Helen Burwell in dark velvet dress
Helen Burwell in dark velvet dress with her head laying on her shoulder reversed image.
Baron (“Mister”) Siroon Missakian was born in 1891 or 1892 in Istanbul, Turkey, of Armenian parents. As a youth he apprenticed to the official photographer for the Ottoman Empire. A patron from Boston, impressed when he heard the boy’s voice in an Armenian church, brought him to this country in 1913. Missakian enlisted in the Army during World War I and spent most of his service time singing for Liberty Bond Campaigns. After the war, he managed a Chicago portrait studio, later moving to Kansas City in 1925. Known as a “creative photographer,” Missakian captured the images of Kansas City's resident and visiting performers during the Jazz Age, a time when Kansas City was one of the most dynamic arts centers in America. His camera not only documented the worlds of classical music and dance, but also the new popular entertainments, vaudeville and the movies. By 1926 he was well established and garnered awards for his studio portraits. Among those photographed were Missakian’s friend and neighbor Walt Disney, Milton Berle and Sir Carl Busch, founder of the Kansas City Symphony Orchestra. Baron Missakian died July 7, 1964 after a long illness
Helen Burwell in dark velvet dress with her head laying on her shoulder reversed image.
Helen Burwell in dark velvet dress with her head laying on her shoulder.
Helen Burwell posed standing with her hands up, left leg extended, and head turned to her right face in profile performing a dance.
Helen Burwell in costume performing a dance in front of painted backdrop.
Helen Burwell in costume performing a dance in front of painted backdrop.
Helen Burwell in costume performing a dance in front of painted backdrop.
Helen Burwell in costume sitting one upholstered chair.
Helen Burwell in lace topped dress, bonnet, and umbrella with hand to her chest looking away.
Helen Dittemore seated in satin dress holding a violin.
Helen Rhodes in dark velvet dress and pearl necklace.
Musician Henri Verbrugghen standing in overcoat, tuxedo, hat, and cane.
Musician Henri Verbrugghen standing in overcoat, tuxedo, hat, and cane.
Musician Henri Verbrugghen in tuxedo posed with body turned to his right, facing camera, looking off camera.
Musician Henri Verbrugghen in tuxedo posed with body turned to his left, looking into camera.
Musician Henri Verbrugghen in tuxedo posed with body turned to his left, facing camera, and looking off to the left.
Herbert Rawlinson posed in overcoat and three piece pinstripe suit turned slightly to the left looking into camera.
Herbert Rawlinson in front of painted backdrop wearing three piece pinstripe suit.
Herbert Rawlinson in front of painted background in profile wearing three piece suit.
Herbert Rawlinson seated in front of painted backdrop wearing three piece pinstripe suit.
Howard W. Bartlow in hat, three piece suit and bowtie.
Image of Baron Siroon Missakian posed in suit and tie along side bio info by Fred Fitzsimmons and a reproduction of a newspaper article.
J.A. Cahille in three piece suit and hat, over coat in left arm and cane in right posed in front of painted backdrop turned to his right with his head...