Photograph by Houston Rogers, portrait of Fred Astaire and Claire Luce, 1933
Photograph
1933 (photographed)
1933 (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.
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 | |
| Title | Photograph by Houston Rogers, portrait of Fred Astaire and Claire Luce, 1933 (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Gelatin-silver print |
| Brief description | Photograph by Houston Rogers, portrait of Fred Astaire and Claire Luce, 1933 |
| Physical description | Gelatin-silver print portrait of Fred Astaire and Claire Luce in character for the musical 'The Gay Divorcee' (Palace Theatre, London). Astaire, in a tuxedo, and Luce, in a floor-length dress with floral sleeves, pose standing with Astaire's arm around her waist. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | '10675'/
'532-D'/
'Fred Astaire & Claire Luce, 1933'
'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' (pencil and ink) |
| 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. |
| Subjects 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 |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | RPS.3122-2018 |
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| Record created | July 26, 2018 |
| Record URL |
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