Sepia-tone photo of Bull Montana, Frankie Nelson, Stack brothers, posed on Hudson St., Hoboken, July 15, 1927.
Photograph
Sepia-tone photo of motion picture star and former wrestler Bull Montana with former boxer Frankie Nelson posed with men, two girls and a German Shepard outside 109 Hudson St., Hoboken, July 15, 1927.
8" x 10" high print. Photographer not indicated. Reverse has contemporary penciled date: July 15 /27; modern pencil caption: Empire Theatre Hoboken NJ.
This group group is related to photo 2010.001.0016.
Montana, fourth man from the left standing behind two seated men, 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 the second man from the 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.)
The two seated men may be the Stack brothers (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.) From appearances, the two men resemble each other as brothers might, but which one is which has not been determined or if either one is - see photo 2010.001.0016 for a discussion of their identifications.
Other people are not identified. See notes for a discussion of the dog.
While stated as Empire Theatre, it is more likely that this is across the street from the theatre at or near 109 (number appears to be that at the top right corner). Sunlight direction would place this on the east side of Hudson if on that street.
2010.001.0017
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
