous British Shakespearean actress from approximately 1865 until her death in 1880.

Saturday, July 12, 2008, First post

Today is the first day of my blog, and I am hoping to have a lot to contribute in future days. If anyone has an an interest in Victorian actresses or 3D photography please contact me.