Gabrielle Ray – Marriage – The Leicester Daily Mercury – Friday 1st March 1912
MISS GABRIELLE RAY WEDDED
CEREMONY AT WINDSOR.
The marriage of Miss Gabrielle Ray, musical comedy actress, to Mr. Eric Loder, which was to have taken place at Windsor Roman Catholic Church yesterday, was solemnised there this morning. The bride motored from London with another lady. Only a few people were present at the ceremony.
The Leicester Daily Mercury – Friday 1st March 1912
Gabrielle Ray – Wedding – Nuneaton Chronicle Friday – 1st March 1912
TOPICS OF THE WEEK
A veil of mystery surrounds the omission of Miss Gabrielle Ray to attend St. Edward’s Roman Catholic Church, Windsor yesterday in order to become the bride of Mr. Erie Loder. The bridegroom was there and, poor deluded mortal, waited one solid hour, but the musical comedy actress was otherwise engaged, and those present were told they “had better leave the church.” Investigation only tends to enshroud the matter still more, for at nine o’clock, two hours before the wedding, a motor car containing three friends of the prospective bride and bridegroom, called at Bolton Gardens, and shortly afterwards the gentlemen left Miss Ray’s flat, the expected bride accompanying them. It reminds one of the opening words of the chorus of the once-popular song, “There was I waiting at the church!”
Nuneaton Chronicle – Friday 1st March 1912
Gabrielle Ray – Wedding – The Edinburgh Evening News – Friday 1st March 1912
The Wedding of Miss Gabrielle Ray
Miss Gabrielle Ray, the well-known musical comedy actress, who was married today at Windsor to Mr Erie Loder. The ceremony was to have taken plus yesterday, but the bride failed to put in an appearance. The church was decorated, the priest, registrar, and choir boys were present, and it was stated that the bridegroom attended, but Miss Ray was not forthcoming. It was stated later that she was lying ill in bed.
The Edinburgh Evening News – Friday 1st March 1912
Gabrielle Ray – Wedding – Lloyd’s Weekly Newspaper – Sunday 3rd March 1912
GABRIELLE RAY MARRIED.
Rapid Recovery from Illness which Caused Postponement.
WINDSOR CEREMONY.
Miss Gabrielle Ray, the musical comedy actress, provided another surprise on Friday in being quietly married to Mr. Eric Loder at St. Edward’s Roman Catholic Church, Windsor.
The ceremony was originally fixed for the previous day, but although the church was decorated and the bridegroom, the priest, the choir, and organist ready, there was no wedding because no bride came. The reason Miss Ray gave to curious inquirers at her London flat for her apparently strange action was that was too unwell to go through the ceremony. On Friday morning, however, she had so far recovered to be able to motor over to Windsor.
There were only half a dozen people in the pretty church besides a few schoolgirls and those assisting in the service.
The wedding party assembled at the rectory, and went through the garden to the vestry door shortly before eleven o’clock. The only view the crowd had was over a distant fence. Mr. Eric Loder, dressed in a lounge suit, was accompanied by Mr. Astley, the best man, Mr. Lacey, and Sir Edward Stewart-Richardson. They entered the church first, accompanied by Canon Longinotto, the officiating priest. The bride came in shortly afterwards, accompanied by Mrs. Nye, a friend. She wore a cream serge costume, trimmed with braid, and a large purple hat, and she carried a shower bouquet of Parma violets. Mrs. Nye wore a nary blue coat and skirt trimmed with cerise, with hat to match.
The register was signed as follows:
Eric Raymond Loder, twenty-three, bachelor, independent means, son of Alfred Basil Loder, deceased. Address, 44, Alma-road, New Windsor.
Gabrielle Elisabeth Clifford Cooke, twenty-eight, spinster, independent means, of 40, Coleherne-crescent, Kensington, W.
The honeymoon is to be spent in a world tour embracing Africa and India. Mr. and Mrs. Loder to be absent from England at least six months.
Lloyd’s Weekly Newspaper – Sunday 3rd March 1912
Gabrielle Ray – Marriage – Dartmouth and South Hams Chronicle – Friday 8th March 1912
A Picture-Postcard Favourite.
Miss. Gabrielle Ray, married on Friday in the Royal Borough of Windsor, might be called “The Queen of the Picture – Postcard” Something like 10,000,000 postcards, representing Miss Ray in thousands of poses, have been sold during the last, few years. Curiously enough, says the star, women and young girls are the principal purchasers of these cards, and the most popular pose is like one in which the pretty actress is dressed as the boy in Millais’ “Bubbles.” In addition to her picture-postcard popularity, Miss Ray is one of the most piquant personalities on the musical comedy stage. Her voice, though thin and piping, seems to have a peculiar fascination, while her dancing has a quality all its own.
Mr. Eric Loder.
The bridegroom, Mr. Eric is said to be a wealthy young man. He comes of a well-known sporting family, his uncle, Major Eustace Loder, having won the Derby with Spearmint. His brother, Mr. Basil Loder, resigned from the Army four years ago order to marry of Mr. Seymour Hicks’s “Gay Gordon” girls.
Dartmouth and South Hams Chronicle – Friday 8th March 1912
Gabrielle Ray – Wedding – The Daily Mirror – Saturday 2nd March 1912
MISS GABRIELLE RAY CHANGES HER MIND AND GETS MARRIED YESTERDAY.
The bride entering the church by the back door.
The bride with her arm on the bridegroom’s shoulder.
Mr. Astley, Mr. Lacey (who is wearing a bowler hat), and Mrs. Nye.
Choir boy locking the gate to keep out the public.
Canon Longinotto, who performed the ceremony, arriving at the church.
Although Miss Gabrielle Ray, the musical comedy, stated that her wedding would not take place this week, she was quietly married at St. Edward’s Roman Catholic Church, Windsor, yesterday. The ceremony was fixed for Thursday, but the bride failed to appear at the church, and the bridegroom, Mr. Eric Loder, waited for her in vain. Mr. Lacey gave away the bride, who was attended by her friend, Mrs. Nye. Mr. Astley was best man. (Daily Mirror photographs.)
The Daily Mirror – Saturday 2nd March 1912
Gabrielle Ray – Wedding – Windsor and Eton Express – Saturday 2nd March 1912
WEDDING OF MISS GABRIELLE RAY AND MR. ERIC LODER AT ST. EDWARD’S, WINDSOR.
The wedding of Miss Gabrielle Ray and Mr. Eric Loder, postponed from yesterday, took place this (Friday) morning at St. Edward’s Roman Catholic Church, the ceremony being performed by Canon Longinotto. It was quite private, few people being aware that it was taking place, and there was no crowd. The marriage was performed by special dispensation on account of its taking place during Lent. Owing to this penitential season also, there were no flowers inside the sanctuary but there were palms outside.
Before the ceremony, while waiting for the bride, “Ave Maria Stella” was sung by the choir, and “Ave Maria” during the signing of the register.
The bride’s bouquet was of violets, thus being Lenten in colouring.
The bride wore a canary coloured silk coat and skirt, trimmed with braid, and a large purple velvet hat. She drove in a motor -car to Canon Longinotto’s house, accompanied by a friend, Mrs. Nye.
The bridegroom, who was accompanied by Mr. Astley, as best man, was attired in a brown suit, and arrived at the church at 11. His friends present were Sir Edward Stewart Richardson and Mr. Lacey.
The bride looked charming as she entered the church at 11.10.
Mr. W. F. Bradshaw, R.A.M., organist of the church, wrote a special nuptial march in honour of the occasion, which he played at the commencement of the service.
At the conclusion of the service a Wedding March was played, and the register was signed.
This gave the following particulars:
Eric Raymond Loder, 23 years, bachelor, of independent means.
Gabrielle Elizabeth Cliff Cooke, 28 years, spinster.
The ceremony only took about a quarter of an hour, and crowd had now grown, As the bride and bridegroom left the vestry and walked through private grounds to Canon Longinotto’s house, they sent up a cheer for the newly married couple.
At Canon Longinotto’s house, wedding cake was cut and the health of Mr. and Mrs. Loder was drunk. Later they left Windsor in a motor car for the honeymoon.
The wedding was originally announced to take place on Thursday, but from some cause which has not yet been fully explained she did not put in an appearance, and the ceremony was indefinitely postponed. Inquiries at Miss Ray’s flat in London were replied to with the information that she was indisposed, and that it was unlikely that the wedding would take place this week. Both the bride and the bridegroom desired a quiet marriage, and it was thought that the date of the wedding was a secret, but it was announced in a London evening paper on Wednesday, and the consequence was that an army of London Press photographers and special correspondents began to arrive shortly after 9 on Thursday morning.
By the time fixed for the ceremony, a large number of people had assembled outside St. Edward’s Church, but every door was kept locked, and only a few were allowed inside. The choir arrived, together with the registrar and the organist, who had arranged to play a specially written wedding march. The bridegroom and a friend were on the spot, for they were at Canon Longinotto’s house close by. But there was no bride.
The crowd increased every moment, and included two cinematograph operators. Subsequently a messenger boy brought a telegram to the Canon’s house, and it was stated that Miss Ray was not expected. Shortly afterwards the bridegroom and his friend left in a motor car, and the choir was dismissed but told to hold itself in readiness to take part at any moment. The crowd remained until three o’clock, but the bride did not appear, and they dispersed.
Miss Gabrielle Ray and her fiancé, who is the second son of the late Mr. Alfred Loder and the nephew of Major Loder, the famous racehorse owner, were together in a box at the Gaiety Theatre on Tuesday evening. Their engagement was announced in Paris a little more than a month ago. Miss Ray has been well known for some years in musical comedy circles as a captivating dancer. One of her chief successes was the “song and dance” which she performed at Daly’s, “He always came back to tea.” She made her first appearance on the stage at the Princess’s Theatre in 1893 as the child Geraldine in “The Green Bushes.” She was then only eight years of age. Other child parts which she played were Adrienne in “Proof” and Cissie in “The Silver King.” She spent a portion of her childhood days in Windsor.
Windsor and Eton Express – Saturday 2nd March 1912
Gabrielle Ray – Wedding – Islington Gazette – Monday 4th March 1912
THE SOCIAL ROUND.
Miss Gabrielle Ray, married on Thursday in the Royal Borough of Windsor, might be called “The Queen of the Picture – Postcard.” Something like 10,000,000 postcards, representing Miss Ray in thousands of poses, have been sold during the last few years. Curiously enough, says the Star, women and young girls are the principal purchasers of these cards, and the most popular pose is the in which the pretty actress dressed as the boy in Millais “Bubbles.” In addition to her picture-postcard popularity, Miss Ray is one of the most piquant personalities the musical comedy stage. Her voice, though thin and piping, seems to have a peculiar fascination, while her dancing quality all its own.
The bridegroom, Mr. Eric Loder, is said to be a wealthy young man. He comes of a well-known sporting family, his uncle, Major Eustace Loder, won the Derby with Spearmint. His brother, Mr. Basil Loder, resigned from Army four years ago in order to marry one of Mr. Seymour Hicks’s “Gay Gordons” girls.
Islington Gazette – Monday 4th March 1912
The Globe – Friday 1st March 1912
Miss Gabrielle Ray.
Marriage takes place at Windsor.
Today the wedding of Miss Gabrielle Ray and Mr. Eric Loder, postponed from yesterday afternoon, took place at St. Edward’s Roman Catholic Church, Windsor, shortly after eleven o’clock.
There were few people about when the bridegroom, accompanied by his best man, Mr. Astley, and Canon Longinotto, the officiating priest, entered the church. They were followed shortly afterwards by Miss Gabrielle ray, who drove up to the church in a motor car, accompanied by her friend, Mrs. Nye
The bride, who was attired in a cream serge costume and a mauve hat, carried a bouquet of violets. There were not more than a dozen people in the church, including choir boys and some children, when the ceremony was solemnised.
Before the ceremony the bride and bridegroom sat in chairs in front of the alter, and when the ceremony was commenced they advanced to the alter rails. The organist played wedding marches at the commencement and close of the service. After the service the bride and bridegroom drove away in a motor car.
The Globe – Friday 1st March 1912
The Sketch – 6th March 1912 (Wedding)
The Ray hidden by a “sunshade”: A wedding “portrait.”
Though lost to sight – : Miss Gabrielle Ray entering St. Edward’s Roman Catholic Church,
Windsor, for her marriage to Mr. Eric Loder.
Miss Gabrielle Ray, the very popular musical-comedy actress and the best known of postcard beauties, was to have been married to Mr. Eric Loder at St. Edward’s Roman Catholic Church, Windsor, on Thursday of last week, but was indisposed. The wedding took place on the following day, very quietly. The bride, determined to escape notice, entered the church by way of Canon Longinotto’s kitchen garden and the back door, and was hidden behind an umbrella. The return to the Canon’s residence after the ceremony was made in the same way. The Register was signed as follows: “Eric Raymond Loder, 23, bachelor, of independent means, 44, Alma Road, Windsor; Gabrielle Elizabeth Clifford Cook, 28, spinster, of independent means, 48, Coleherne Court, Kensington, London, W.; father’s name, William Austin Cook, of independent means.”
The Sketch – 6th March 1912
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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