Fedoras in the 19th Century.

[rlk]

Edward VII Prince of Wales

Some of this repeats the Homburg Thread but relevant here.

Hutmuseum

German Wikipedia

Acquaintance with Sarah Bernhardt

 

[rlk]

Oscar Wilde 1882

Another Sarah Bernhardt associate
Photos made in NYC
soft brim

 

[Dinerman]

September 26, 1883 - The New York Sun

212 Broadway
5th Avenue Hotel
340 Fulton St. Brooklyn

 

[Brad Bowers]

Wow, Dinerman, that seems pretty definitive to me. "Fedora" associated with a men's hat less than a year after the premiere of the play. The coolest part is that it was imported and sold by Knox. Just need some artwork to go with it!

Brad

 

[Dinerman]

November 22, 1883 - Sacremento daily union-record

 

[Dinerman]

It seems Knox had quite the media blitz before unveiling their "fedora". Lots of that first ad in September 1883.

 

[Dinerman]

Nov. 22 1883. Sacramento. A slight variation.

 

[Dinerman]

Nov. 24 Sacramento

 

[danofarlington]

I Can find a number of photos of Sarah Bernhardt as Fédora but none with a felt hat unfortunately. Hat was probably actually something associated more with a men's Tyrolean and her influence was more an International popularization and name association(think Kleenex or Jello), not a new and original style concept(except perhaps for women).


First USA performance opened October 1, 1883 NYC
Fanny Davenport brought an English language version to the USA in Oct. 1883 and toured. Playing repeatedly in NYC and other cities during the decade. Bernhardt came in 1887(in French).
[photos and none with a felt hat.

Well, a possibility with Fanny Davenport(went through 99 photos from Theater Collection)

AMUSEMENTS.; THE SYMPHONY SOCIETY'S CONCERT. METROPOLITAN OPERA-HOUSE. ACADEMY OF MUSIC. MUSIC AND MUSICIANS. PLAYS AND ACTORS.

November 18, 1883, Wednesday
Page 9, 3066 words


]

This photo is supported by the 1883 Fedora ad talking about Tyrolean hats. Case closed, no?

 

[Dinerman]

Daily Globe Dec. 29 1883

Lots of references to mens hats called fedoras in 1883, only one for a womens hat with that name. It may have taken its name from the play, but it seems to have started commercial life as a mens hat.

 

[jbucklin]

Excellent research Dinerman. It appears we're finally getting to the bottom of the mystery surrounding the fedora hat's auspicious beginnings.

 

[Yeps]

Now this is the information that needs to be over on the wiki page.

 

[Brad Bowers]

It's probably no coincidence that Knox offered the hat at the same time as Fanny Davenport premiered in the play in NYC. Capitalizing on the play's anticipated popularity based on the response in Europe is a very good move on their part. Sounds like modern-day marketing!

What I find so fascinating is that they appear to have no problem expecting men to buy a hat named after a woman. That would be like a hat today named after an Angelina Jolie character. (Actually, that's a stretch. I had trouble thinking of modern actresses.)

Brad

 

[rlk]

MARKETING!
MARKETING!
MARKETING!

Take a newly popular formalization of a traditional hat in Europe(Lobbia/Homburg) and tie it to a popular play. Since the woman was wearing a mannish hat and the name was Russian(female version of Fedor) not too big an obstacle. Sarah Bernhardt and even Fanny Davenport were major stars in their time as big as today's Movie Stars.

 

[Lefty]

That would be like a hat today named after an Angelina Jolie character. (Actually, that's a stretch. I had trouble thinking of modern actresses.)

Brad

If someone told me I could wear Angelina Jolie on my head...

 

[Garrett]

If someone told me I could wear Angelina Jolie on my head...

Then you'd probably be Brad Pitt

 

[rlk]

Star Almanac

 

[rlk]

It seems Knox had quite the media blitz before unveiling their "fedora". Lots of that first ad in September 1883.

same ad Brooklyn Eagle Sept. 27, 1883

Brooklyn Eagle Sept. 29,1883

 

[Brad Bowers]

This is all fantastic information. We've always accepted the Fedora story at face value, but I've never seen it actually documented until now. The proof is at hand!

Brad

 

[buler]

Nicely done RLK and Dinerman! :eusa_clap

B