Part 588: “A Day in Japan” for the Pittsburg Exposition
In 1908, Thomas G. Moses wrote, “Built a fine little show for Pittsburg Exposition “A Day in Japan.” I went down and put it on and started it off to good business. It was a little too classy.”
Moses was referring to one of the amusements at the Pittsburgh Sesqui-Centennial Exposition tha ran from July 4, 1908 to November 26, 1908. On June 21, 1908, the Honorable George W. Guthrie, mayor of Pittsburgh had issued the following proclamation that described the 150th birthday celebration for the city of Pittsburgh:
“To the citizens of Pittsburgh: On November 25, 1758, the British and Colonial troops under the command of General John Forbes, took possession of the smoking ruins of Fort Duquesne, which had been abandoned the day before by the French and Indians. As the sun was setting, the British flag was raised by the brave Pennsylvanian, Colonel John Armstrong, in the presence of Washington, Forbes, Bouquet, Mercer, and other noted American and British soldiers, and the name of the great Pitt, whose genius had conceived the expedition, thus signally crowned with success, was conferred most appropriately upon the site between the Forks of the Ohio, which was long thereafter known as the Gateway of the West. On November 25th of the present year will occur the 150th anniversary of the permanent founding and naming of Pittsburgh, and it is most fitting that the event be celebrated in a manner appropriate to the city’s important history and its great growth and achievements in many lines.”
The planning for the celebration began during the fall of 1906. By spring of 1908, the plan was presented to Mayor Guthrie and the City Councils. After approval, twenty-eight committees, involving almost 600 individuals, made it possible for Pittsburgh’s celebration.
The Daily Republican reported “Among the amusements is the military spectacle of the Spanish-American war, which is a vivid reproduction of the blowing up of the ‘Maine’ and the historic battles; the scenic cyclorama, ‘A Day in Japan’: the Theatorium, and many other entertainments” (Monongahela, Pennsylvania, 6 Oct 1908, page 4). The “Sedalia Democrat” commented, “Among the new attractions in the main building are an electrical scenic cyclorama, ‘A Day in Japan’”, while he “Pittsburgh Press” advertised that it was “an electric novelty” (Sedalia Democrat, 2 Sept 1908, page 7, and Pittsburgh Press, 9 August 1908, page 6).
There is a lovely article about this project and Moses’ involvement that was posted in the “Pittsburgh Daily Post” on September 2, 1908 (page 8):
“Visitors Taken to Japan.
“A Day in Japan,” one of the most enjoyable entertainments of the Exposition, will transport spectators in an instant to the “Flowery Kingdom,” the realm of the Mikado. The wonders of electric lighting and manipulation are carried to a height rarely attained. A picturesque Japanese mountain village is shown nestling at the base of the historic, snow covered mountain, Fujiyama.
With scarcely conceivable realism, the soft radiance of moonlight, bathes the quiet scene, then the break of day, the white light of noonday, the yellow of late afternoon, the gradual coming of dusk and darkness, and the lighting of lamps within the dwellings, are portrayed with extraordinary faithfulness to detail.
A storm gathers, trees are tossed by the wind, lightning flashes and thunder of the preceding calm, is welcomed with relief.
The entertainment is not a moving picture show, nor an acted play. A model of a village taken from active life has been built on the stage, representing the minutest details of Japanese home life, in a style never before attempted. A pagoda, rising high in the foreground, occupied a skilled artisan many days in making it, so delicate is the workmanship.
No details of instructive value are omitted. The beauty of the production is extraordinary. The scheme of decoration in the Oriental style is carried into every detail. Even the ticket office is a structure quaintly built on lines of Oriental architecture. Its position in the gallery, midway down the main hall, on the Allegheny side, makes the entertainment a prominent feature of the Exposition.
A carefully prepared lecture accompanies the entertainment, as the scene shifts from night to day and back to night again. It has been the aim of the acting manager, Thomas G. Moses, vice-president of Sosman & Landis Company, of Chicago, to afford the maximum of both instructive and entertainment values.”
This was the first mention that I have discovered about Moses being vice-president of the company. He returned to Sosman & Landis in 1904 to manage the main studio, but his becoming vice-president is not mentioned in his memoirs. Abraham “Perry” Landis left the company in 1902 due to poor health. By 1904 Sosman was desperate for help in the studio, as he had assumed all of the sales responisbilities; those duties previously handled by Landis.
By 1915, immediately after Sosman’s death, Moses became the president of the Sosman & Landis. For me, this transition now makes sense in regard to the board of director’s decision to elect Moses president.
To be continued…
