In 1912, Sosman & Landis delivered scenery for the C. W. Park Dramatic Co. The tent show was advertised as “the oldest, biggest, best and most perfectly equipped canvas covered theatre in existence” (“Messenger Enquirer,” Owensboro, KY, 10 Aug 1913, page 3). Playing weekly engagements that featured various vaudeville acts under a big top, the show came complete with a full stage, scenery, lights and even ushers. The “Decatur Daily” advertised, “Park’s Dramatic and Vaudeville Shows Coming. Will be here all next week – forty people and fine scenery” (Decatur, Alabama, 14 May 1912, page 2).
The history of the production company is quite interesting. In 1907, the C. W. Parks Show was reorganized due to some original members accepting other work (“The Gasden Times, “Gasden, Alabama, 22 Jan. 1907, page 2). Park began fine-tuning his acts, and by 1909 became the C. W. Park Big Stock Co. The “Roanoke Leader” reported that the C. W. Parks would return, appearing “under their mammoth water-proof canvas” (Roanoke, Alabama, 1 Sept 1909, page 8). The article continued, “The C. W. Park show is stronger than ever, having been enlarged in all departments, carrying all new plays…Mr. Park holds the territorial rights south of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi, besides new plays. An entire new company has been engaged, and artists from the leading theatres in the north and east are engaged with the company…Special electrical effects, a car load of special scenery, and a host of high class vaudeville (especially engaged for this line of work only) makes the C. W. Park show larger, greater and grander than ever before.” By 1912, “The New York Dramatic Mirror” listed Park’s new company “UNDER CANVAS: C. W. Park Dramatic Co.” (page 26). The tent company was still billed as a vaudeville show; the touring production included a substantial company with impressive scenic effects.
In 1912, the “Decatur Daily” published, “The company is now composed of forty and requires two of the largest of the Southern baggage cars to carry scenery, which is all new and up-to-date, being from the famous studio of Sosman & Landis. This is the largest company of its kind in the business and carries a modern and fully equipped theater, all the ushers and attaches appear in uniform, and instructed to attend to the wants of the patrons. Several new faces appear among the acting forces, as well as in the vaudeville forces, of which there are eight acts. The plays will be changed nightly, as well as the vaudeville (Decatur, Alabama, 14 May 1912, page 2).
The 1912 production included “The Man Who Dared,” “Dolly and I,” “A Round Up,” “St. Elmo,” and “The Shepherd of the Hills” (The Commercial Dispatch, 22 Aug. 1912, page 1). The scenery for the acts was advertised as “new and up to date from the famous Studio of Sosman & Landis.” Of the production, the article continued, “This is the largest company of its kind in the business and carries a modern and fully equipped theatre, all the ushers and attaches appearing in uniform, and instructed to attend to the wants of the patrons” (The Huntsville Times, 9 May 1912, page 1).
To be continued…
