Card Number 368, Annie Dacon, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-5) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cameo Cigarettes 1880s

This small card was produced in the United States around 1900 by W. Duke, Sons & Co. as a promotional item for Cameo Cigarettes. It features an image of Annie Dacon, an actress of the period. These cards, distributed with cigarette packs, reflect the burgeoning advertising industry and the ways it capitalized on popular entertainment. Dacon's theatrical attire and pose suggest a character she might have played on stage. The card served to associate the glamour and allure of the theater with the Cameo brand. This was a period of significant change in the entertainment industry with theater, vaudeville, and early cinema competing for audiences. The commercialization of celebrity and the use of actors and actresses to promote consumer products provide a glimpse into the cultural values and marketing strategies of the time. Resources for further research might include trade publications, theater archives, and advertising history collections. Such sources help us understand the complex relationship between art, commerce, and society.