The Postcard
A Rapid Series postcard that was published by the Rapid Photo Co. of London E. C. The image is a glossy real photograph.
The card was posted in Grimsby on Sunday the 3rd. September 1905 to:
Miss Hilda V. Morton,
c/o Mrs. Hart,
The Knoll,
Uckfield,
Sussex,
England,
Great Britain,
World.
Hilda was probably in service.
The message on the divided back of the card was as follows:
"Dear Hilda,
Am glad you are having
such a fine time.
Thanks for all the pretty
PC's.
I am just going to meet
the girl.
With much love from all,
Dick".
Miss Madge Crichton
Miss Mage Crichton was an actress who was born in Scarborough, Yorkshire on the 31st. October 1879.
Born Margaret Dorothy Wakeford, Madge was the daughter of Haldane Hodson Wakeford (actor/theatrical manager [as Haldane Crichton]) and his wife Helen (née Mahoney).
The Era (London, UK) wrote the following about Madge Crichton on the 28th. February 1903:
"Miss Madge Crichton's career is very brief.
She had just left school, and was going on
the Continent to a convent, when she
witnessed The French Maid at Plymouth, and
had an irresistible desire play to 'Suzette'.
Her father, Mr Haldane Crichton, arranged it
for her, and it was her first part.
She was next engaged by Mr Edwardes to
play San Toy, but he transferred her to The
Messenger Boy, afterwards playing 'Susan'
in The Toreador.
Miss Crichton made a decided hit in the part
of Ada Branscombe in Three Little Maids,
produced at the Apollo Theatre on May 10th.
last, and still running, this role having been
originally intended for Miss Ada Reeve, who
was prevented by indisposition from playing
it.
Miss Crichton has been in three pantomimes,
playing 'Dandini', at the Theatre Royal, Sheffield;
'Cinderella' (her favourite pantomime part) at the
Theatre Royal, Bradford; and the 'Princess' to
Miss Ada Reeve's 'Aladdin', at the Prince's,
Manchester, which was one of the happiest
engagements she has had, though the smallest
part she ever played.
Her ambition is high-class legitimate comedy.
She is very fond of cycling and horse riding,
and she loves travelling".
At the end of the performance on her first night playing in 'Three Little Maids', Madge was struck and knocked unconscious by the descending curtain.
The Death of Mage Crichton
Madge died at the age of 71 in Chicago, USA on the 17th. March, 1951.
Eric Larson
So what else happened on the day that Dick posted the card to Hilda?
Well, the 3rd. September 1905 marked the birth of Eric Larson.
Eric Cleon Larson was an American animator for the Walt Disney Studios starting in 1933, and was one of "Disney's Nine Old Men".
-- Eric Larson - The Early Years
Born in Cleveland, Utah, Larson was the son of Danish immigrants Peter, a clothing salesman, and Nora.
-- The Career of Eric Larson
Eric worked on such films as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio, Fantasia, Bambi, The Three Caballeros, Make Mine Music, Melody Time, Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Lady and the Tramp, Sleeping Beauty, One Hundred and One Dalmatians, The Sword in the Stone, The Jungle Book, and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.
Throughout the years, Larson has animated characters on classics like The Aristocats and Robin Hood, and also provided the titles on The Rescuers.
In 1973, Eric began a recruitment training program that brought a new generation of animators into the Disney studio. Many well-known figures in animation today went through Larson's training program.
In the 1980's his work was minor, but he served as animation consultant on animated films and shorts like Mickey's Christmas Carol, The Black Cauldron, and The Great Mouse Detective.
-- The Death of Eric Larson
Larson was married to Gertrude Larson. By his retirement in 1986, he was the longest-working employee at Disney, having worked there for 53 years. He died at La Cañada Flintridge, California on the 25th. October 1988, at the age of 83.
