Backdrop delivered by Toomey & Volland scenic studio of St. Louis, Missouri, to the Scottish Rite Theatre in Richmond, Virginia. Last month I visited the Richmond Scottish Rite and documented the historic scenery collection, dating from 1900-1920.
Backdrop by Toomey & Volland Studio of St. Louis, ca. 1920.Painted detail. Backdrop by Toomey & Volland Studio of St. Louis, ca. 1920.Painted detail. Backdrop by Toomey & Volland Studio of St. Louis, ca. 1920.Painted detail. Backdrop by Toomey & Volland Studio of St. Louis, ca. 1920.Painted detail. Backdrop by Toomey & Volland Studio of St. Louis, ca. 1920.Painted detail. Backdrop by Toomey & Volland Studio of St. Louis, ca. 1920.Painted detail. Backdrop by Toomey & Volland Studio of St. Louis, ca. 1920.Painted detail. Backdrop by Toomey & Volland Studio of St. Louis, ca. 1920.Painted detail. Backdrop by Toomey & Volland Studio of St. Louis, ca. 1920.Painted detail. Backdrop by Toomey & Volland Studio of St. Louis, ca. 1920.Painted detail. Backdrop by Toomey & Volland Studio of St. Louis, ca. 1920.
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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