Mr. and Mrs. Eric Raymond Loder – 1933
Mr. and Mrs. Eric Raymond Loder
The subjects of our photograph are familiars of all the places named and strangely, the fact that they were not two widely separated entities was divulged at a private dinner party given by the lady a few nights ago in New York. They are Mr. and Mrs. Eric Raymond Loder, Cosmopolites. She was Lady Davis, widow of the late Sir Montimer Davis, Canadian multimillionaire. He is the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Basil Loder of Aldwickbury, Hersfordshire, England. They were married secretly last December at Long Branch New Jersey and as we said the news of the marriage has been just divulged. Mrs. Loder was born Miss Eleanor Curran, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Curran of New Orleans, L.A. Dated 23 – 10 – 1933.
Eric Loder – The Liverpool Echo – Friday 8th November 1957
A short excerpt from an article about Joseph Maguire’s book “The Sea My Surgery” in which he mentions Mr and Mrs Eric Loder
Some cabin stewards and stewardesses cancelled their leave if they knew that passengers like Major and Mrs. Eric Loder were making their annual double trip. The Loders vent half the year in the south of France and the other six months in Florida or Nassau. Year after year they had the same suite and the same servants. They thought so highly of Robson the bedroom steward, that they gave him and his wife a holiday on the Riviera.
The Liverpool Echo – Friday 8th November 1957
Eric Loder – The Tatler – Wednesday 3rd February 1937
NIGHT TIME IN NEW YORK
Night time in New York means El Morocco as often as not, this famous restaurant having a popularity second to none just now. Fred Perry was to be seen there not so long ago, in company with Mr. and Mrs. Bertram Weal, whose guest he was for a few days at the Hotel Madison, New York. This was before he started his series of exhibition tennis battles with Ellsworth Vines, the results of which, at the time of writing, are all square after ten matches. Sonia Henje, ex-world skating champion and now a promising film actress, was at El Morocco with that very good-looking young man Tyrone Power. Another good-looker temporarily escaped from Hollywood was Lord Warwick. His dinner guest, Miss Marjorie Gage, is a rich young American air woman. Mr. and Mrs. Eric Loder and Lord Lovelace’s sister, Lady Phyllis Allen, are seen wearing El Morocco scarves, striped to match the decor and favoured by habitués. Mr. Loder’s kinsman, Lord Wakehurst, was lately appointed Governor of New South Wales. Mr. and Mrs. R. B. Foster paid a brief visit to New York last month and patronized all the smartest haunts. Before their fairly recent marriage she was Barbara Newberry, the dancer. Mr. “Bob” Foster is a particularly keen golfer; he plays most of his golf at Sunningdale.
The Tatler – Wednesday 3rd February 1937
Family tree
The Cook family tree is proving to be a tangled web to unravel and so my thanks to all those who have given me advice and provided me with various pieces of to this puzzle. If there any errors please feel free to let me know in order that I can make the necessary corrections.
Canary Diamond – The Argus (Melbourne) – 1956
Jewels she cannot resist – Elsa Maxwell
Recently, she was disturbed to learn that her friend, Mrs. Eric Loder, had bought the Canary diamond which she had coveted after seeing it at a jewellers in Paris.
Immediately she went to Harry Winston, world famous for his jewels.
“I want to see your larger diamonds,” she announced.
She was, of course, shown the choicest stones in the fabulous Winston collection.
But the memory of Mrs. Loder’s Canary diamond bedevilling her she could not be satisfied.
“They aren’t large enough,” she said-and left.
Before I departed from the Windsors’ circle I was not alone in feeling resentment at the sight of the Duchess bedecked with some of the jewels of the late Queen Alexandra.
It was entirely natural to her that if she wanted clothes in the Bahamas, models must fly out from New York.
Despite the official criticism of her extravagance, however (and to some extent criticism of him, too), I believe this Governorship of the Bahamas to have been the happiest of all the Duke of Windsor’s exiled days.
He had seriously wanted to become Ambassador in Washington and Governor General of Canada.
And no amount of representation on his part could win him either job.
The Bahamas-In war- time-were scarcely as vital as the jobs he had in mind, but he had a chance to serve, to work, to seem useful.
Eric Loder – Census – United States – 1940
This 1940 census shows Eric Loder residing in Palm Beach, Florida with his third wife Eleonor Loder (Curran)
About
One of my main interests is a love of old pictures and postcards that give us a brief glimpse into a past and often forgotten age.
Collecting old postcard and pictures enables the viewer to glimpse a brief moment from that individual’s life; often far removed from their own either by the passage of time or social class. Social History, often described as “history from below” shows everyday people, their social structure and the interaction of different groups; like the wealthy and politicians these people helped shape and maintain society and so shape history.
Examining the images one can’t help but wonder how the individuals lived, were their lives hard compared with today and were they happy. Often the images come with little or no information that can answer these questions, one can only imagine.
With each image saved and seen by others, so that moment, that person is kept alive, our understanding is increased and so our lives are enriched.
A picture is often more descriptive than words can ever be, but how true is this, if a picture enables us to gain entry to another time, another world, will, like the view from a different window, even in the same house provide a different image?
These images allow a glimpse into another time, another era; but what preceded or followed this image? As the individuals were positioned and posed like an artist’s model is what we see truly reflective or like the slightly softened image of an aging beauty a less that truthful representation?
I am reminded of a documentary I watched several years ago regarding the returning troops from the front during the First World War. The camera images show a broken, demoralised sea of humanity, young men who having seen images that most of us hope never to witness had lost that sparkle; that zest which only youth has. But bring on the news camera and that battered returning group came to life, the smiles returned and even though muddied and bloodied their heads and bodies became erect, their arms swung in time and they demonstrated a swagger that spoke of courage, defiance and determination; an image that gave hope to the viewer.
It seems to me that even in the early days of photography all was not what it appeared and now in the advancing digital age a picture may paint a thousand words but will it be factual or fiction?
My interests And collections vary from Maids, Nuns, religious dress and the more risqué images of the French Maid. Often when searching for a particular subject the boundaries cross and as well as true Maids we find Edwardian actresses dressed as Nuns or Maids. During one of my searches I came across Gabrielle Ray dressed as a Maid, “Susan” in Lady Madcap and was instantly captivated by her.
Collecting the individual cards isn’t enough; I like to know more about the individual, which is easier when that person is an actress, although often the information is scarce
Searching for information about Miss Ray I discovered that she was one of the most photographed women of the Edwardian era and described in “Temps” as the most beautiful woman in the United Kingdom; but sadly her success, if measured by being visibly working or in the public eye was short-lived. She struggled with depression and alcohol abuse, and her health declined. In 1936, she suffered a complete mental breakdown and was institutionalized for nearly forty years; dying in 1973 at Holloway Sanatorium at the age of 90.
There are several other sites and blogs dedicated to the memory of Miss Ray and my intention is to share my small but growing collection of pictures and postcards with anyone who shares my interest. Reading about Miss Ray I was saddened that this lady, like many others before and since, after a brief moment in the sun they are soon forgotten. Hopefully as people view and enjoy this blog her memory will remain alive for a little longer.
I have started to write a short Biography about Miss Ray which I will try to update as frequently as possible. The Index page will show any updates under the Biography catagory.
I have also tried to link the various postcards and pictures to the plays in which Miss Ray appeared, however I realise, after several errors that this isn’t an easy task as many are decorative studio poses rather than production images. The individual Rotary, Philco and other publishers numbers are included with any description which should make searching for a particular card or ones from the same set easier. If I have made any glaring errors please feel free to let me know.
Thank you and I hope you enjoy my collection as much as I do.
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