Part 363: Thomas G. Moses’ and “Old Kentucky”
Thomas G. Moses recorded that McVicker’s Theatre played a number of road attractions, leaving him with “little to do, excepting going over Litt’s road shows that played the theatre.” He repainted “all of the stock stuff in the theatre” between working on shows. One of the new productions that Moses painted the scenery for, however, was “Old Kentucky.” It was this four-act play that some credit as the vehicle for Litt’s fortune.
In 1898, Litt reported to the Chicago Inter Ocean, “I have just closed arrangements to produce “In Old Kentucky” in Germany. It has been translated and the Webb & Wachsner company will do it first in Milwaukee. In April I will take the whole company, Pickaninnies, horses, scenery, and all, to Berlin, and open there the 1st of May” (27 August 1898, page 6).
The play had premiered five years earlier. Written by Charles Turner Dazey (1855-1938) “In Old Kentucky” was set in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Madge Brierly, a poor and illiterate young mountain girl whose father was murdered years ago, is the main character. Her neighbor (Holten) conspires to take away her family’s land. Fortunately, a well-to-do young Lexington man on vacation (Frank Layson) intervenes. Madge soon falls in love with the helpful Layson and later rescues his racehorse, Queen Bess, from a fire. Finally, when Layson plans to race Queen Bess in a desperate attempt to rescue his own fortune, she replaces his jockey at the last minute and rides the horse to victory.
Side note: “In Old Kentucky” was adapted into film four times during the early twentieth century: 1909, 1919, 1927 and 1935. “In Old Kentucky” was the last Will Rogers’ film to be released. It was filmed between April 12 and May 13 and was released in November of that year. Rodgers died in a plane crash on August 15, 1935.
Of this time working at McVicker’s during 1897-1898, Moses wrote, “I was always busy, but not as busy as I should have been.” In the evenings, he recorded, “I did some work at the studio nights as I never went to the theatre at night. All winter up until Christmas, I jogged along and longed for some real excitement.” In short, Moses was getting restless, and he was ready to move on – again. At the age of 42, he had been working as a scenic artist for 25 years. Moses was well known and successful, but he wanted more.
There was a gradual shift occurring in the theatre industry. My research suggests that the “theatrical center” of the United States was shifting back to the East Coast, New York in particular. This immediately followed a construction boom in both visual spectacle and popular entertainment throughout the region and there were opportunities galore. During the 1870s, the theatrical center had shifted to Chicago. After the great fire of 1871, the city attracted a variety of artisans as new buildings and performance venues took shape. Many new construction projects offered endless possibilities for experimentation and innovation. In many ways the 1893 Columbian Exposition became the pinnacle of possibilities for the future in Chicago.
A subtle shift began to occur as artists, such as Moses, started to migrate east, sometimes in droves to New York City. There were new and interesting projects offered not only in Broadway shows, but also in the amusements at Coney Island. There was work – lots of work – and the potential for huge profits.
Hundreds of scenic artists journeyed to New York at the tail end of the nineteenth century. In addition to Moses, their ranks included his future business partner Will Hamilton, John H. Young, Grace Wishaar, Walter Burridge, Ernest Albert and many more.
But would it remain as sweet as they imagined it to be? It makes me think of the 1962 song sung by Peter, Paul & Mary – “Lemon Tree.”
“Lemon tree, very pretty, and the lemon flower is sweet, but the fruit of the poor lemon is impossible to eat.”
New York was a lemon tree for many scenic artists and their experience would be a bitter one.
To be continued…
Here is a link to the song if you don’t know it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLhYghzNfII
