Copyright © 2020 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett
The earliest mention that I have located of the Kansas City Scenic Company is 1887. That year the “Peabody Gazette-Herald” reported, “The Kansas City Scenic Co., is putting in some fine scenery in Butler Hall this week, prior to Edwin Clifford theatrical entertainment, on Wednesday night” (April 28, 1887, page 4). Of the specific individuals associated with the firm in 1887, “Dunn” is mentioned twice. Three decades later, the “Jackson County Democrat” credits Ben Dunn and John Bronaugh as the proprietors of the Kansas City Scenic Company, “a concern which for many years has provided scenery for theatres throughout the country,” noting they were both raised in Olathe, Kansas (9 June 1922, page 3). However, Ben is never mentioned as a company founder in the beginning, only a scenic artist. Dunn eventually becomes the company president, with Bronaugh working as the general manager and treasurer.
The firm’s history repeatedly mentions the establishment date of 1890, but Bronaugh is not mentioned until 1890. On Sept. 25, 1890, the “Kansas Patron” reported, “Mr. John Bronaugh, a member of the Kansas City Scenic Co., was in Olathe, the guest of B. F. Dunn” (page 5). Note that Dunn is not mentioned in connection with the company and Bronaugh is a “member,” possibly suggesting others.
The 1900 census listed Dunn as a scenic artist; the 1910 census listed Dunn as a proprietor of the Kansas City Scenic Co.; and the 1930 census listed Dunn as the president of the Kansas City Scenic. Co. But there was another Dunn from Olathe, Kansas, one with Chicago connections – Frank Dunn. It is possible that Frank and Ben were cousins.
Very little is known of Benjamin F. Dunn’s childhood or parents, beyond the 1922 “Jackson Country Democratic” article that states, “Benn Dunn was raised in Olathe and went to school with the owner of this paper, who reported that Ben put in a good deal of time drawing scenery of one kind of another, some horrifying to the vigilant teacher who often confiscated his works of art” (Olathe, Kansas, 9 June 1922, page 3).
What I have pulled together from various newspaper reports, city directories and census reports is that Benjamin F. Dunn was born on Feb. 14, 1862, in Noblesville, Indiana. His father was from Indiana and his mother was from Kentucky, with the couple moving to Olathe, Kansas, at an unknown date. The first census record to include Benjamin F. Dunn is from 1900, well after he was married and with children.
The first mention B. F. Dunn in the Kansas City Directory is 1884. This year coincides with when Bronaugh, who is also recorded as moving to Kansas City from Olathe in 1884. That year, the “Le Cygne Journal” announced, “B. F. Dunn, whose artistic sign painting and Opera Hall decorations have been the admiration of La Cygne people, has gone to Kansas City, where he is connected with the scenic studio of L. R. Close & Co” (July 19, 1884, page 3). Dunn started working as a scenic artist in Kansas City six years before the purported establishment date of 1890, and three years before “Kansas City Scenic Co.” is mentioned in the local newspapers in 1887
By 1885, Ben Dunn again worked for Levi R. Close, and resided at 502 Inde. Ave. There is no mention of Bronaugh, either working for the same firm or even working as a scenic artist. In fact, a J. C. Bronaugh was listed as a “butcher” working at 2018 Grand ave. and residing at 2006 Grand Ave. Interestingly, a “Frank Dunn” was also listed in the same directory, also working as a butcher, but rooming at 408 E 14th. This is where is gets interested.
In 1887 Ben Dunn was still working as a scenic artist, rooming at 1731 Walnut Street. That May 20, “The Lyons Daily Democrat” reported, “Mess. Tschudi, Dunn and Oldham, scenic artists from Kansas City, are preparing a very fine new drop curtain for Tom Butler’s Opera House. Tom, very properly thinks the public would be pleased to have a bran [sic.] new curtain to gaze at between acts. These gentlemen represent a firm of artists who are furnishing many of the finest Opera Houses in Kansas with stage settings, and out citizens must admit, when their work is first shown, they understand their business thoroughly and are first-class artists in every respect. They will furnish scenery for the fine new Opera House at Wichita, and when Lyon’s new Opera House looms up they will probably again have an opportunity to display their artistic powers.
By the next month, these three artists were mentioned in connection with the Kansas City Scenic Co. Tschudi, Dunn & Oldahm were painting scenes for the new opera hall in Little River, Kansas. The “Little River Monitor” reported, “The carpenters work on the new opera hall is going on at a lively rate, Canfield & Co. are doing the work in good shape, Messrs. Tschudi Dunn and Oldham, of the Kansas City Scenic company, are painting a set of scenes for the hall, and are doing a fine job. The mammoth drop curtain is a beauty. It is ornamented with the business cards of our merchants and others, and will be first class in every particular” (16 June 1887, page 3). An additional note on the same page stated,” The painters are now at work painting the scenery for our opera hall. It is expected to have the hall fitted up in time to hold a dance on July 4th.” By the way, the new Wichita Opera House in 1887 was the Crawford Opera House.
What makes this all a little muddy is that there were two Dunns, each deeply connected to the Kansas City Scenic Art Co. and it is difficult to determine the correct one without any mention of a first name or initial.
The 1888 City Directory listed Benjamin F. Dunn as a “painter,” now employed by L. L. Graham, and residing at 414 Troost Ave. Was L. L. Graham running the Kansas City Scenic Co.? That was what I had always thought, but it remains unclear. Was Frank Dunn was the one representing the Kansas City Scenic Co. listed in above article from 1887? Another option is that someone else unofficially started the Kansa City Scenic Co. in 1887 and John C. Bronaugh took over the name by 1890, officially declaring that as the start date. It would be perfect timing for Lem Graham, as his partnership with William P. Davis (Graham & Davis) ended in 1886.
Meanwhile, the life of Frank Dunn gets somewhat blurry. There are many mentions of a Frank Dunn working as a theatrical manager, traveling salesman, painter, or etc. after his departure fro Kansas City; simply too many to identify the correct one. More on Frank tomorrow, but now back to B. F. Dunn.
So what was happening in the 1890s with Ben Dunn? On March 17,1898, Dunn married Martha “Mattie” (1875-1862) in Independence, Missouri. (Independence Daily Reporter, 15 March 1898, page 3). Born in Dakota Territory, Mattie was the daughter of a Scottish immigrant, Isabella Carins Stewart (1852-1921). Isabelle was a single mother and the death, or whereabouts, of her father William Henry Stewart of Massachusetts (1848-?) remains unknown. Mattie had a brother, six years her junior, named Gordon.
How, or where Ben Dunn and Mattie Stewart met remains unclear, however, their marriage occurred in Independence, the same city where the Kansas City Scenic Co. was working that year; even the same month that the Kansas City Company was working on the new Opera House.
By 1900, the couple was living at 240 Walnut Street in Kansas City. Ben and Mattie celebrated the birth of three children, James Stuart (1902-1964), Zula Zohn (1903-1976) and Benjamin F. Jr. (1913-1980). The 1930 census lists Zula as a stenographer at the Kansas City Scenic Co. and the 1934 Kansas City Directory lists Benjamin Jr. as a salesman with the firm. It was a family business, but more than that – it was John and Ben’s company; two men who had close ties to Olathe and two who continued to bring their friends on board.
More on the Dunns tomorrow.
To be continued…
