Copyright © 2020 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett
Henry C. Tryon passed away in relative obscurity on July 27, 1892. Newspapers announcements simple stated: “Scenic-Artist Henry C. Tryon died at Lawrence, Mass.” (Pittsfield Sun, 4 Aug. 1892, page 6).
It is hard not to recall Tryon’s elegant tribute to C. Louis Malmsha upon his passing. Only a decade earlier, Tryon’s tribute to Malmsha appeared in that newspapers across the country. Here is a link to my past post with the article: https://drypigment.net2020/10/13/tales-from-a-scenic-artist-and-scholar-part-1089-louis-malmsha-a-tribute-to-the-great-scenic-artist-by-henry-c-tryon-and-malmsha/
Two months before Tryon’s passing, he was a pallbearer at the funeral of William Voegtlin. Voegtlin passed away at the relatively young age of 57 earlier that summer. The cause was listed as inflammatory rheumatism.
Here is Voegtlin’s funeral notice, as published in “The Boston Daily Globe” on June 1, 1892:
“ACTORS AT HIS BIER
Burial of William Voegtlin, the Scenic Artist, at Forest Hills.
The funeral of William Voegtlin, the scenic artist, took place from the church of the Good Shepherd yesterday afternoon. Rev. Mr. Rollins officiated. Solos were rendered by Miss Maud Williams and the Commonwealth quartet. Internment was at Forst Hills Cemetery. Among those present were: Messrs. N. A. Morkell, James Blake, John Cook, A. L. Southerland, frank B. Richards, Harry M’Glenen, L. J. McCarty, John Prior, frank Pollo, Charles Harris, Benjamin Craig and Philip Seymour. The pallbearers were Messrs. John A. Thompson, Charles Withm, William Gill, Victor Lawson, Henry E. Dixey, William Dixon, Henry C. Tryon and Mr. Brooker.”
I have written about Voegtlin in the past, but here is a brief recap of Tryon’s close friend:
William Voegtlin was born in Basle, Switzerland in 1835, emigrating to the United States at the age of 15 and settling in New Orleans where he first began scenery painting. Voegtlin quickly ascended to the top of his profession and by 1879 he was listed as one of the “very best of living scenic artists.” Voegtlin was also mentioned in the article, “Paint Mimic Scenes, Men Who Have Found Fame in the Wing and Drop Curtains,” after his passing. Of Voegtlin, the article noted, “One of the great giants of the scenic world was William Voegtlin, the greatest deceiver of transformation effects that ever walked the paint bridge. He had a style peculiarly his own and seemed to incorporate the stunning effects of all schools…his color was wonderfully vivid, and he was a grand master with foil. In this latter respect he was only rivaled by Thomas Noxon of St. Louis, a remarkable artist in spectacle. Voegtlin often ate and slept on the paint frame for weeks at a time during the rush of a great production” (Dec. 18, 1892). For a period of time, scandal associated with the Voegtlin name too.
In 1857, Voegtlin married his first wife Berth Fleichman in Peru, Illinois. Two of nine children survived to adulthood, each son following their father’s footsteps. As an itinerant artist, Voegtlin frequently traveled for work, assisted by his sons. This left his wife at home alone, and after twenty-six years of marriage she ran away with a close family friend, Carl Voegel, of Voegel & Co. At the time, Voegel was also married and it caused quite a scandal.
The Voegtlins separated, but never officially divorced, which would later become a problem for William in particular when he married again. Voegtlin moved west where he worked as a scenic artist at Bush-street Theater in San Francisco. Ironically, his first wife was also living in California at this time, cohabitating with Voegel in Oakland. Voegtlin, however, married a second wife without divorcing his first, making papers across the country as a bigamist. To make matters worse, both wives blackmailed him, holding the charge of bigamy over his head. When his case went to trial, however, Voegtlin was acquitted of his crimes and returned to work as a scenic artist until his passing in 1892. The cause of death was pneumonia.
At the time of his death, newspaper announced, “News from Boston announces the death of William Voegtlin, one of the best known and experienced scene painters in the country” (Chicago Tribune, 1 June 1892, page 6). Various publications shared little snippets of fame from the past about Voegtlin. A stark contrast from Tryon’s simple death notice, with no funeral announcement. He may have died alone, and there was no one to mourn him.
If there is no one to share your story, you gradually pass from memory.
To be continued.
