Sepia-tone photo of Bull Montana, Frankie Nelson, Stack brothers, posed with men at Empire Theatre, Hoboken, July 15, 1927.
Photograph
Sepia-tone photo of motion picture star and former wrestler Bull Montana with former boxer Frankie Nelson posed with a large group of men on the entry steps of the Empire Theatre, Hoboken, July 15, 1927.
8" x 10" wide print. Photographer not indicated. Captioned on image in modern ink as below; reverse has contemporary penciled date: July 15 /27.
Text in ink on image, left to right:
Stack Brothers [with arrows pointing to them]
1928 [incorrect; dated on reverse as July 15, 1927]
Frankie Nelson Bull Montana Jimmy Carter
Empire Theatre Hoboken NJ.
The scene is at 118 Hudson St. Bull Montana is at center holding a mug of "beer" (note Prohibition was then in force, but certain weak beer type drinks were available) with a German Shepard dog standing and wearing a coat posed in front of him. Montana was a famous retired wrestler who became a movie actor and appeared as a featured actor in several 1920s films and shorts; he appeared in films for several decades usually in minor roles or uncredited appearances. The event that the men have gathered for is not indicated, but it may have been a personal appearance by Montana or a just visit to his Hoboken friends - he was a contemporary of Nelson when both were active in their respective sports. (Note: his filmography has only two recorded film shorts released in 1927 and neither one corresponds to the date of this photo.) See notes.
Nelson, the retired boxer, is to his right (Nelson had a restaurant called "Frank Nelson" at 109 Hudson St. as found in 1926 directory; he was later the proprietor of Nelson's Marine Bar & Grill at 300 River St.)
Carter, who is presumed to be to Montana's left, has an unknown role in this group.
The Stack brothers are believed to be William J. Stack and Edward M. Stack, who were principals in the insurance agency, Stack, McLaughlin & Stack, 1 Newark St., Hoboken. (This business was known later as just Stack & Stack.) Which one is which has not been determined, but it is believed to be incorrectly marked by the previous owner. The right man is probably one of the Stacks and behind him over is right shoulder is likely to be his brother. [cataloguer's note: see photo 2010.001.0016 for a related photo where the two seated men includes the "Stack" brothers in the photo here as placed. The faces suggest a family resemblance.]
2010.001.0016
2010.001
Purchase
Purchase
Museum Collections.
n/a
1927
Hoboken
8 in
10 in
Good
Notes: It can be speculated that this photograph is actually about the dog who may be one of the Rin-Tin-Tin (or later known as Rin Tin Tin) stand-ins who was on a promotional tour with Montana. The dog character was a very famous film character and there were some dozen or more dogs who performed the role or were used for publicity purposes. The dogs had their own name and only the film character and the original dog were called Rin Tin Tin. In 1927 alone there were four Rin Tin Tin films released, but none of them in July.
Montana had done a Rin Tin Tin film in 1924.
The dog's coat had the emboidered letters "SK" on it.
Original or Copy: Original
Status: OK
Status By: dw
Status Date: 2010-12-04
