Travels of a Scenic Artist and Scholar. The Scenic Art Career of Lemuel L. Graham, 1884 to 1914.

Copyright © 2020 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett

Yesterday I examined the early life of Lemuel Laken Graham, a partnership with Thomas G. Moses in 1882, and his return to the Sosman & Landis Studio in 1883. By 1884, Graham left Chicago to start his own studio in Kansas City, Missouri. The 1885 Kansas City Directory lists Graham as a founder of the Kansas City scenic company studio known as Graham & Davis. At the time, Graham was residing at 637 Garfield Ave. His business partner, William Davis, was with the firm for less than only two years, and by 1886 studio was simply listed under Lemuel L. Graham.

In 1887, Graham was again listed in the Kansas City directory as a scenic artist with his studio at 525 Main, rooming at 517 E. Missouri ave. The 1888 Kansas City Directory lists “Lemuel L. Graham” as employer for other scenic artists in the city, such as Benjamin F. Dunn, future president of the Kansas City scenic Co. Two other bits of information in 1888 provide a little context for Graham’s career in Kansas City; the first is that Moses mentions stopping in Kansas City to visit Graham in his memoirs, writing, “He was doing well.” Indeed, Graham was doing very well, with a substantial staff of artists work in his studio. The second mention of Graham and his studio was included in the 1888 publication, “Industries of Kansas City: Historical, Descriptive, and Statistical.”

The section on Graham included the following listing:

L. L. Graham. Scenic Artist, Contractor for Stage Equipment, Theatre Hardware, Frame Work, Canvas, Traps, Bridges and Every Necessary Equipment of First Class Theatres, 525 & 527 Main Street.

There was an entire entry for Graham too:

“Mr. L. L. Graham is a prominent representative of the scenic art in Kansas City, having established this business here four years ago in conjunction with Mr. Davis, who withdrew from the firm some two years since. Mr. Graham is an adept in this line, having followed the business upwards of twenty-five years. His first experience in the school of art was had at McVickers’ Theater, Chicago, Ill. and subsequent training in San Francisco, Cleveland, Memphis and New Orleans. His establishment here is eligibly located at 525-527 Main Street, and consists of a studio and shops fitted up with every essential appliance and convenience for the correct and expeditious execution of the work, which comprises high art stage scenery and equipment, rich and elegant stage curtains, stage properties of every description, theatrical hardware, frame work, canvas, traps, bridges, etc. One special feature of Mr. Graham’s industry is his advertising drop curtain, which is richly draped on the top and sides with royal crimson and heavy bullion fringes and pendants gracefully falling on steps painted at bottom of curtain. In the center is a large and artistically painted picture in stucco frame, which is surrounded by a border of deep Prussian blue, divided into spaces for the insertion of business cards. The cards may be lettered in a becoming and artistic style in bright gold, the whole having a brilliant and pleasing effect. There are usually from eighteen to twenty of these spaces of varying sizes to suit the advertiser as to the amount he desires to pay. Full particulars concerning this feature will be furnished by mail, upon application, to theatre managers, hall proprietors and others interested as well as any other information appertaining to stage equipment and carpentry. Mr. Graham has executed stage work for some fifty or sixty houses in Nebraska, notably at Omaha and Lincoln, etc., and for forty five different houses in Kansas, including Winfield, Wichita and Anthony, and in St. Joe, Hannibal, Springfield and many others in Missouri. As many as thirty-six men in his employ upon an average weekly pay roll of $500.00, Mr. Graham giving his personal attention to every detail of this most intricate work. Contracts were made for Priests of Pallas and trades displays and pageants in Kansas.” Thirty-six men in Graham’s scenic studio is comparable to that of Sosman & Landis in Chicago at the same time. However, Graham did not remain in Kansas, heading east.”

This publication included an interesting commentary about scenic studios at the time: “Such industries as the one under special notice [L. L. Graham], are among the necessary concomitants of a rapidly developing metropolitan community, indicating that spirit of enterprise that caters to refined taste and social enjoyment.”

By 1896, Graham was listed as doing business with another scenic artist L. J. Couch (1838 – 1909). Little is known of their exact relationship or business, but it was an unsuccessful venture and makes me ponder Moses’ comment, “a good fellow and a hard worker, but altogether too close to please me.” Graham and Couch were listed in the “Boston Globe” under the heading “Business Troubles.” Of their scenic studio, the newspaper announced, “L. J. Couch and Lemuel L. Graham, doing business at 384 West 1st St, South Boston, under the firm of Levi Couch & Co., scenic painters, have been petitioned into insolvency by Edmund G. Pond, creditor” (The Boston Globe, 9 Jan. 1896, page 7). This is Graham’s third failed business venture in twelve years.

Couch was a scenic artist and inventor, specializing in stage hardware. Born in Milford, Connecticut, he was also a stage mechanic, with an extensive background as a general carpenter. This should have been the winning combination for Graham and Couch – both scenic artists, with one being a knowledgeable stage mechanic. Couch even applied for two patents that involved the operation of stage scenery. One was for a “wire rope clamp” (US Patent 756,158) and other for a “curtain block, drop” (US Patent 756,157). Here are the links to Couch’s two patents:

and

Couch advertised his wire clamp in the “New England Business Directory and Gazetteer” (No. XXI, 1904).

Couch’s background I fascinating, especially before he partnered with Graham. In 1890, Couch was working at the Bijou Theater in Boston, listed as stage carpenter in the city directory. He soon founded L. J. Couch & Co. and initially partnered with fellow scenic artist, David Richards from 1893-1895. As with Graham’s firm in Kansas City, L. J. Couch & Co. offered a wide range of theatrical goods ranging from painter scenery and theatrical hardware to general stage appliances.

After L. J. Couch & Company, Graham partnered with P. Todd Ackerman, another scenic artist. Their studio was initially located at the Broadway Theater in Brooklyn, New York. On Aug. 13, 1902, the “Brooklyn Daily Eagle” reported that Graham and P. D. Ackerman took a mortgage with John C. Sceneck at Bushwick Ave. for $3900 (Conveyances, page 14). In 1903, “The Standard Union” listed: BUSHWICK AVE, s w s 100 n w Eastern Parkway Extension, 50×29.5x-x56.3; Lemuel L. Graham to Philip D. Ackerman; ½ pt; all liens….nom” (22 July 1903, page 10). There Studio Building 1576 to 1580 Bushwick Ave, New York.

Graham later set up his own studio on Crosby Avenue in Brooklyn, calling it L. L. Graham and Son. This must have been Revard Graham. In 1905, the US Census lists Graham and his wife living in Manhattan with their three children: Rachel Elizabeth, Ethel, and Revard Parker, ages 21, 13 and 10. Graham would remain in Brooklyn, New York, until his passing in 1914, yet listed “Graham & Son,” now working with Revard Graham. There remains one drop credited to L. L. Graham & son at the Grange Hall in Denmark, Maine.

Graham passed away after a brief illness on Sunday, Dec. 27, 1914, at the age of only 68. He died at his home, 3 Miller Ave, and was still working as a scenic artist (“The Standard Union,” 29 Dec. 1914, page 3). The Brooklyn Daily Eagle described Graham as “one of the best-known scenic artists of this country.” The article summarized, “[Graham] was known from coast to coast among theatrical men and had traveled through every State in the Union in his time, and his work was known in all of the principal cities.”

Here is Graham’s obituary in its entirety:

“L.L. Graham Artist, Dead.
Painted Many Scene and Curtains for Theatres. Had Studio Here. Curtain at Broadway Theatre His Creation. Lemuel Laken Graham, one of the country, died Sunday from heart failure after a long illness at his home. 3 Miller avenue, on the border line of Queens Borough, near Highland Park. Mr. Graham had a studio building on Crosby avenue, near his home, or ten years, funeral services will be held to-night with internment in Evergreens cemetery.

Mr. Graham was known from coast to coast among theatrical men and had traveled in every State in the Union in his time. His work was known in most of the principal cities. He was born in Ann Harbor, Mich., July 4, sixty-eight years ago, the son of the Rev. Daniel McBride Graham, a Baptiste clergyman and the president of Hillsdale College, Mich., and Ursula Graham. His father apprenticed him to the scene painting business in his youth and he early achieved fame in his chose calling.

He was associated with Sasman [sic.] and Landis of Chicago, for some years and painted the curtain for the Chicago Auditorium. Later he was a partner of L. J. Couch, of Boston, and in his studio there turned out some of the best known to stageland, While at Kansas City for a number of years, Mr. Graham was in charge of the great annual event there, the priest of Pallas parade, and created all of the floats and scenes used in the carnival. Mr. Graham and P. Todd [sic.] Ackerman did the decorations for the Broadway Theatre here, and he painted several curtains and numerous elaborate settings for Manhattan theatres.

Mr. Graham taught scene painting for years and some of the most skillful scenic artists in the country were his pupils. Of late years he confined his work to the creation of smaller scenes and he had a reputation for clever organizations. He leaves his wife, Elizabeth West Graham; a son Revard Parker Graham, a scenic artist, and a daughter, Mrs. Fermin Ferrer, of Laurelton, L. I.” (The Brooklyn Times, 29 Dec, 1914, age 12).

To be continued…

Author: waszut_barrett@me.com

Wendy Rae Waszut-Barrett, PhD, is an author, artist, and historian, specializing in painted settings for opera houses, vaudeville theaters, social halls, cinemas, and other entertainment venues. For over thirty years, her passion has remained the preservation of theatrical heritage, restoration of historic backdrops, and the training of scenic artists in lost painting techniques. In addition to evaluating, restoring, and replicating historic scenes, Waszut-Barrett also writes about forgotten scenic art techniques and theatre manufacturers. Recent publications include the The Santa Fe Scottish Rite Temple: Freemasonry, Architecture and Theatre (Museum of New Mexico Press, 2018), as well as articles for Theatre Historical Society of America’s Marquee, InitiativeTheatre Museum Berlin’s Die Vierte Wand, and various Masonic publications such as Scottish Rite Journal, Heredom and Plumbline. Dr. Waszut-Barrett is the founder and president of Historic Stage Services, LLC, a company specializing in historic stages and how to make them work for today’s needs. Although her primary focus remains on the past, she continues to work as a contemporary scene designer for theatre and opera. View all posts by waszut_barrett@me.com