In 1924 Thomas G. Moses wrote, “Our small studio on Kedzie Avenue has certainly got my ‘goat’ as it seems almost impossible to move our large drops and wings.” This was the beginning of Moses’ continued struggle for space, a problem that would plague him for the remainder of his career. In the end, it became easiest for him to paint on projects on site, or rent a nearby theatre. It must have been a logistical mess.
The address was still listed for the studio in 1931
Moses & Megan were renting space at 416 S. Kedzie Ave. as they waited to finalize their purchase of the Sosman & Landis name. They would remain at that address throughout the decade. The site is now a parking lot.
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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