Copyright © 2020 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett
In the 1880s, one well-received scene could guarantee a whole host of other projects for a scenic artist in the city. This is exactly what happened to Henry C. Tryon in Salt Lake City, Utah, after he completed the stock scenery for both the Tabor Grand Opera House and the Tivoli Theatre in Denver. By mid-summer in 1882, Tryon ventured west to paint a ship scene for the Salt Lake Theatre. Although it was solely produced for the touring production of “Old Shipmates,” it was a hit with local theatre patrons and immediately secured additional painting projects for Tryon in Salt lake City.
“Salt Lake Herald” advertisements for “Old Shipmates” announced, “The piece will be produced with entirely new scenery, including the great SHIP SCENE! Which is now being painted by Mr. Henry C. Tryon, of the Tabor Opera House, Denver” (23 Sept 1882, page 4). “Old Shipmates” was performed at the Salt Lake Theatre on September 26 and 27, 1882 (“Salt Lake Herald,” 23 Sept 1882, page 4).
“Old Shipmates” was the comedy-drama by Robert Griffin Morris. In 1882, the touring production starred Frank Mordaunt and toured the country, playing to audiences in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, St. Louis, New Orleans and many other large metropolitan cities. As standard with most touring productions of the time, the show relied heavily on stock scenery provided at each venue. A ship set was not considered standard stock scenery, so this left both stage managers and scenic artists scrambling to improvise before the performance date. In the 1880s, the deck of a ship was not a standard stock setting. Even elaborate stock scenery collections only horizon settings, generic ocean views with water and sky. Site-specific sea settings, such as the deck of a ship, would have to be quickly painted before the touring production arrived at the venue.
After performing in front of Tryon’s ship setting, the touring “star” of “Old Shipmates” congratulated the scenic accommodations at the Salt Lake Theatre. Mordaunt stated that nowhere had the piece been better produced with better stage or scenic effect than at the Salt Lake Theatre, even in New York (“Salt Lake Herald” 28 Sept. 1882, page 8). This was quite a compliment and added to Tryon’s credibility as a topline scenic artist in Salt Lake City.
When “Old Shipmates” opened, the “Deseret News” reported, “There was a crowded house at the Theatre last night to witness the performance of the genuine old-fashioned nautical drama of ‘Old Shipmates.’ It had been liberally advertised and the public naturally looked forward to an evening of genuine enjoyment and they were not disappointed. It was clearly evident that the performance gave very general satisfaction. The scenery was admirable and appropriate and too much cannot be said in praise of the large, new, spectacular Ship Scene painted by Mr. H. C. Tryon, of Chicago. Everything moved like clockwork. The ship extended the full width and length of the large stage and presented a realistic picture of a ‘Life on the Ocean Wave” (27 September 1882, page 2).
Another review of the production reported, “As on the first presentation, the ship scene in the last act forced admiration and applause form all, and it shows Mr. Tryon to be a first class scenic artist, and the public will be pleased to learn that this gentleman has been engaged to do a considerable amount of work of the kind” (Salt Lake Herald, 28 Sept 1882, page 8). The “Ogden Standard” reported, “the scenery provided by the Salt Lake management was excellent. Especially was this the case with the ship scene painted for this play, by Mr. Tryon, of Chicago. I understand that this gentleman is going to paint the new scenery for the theatre before returning East” (30 Sept. 1882, page 3). The popularity of Tryon’s ship scene guaranteed him additional employment.
By Nov. 8, 1882, the “Deseret News” included an article that featured Tryon and his work for the Salt Lake Theatre (page 3). The headline read, “Artistic Scenery, Effective Work by Mr. Henry C. Tryon,” and the article continued:
“Mr. Henry C. Tryon, the artistic scene painter, now engaged at the Salt Lake Theatre, is doing some splendid work. The ship scene introduced in “Old Shipmates” caused him at once to leap into favor with the Salt Lake public, and every piece of work executed subsequently has increased the estimate of his ability, being the most capable in his line that ever painted in Utah. Mr. Tryon is quite and original in his style and pays great attention to details. He first conceives the general plan of his picture, and fresh ideas brighten his mind in flashes while at work, enabling him to throw fine effects, with which the canvas on which he operates is always illuminated. One of the secrets of his success lies in the fact that he is passionately in love with his labor.”
The article went onto described some of the scenes painted by Tryon, “One of Mr. Tryon’s latest is an old garret, which conveys such a vivid picture of dry, dirty, dingy old beams that it looks as if one could brush away accumulated cobwebs. A powerful effect is introduced by bringing a dash of warm sunlight through an open skylight. But the best piece from the brush of this genius is a wood scene, the body of which is finished. It exhibits the depth of perspective combined with intensity of light and shadow that render wooded scenery so attractive, and when the foliage borders are done, to take the place of the proscenium wings and drapery in woodland scenes the spacious stage will wear the appearance of a forest glade. One of the chief points of excellence displayed in Tryon’s work is the effect of largeness which he throws into it, having the seeming appearance of expanding the stage, making it look larger than it really is. A moonlight woodland is among the future scenes to be painted by Mr. Tryon, and, judging from the work he has already done, and the scope presented in such a subject, it may be confidently expected to fairly gleam with strong and brilliant effects.”
To be continued…
