Vintage original 6 x 9 in. US double-weight matte photograph of silent film actress and director RUTH STONEHOUSE c.1916. Taken by The Scott Studio of Chicago, she is depicted early in her career wearing a flowing white dress with a matching headband as she looks over her shoulder to gaze at the viewer. It is in fine- condition with a 1 in. diagonal crease and signs of wear on the top left corner; a 2 in. horizontal crease at the bottom of her facsimile signature (not an original signature); a 4 in. diagonal line/mark on the bottom right corner that is not a crease; a small area of discoloration on the bottom border near the left corner; and light signs of silvering around various portions of the inner edges. There are no pinholes, tears, writing, or other flaws. The unusual format of this photograph was used to compliment the horizontal design of this beautiful image. Ruth Stonehouse (September 28, 1892 – May 12, 1941) was an actress and film director during the silent film era. Her stage career started at the age of eight as a dancer in Arizona shows. She worked for Triangle Film Corporation and Universal Pictures during a career which extended from 1911 until 1928. A few years prior in 1907, she was a founding member of the Essanay Film Manufacturing Company. She also signed-on to work on Cyrus J. Williams' productions. Having experience here helped Stonehouse begin her directing career later on as she moved to different stations. Her androgynous appearance was most apparent in the role of Nancy Glenn and in the 1917 motion picture, The Edge of the Law. She performed in comedies and dramas such as the patriotic film Doing Her Bit (1917), which was directed by Jack Conway. In 1917, Stonehouse directed the films Daredevil Dan, A Walloping Time, The Winning Pair, A Limb of Satan, Puppy Love, and Tacky Sue's Romance. These movies were one-reel orphan asylum pictures, the first of which was entitled Mary Ann.