Agnes deserved Moorecards

When it comes to vintage non-sport cards, more specifically, those which feature actors and actresses, it can often be puzzling, and occasionally frustrating, to try and figure out why certain people did and didn't appear in more card sets. Or in some cases, why they didn't appear at all.

For sake of clarity, I'm not talking about the major stars, the A-Lister's if you will, their fame was enough to guarantee inclusion into most sets, then and now. No, I'm talking about the character actors and bit players, and for the purposes of today's post, those that weren't quite stars, but could, and would, often out perform those who were. Agnes Moorehead was one of those people.

Whether it was radio, film, or television, Agnes was a known commodity, one who given the opportunity, would often outshine those whose names were listed above hers in the credits. 

She was never want for work. From her beginnings in radio as a member of Orson Welles' Mercury Theatre in the late 30's, then films shortly thereafter, and eventually television when it came into being; she worked steadily right up until her death in 1974. Nominated for many awards, and a winner of more than her share. Thought highly of by her fellow actors, loved by fans, and yet, for all intensive purposes, she was only given one "trading card" during her lifetime...

Carreras had been inserting tobacco cards into their products for decades, but decided to something a little different by the late 40's, and started printing some of these cards on to the side of their Turf-brand packages. I haven't done the research, but want to say that they started doing this in 1947, with the creation of their Film Favourites series. Carreras would go on to produce similar sets in '48 and '49 as well. A number of actors and actresses only cards appeared in these sets, Agnes Moorehead being one of them. 

Thankfully, cigarette cartons/packs were considerably thicker back when these were made than they are nowadays, so the cards are on a thicker stock, slightly thicker in fact, I think, then your average tobacco card. Because of how they were printed, cards from these sets can often be found with flaws, so it can sometimes be challenging to find a clean copy. Being hand cut, results can vary in shape too.

Agnes was featured on a couple of Spanish cards, but those sets are so rare, and their is so little known about them, that I can't help but wonder if they weren't anything more than regional issues. Anyone who collects stamps will know that the Spaniards were very fond of their regional releases, and from all appearances, stamps weren't the only paper items to get the regional treatment.

So why didn't someone of Agnes' magnitude appear on more cards? It's a good question. Tobacco cards weren't produced for children, so one can't say that the makers thought that she wouldn't appeal to the younger crowd. Her name was recognizable by the mid 40's, and would never not be during career, so no producer of cards could say that adults wouldn't know who she was. Plenty of less accomplished actors appeared on more cards during her career, especially when you take into account all of the large tobacco sets that the Germans produced, and then the various later Dutch Gum series'. 

I have had a partially formed theory for a few years now, but it would need some more fine tuning before I'd be comfortable with sending it out into the world. I will say that it involves her affiliation with Orson Welles, and more specifically, her involvement with, Citizen Kane. I have another card coming of a fellow that this theory might apply to as well, so maybe I'll finally get around to fleshing it out and/or disproving it, and share it in his post whenever I get to it. 

Worst tease ever? Probably :)