Copyright © 2019 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett
There were two Cox families working in theater during the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries. Each included scenic artists, carpenters, and architects.
The Cox scenic art family in New Orleans included Frank, Eugene and Clark. Thomas G. Moses knew and worked with theatrical architect Tignal Franklin “Frank” Cox (1854–1940) during the 1890s. The three Cox brothers operated a scenic and fresco business known as Cox Bros. in New Orleans. It was also referred to as “Frank Cox’s Studio at New Orleans,” with Frank being the eldest and most experienced, leading the firm. Thomas G. Moses and Frank were close friends and colleagues. Frank Cox’s studio had quite a large staff by 1891 and was located in the Grand Opera House. Frank withdrew from the partnership in 1896, but the partnership continued to operate under the same name of Cox Bros., despite Frank’s public declamation that the firm was dissolved. Eugene and Clark published a rebuttal, wanting to make it “thoroughly understood” that they would continue to operate the scenic and fresco business under the name Cox Bros.
The Estherville Cox family is quite confusing all on their own. Four sons were born to Spencer and Julia in Estherville, three of whom were scenic artists, James S, Jesse M. and Chancy L. However, it was James who first entered the theatrical profession, going from scenic artist and manager to theatre architect and theatrical publisher. Their mother was a seamstress and their father was a carpenter. It was James, however, who was the enterprising instigator and founder of the Cox Scenic Company that became the Jesse Cox Scenic Co. after James’ passing in 1915.
James Spencer Cox was born in Feb. 19, 1873, in Brookville, Illinois. In 1880, the US Census listed James living with his parents, Spencer and Julia, as well as his 2-year-old brother Justus. Justus would later become the famed Jesse Cox.
James’ artistic ambitions appeared flourished during 1892. He was teaching while working as a scenic artists and decorative painter. The “Estherville Daily News” reported, “James Cox is organizing a class of oil painters, and would be pleased to hear from all those wishing to take lesson. See specimen of work at Klopp’s drug store” (14 Jan. 1892, page 13). That same year, the “Estherville Daily News” noted, “James Cox is painting some good looking scenery for the opera house” (21 April 1892, page 5). At the time, James was painting scenery for Stivers’ Opera House in Estherville. Cox would later design Lough’s Opera House in Estherville. By 1896, Julius Cahn’s Official Theatrical Guide listed James S. Cox as the manager and the recommended printer for necessary billposters. Cox managed the venue until 1899, when F. H. Rhodes took over as manager. Lough’s stage had a proscenium opening that measured 28 feet wide by 18 feet high. The depth of the stage was 28 feet from footlights to back wall. The stage to the rigging loft was 19 feet and the grooves could be taken up flush with the gallery.
Finally, James received the job of frescoing some of the rooms of Hotel Orleans at Spirit Lake the same year he worked as a scenic artist (Estherville Daily News, 16 June 1892, page 13). He was also playing gigs as a musician at this time with the Emmetsburg band; one was for the Palo Alto county fair (Estherville Daily News, 24 Sept. 1891, page 5).
His professional career also followed in his father’s footsteps, working as a contractor and builder and then architect and superintendent. He designed many buildings in Estherville, including the Lough Opera House (Estherville Daily News 13 Sep. 1894 page 5). It was in the Lough Opera House that his younger brother Jesse first performed as an actor.
The two brothers partnered on various business ventures in the 1890s. In a way, older brother James paved the wave for younger brother Jesse’s theatrical endeavors. In the mid-1890s, Jesse primarily worked as an actor or musician, but by the end of the decade he began focusing on scenic art. As James was working as a scenic artist in 1892, it was possible that Jesse learned much of his craft under his brother’s tutelage. 1896 Jesse was performing with the Trousdale Specialty Co. in Estherville (Estherville Daily News, 3 Sept. 1896, page 5). Cox was associated with this same troupe four decades later. As late as 1933, he was credited with still providing new scenery and settings for every play (Sioux City Journal, 22 Jan. 1933, page 11).
By 1895, James married Ada Grace Cavin (b. 1874). By 1910, James listed his occupation as an architect and Ada listed her occupation as a news reporter, likely a correspondent for the Opera House Reporter.
In 1897, the “Estherville Daily News” reported “James and Jesse Cox, who have been absent for some time with the Vitascope company, returned home Tuesday evening” (4 March 1897, page 21). Following the premiere of the Vitascope company in April 1896, Raff & Gammon’s Vitascope Co. began marketing the new product. In a sense, they worked as sales agents for the Edison Manufacturing Co. The Vitascope Co. did not last for long, its demise credited to several factors. For more information about this aspect, see “An Illustrated History of the Early Cinema;” here is the link: http://cinemathequefroncaise.com/Chapter2-1/CHAPTER_02_SOURCE_01.html
By 1898, James started a new business venture with his brother Jesse – the Opera House Reporter. By 1904 it was published by the James S. Cox & Co. of Estherville. Interestingly, there is a photograph of their newspaper shop included in the publication “Esther’s Town” by Deemer Lee. Keep in mind that all during the Vitascope adventure and the establishment of the Opera House Reporter, Jesse was still performing in vaudeville. Between 1898 and 1899, Jesse was part of Noble’s Theatre Co. (Estherville Daily News, 6 July 1899, page 21). The “Des Moines Register” reported, “Estherville, Iowa, has a theatrical journal called “The Opera House Reporter.” It is published by James S. Cox & Co., and has been in existence for several years. Its object is to provide a medium for the theatrical managers in the smaller towns in the northwest to air their views and vent their feelings, and judging from reports sent in, it fills an urgent need. Managers in small towns have particular cause for grievance over indiscriminate cancellation of contracts by traveling companies. This and other evils are treated with great candor, as the following communications to the “Opera House Reporter” will show”(6 Jan. 1904, page 5). A series of acts were described in great detail.
On Jan. 12 1906, “The Gazette” reported, “James S. Cox of Estherville, manager of the Cox Scenic studio, was here yesterday, putting in some new scenery at the C. S. P. S. hall. Mr. Cox is one of the largest makers of scenery in the west, giving employment in his studio at Estherville to nine scenic painters. There is a bare possibility that Mr. Cox may be induced to come to Cedar Rapids with his studio” (page 3). On Nov. 3, 1906, “The Courier” reported, “James S. Cox, representing the Cox Scenic company, of Estherville, is in the city today figuring on the scenic work for the new opera house. Mr. Cox says he may conclude to locate in Waterloo. E is well pleased with the city and believes it will prove a more advantageous business location than his present place of business. Waterloo is jut now the Mecca of opera house men, promoters, outfitters and architects, and there is something doing nearly all the time” (Waterloo, Iowa, page 5). By 1914, the “Iowa State Gazetteer and Business Directory 1914-1915” listed Jesse Cox as the proprietor of the Jesse Cox Scenic Company and James S. Cox as architect. Only James was listed in the 1912 directory.
On March 6, 1907, “The Gazette” noted, “James S. Cox of Estherville, editor of the Opera House Reporter, and proprietor of one of the largest scenic studios in the state, is here on business today” (Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 6 March 1907, page 2). James was still running both the Reporter and scenic studio. In 1910, the paper changed hands. The “Sioux City Journal” published, “Estherville, Iowa, Jan 10 – Special: The Opera House Reporter, a weekly theatrical journal, owned and published here by James S. Cox and company has been sold to Will H. Bruno, an actor, who has taken possession. Mr. Cox began the publication of the Reporter in Estherville fourteen years ago. Mr. Cox will remain in Estherville” (11 Jan 1912, page 4). “The Gazette” explained, “Mr. Cox began the publication of the Reporter in Estherville fourteen years ago next month, and has built up the paper from a little four page journal to its present size from twenty to thirty pages, with a circulation all over the United States and part of Canada. Mr. Cox will remain in Estherville as a theater architect, and will manage the Cox Scenic company. Mr. Bruno is a man well known in the theatrical world, having played in some of the largest companies on the road, and for the last four years has been with the Bruno attractions. He will move to Estherville and continue the publication of the journal at that place” (Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 13 Jan 1912, page 8).
James died in Estherville on July 29, 1915, predeceasing his parents and brothers.
On August 7, 1915, newspapers reported the passing of James Cox (The Gazette, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, page 6).
Here is the notice:
“ESTHERVILLE ARCHITECT DIES AFTER LONG ILLNESS
Estherville, Iowa, Aug. 7 – After suffering from cancer of the stomach for over a year during which time he was treated by specialists at Rochester, Minn., Chicago and New York City, James Cox died at his home here last Thursday and was buried Sunday. Mr. Cox had been actively engaged in the building trade since youth and had won recognition as one of the best architects in the northwest. He had more than twenty public buildings, mostly schools under construction at different points in the state. For several years he was also engaged in the publishing business and was the founder of the Opera House Reporter, one of the leading theatrical magazines in the country, and was also associated with his brother in the Jesse Cox scenic studio. Practically all of the best business blocks and residences in Estherville were designed by Mr. Cox.”
James S. Cox is buried in Estherville’s Oak Hill Cemetery. After James’ death, Ada remarried Jesse Allen Easter, also of Estherville. She was 42 years old at the time. The couple was married on June 25, 1917, in Sibley, Iowa.
To be continued…
