UPDATE: Harley Merry – Studio Advertisements in Julius Cahn’s Theatrical Guide, 1902-1903

The attached advertisement was brought to my attention by a descendent of Harley Merry, Victoria Brittain.  She has graciously shared many images as she continues her genealogical research.

Victoria recently discovered an advertisement for the Harley Merry Studio in Julius Cahn’s Theatrical Guide from 1902-1903.  Theatrical Guides for touring shows are an amazing source of information about North American theaters and theatrical suppliers.

In the big picture, Merry was instrumental in the training of  Ernest Albert, Walter Burridge and many other nineteenth-century scenic artists. For additional information about the significance of Harley Merry and his contribution to scenic art, see my past posts from “Tales from a Scenic Artist and Scholar: Acquiring the Fort Scott Scenery Collection for the Minnesota Masonic Heritage Center” (installments #138-146).  There are many other mentions about Harley Merry in this blog too, just do a search on his name!

www.drypigment.net is intended as a resource for those interested in theatre history, specifically the artisans who created painted illusion and visual spectacle.

Here is the link to the ad: https://books.google.com/books?id=xrNEAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA36&lpg=PA36&dq=%22harley+merry%22&source=bl&ots=SDymahEcHq&sig=NefMkdJNmH3K5V-tXDwmH-FvqKw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjQuLOWrZHYAhXCeCYKHf-hAp04ChDoAQhEMAg#v=onepage&q=%22harley%20merry%22&f=false

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