Travels of A Scenic Artist and Scholar: Relocating the Richmond Scottish Rite Scenery Collection, 2021.

Copyright © 2021 by Wendy Rae Waszut-Barrett

This is one of the 73 drops relocated from the Scottish Rite Theatre in Richmond, Virginia, to the Scottish Rite in Tucson, Arizona this month. The backdrop was painted by Toomey & Volland Scenic Studio for the Richmond Scottish Rite. When the Richmond Scottish Rite moved to a new building in 1968, one-third of the scenery collection was placed in storage. This backdrop was rolled and placed in storage, high above the properties room, stage-left.

Backdrop by Toomey & Volland for the Scottish Rite in Richmond, Virginia, 1902
Backdrop by Toomey & Volland for the Scottish Rite in Richmond, Virginia, 1902
Painted detail. Backdrop by Toomey & Volland for the Scottish Rite in Richmond, Virginia, 1902
Painted detail. Backdrop by Toomey & Volland for the Scottish Rite in Richmond, Virginia, 1902
Painted detail. Backdrop by Toomey & Volland for the Scottish Rite in Richmond, Virginia, 1902
Painted detail. Backdrop by Toomey & Volland for the Scottish Rite in Richmond, Virginia, 1902
Painted detail. Backdrop by Toomey & Volland for the Scottish Rite in Richmond, Virginia, 1902
Painted detail. Backdrop by Toomey & Volland for the Scottish Rite in Richmond, Virginia, 1902
Painted detail. Backdrop by Toomey & Volland for the Scottish Rite in Richmond, Virginia, 1902
Painted detail. Backdrop by Toomey & Volland for the Scottish Rite in Richmond, Virginia, 1902
Fabric detail. Backdrop by Toomey & Volland for the Scottish Rite in Richmond, Virginia, 1902
Notation indicating line number (100) and Scottish Rite degree (29th degree, first section). Backdrop by Toomey & Volland for the Scottish Rite in Richmond, Virginia, 1902

Here is a link for more information about my preliminary site visit to the Richmond Scottish Rite in October 2020 https://drypigment.net2020/10/26/travels-of-a-scenic-artist-and-scholar-the-richmond-scottish-rite-october-24-26-2020/

Here is the link to my post about the January 2021 relocation project: https://drypigment.net2021/01/19/travels-of-a-scenic-artist-and-scholar-relocating-the-richmond-scottish-rite-scenery-collection-to-tucson-arizona-jan-5-14-2020/

For more Richmond Scottish Rite drops, keyword search “Richmond Scottish Rite” at www.drypigment.net.

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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