In 1910, Sosman & Landis Scene Painting Studio was a well-known firm with artists located in both Chicago and New York. On September 14, 1910, “The Times” described a production with scenery by Sosman & Landis – “The Girl and the Clown.” The show was advertised as musical comedy with “10 Big Song Hits” performed by a “cute girl,” a “funny clown” and “dancing girls” (Hiawatha Daily World, 4 March 1912, page 2).The story of the play depicted the misfortunes of a Circus Company stranded in a Kentucky town.
“The Girl and the Clown.
“‘One touch of nature makes the whole world kin’. It is just this touch of nature that has made ‘The Girl and the Clown’ so great a success. It was the one touch of nature that has made the ‘Old Homestead’ delight crowds for a quarter of a century. It was the one touch of nature which aides ‘Way Down East’. ‘In Old Kentucky’ and a few other famous plays. ‘The Girl and the Clown’ which will be seen at the Opera House Sunday matinee and night also has this one touch of nature. The title almost tells the story. The girl and the clown are both leading members of a stranded circus – of course they are sweethearts. There is another love story in the play that of an heiress and a German student from Heidelberg. Then there is a villain, not the proverbial heavy type but a gentlemanly villain and none the less a villain because he is a gentleman. There are various other characters in the plat and the complications and situation that are brought about by them are ludicrous, and uproariously funny. The play is a laugh from start to finish – the fun is genuine. A little bit of pathos is introduced which may bring a tear to the eye and this leavens the whole. The company is excellent and includes Gertrude Johns, Isabel Johns, Iona Bertrand, W. A. Orlmon, John Leach. Albert Bruce, Hal Lavin and others. During the performance a number of musical specialties are introduced by the Johns Sisters, Gertrude Johns giving her celebrated imitation of the great Harry Lauder which has made her famous in al corners of the country. Special scenery has been painted by the well known New York and Chicago artists, Sosman and Landis” (The Times, 14 September 1910, page 5).
Little is known of the production beyond a few newspaper articles and advertisements. The production with scenery by Sosman & Landis toured throughout the western region of the United States during 1910. In the follwong years, a series of local interpretations appear across the country.
To be continued…
