140032 prob. Alfred CHENEY JOHNSTON
Dancer in "The Passing show of 1923", New York, 1923
black and white photography on paper
dim.: 33,7 cmx26,3 cm/55 cmx47 cm (framed)
photo studio stamp "White Studio 17. N.Y."
Alfred CHENEY JOHNSTON [1885-1971] An American photographer worked in NY, mainly known of Ziegfeld Follies dancers, actresses, actors and photos of other movie world personalities. In 1908 he finished studies of painting and illustration at National Academy of Design. He worked early as a portrait painter, but without success. At the instigation of his friend and famous illustrator Charles Dan Gibsonhe become a photographer. From 1917 he was applied as a contract photographer by Florenz Ziegfeld. He also had a few commercial photo studios.
The photograph shows probably Vera Ross, she was an actress and dancer who performs in revues, musicals and operettas on Broadway (for ex. Pirats from Penzance, Mikado) in 20'/30'. The hat which he wears was designed by Romain de Tortoff known as Erte. The artist was active in many branches as scuplture, graphics and fashion. He was mostly connected to Paris, and in 1920 he began to cooperate with movie and theatre producers from Hollywood. He designed costumes and scenographes, his ideas were used in Ziegfeld Follies in 1923. His artistic oeuvre is enormous. Most of it is made in art deco stylistics, which he fulfiled in and to which he was faithfull untill the end of his career. His works can be find in Victoria and Albert's Museum and Metropolitain Museum of Art.
"The Passing show of 1923", was revue in two acts displayed from january untill september 1923. Directed by J.C Huffmann in cooperate with Jacob J. Shubert, choreography was made by Allan K. Foster. Musicial was displayed 118 times in Winter Garden Theatre on Broadway.
