Another Signed Ann Dvorak Photo
Year of Ann Dvorak: Day 172
Here is another photo signed by Ann, but this one is a little different. It’s a portrait from the mid 1940s, around the time of Private Affairs of Bel Ami, which is one of the most glamorous sittings Ann ever did. The inscriptions reads, “With all my love, to Mama.”
I found this in an antique store on the North Shore of Oahu. The owner of the shop had acquired the contents of Ann’s storage unit a year or two after she died, and this photo was among the contents. Ann’s mom, Anna Lehr, had passed away almost six years before Ann did, and there is something rather sad about this photo being tucked away in a storage space. I’m certainly happy it’s now part of my collection.
I was actually going to use this photo in the last chapter of the book. However, once I received images of Ann towards the end of her life, this one was sacrificed. I was torn to see it go, but in the end I think it was the right decision.
I continue to be amazed at Ann’s chameleon like appearance in these photos. On first glance here, I thought that looks like Virginia Grey.
Yeah, she really mixed it up in the 1940s!
That is certainly a poignant tale. But you’d have to believe Ann would be happy knowing this photograph, which was, no doubt, a personal keepsake of sentimental value to her, landed in the possession of someone who so cares for, and honors, her legacy.
Just curious, when was the last image you have of her taken?
I certainly hope Ann would approve! The latest images I have were taken about 5 months before she died and were part of that collection I received last month. One of them will be in the book and the other I will post here once the book is released, cause I am mean like that and am going to make you all wait.