A cathedral setting designed and painted by Toomey & Volland scenic studio of St. Louis, Missouri, ca. 1920. Last month I visited the Richmond Scottish Rite and documented the historic scenery collection, dating from 1900-1920. Here is a link to my past post:
While on site, I was assisted by Michael Powers and Richard Finkelstein to set and light each scene during the cataloguing process. Here are a few images that I took of the scene:
Cathedral scene by Toomey & Volland scenic studio for the Richmond Scottish Rite, c. 1920Cathedral scene by Toomey & Volland scenic studio for the Richmond Scottish Rite, c. 1920Cathedral scene by Toomey & Volland scenic studio for the Richmond Scottish Rite, c. 1920Cathedral scene by Toomey & Volland scenic studio for the Richmond Scottish Rite, c. 1920Translucent sections. Cathedral scene by Toomey & Volland scenic studio for the Richmond Scottish Rite, c. 1920Cathedral scene by Toomey & Volland scenic studio for the Richmond Scottish Rite, c. 1920Translucent section. Cathedral scene by Toomey & Volland scenic studio for the Richmond Scottish Rite, c. 1920Translucent section. Cathedral scene by Toomey & Volland scenic studio for the Richmond Scottish Rite, c. 1920Cathedral scene by Toomey & Volland scenic studio for the Richmond Scottish Rite, c. 1920Cathedral scene by Toomey & Volland scenic studio for the Richmond Scottish Rite, c. 1920Cathedral scene by Toomey & Volland scenic studio for the Richmond Scottish Rite, c. 1920Cathedral scene by Toomey & Volland scenic studio for the Richmond Scottish Rite, c. 1920Note the charcoal drawing beneath the paint. Cathedral scene by Toomey & Volland scenic studio for the Richmond Scottish Rite, c. 1920Cathedral scene by Toomey & Volland scenic studio for the Richmond Scottish Rite, c. 1920Cathedral scene by Toomey & Volland scenic studio for the Richmond Scottish Rite, c. 1920
Author: waszut_barrett@me.com
Wendy Rae Waszut-Barrett, PhD, is an author, artist, and historian, specializing in painted settings for opera houses, vaudeville theaters, social halls, cinemas, and other entertainment venues. For over thirty years, her passion has remained the preservation of theatrical heritage, restoration of historic backdrops, and the training of scenic artists in lost painting techniques. In addition to evaluating, restoring, and replicating historic scenes, Waszut-Barrett also writes about forgotten scenic art techniques and theatre manufacturers. Recent publications include the The Santa Fe Scottish Rite Temple: Freemasonry, Architecture and Theatre (Museum of New Mexico Press, 2018), as well as articles for Theatre Historical Society of America’s Marquee, InitiativeTheatre Museum Berlin’s Die Vierte Wand, and various Masonic publications such as Scottish Rite Journal, Heredom and Plumbline. Dr. Waszut-Barrett is the founder and president of Historic Stage Services, LLC, a company specializing in historic stages and how to make them work for today’s needs. Although her primary focus remains on the past, she continues to work as a contemporary scene designer for theatre and opera.
View all posts by waszut_barrett@me.com
