Ca. 1907 Nap Lajoie - Nickel Theatre Trade Card

[BeanTown]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

If it's phony, it's a clever one. Without seeing (or smelling) it, I'll go 50-50.

Ummmmm. No way being phony. Completely disagree. I’ll take two of those phony cards please. Nice score Leon

[Leon]

Originally Posted by BeanTown

Ummmmm. No way being phony. Completely disagree. I’ll take two of those phony cards please. Nice score Leon

I think Hank is just being cautious as we all should...., I hope someone will know something else. Thanks for the assist on the picture too, RuKen. ..

and wiki is our friend. I think the 1907 date written on it will be accurate..

The Nickel Theatre was the first movie theatre in Newfoundland. Part of the five-cent picture show craze that brought daily movies to almost every city and town all across North America, the Nickel opened in the Benevolent Irish Society's St. Patrick's Hall on July 1, 1907, one of a chain of B.F. Keith's Nickels in New England and Eastern Canada. Three more five-cent shows opened in St. John's by October 1907, all in large pre-existing community halls like the Nickel, rather than the small storefront nickelodeon typical of the time in the United States, Ontario, and larger cities in Canada. The Nickel is remembered fondly as the beginnings of moviegoing in Newfoundland, its name used today for the local film festival. While cinema had debuted in December 1897, and moving pictures played in St. Patrick's Hall before 1907, the Nickel indeed offered the people of St. John's daily public amusement for the first time.
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[SteveS]

There were several theaters with that name around that time, as the nickel movie was very popular. Although his first name is spelled incorrectly on that card, the only film in which Lajoie is known to have appeared was a 1902 or 1903 silent titled "Game of Base Ball," which was just a movie of an actual game between Philadelphia and Baltimore. So perhaps this was given out at a showing of that film at that theater a few years after its original release, and maybe there are more out there of other players from that game.

[KMayUSA6060]

Originally Posted by SteveS

There were several theaters with that name around that time, as the nickel movie was very popular. Although his first name is spelled incorrectly on that card, the only film in which Lajoie is known to have appeared was a 1902 or 1903 silent titled "Game of Base Ball," which was just a movie of an actual game between Philadelphia and Baltimore. So perhaps this was given out at a showing of that film at that theater a few years after its original release, and maybe there are more out there of other players from that game.

Given this information and the 1901 photo, is there a chance the 1907 written on the back is when someone owned the card, not when it was produced? Also, to Steve's point, I found another Nickel Theatre with a baseball tie. An excerpt from this article states the following...

In the summer of 1907, the Providence Nickel Theatre projected all the baseball scores baseball scores on the screen as soon as they were "received over the wire."

(https://books.google.com/books?id=ED...seball&f=false)

This is an incredible piece. Glad it's in your hands, Leon!

[Tao_Moko]

This is neat. I've never seen one like it. What are the dimensions?

[Rhotchkiss]

I found that article about the Newfoundland Nickel theatre, and I was going to post it, but soon realized (through same search) that there were many nickel theaters, short for “Nickelodeons” that sprang up in the 1890s and 1900s. I have no clue, but I doubt that card is from a theatre in Newfoundland in 1907- I just feel it’s unlikely baseball became that popular in rural Canada by 1907 that they printed a card of Lajoie to give out.

Anyway, very very cool card. And that picture is great too- I definitely think the card is from that picture, which may link it to Philly; although Lajoie was long gone from Philly by 1907, which may explain why the letters are not on his shirt in the PC, so maybe look for a nickel theater in Cleveland

And see this article for info about Nickel Theatres in Pittsburgh and later Cleveland

https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/cu...ters-1905-1907

[Tao_Moko]

I missed the obvious bold print with size earlier. Reason I was asking is because I knew I had seen promotional post cards from this period issued by theaters. This image was printed in the Richmond(Indiana) Palladium Daily, 1909.

[WillowGrove]

Originally Posted by SteveS

There were several theaters with that name around that time, as the nickel movie was very popular. Although his first name is spelled incorrectly on that card, the only film in which Lajoie is known to have appeared was a 1902 or 1903 silent titled "Game of Base Ball," which was just a movie of an actual game between Philadelphia and Baltimore. So perhaps this was given out at a showing of that film at that theater a few years after its original release, and maybe there are more out there of other players from that game.

Really cool pick up Leon. I like this thought and want to add that the first thing that hit me was this photo was used because Horner's portrait of Lajoie wasnt available yet. It was taken at some point in 1902. So I'm thinking this card is closer to 1902 1903.

[tkd]

That is really neat. I enjoy different ad backs especially theatre ad backs.

[Leon]

I received this email potentially dating the card to the original 1907 date that is written on it.

Leon,

As a Cleveland type collector, I too have never seen your card, but I think I unlocked the puzzle. At first it looked like maybe a Philadelphia one, since he played there before Cleveland, but I found a Nuckel Theatre in Providence, Rhode Island.

Lajoie was from Woonsocket. Rhode Island’s favorite son at that time. The Nickel Theatre was a new name in 1906, matching your card hand date.

So I believe it is legitimate and a trade card traceable to Rhode Island.

http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/6599



Thoughts?
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[oldeboo]

Originally Posted by Leon

I received this email potentially dating the card to the original 1907 date that is written on it.

Leon,

As a Cleveland type collector, I too have never seen your card, but I think I unlocked the puzzle. At first it looked like maybe a Philadelphia one, since he played there before Cleveland, but I found a Nuckel Theatre in Providence, Rhode Island.

Lajoie was from Woonsocket. Rhode Island’s favorite son at that time. The Nickel Theatre was a new name in 1906, matching your card hand date.

So I believe it is legitimate and a trade card traceable to Rhode Island.

http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/6599



Thoughts?
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I saw that too and it might be right. I was thinking somewhere around Philadelphia or in the vicinity of his hometown above anywhere else.

I agree with the above mentions that this could potentially be connected to a moving picture that Lajoie was in, most likely produced by Siegmund Lubin. Lubin was one of the early pioneers in the film industry and was anchored in Philadelphia. Some of his baseball moving pictures focused on the success of the Athletics, so they probably had the most demand in the Philadelphia and surrounding rural areas. If the card was given out around his hometown, it may have been connected to a showing as well. It could also have just been a promotion not related to a moving picture he was in.

The 1907 date aligns with the rise of nickel theatres and the distribution of souvenirs by theatres. From the best I can tell, nickel theatres were not much of a thing until 1905, then really hit their stride by 1907. I would feel pretty confident about the 1907 date on the Lajoie card.

Check out the Lubin postcard example below. I’m not saying they are connected at all, but there are some interesting qualities.

Intriguing item.