Part 506: Henry C. Tryon, Scenic Artist for Allen’s Globe Theatre in Chicago, 1870
I have been exploring the scenic art career of Henry C. Tryon for the past few posts. He worked in Chicago and throughout the western United States during the 1870s and 1880s, including the Salt Lake City Theater and the Tabor Opera House in Denver. Tryon was a friend of Thomas G. Moses and fellow Sosman & Landis employee. Although he worked all over the country, he continually returned to Chicago during the late 19th century.
In 1870, Tryon was listed as the scenic artist for Allen’s Globe Theater in Chicago, a venue with D. R. Allen & Co. as the proprietors. During the 1860s, Allen had operated a touring company – Allen’s Celebrated Tableau Company (The Burlington Free Press, 17 May 1862, page 3). He performed with his wife in the company, acting in productions such as “May Martin,” “Slasher and Crasher,” “The Story of Camille,” and “The Maid of Munster.” In 1868, the couple was working in Chicago, with Mrs. D. R. Allen performing in “A Bold Stroke for Her Husband” at Col. Wood’s Museum (Chicago Tribune, 20 Dec. 868, page 4).
Chicagology (www.chicagology.com) reports that Allen’s Theatre was the only one to survive the 1871 Chicago Fire; that is no small feat. The Manager of Allen’s Globe Theater was D. R. Allen, with Geo. H. Griffiths as the stage manager. “The Chicago Tribune” published that Allen’s new theater was a “West Side Theatre” (16 Oct. 1870, page 3). D. R. Allen’s Globe Theatre company would continue to perform in a variety of other venues during 1871, including at Chicago’s Crosby Opera House (Chicago Tribune, 15 Feb. 1871, page 4).
Located on Desplaines street, between Washington and Madison, it was rapidly approaching completion by October of 1870. The newspaper article reported, “It will probably be finished and ready for opening early in the ensuing month. The roof is about done, and the work on the stage is now in active progress. Present appearances indicate that it will be one of the best arranged theatres in the city. Mr. Allen is now busy organizing his company, and expects to open about the 7th with a well-selected dramatic corps. There is every reason to anticipate for the new theatre a successful career.”
The prices of admission for Allen’s Globe Theatre were: Parquette and Dress Circles was 75 cents, with the Family circle at 50 cents, the Balcony at 75 cents and the Gallery at 30 cents. Matinees were 50 cents. The doors opened at 7:15 p.m. daily with an 8 p.m. curtain.
In the Amusement section of the Chicago Tribune, and article announced that one of the first performances at Allen’s Globe Theatre would include Jenny Lind, on November 26, 1870, Allen’s Globe Theatre. The venue was showing Bryon’s “£100,000. Splendid Acting. Chaste Appointments. To conclude with Jenny Lind, with all the original music” (Chicago Tribune 26 Nov, 1870, page 4).
By 14 January 1871, “The Chicago Tribune” was listing Allen’s new theater as Chicago’s “Globe Theatre” with productions including “His Last Legs” and “Turn Him Out” (page 4). The venue survived the Chicago fire, but also became known simply as Allen’s Theatre. (Chicago Tribune, 9 Oct. 1872, page 11).
In 1873, the Chicago Tribune reported that “The Globe Theatre” had reopened with D. R. Allen continuing his former position of Manager after a change of program (Chicago Tribune, 10 Jan. 1871, page 3). That same year, the baseball clubs of McVicker’s and Allen’s Theatre played a game at the corner of Laflin and Van Buren Streets (Chicago Tribune 31 May 1873, page 5). Theaters with baseball teams – what fun.
Tyron was associated with Allen’s Theatre while he was painting the drop curtain and all of the scenery for Frazer’s Hall in Lawrence, Kansas during 1870 (The Daily Kansas Tribune, 28 Dec, 1870). The scenery, consisting of tormentor wings, front draperies and seven sets of scenery that represented a garden, palace, landscape, kitchen, prison, parlor, plain chamber, street, complete with wings and borders.
To be continued…
