Copyright © 2020 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett
At the beginning of 1920, Thomas G. Moses wrote, “A one night stunt for Mrs. Ryerson at the Congress Hotel Gold Room caused considerable trouble.” Moses was referring to Mrs. Martin Ryerson and the Congress Plaza hotel. The Gold Room hosted many interesting events during 1920. On January 20, there was an opportunity to meet an socialize with performers from the Chicago Grand Opera Company. This is possibly the “one-night stunt” that Moses was referring to in January.
The Congress Hotel was originally called the Auditorium Annex and built in 1893, hosting many visitors attending the World Fair that year. The current website for the venue states, “The original conception was an annex with a façade designed to complement Louis Sullivan’s Auditorium Building across the street, at the time housing a remarkable hotel, theater and office complex. The Auditorium Annex was built by famous hotel developer R.H. Southgate. The first section, or north tower, was designed by Clinton Warren, with Louis Sullivan and Dankmar Adler serving as consultants. “Peacock Alley,” a celebrated feature of the new hotel, was an underground marble passageway that connected the new annex with the Auditorium Hotel. The south tower, constructed between 1902 and 1907, was designed by renowned architectural firm Holabird and Roche. The South Tower construction included a magnificent banquet hall, now known as the Gold Room, which would become the first hotel ballroom in America to use air-conditioning. Another ballroom, called the Florentine Room, was added to the North Tower in 1909. These two famous public rooms combined with the Elizabethan Room and the Pompeian Room to host Chicago’s elite social events of the day.” Here is the link to this historic Chicago Hotel: https://www.congressplazahotel.com/history
In regard to the Ryersons, they of elite society with money to burn and some good deeds to do. On January 8, 1920, the “Chicago Tribune” reported a donation to the Field Museum by Mr. Ryerson (page 1). The donation of 222 stone blocks, comprising Unasankh’s tomb, was described in detail: “36×16 feet, with walls three feet thick…The excavation was performed by Arabs under the supervision of British officials – and 222 stone blocks were crated and shipped to Chicago.” Headlines announced, “Egypt, 2650 B. C., to Chicago, 1920; Story of Tombs.” Museum director, Dr. Frederick J. V. Skiff announced the gifts from Martin A. Ryerson and Edward A, Ayer. The article reported, “Mr. Ayer, the first president of the museum and the chief benefactor of its Egyptology department, learned of the possibility of acquiring the sarcophagi of these ancient dwellers of the Nile, and recently he conferred with Mr. Ryerson. That’s how Messrs. Uter-Neter and Unsankh happened to lose their tombs. Six hundred carloads of exhibits now at the old museum in Jackson park, about 80 per cent of them packed, are now being prepared for transportation to Grant Park.” Mrs. Ryerson was also involved with a series of guest lectures that spring, including Museum talks on Russian Art and Literature.
It is important to understand that scenic studios delivered far more than painted settings for commercial theater. They were also an artistic resource for high society, collaborating with wealthy women to produce elaborate and exotic themed social events for various charities. Scenic artists were visionaries for many public spectacles.
To be considered…
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