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1922. Miriam Battista, child star of stage and screen, at age 10 in Washington, D.C. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size.
Miriam's first husband was Russell Malone(y) and daughter is renowned chef Amelia Hard of Portland Oregon
Miriam was not only a child star but the wife of the writer/photographer ?? Malone. He died in the 1940's. Her second husband was a director Lloyd Rosamond. Her brother, Willie Battista, was also a child star and performed with Helen Hayes. Miriam also is credited with theatre and television (Legend of Sleepy Hollow/Peyton Place)
Or a dual-cowl phaeton?
[It could be both -- if this car had two windscreens. But it doesn't. So it's not a dual-cowl anything. - Dave]
No front wheel brakes and just drum brakes on the rear wheels. I imagine these cars hardly stopped on a dime!
Did the drum brakes serve as parking brakes as well?
I happened across a bound volume of the San Francisco Chronicle for May 1921. The Sunday paper always had a lavish "automobile" section with tours, car ads and testimonials. The 1921 Stephens Salient Six had overhead valves and bragged about running 600 miles on one 20 gal tank of gas - a respectable 30 mpg. They were equally proud of using "only" 4 quarts of oil on this trip - that's 150 miles per quart! No wonder busy highways were well blackened down the center of each lane.
Apparently the press releases at the time propagated a white lie exaggerating the innocent age of Miss Battista.
Miriam Battista Coming
An interesting theatrical event will occur at Loew's Columbia theater during the week, beginning Sunday, July 16, when Miriam Battista, the 8-year-old child star of Fannie Hurst's famous picture, "Humoresque," will appear in person several times daily during the entire week. Miss Battista's personal appearances will be made in connection with showings at the Columbia of "The Man From Home," and as is is her first visit to Washington, she plans to pay several calls to prominent government officials during the time she is here. Miss Battista, who is 8 years old, has appeared with Maude Adams on the stage in "A Kiss for Cinderella," and also in Ibsen's "A Doll's House."
Washington Post, July 2, 1922
It sure looks like a post exchange in the background. Let's not forget, Washington D.C. was and still is very much a military town.
On another note, this is an extraordinary photograph. The tonality is gorgeous with full detail throughout the range, despite the harsh noonday sunlight. That photographer knew what he was doing.
She looks like an anonymous little girl that nobody (like me) ever heard of. Fame and celebrity are strange concepts; like bubbles inside of bubbles. Italy has stars that we'll never know or care about -- and so does every other country and culture. I hope that little Miriam enjoyed what she had while she had it because her name (and "fame") didn't survive the ravages of either time or American junk- culture.
Is a Stephens touring car.
Miriam appeared in 18 films between 1920 and 1935. She died on Christmas day 1980 at age 68.
This lovely car with its porthole is a precursor to the 1955 Thunderbird, provides a luxurious backdrop for photographing the perky young child star -- who would be 97 this year! Is that a PX I see in the background? Interesting photo on several levels. Thanks, Dave!
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