Copyright © 2020 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett
In 1920 Thomas G. Moses wrote, “Marshall also closed up a contract with the Ascher Brothers, so we have plenty of business.”
Fred Marshall was a scenic artist and salesman who would later represent the United Scenic Artists’ Association of New York City. Born in Woodridge, New Jersey, on March 24, 1895, he was the son of Louisiana native and mural artist, Frederick Marshall, Sr. (b. 1851).
Marshall was first mentioned in Moses’ memoirs in 1918. When Moses resigned as President of the Sosman and Landis Company on Sept. 1, 1918, he joined New York Studios. Moses fully expected to get a studio and an office to do business as part of the contract, but finding space was an unending problem. Moses wrote, “Marshall of the New York Studios and I had to hustle out for a studio. Got an office in the Consumers Building. I did two borders for the Chateau Theatre at the old place. We tried very hard to buy out the old place, but they want too much money. I was willing to make a big reduction on my claim, but it was no use. We have to find a studio.” He worked closely with Marshall in 1918 and again in 1920. Unfortunately, Moses would only last with New York Studios for a year before signing another contract with Chicago Studios.
Marshall became a real mover and shaker in the world of American scenic art world. However, in 1920, he was a young man of young man of 25 working as a studio salesman. The contract that he landed that year was with Ascher Bros., managers of the Ascher Theatres chain. In 1920, Ascher Theatres included the Oakland Square Theatre, Metropolitan Theatre, Frolic Theatre, Columbus Theatre, Peerless Theatre, Kenwood Theatre, Chateau Theatre, Lakeside Theatre, Terminal Theatre, Albany Park Theatre, Adelphi Theatre, Calo Theatre, Milford Theatre, Lane Court Theatre, Midway Theatre (Chicago Eagle, 6 March 1920, page 9).
On Nov. 6, 1920, the “Post-Crescent” reported of a new theater in Manitowoc – the Capitol (Appleton, Wisconsin, page 7): “The new Capitol theater being built by George Bros. Co. upon its completion will be leased to Ascher Bros., well known lessees of vaudeville and motion picture houses of Chicago. This was announced following a visit to Manitowoc of Lewis P. Newhafer, general manager of Ascher Bros., and J. J. Cotter, mechanical expert who conferred with the builders. The theater will be opened the latter part of December. It will be used as a movie, as well as a legitimate playhouse. George Bros. are spending $200,000 on the venture.” I think that this is the contract that Marshall landed that year.
The George Bros. would have been responsible for the construction of the building, but not the scenery on stage; that would have been the responsibility of the lessees – the Ascher Bros. Therefore, Marshall would have negotiated the scenery for the Capitol in 1920, meaning that Sosman & Landis delivered the scenery to Manitowoc.
In an unbelievable twist of fate, I toured the Capital last summer. Here is my post about the space: https://drypigment.net2019/08/04/travels-of-a-scenic-artist-and-scholar-aschers-capitol-theatre-in-manitowoc-wisconsin/
I even photographed some snippets of the original scenery, tucked away in the nooks and crannies; high quality stuff. What a small world.
To be continued…
