Gladys Bentley was a blues singer, pianist and entertainer who became a star in New York city night clubs of the 20s, 30s, and 40s. She performed in masculine clothing and was openly a lesbian throughout most of her career (although later in life she expressed that she had been “cured” and rejected the label). This postcard from the 1940s shows Bentley in one of her trademark looks: a white suit with coattails and top hat accessorized with a matching cane.
Gladys Bentley: America's Greatest Sepia Player -- The Brown Bomber of Sophisticated Songs
- Description
- Black and white photographic postcard of the singer and musician Gladys Bentley dressed in a men's white tuxedo and white top hat, holding a cane at her side tucked under her arm. The phrase: "America's Greatest Sepia Player" is printed down the left side of the postcard and the phrase: "The Brown Bomber of Sophisticated Songs" is printed down the right side of the postcard.
- Data Source
- National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Photograph by
- Unidentified
- Printed by
- Unidentified
- Distributed by
- Harry Walker Agency, American, founded 1946
- Subject of
- Gladys Bentley, American, 1907 - 1960
- Date
- 1946 - 1949
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Medium
- silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper, with ink on cardboard
- Dimensions
- H x W x D: 5 1/4 x 3 3/8 in. (13.3 x 8.6 cm)
- Type
- gelatin silver prints
- portraits
- photographic postcards
