Lotta, from the Actors and Actresses series (N171) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1886 - 1890

This is "Lotta," a photographic print made in the United States as part of the "Actors and Actresses" series for Old Judge Cigarettes. These cards were inserted into cigarette packs to promote the brand, tapping into the popularity of performers like Lotta Crabtree. The image presents her in what seems to be a bandleader's uniform, complete with a drum and stick. This card reflects a culture where celebrity endorsements were intertwined with everyday consumption. It also speaks to the burgeoning entertainment industry of the late 19th century, and how it relied on the relatively new medium of photography to disseminate images of performers far and wide. One wonders about the conditions under which such images were made, and what control the depicted actors and actresses had over their own image. Understanding this card requires looking into the history of advertising, the rise of celebrity culture, and the social norms around gender and performance in 19th-century America. These images are contingent on the culture in which they were made.