Portrait of Ernestine Myers Film Noir

Portrait of Ernestine Myers (Morrisey) Film Noir
Inventory
Collection Number: 
17547
Building: 
Current Location: 
Storage Room 303
Floor: 
Lower Level/Vault
Object Description
Artist: 
Artist Dates: 
1884 -1982
Artist Nationality: 
American
Object Type: 
Details: 
This is a sepia toned photographic print of Ernestine Myers.
Framed: 
Yes
 - Glass
Length: 
25 inches
Width: 
1 inches
Height: 
31 inches
Description: 

As a teen, Ernestine Myers enrolled in Madame Marie Jung’s eminent Chicago Musical College. Myers studied under the famous Ruth St Dennis and Ted Shawn in LA. She became a headliner in New York’s 81st Street Theater, the Palace Theater and Winter Gardens. Her creative specialty was combining acrobatic toe dancing with ballet and Creole dancing. She was also featured in the Ziegfeld Follies and in the movie "Sinbad" with Al Jolson. Eventually, she joined the Keith and Shubert vaudeville companies on tour. When her business manager died in 1922, she canceled her bookings and returned to her hometown Terra Haute, Indiana. There she founded the Ernestine Myer’s School of Dance which she ran for 54 years. This portrait depicts Myers in a film noir aesthetic. She is wearing a satin dress off the shoulder in a dramatic fashion. In this image, she looks over her right shoulder and clasps her left hand to her chest as if in fear. Light only shines on her rouged lips and glints off her hoop earrings. The remainder of her figure appears to be coming out of the shadow that engulfs the background.

Reproduce the Work in Library publications/publicity, including film or videotape: 
Yes
Make slides or videotapes for educational use: 
Yes
Permit the general public to photograph the work : 
Yes