Travels of a Scenic Artist and Scholar: Thomas G. Moses, William Lemle, Inc., and McAlester, Oklahoma


Copyright © 2021 by Wendy Rae Waszut-Barrett

Scenery by Thomas G. Moses (1856-1934).

Scenery painted by Thomas G. Moses in 1929.
Various layers to the forest scene. Scenery painted by Thomas G. Moses in 1929.
Painted detail. Scene by Thomas G. Moses (1856-1934) in 1929.
Painted detail. Scene by Thomas G. Moses (1856-1934) in 1929.
Painted detail. Scene by Thomas G. Moses (1856-1934) in 1929.
Painted detail. Scene by Thomas G. Moses (1856-1934) in 1929.

In 1929, Moses represented William Lemle, Inc., when he painted the scenery installation for the Scottish Rite Theatre in McAlester, Oklahoma, 1929. The drops measure 40′-0″ high by 56′-0″ wide. I restored most of the scenery collection between 2009 and 2010, including this wood scene.

Here is a link for more information about William Lemle, Inc., as I am currently exploring Lemle’s career in “Tales of a Scenic Artist and Scholar” – https://drypigment.net2021/02/13/tales-from-a-scenic-artist-and-scholar-part-1161-william-lemle-inc/

Here is my post from today about William H. Lemle’s early life as an actor:
https://drypigment.net2021/02/13/tales-from-a-scenic-artist-and-scholar-part-1162-william-h-lemle-the-early-years/

For more posts about Scottish Rite scenery, use the keyword search function.

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.

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