Tales from a Scenic Artist and Scholar. Part 795- Victor J. Hubal Sr. and the Black Hills Passion Play

I continue with my exploration of Victor Hubal, a Sosman & Landis scenic artist who later worked for a variety of other studios. The 1930 Census listed Hubal (41 yrs.), living with his wife Eloise (32 yrs.) and children, Glenn James (11 yrs.), Lucille (8 yrs.) and Victor Jr. (6 yrs.) at 439 E. Sixth Street in St. Paul, Minnesota.

When Hubal passed away in 1972, the “St. Paul Dispatch” included a lengthy article about Hubal reporting, “Among his other works were early Shipstad and Johnson “Ice Follies” productions and the Josef Meier Passion Play, both the touring productions and the permanent one at Spearfish, S.D.” Of the Black Hills Passion Play, a 1944 article in the “Queen City Mail” noted “Victor Hubal of St. Paul, scenic artist, was in Spearfish last week redecorating the play scenes for the winter performances” (Spearfish, SD, 21 Sept. 1944). Over the years, Hubal was was repeatedly connected with the production as the sets were repaired and new elements were added.

Meier brought his Passion Play to the United States in 1932. Born in Lünen, Germany, he was the seventh generation of his family to portray Jesus in the biblical drama. Meier translated the production from German to English and brought a small company to the United States, premiering the show in New York and then taking the production on tour. By 1939, Meier found a permanent home for his production in Spearfish, South Dakota, building a 6000-seat amphitheater.  Even after settling in Spearfish, later toured the United States and Canada until 1964. The production was performed in more than 650 cities over the years, becoming an annual event for many cities. Meier remained part of the production until 1991, when he retired after performing in 9000 performances. Meier passed away eight years later at the age of ninety-four. The Black Hills Passion Play outlived its founder, lasting until 2008 when the summer performances finally ended. For more information about the show, there are amazing photographs available to peruse online, part of the Fassbender Collection. Here is the link: https://www.historicblackhillsstudios.org/keyword/Black%20Hills%20Passion%20Play/

My life intersects with Hubal’s on multiple planes, not having been aware of his existence until studying at the University of Minnesota and working with Lance Brockman. I knew nothing of the Spearfish Passion Play, however, until I was working in Spearfish and restoring the Twin Cities Scenic Co. collection delivered to the Matthews Opera House in 1907.  Although many of my friends and family had made pilgrims to see this massive outdoor production, it didn’t pop up on my radar until 2017. And then while sharing some restoration stories with a good friend in Duluth, I made a connection. My friend’s eyes lit up when I mentioned Spearfish.  “Spearfish?!?” she asked. “I have many stories about that place and the production my mother managed.” My friend was Nancyelaine Rusk Anderson, and she proceeded to she share a series of stories about the touring production and its founder Meier. What a connection to discover out of the blue!

I met Nancyelaine and her husband Duane in 1991.  He was a well-respected Masonic scholar in Duluth and pulled in to help Brockman document the Scottish Rite scenery collection there. Nancyelaine taught dance, and has once been the prima ballerina with the Kansas City Ballet, as well as a concert pianist in the region. Her studies extended to Egyptian hieroglyphics and automotive repair. I still find her absolutely brilliant and fascinating. Duane was a mathematician with a passion for the Fraternity. He was on the Southern Jurisdiction Scottish Rite’s ritual revision committee and in line to be Grand Master of Minnesota in the 1990s.  Duane was part of the Scottish Rite network that helped Brockman during the “Theatre of the Fraternity” Symposium that evolved onto the 1996 touring museum exhibit: “Theatre of the Fraternity: Staging the Ritual Space of the Scottish Rite, 1896-1929.” Working as his research assistant for both events, this exposure to Masonic scenery for the stage fueled my passion for scenic art and directed the course of my career.

I reconnected with Nancyelaine in 2015 while working as the Curatorial Director for the Minnesota Masonic Heritage Center. Her name was passed along to me when I sought various resources to help with shape the museum displays for various Masonic groups. I was looking for artifacts, information, and various Masonic representatives during the design phase of the six museum galleries.  Nancyelaine has a depth of knowledge about Masonry for women that is unparalleled, having ascended to some of the highest state and national positions in five Masonic organizations. My initial correspondence with Nancyelaine led to my securing the Duane Anderson and Nancyelaine Rusk Anderson Library for the Minneapolis Scottish Rite. After the acquisition, however, I continued to visit my friend in Duluth whenever I traveled north.

To be continued…