Today was my first day on site at the Tabor Opera House. I am in town to document the historic scenery collections in the attic; last spring I documented the scenery collections on the stage. This is such a very important collection, in both in the scope of American theatre history and world theatre history.
Some of the volunteers handling historic scenery in the Tabor Opera House attic. Leadville, Colorado.
We spent much of the day cleaning and organizing about 75 pieces; shutters, drops, borders and other set pieces were placed in storage when the Leadville Elks purchased and renovated the stage and auditorium in 1901-1902. New scenery was delivered to the opera house and old scenery carefully tucked away. Much of it is still there, albeit a little worse for wear and covered in a century’s worth of dust.
Some of the scenery piles in the attic of the Tabor Opera House, Leadville Colorado.
I knew what to expect when we climbed steep steps to the third floor today and had my game plan. But there was so, so, so much more scenery than I expected; much more than anyone expected to find today. We uncovered and shifted scenic pieces produced in 1879, 1888, and 1890. This is on top of the 100+ scenic pieces from 1902 currently housed on the Tabor Opera House stage.
Painted detail from a shutter at the Tabor Opera House, Leadville, Colorado.One shutter, leaning against an attic wall at the Tabor Opera House, Leadville, Colorado.Painted detail from a shutter at the Tabor Opera House, Leadville, Colorado.
By the end of the day, the scenery was divided into piles, organized by setting, and I am starting to compile an inventory. We were also able to clean and lower some pieces to the floor. There were many big surprises; surprises included shipping tags and scenic art signatures.
Signature by T. Frank Cox on the back of a wood shutter. Tabor Opera House, Leadville, Colorado.Cartoon by T. Frank Cox on the back of a wood shutter. Tabor Opera House, Leadville, Colorado.Cartoon by T. Frank Cox on the back of a wood shutter. Tabor Opera House, Leadville, Colorado.
It was a delightful, yet exhausting, day for me; one that ended with a Colorado public radio interview. I’ll write much more tomorrow, but too pooped to pen any more now.
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.
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