Photograph by Houston Rogers, portrait of Gracie Fields, 1964 thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level F , Case XRP, Shelf 487

Photograph by Houston Rogers, portrait of Gracie Fields, 1964

Photograph
1964 (photographed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Houston Rogers (1902-1970) was one of London's leading theatre photographers from the 1930s until his death in 1970. His first notable work was photographing Fred Astaire and Claire Luce as the leads in the musical The Gay Divorcee. Rogers was playing the saxophone for the production at the time.

By the end of the 1930s he had covered many important West End productions, including John Gielgud's Queen's Theatre seasons in 1937 and 1938. Rogers also regularly photographed the new revues, including the Nude Tableau, at the Windmill Theatre.

During the Second World War, a large proportion of his photographs were destroyed. Rogers found new work photographing both ballet and opera at the Royal Opera House in the 1950s and 1960s, producing photographs of productions as well as portrait studies of singers and dancers.

Over his career he captured performers such as Margot Fonteyn, Rudolf Nureyev, Alicia Markova, Julie Christie, John Gielgud, Peggy Ashcroft, Bette Davis, Douglas Fairbanks, Vivien Leigh, Edith Evans, Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Maria Callas, Tito Gobbi and Joan Sutherland.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitlePhotograph by Houston Rogers, portrait of Gracie Fields, 1964 (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Gelatin-silver print
Brief description
Photograph by Houston Rogers, portrait of Gracie Fields, 1964
Physical description
Gelatin-silver print portrait of Gracie Fields, depicting the actress and singer in a 3/4 pose with her hands clasped under her chin holding a hankerchief.
Dimensions
  • Height: 25.8cm (Note: photograph)
  • Width: 19.4cm (Note: photograph)
Marks and inscriptions
'10655' (pencil)/ '3417-A' (pencil)/ 'Copyright this photograph must not be copied or reproduced except for editorial press purposes/ Houston Rogers/ 20, Sloane Street/ London S.W.1. Tel. Belgravia 2820' (ink)/ 'Gracie Fields 1964' (pencil)
Credit line
The Royal Photographic Society Collection at the V&A, acquired with the generous assistance of the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Art Fund.
Subject depicted
Summary
Houston Rogers (1902-1970) was one of London's leading theatre photographers from the 1930s until his death in 1970. His first notable work was photographing Fred Astaire and Claire Luce as the leads in the musical The Gay Divorcee. Rogers was playing the saxophone for the production at the time.

By the end of the 1930s he had covered many important West End productions, including John Gielgud's Queen's Theatre seasons in 1937 and 1938. Rogers also regularly photographed the new revues, including the Nude Tableau, at the Windmill Theatre.

During the Second World War, a large proportion of his photographs were destroyed. Rogers found new work photographing both ballet and opera at the Royal Opera House in the 1950s and 1960s, producing photographs of productions as well as portrait studies of singers and dancers.

Over his career he captured performers such as Margot Fonteyn, Rudolf Nureyev, Alicia Markova, Julie Christie, John Gielgud, Peggy Ashcroft, Bette Davis, Douglas Fairbanks, Vivien Leigh, Edith Evans, Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Maria Callas, Tito Gobbi and Joan Sutherland.
Other numbers
  • XRP 487 - RPS collection - V&A identifier
  • 10655 - Royal Photographic Society number
Collection
Accession number
RPS.3097-2018

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Record createdJune 29, 2018
Record URL
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