Copyright © 2020 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett
Theaters closed across the country as the Spanish Flu raged through communities in 1918. Some theatre managers used the shut down as an opportunity for various renovation projects.
On October 21, 1918, the “South Bend Tribune” reported, “Many theater managers throughout the country are taking advantage of the closed period to renovate their houses. It is not necessary to do this at the La Salle for the house was just recently gone over with fresh coats of paint and with the painted cement floors, leather seats and exhaust fan ventilation it is inviting and sanitary” (page 7).
Moses’ records note a shift in the theater industry, an increased demand for fabric draperies in lieu of painted curtains.
Regardless of those who used the shut down as an opportunity for building and stage improvements, the industry was hit hard. The stream of orders for painted scenery slowed to a trickle in many shops. In October, Thomas G. Moses wrote, “We did some work for a Mr. Lynch at Greely, Colorado, a pair of sateen curtains.” Moses was referring to Greeley’s Sterling Theater. This was an extremely small order but was better than nothing. No longer at Sosman & Landis, Moses’ work for New York Studios was dwindling. Moses was currently painting at the 20th Street Studio, a month-to month rental He recorded, “It is pretty cold there but we can manage to keep going.”
The “Des Moines Tribune” reported, “Theaters Hardest Hit By Quarantine” (October 10, 1918, page 1). The article continued, “Aside from those who actually have the Spanish influenza, theatrical folks are hardest hit by this epidemic.
“Ordering all theaters closed means that practically all managers and employees are left without employment and without wages. Several members of the Princess players will go to their homes for two weeks’ vacation. A few of them will remain in Des Moines without salaries indefinitely.
“Orpheum circuit players will remain in the city for the rest of the week and then go on their regular tour. If they are billed for a city which is under quarantine, they will rest during the engagement.
“Most of the Orpheum actors have private arrangements for their expense money to go on automatically. Salaries in local theaters stop when the theaters close.
“Harold Cavanaugh, manager of the Berchel, said he had cancelled all engagements for the next two weeks and tentatively cancelled several beyond that time.
“The cast of ‘Miss Springtime,’ which played here Wednesday night and was scheduled for Thursday, leaves this afternoon for northern Iowa cities. The company will continue the tour.
“The Behman burlesque show, which was at the Berchel earlier in the week, left today for Omaha. That city is now under quarantine, but the quarantine is expected to be lifted early next week.
“Moving picture houses have necessarily cancelled all picture contracts.
“Building rent because the theaters are closed by government order will possibly not have to be paid. A decision upon this point will be arrived at today.” It was this last sentence that really caught my attention.
The shutdown of theaters varied from region to region, but in Phoenix, Arizona, it was nine weeks. On Dec. 6, the “Arizona Republic” announced that Phoenix theaters were again opening after being “dark” for 9 weeks (6 Dec. 1918, page 10). The article reported, “The theater managers yesterday all expressed themselves as positive that from the opening of the theaters Sunday for weeks to come they will do unusual large business. In other cities where the theaters were closed on account of Spanish influenza the theaters when they re-opened did such a business that every seat was filled at every performance for weeks, according to advices from theatrical managers in these cities.”
We can only hope.
To be continued…
