Miss Electricia The Defier of the Horrible Electric Chair of Prison Regulation Souvenir Card

$250 · Offered by Biblio

United States, 1912. Very good. Minor dust soiling, some sunning to verso.. Souvenir photo card depicting a smiling Miss Electricia, a death-defying side show star who was advertised in newspapers as "taking 1,600 Volts of Electricity in 10 seconds" from "the horrible electric chair of prison regulation" (Harrisburg Daily Independent, 24 Jan.). A doctor was usually in attendance. It was common for women to use the stage name "Miss Electricia" or "Miss Electra" for their magic electric chair acts; supposedly, Ray Bradbury was inspired by a male version of such "electric girls", Mr. Electrico, in 1932 (Smithsonian Magazine). We have been unable to identify this particular "Miss Electricia", though we know she was active in 1912. Photo-illustrated souvenir card (5.5" by 3.5"), verso blank.

• Year: 1912
• Binding: unknown

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