An original, vintage signed and dedicated studio photographic portrait of chief yowlachie (Daniel Simmons) in full ceremonial regalia, still framed in its original hardwood new york frame and picture company frame.
the dedication written in. ink on. the photograph reads... " to frank w. lovejoy with always a warm handshake. chief yowlachie ( yakima tribe. ) "
photographic image size ... 225mm x 165mm
frame size ... 325mm x 260mm
chief yowlachie, born daniel simmons, 15th august 1891-7th march 1966, was a prominent native american actor and opera singer from washington state who built a prolific career in hollywood, appearing in over 100 western films and early television series.
Born in Kitsap County, Washington, he grew up on the Yakima Indian Reservation. He was of Puyallup descent through his parents, John W. Simmons and Lucy Riddle.
Long before he became a familiar face in Westerns, he was an accomplished opera singer. He possessed a deep, resonant bass-baritone voice and studied under the renowned Italian baritone Pasquale Amato. Throughout the 1930s, he performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and sang at the White House for both Presidents Herbert Hoover and Franklin D. Roosevelt.
He entered the film industry in the mid-1920s during the silent era, making his debut in Tonio, Son of the Sierras(1925). Over a four-decade career, his large physical presence and instantly recognisable voice led to a wide range of roles, from dignified historical figures to comedic sidekicks acting alongside well known names such as john wayne and bob hope.
the photograph is dedicated to frank w lovejoy, who was the president and chairman of the eastman kodak company. He was an incredibly powerful figure in the history of photography, corporate America, and industrial development, serving as George Eastman's hand-picked successor. he oversaw the launch of kodachrome colour film in 1935. it is likely the photograph dates from sometime between 1934 when frank lovejoy was made company president and his death in 1941.
