Tales from a Scenic Artist and Scholar. Part 105 – The Camp Scene for Scottish Rite Degree Productions

The camp backdrop is a standard setting for the thirty-second degree in many Scottish Rite theaters across the country. This scene uses either a backdrop or a floor cloth, each painted with a nonagon.

The most common design in the Southern Jurisdiction places the nonagon in a valley surrounded by a deciduous landscape. Tents, letters and specific objects are placed throughout the scene in designated locations. Wooden leg drops are often used to accompany the scene and mask the side stages, providing the standard illusion of depth.

Occasionally, Scottish Rite theaters will add corresponding leg drops with camp tents, such was the case for Fort Scott and Winona. This signified that the Valley had the funding to add this particular extravagance.

Interestingly in St. Louis, however, the nonagon appears as a translucent shape in the cloudy sky. This is truly unique and a Volland Studio interpretation. It does double duty for the first and second sections of the stage degree. In the first section, the nonagon remains invisible for the scene. During the second section the nonagon translucency is illuminated at the appropriate moment.

In terms of theatrical interpretation, this staged degree frequently breaks the proscenium line to do the necessary “floor work.” In some cases, the scenic studio painted the nonagon on a floor cloth that was either placed on the stage or on the floor of the auditorium. For this type of theatrical interpretation, practical tents could be positioned along the specific sides. A few Scottish Rite Valleys used both a backdrop and floor cloth, each with a painted nonagon. This is the case in Grand Forks, North Dakota, where there is a detailed backdrop and detailed floor cloth for the thirty-second degree.

The Moline 32nd Degree Camp scene is unique for its design as there is simply a red nonagon without the standard inclusion of painted tents, objects, flags or letters. This scene appears to be unique to John C. Becker & Bro. Studio of Chicago.

For some Valleys, such as St. Louis, Missouri, the foreground of the scene depicts the Commander’s tent, with the military camp in the distance. The use of a practical tent in the foreground is common for the first section of the degree. There is either a cut opening for the Commander’s tent in the backdrop or an actual set piece. Winona, Minnesota, used a reversible set piece for the Commander’s tent. When not used as a military tent, it could be transformed into a rustic hut for the Hermitage setting in the York Rite.

Many of these same camp settings were also used for York Rite degrees. The York Rite staged portions of their degrees too, occasionally constructing theaters within Scottish Rite Cathedrals or Masonic complexes. They often used roll drops placed in the east end of a lodge room. Their theatrical interpretation of degree work was equally successful, but much smaller due to fewer degrees. The shared use of specific scenes for both Scottish and York Rites also explains many of the unique variations for camp designs. Depending on the possibility of shared use by multiple organizations – such as Grotto, Shrine, York or Scottish Rites – the Masonic designs could be slightly altered to accommodate a variety of degree interpretations.

To be continued…