Tales from a Scenic Artist and Scholar. Copyright © 2018 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett
For additional installments, go to www.drypigment.net
Part 424: Coney Island – “The Devil, Man and the Maid”
For over a year, Moses & Hamilton watched showmen rake in massive profits. Thomas G. Moses wrote, “Hamilton was anxious to get into the amusement business, so we invested $3,000.00 in a little stunt, which we called ‘The Devil, The Man and the Maid.’ It was a bit taken from Faust. We had good scenery and lighting effects and many novelties were introduced. One day’s receipts was $400.00 and it all looked good to us, but a rainy spell set in an no one did business on the island. Our gross receipts were $9,000.00. They should have been at least $12,000.00 to give us a good profit. We sold out at the close of the Coney Island season and had a $1,000.00 net, for all our work and trouble.”
Their attraction was located on Surf Avenue, opposite of the Culver Depot. Moses & Hamilton advertised in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle on June 14, 1903 (page 56). The advertisement promised, “A Refined Sensational Novelty for Men, Women and Children. Spectacular in All Its Effects. Most Interesting Show on the Island.”
Moses admitted that $1000 was better than a totals loss, but it convinced Hamilton that he was not cut out to be a showman.
Moses continued to describe the experience, writing, “We started with five people in the show and wound up with twenty-three. Hamilton took the advice of every old showman on the Island, nothing they suggested proved to be of any use. Luna Park itself proved to be a money getter, and helped to increase the attendance at the Island; better car service was installed to New York and with the steam boats there were facilities on going and coming, enjoyed by everyone.” I discovered that Mose & Hamilton sold the show to Messrs. Kern and Grim. It was next used for the St. Louis Exposition in 1904.
In 1905, the Allentown Morning Call (20 Sept 1905, page 1) reported that the amusement “The Devil, The Man and The Maid” had originated on Luna Park was part of the novelties for the Pike at the Allentown Fair. It was one of three attractions, along with “Around the World” and “Siberia.” Messrs. Kern and Grim has also exhibited “The Devil, The Man and The Maid” at the 1904 St. Louis Exposition. The newspaper article reported, “This is one of the most successful illusion shows ever brought to this city.
On entering, one sees a young lady hypnotized in full view of the audience, and caused to float, unsupported, in the air, all this in a brilliantly lighted room. Later, the same young lady is securely bound by some one from the audience, securely sewn up in a bag, and placed in a large trunk, which is, in turn, is tied up and locked in such a manner that any escape seems impossible. This is then placed in a cabinet, and the trunk dragged out a minute later by members of the audience, and opened, only to find that the woman has disappeared and a man substituted.
From this room, one is taken into the side theatre, without any further price of admission, and here a lady or gentleman is taken from the audience, and in full view of the audience, transformed from rosy health to a grinning skeleton, and then in turn, returned to natural state. The same person is introduced to persons appearing on the stage, and when attempting to touch them finds that they disappear at will. This show is one of the most realistic performances and aggregation of the most astounding feats ever shown here.”
The effect with the skeleton was the scenic illusion called “Pepper’s Ghost.” This is the same effect that Moses would create while working for Sosman & Landis when designing for fraternal theaters. It was successfully used in the Scottish Rite’s thirtieth degree catacombs scene where a man “from the audience,” or exemplar for the degree, turned into a skeleton on stage.
To be continued…
