19.00 USD
The Ogden Standard-Examiner, in 1927, recounted one of Fern Andra's many escapades in Germany during the First World War, at which time, accused of espionage, she was housed in a prisoner of war camp, and only weeks away from execution by firing squad, when Kaiser Wilhelm (apparently a fan) interceded on her behalf. All true? Perhaps. Who can say at this point? The trail has grown cold.
The Germans did, in fact, suspect her of spying, and later in her life she acknowledged that she had acted as a courier for the allies, memorizing coded secrets, and carrying that information to American agents in Copenhagen, Denmark (exciting stuff, no?).
In 1922, American newspapers, including the New York Times, reported that "German" film actress, Fern Andra, had been killed in an aeroplane crash in Germany, the plane having been piloted by no lesser a personage than Lothar von Richthofen, the brother (and also a WWI flying ace) of the "Bloody" Red Baron, Manfred von Richthofen. Lothar von Richthofen also perished in the crash. True?
Well partially. Miss Andra was not actually a German actress, but an American one, who, called the "German Mary Pickford," was one of the biggest stars of the silent film industry in that country (and in all of Europe) between the mid 1910s and the mid 1920s. She hadn't been killed in the plane crash, however, but was the sole survivor, though very badly hurt.
By that time, she was better known as the Baroness Fern Andra, since to avoid further accusations of spying during the war, she had married the Baron Friedrich von Weichs, a nephew of Empress Zita of Austria and also a former member of the Baron von Richthofen's fighter squadron. Though her husband was killed in the war, Miss Andra maintained the title of Baroness throughout the rest of her days, and over a few subsequent marriages.
Born in 1893 Illinois, the stepdaughter of a high wire performer and a mother she claimed was an opera singer, but who after recent research is thought to have been a backstage costume dresser and seamstress, she was named Vernal Edna Andrews, and it was likely under that plain old American name that she was performing in circus and vaudeville acts as a child (apparently she performed up on the high wire at the tender age of four).
Fern Andra's adventures don't stop there. A remarkable life! She was a film actress in more than 80 motion pictures, a dancer, a circus and vaudeville performer, a screenwriter, a director, a producer, an aviatrix, yes, perhaps a spy. And she not only fell under suspicion of espionage in Germany on behalf of the allies in WWI, but twenty years later, because of her long residence in Germany, and her association (no one says just how personal) with a young scriptwriter named Joseph Goebbels (many, many years before he became one of the most important figures of Hitler's Third Reich), she also fell under suspicion of spying on behalf of the Nazis! Her story goes on and on... but we can't.
Google this gal! and definitely follow this link to Youtube, where you can see her in the wonderful German Expessionist horror film "Genuine," by the director of the classic "The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari," Robert Weine. Miss Andra performed in the title role, and wore it well.
She doesn't wear much else, actually. The film caused quite a furor, because her costume was mostly painted on! Make popcorn and settle in. Great fun :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4dwATAiq4c
This is a "Film Sterne" card ("sterne" means "star" in German), published in about 1917, by Heinrich Ross, probably the most important figure behind the film star postcard industry between the 1910s and 1930s. The film, "Des Lebens Ungemischte Freude," or "The Life of Unmixed Joy," was likely produced in 1917. Very little information is available about this film. From this image, and others we have seen from this film, it is clear that Miss Andra played the part of a circus performer.
Though the title directly implies a life of joy minus any troubles, clearly this is is a false front. If they made such a film, where would be the conflict? What would be Miss Andra's "motivation?" :) No, in fact, the title was almost certainly taken from a line in "Der Ring des Polykrates," a late 18th century lyrical ballad written by Friedrich Schiller, inspired by the ancient Greek Histories of Herodotus. So, the title of our film, in this context, probably speaks to the idea that great success in life invites tragedy.
We hope you love this wonderful card as much as we do! In about as near to perfect condition as you can find, we'll list this one in our "Under the Big Top" section, since Miss Andra's roots were in the circus, and in this film she played a circus performer.
Please examine our high res scans for detail.
Postage is for first class shipping in a secure photo mailer, and we happily combine shipping on all paper goods. If you purchase two cards, we will refund the postage on the second card, and when you purchase three or more cards from us at the same time, your shipping will be entirely free, except for international orders which, because of sudden increases in international shipping rates will still be charged one card's shipping fees on orders of three or more.
And please come visit our blog at:
redpoulaine.blogspot.com
where we post biographical and historical tidbits, images of cards and photographs for sale, some already sold but remembered fondly, related images of historical interest and sometimes even images of items that have not yet arrived in the shop, but that are expected to arrive soon, as well as coupon codes, links to other related sites, and more!