For over a week, I have focused on the scenery produced for the Thalian Hall in Wilmington, North Carolina. Dozens of scenes were delivered from 1858 until 1909. This history is similar to thousands of other nineteenth century theaters across the United States, not accounting those that were lost to fire. Scenery was repeatedly delivered to entertainment venues in the 19th century as managers sought various ways to attract the public, drawing audiences in with painted scenes. Then, as now, the audience expected to see something new and exciting. Here is a brief recap of the scenery delivered to the Thalian Hall from 1858-1909.
Russell Smith painted the original drop curtain and first set of stock scenery in 1858. By 1871, Smith’s original scenery was touched up by local artists.
A decade later, in 1881, new scenery by Wilmington artist Ernest V. Richards was purchased at an expense of $247.00. Little is known of Richards beyond a few advertisements that he placed in Wilmington newspapers. Richards’ ran a “scene, fresco and sign studio” located on the “corner of Front and Princess streets (up stairs)” in Wilmington (Wilmington Morning Star, 21 Nov. 1888. Page 1). His newspaper advertisement noted, “All commissions in Art Work promptly attended to. Special designs in Christmas Cards and Advertising novelties.” By 1889, Richards expanded his service to include “Stained and Leaded Glass,” providing estimates and designs for church and house windows, with “matching and repairing a specialty” (The Wilmington Messenger, July 24, 1889, page 5).
In 1895, E. V. Richards again touched up the drop curtain and scenery at an expense of $53.80. This would be his last project for the theater, as William F. Hamilton was selected as a scenic artist to design and paint new scenery for the stage. In 1896, W. F. Hamilton converted the original painted curtain by Russell Smith from a roll drop into a fly drop. He also painted a new drop curtain and four new sets of scenery for the theater. In addition to working as a scenic artist, records indicate that Hamilton “completed a few other necessary improvements.” Transforming a roll drop into a fly drop suggests that a fly loft was added. Hamilton returned in 1899 to paint another drop curtain for the opera house.
On August 28, 1904, “Wilmington Morning Star” the stage was enlarged ten feet and scenery was again added to the stock. Records indicate that new scenery was delivered by C. N. Garing of Garing Scenic Studio painted new scenery. Garing was a lesser-known scenic artist who worked throughout the Carolinas. On September 5, 1905, the “Wilmington Morning Star” reported that new scenery was painted for the venue and “many new appointments added.” Little is known of Garing, by in 1907, he was living in Atlanta, Georgia (The Alamance Gleaner, 11 July 1907). That year, he was awarded the contract to paint stage scenery for the new opera house in Graham, North Carolina. As a side note, Garing’s brother was the well-known musical director A. J. Garing who worked at the New York Hippodrome (1918).
In 1909 after the renovation, all of the old scenery on stage was replaced with all new versions from New York. On August 5, 1909, the “Morning Star” reported “Yesterday a special scenic artist from New York city arrived and is now at work planning the full equipment of new scenery for the theatre, including a handsome drop-curtain, and will also map out the pretty interior decorations…the electric equipment of the theatre is also to be the most elaborate…The scenic artist will also direct the work of the interior decoration for the theatre, and is one of the best men in the business, representing a well-known northern studio.”
On August 20, 1909, the “Morning Star” included, “The painting of the scenery is fast progressing at the theatre, and today a handsome front curtain reached the city from the north, through there will also be a fine painted one here, this giving the theatre two curtains.”
When considering the amount of scenery delivered between 1858 and 1909, it is shocking to see that only two pieces remain – the original drop curtain and a book flat. However, looking at historic venues nationwide, this is a significant find. Many nineteenth century theaters have no painted remnants from their past, especially something that was delivered when the venue opened. Tomorrow will be my last post on the Thalian Hall and I will look at the last restoration of the 1858 drop curtain. Over 150 years, this curtain was “touched up” and “repaired” numerous times, each with the original paint. The most recent repair to patched and water-damaged areas incorporated the use of oil pastels.
To be continued…
