Suitcase’s Uncovered Photos Expose Early 20th Century Era
The suitcase that remained unopened for 90 years in an Australian family home unveiled a noteworthy archive as a journalist and modern ventriloquist’s legacy came to life.
Thomas Frederick Parnell, also known as Frederick Russell, made a name for himself in the 19th century as the “father of modern ventriloquism.” He revolutionized the art of mimicking speech with puppets and established the common practice of using a single dummy as the ventriloquist played it straight. His comedic dummy companion was known as Cockney “Coster Joe.”
Besides his work in comedy, Parnell’s photography took him around the world, and his collection of prints were found in a descendant’s home in NSW last year. These prints have been catalogued and preserved, providing a glimpse into historical scenes, including World War I images and other important moments. The photographs, in good condition for their age, include more than 360 personal prints, such as a photo of a crowd in London celebrating the war’s end and other scenes from battlefronts.
These unique images will go up for auction online in the near future. The family of Parnell is hopeful that museums or libraries will acquire the collection to preserve and exhibit these historical images.
Parnell’s legacy lives on through this rare and unseen collection of images. With the upcoming auction, the story of Parnell’s contributions to comedy and photography will be kept alive and shared around the world.
