Guide to the Portraits of Olga Varona, 1930-1959
PIC/21194/1-18
National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record
Created: November 2023
Collection Summary
- Creator
- Varona, Olga
- Title
- Portraits of Olga Varona
- Date Range
- 1930-1959
- Collection Number
- PIC/21194/1-18
- Extent
- 18 items
- Language of Materials
- English
- Repository
- Special Collections (Pictures)
Introduction
Scope and Contents
This collection of portraits show Olga Varona at various points throughout her career as an aerialist and include photographs of her performing on the trapeze and in aerial rope acts on stage in Australia, London, England and in the United Kingdom. It also includes portraits of Olga Varona with Archie Collins, her husband and manager, and with Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, whom she performed with. Some photographs are stamped with photographers reproduction stamp and refer to contemporary copies ordered by Olga Varona for publicity purposes, dated approximately 1940s-1950s.
Conditions Governing Access
Access conditions may apply to this collection, please refer to the collection's catalogue record for further information (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn8820535).
Conditions Governing Use
Conditions for copying and publishing of this collection may apply, please refer to the collection's catalogue record for further information (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn8820535).
Preferred Citation
Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of item], Portraits of Olga Varona, 1930-1959, National Library of Australia, PIC/21194/[item number]'.
Source of description
Titles of individual items devised by cataloguer based on inscriptions and information provided in acquisitions documentation.
Item Descriptions
Olga Varona aboard Babe the elephant, Bells Circus, circa 1930s (Item PIC/21194/1) - Box PIC Box PIC/21194
1 item, 8.9 x 6.3 cm"Olga aboard Babe, Bells Circus Port [?]"--Inscription on reverse. Condition: Corner bend in margin, scrapes to writing in pen on reverse making illegible name of port and date.
Olga Varona posing in her wire act costume with Bells Circus, 1934 (Item PIC/21194/2) - Box PIC Box PIC/21194
1 item, 8.4 x 6 cm"With Bells Circus 1934 in wire act costume"--Inscripition on reverse; "B8011"--Stamped on reverse; "Titled by Olga in biro to verso"----Information from acquisitions documentation.
Portrait of Olga Varona and Archie Collins, London, England, circa 1950s (Item PIC/21194/3) - Box PIC Box PIC/21194
1 item, 21.2 x 16.4 cm"Archie Collins was Olga Varona's husband-manager."--Information from acquisitions documentation; "Domec-Carre London"--In ink below photograph; "Bad luck Arch's face was scratched, it was in a glass frame, which was broken. If you can't use it will you please return it as I have only this one left."--Inscription on verso written by Olga Varona; "Chas. Domec-Carre Theatrical and Commercial Photographer 136, Brixton Hill, S.W. 2 Phone. TUL 3460"--Photographers stamp on reverse.
Olga Varona with co-stars Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, London, England, circa 1940s (Item PIC/21194/4) - Box PIC Box PIC/21194
1 item, 21.8 x 16.8 cmCondition: Corners bent, wear to edges and margin, staining on verso.
Portrait of Olga Varona posing in a spangled tutu, London, England, circa 1952-1953 (Item PIC/21194/5) - Box PIC Box PIC/21194
1 item, 21.2 x 16.1 cm"London 1952-53"--Inscription in biro on reverse; Photography by Yvonne, 96, Charing Cross Road, W.C.3. TEM. BAR 4674."--Photographers stamp on reverse; "Yvonne London"--Handwritten in bottom right corner. Condition: Small bends in corners, yellowing.
Portrait of Olga Varona seated, in an evening dress, circa 1940s (Item PIC/21194/6) - Box PIC Box PIC/21194
1 item, 25.5 x 20.3 cm"Reproduction by Chas. Domec-Carre Theatrical & Commercial Photographer. 136, Brixton Hill. S.W.2. Phone TUL 3460"--Photographers stamp on reverse. Condition: Creases, yellowing.
Portrait of Olga Varona in an evening dress, circa 1940s (Item PIC/21194/7) - Box PIC Box PIC/21194
1 item, 26.0 x 20.9 cm"Please retun to:- Press Publicity Department Mossi [?] Empires Ltd. … London, W.S.2."--Phtotgraphers stamp on reverse. Condition: White marks on photograph, yellowing.
Portrait of Olga Varona posing in a sequined tutu, circa 1940s-1950s (Item PIC/21194/8) - Box PIC Box PIC/21194
1 item, 25.2 x 20.0 cm"Dennis Grayman"--Photographers imprint below photograph. Condition: Yellowing.
Portrait of Olga Varona hanging from a trapeze with six dancers in evening dress, La Gaite Lyrique, Paris, France, circa 1950s (Item PIC/21194/9) - Box PIC Box PIC/21194
1 item, 25.8 x 20.4 cmOlga Varona was perfoming at a couturier fashion show at La Gaite Lyrique, Paris, France. Accompanied by associated newspaper clipping titled 'Pavlova of the air'. End part of article is missing. "Olga Varona"--Inscription below photograph; "Studio-Lipuityki-Paris"--Below photograph; "Repro: By Charles Domec-Carre 136 Brixton Hill London, S.W.2. TUL; 3460"--Stamp on reverse. Condition: Corner missing bottom left, yellowing.
Portrait of Olga Varona, circa 1940s (Item PIC/21194/10) - Box PIC Box PIC/21194
1 item, 25.5 x 20.3 cmOlga Varona in profile with a bow in her long red hair. "Olga Varona"--Inscription on photograph; "Rimis London"--Photographers imprint lower right corner of photograph; Copyright Rimis ltd. 369. Edgeware Road, W.2. AMB. 2822/3"--Stamped on reverse. Condition: Wear on corners and edges.
Portrait of Olga Varona, circa 1940s (Item PIC/21194/11) - Box PIC Box PIC/21194
1 item, 20.5 x 25.6 cm"Olga Varona"--Inscription at bottom of photograph; "Repro: By Charles Domec Carre 136 Brixton Hill London, S.W.@. TUL; 3460"--Photographers stamp on reverse; "Please return to Philip Ridgeway Associates 34, The Strand. W.C.2. Tel: 5641-2"--Stamped on reverse; "Fosters Agency Limited ... Piccadilly House, Piccadilly Circus, London ..."--Stamped on reverse, crossed out in biro. Condition: Pinholes in corners, tear in lower left corner, yellowing, wearing on margins, staining and spotting on reverse.
Olga Varona staying with friends while with the Ice Show, Perth, Western Australia, 1955 (Item PIC/21194/12) - Box PIC Box PIC/21194
1 item, 10.3 x 8.1 cm"Olga in Perth, staying with friends while with the Ice Show 1955. My last show"--Inscription on reverse.
Olga Varona performing on a trapeze, United Kingdom, circa 1950s (Item PIC/21194/13) - Box PIC Box PIC/21194
1 item, 25.8 x 20.4 cm"Reproduction by Chas. Domec-Carre Theatrical & Commercial Photographer. 136, Brixton Hill. S.W.2. Phone TUL 3460"--Photographers stamp on reverse. Condition: Buckled, discolouration, staining and scrapes to margin, spotting and staining on reverse.
Olga Varona performing an aerial rope act on stage, United Kingdom, circa 1940s (Item PIC/21194/14) - Box PIC Box PIC/21194
1 item, 8.8 x 7.1 cm"Olga in opening of act on stage UK"--Inscription on reverse; "Reprod. by Charles Domec-Carre 136, Brixton Hill. S.W.2. Phone TUL 3460"--Photographers stamp on reverse.
Olga Varona performing an aerial rope act, United Kingdom, 1, circa 1940s (Item PIC/21194/15) - Box PIC Box PIC/21194
1 item, 11.9 x 8.4 cm"Reprod. by Charles Domec-Carre 136, Brixton Hill. S.W.2. Phone TUL 3460"--Photographers stamp on reverse.
Olga Varona performing an aerial rope act, United Kingdom, 2, circa 1940s (Item PIC/21194/16) - Box PIC Box PIC/21194
1 item, 11.9 x 8.0 cm"Reprod. by Charles Domec-Carre 136, Brixton Hill. S.W.2. Phone TUL 3460"--Photographers stamp on reverse.