Melba on Victor

[Lenoirstreetguy]

Ran across this ad . It's from the December 1904 issue of Good Housekeeping. I've never seen it reproduced. This is the first blush of the Victor Red Seal era, when Victor was discovering advertising gold in the stars of Grand Opera. Melba had just capitulated to the talking machine and her name made very attractive copy. Patti would be next! I've never seen Melba look quite this good .
Jim

[transformingArt]

In 1904, Melba was way MORE IMPORTANT than Caruso. But about 15 years later when Caruso renewed his final contract with Victor, the situation was quite opposite. In fact, Calvin Child was willing to lose some 5,000 dollars if Melba wished to terminate her contract with Victor. - I always find it really ironic.

By the way, I believe in 1904, Melba actually never made her recordings at Victor, but made some with Gramophone & Typewriter company at her Cumberland place Mansion. While every others (except Tamagno) appeared on this catalog actually made some with Victor.

[Guest]

[quote="transformingArt"]By the way, I believe in 1904, Melba actually never made her recordings at Victor, but made some with Gramophone & Typewriter company at her Cumberland place Mansion. .[/quote]

That's my understanding too, although the ad itself doesn't really claim Melba "recorded" for Victor, just that her recordings were now available [in the US] on the Victor label.

[Wolfe]

The initial batch of recordings was at Cumberland Place, in 1904. The follow up recordings in studio at 21 City Road, in London, later in the year.

HMV made some recordings with her in 1921, apparently were quite happy to do so. She was nearly 60 by then.

I've never seen Melba look quite this good .

That may not even be a picture from 1904, rather one even older. She wasn't an unattractive woman in her earlier years (19th century) but by the time she's in Victor ads, she was already middle aged, plump and matronly.

[Swing Band Heaven]

I think Melba looks better in the photo that Victor used in their 1928 record catologue. True she was no "hottie" thats for sure but she looks a bit more alluring than in the photo in the ad.

[Lenoirstreetguy]

Hehehe THAT one has been retouched within an inch of it's life. She never looked like that in any other pic I've seen.
Here's two pics of " Our Nell" looking more like real life. In the first she's with her accompanist Landon Ronald and from the hat and dress and what Ronald says in the text I think this is from about 1908-9. She's decidedly matronly. There are some pics of her in 90's that do make her look quite fetching: I mean she had an affair with the Duc d'Orleans....and several others. The Second pic is dated: 1897 . Here she is with Joachim the celebrated 19th century violinist...and Ronald seems to imply they were more than friends but not quite lovers. This pic looks very much like the Victor ad.I suspect the waistline in both pics has been ...um...enhanced: corset or no corset. I've got another one from this period where the curves are more....again...matronly.

Jim

[Wolfe]

Here she is as young as I've seen her.

Many. many pieces of Melba toast and buttery spread later, she became more like what we're used to in terms of looks.