Copyright © 2021 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett
I am back from a two-month break after spraining both wrists on May 1, 2021. I panicked a bit, wondering if it were a career ending injury, so I took taking my sweet time recovering. Although I would like to think that I truly relaxed and enjoyed the break from constant research and writing, I really went a bit stir crazy. Yes, I still worked on projects, painted small things, traveled and carefully gardened, but my wrists just couldn’t handle the daily strained of typing and maneuvering a mouse. I am doing much better, but I am a returning to blog postings at a much slower pace.
I return to Sosman & Landis Scene Painting Studio staff biographies with employee No. 29 – John P. Toner.
Toner worked as a scenic artist at Sosman & Landis around 1910. The Census that year listed Toner as a Chicago scenic artist. This places him in the right place at the right time. Last month, I even purchased a photograph of the studio building from 1910. That year, Toner was thirty-two years old and lodging at 2832 Indiana Avenue, just south of the Sosman & Landis studio. Other information in the 1910 census identified Toner’s birthplace as “Ire-England” in 1878. He emigrated to the US in 1889.
By 1928, Toner was mentioned fellow scenic artist Wat Williams, another former Sosman & Landis employee. Williams worked at Sosman & Landis between 1909-1916. In 1909, Thomas G. Moses wrote, “Wat Williams came into the studio and worked as my assistant. Pretty good, but very careless.” There is no indication as to when Toner was hired, or how long he worked alongside Williams in the studio. However, their employment at Sosman & Landis was mentioned many years later. Toner, like Williams, moved to New York in the 19-teens, where he continued to work as a scenic artist and became involved in the United Scenic Artists Association.
On March 1, 1928, “The Scenic Artist” published an article entitled “Wat Williams Speaking” (Vol. 1, No. 11, page 1). The newsletter was described as the “Official organ of the United Scenic Artists Association,” with the publication’s headquarters at 161 West 44th Street, New York City.
Below is Williams mention of Toner when he discussed an upcoming national conference in 1928. Here is the excerpt:
“My Dear Editor:
You are going on to the first coast to coast conference with Bro. Toner: John Toner and I used to work for the well-known Sosman & Landis of the City of Chicago where you will meet.”
Williams’ letter to the Editor continued, “You were telling me the other day of your experience in Chicago (in the day of the wooden sidewalk) and your experience as an impresario for real bottled beer. Beside the Chicago boys you will probably, I hope, have Truman Curtis, the president of the Los Angeles Local, as one of the delegates. Truman was my first art patron, having bought a couple of my studies when we were studying at ‘Smith’s Art Academy.’ Truman got me my first job in a scene painting place (don’t hold it against him) with Walter Burridge, then in Chicago. This goes back about a quarter of a century. At that time the urge to form some organization of the scene painter was dreamed of but that it should extend from coast to coast was not thought of. I should like you to bring attention to the fact preached to us by Walter Burridge that it is not simply a job of scenery; but that the main purpose of the artist in the theatre is a service problem; that of making the stage ensemble a work of art as truly as any picture of designs. The second thought would be to bring to the attention of the conference the desirability of establishing Examining Committees to stop the entry of people who will finally be a drag to the organization and themselves. These two problems are just as alive now as a quarter of a century ago.
Can I tack on a little about due collection? Nels Astner and myself are planning a drive to have our members see the desirability of paying their dues three months or more in advance instead of quarterly in arrears. It will not only lighten the burden of housekeeping but stop the damage that suspension brings to our members. On each month a third of our members are notified that they will be suspended if payment is not made at the end of the month. I believe that they will really see that the advance payment plan is desirable for all concerned.
I would like to make a personal appeal to our members to make their payments direct to the Financial Secretary of mail it, addressed to him. The habit of giving it to anyone else, especially without forwarding book at the same time, may cause everyone connected with it loss of money as well as extra work for those, already busy up to their neck.
We are making no new laws – simply enforcing those now on the books. Laws are not flexible or open to interpretation to suit individual cases – by officers less than anyone. Individual cases needing special construction will be laid before the Executive Board and a member’s chance for serious and just consideration of his appeal will not be depending on his nearness to the local. If you don’t advise us, we do not know your troubles.”
A follow-up article was published in the “The Scenic Artist” that April (No. 12, page 1), and was entitled “The Chicago Conference.” It reported, “The report of the Chicago and New York delegates to the Scenic Artists Conference in Chicago held at Chicago on the last three days of last month has been read to their several members and approved by them.” Toner was a New York delegate at the time.
The article continued, “They recommendations are clear, concise and easy to understand.
It may be hoped that every scenic artist regardless of what special line he follows, will see the advantage of a uniform basis upon which we as a craft may sell our services.
By a commonly accepted definition of the term stock, production and presentation, we shall without causing the slightest flurry, neither in our own of the producer’s ranks, have arrived at a definite way of knowing how to classify what a member is doing. Not what he must do – or must not do; but simply made it possible to really know whether work – of any sort – is being done according to Union rules or not.
Productions must of course be done under rules laid down for a Studio – let the Studio be permanent or temporary – old established or primitive; no one presumes to dictate as to the shape or nature of the building. The rules concerning Studios are as before as regards to charge-man, artist and helpers. Scenery traveling from place to place is of course a production: – or else what is?
Members running Studios shall not contract for Stock in such places as our rules clearly state that an artist shall be employed on contract.
Stock, as far as our craft is concerned, is scenery built and painted for a theatre to which a member is under contract.
The salary of the artist is stipulated with that specific clause being clearly understood.
As before, an artist under stock contract shall – by organization – be required to limit his work to the theatre he is employed in, and shall not engage in outside contracting or production work during the time of such employment.
Presentations may be done by one artist if necessary, provided it is only for one house.
A member may design and contract for as many presentation houses as he can handle provided his work is carried on according to the rules of the association. A rising scale of pay based on equity and economy was agreed on and a field very apt to run wild, and for that matter pretty difficult to control properly, has been defined.
Every angle of the craft was given close attention and where necessary thoroughly discussed. The object of the conference was not to inject a lot of new kinks, but for the explicit purpose of arriving at a uniform wording and interpretation of all rules, by-laws, contracts etc. thereby making the first great step toward a unification of the entire craft. The ambition of single members to rise and soar is fine; but it should have a proper take-off. Too often the member who throws his lot with the side to whom he has to look for monetary returns makes a fatal mistake. Agreed that he has the right to conduct business, even to destroy himself; but he has no right to jeopardize the livelihood of fellow members. It would be better all-around if he should lend all his strength to his organization and help to convince purchasers of our work that the best way is the cheapest after all.
There is no call for individual members of our craft to make frantic efforts to cheapen either our standards or our product. The cheapening of scenic art may be safely left to those who are not members of our craft.
The rules are there. The rules are simple; it only remains with the members to take advantage of them.”
In 1928, Toner was listed as one of the New York delegates with other noted individuals including: Chas. E. Lessing, NY; Orville Lyman; Chicago, Peter Donegan, Chicago; Herman Bartels, Chicago; and G. VC. Fisher, New York.
Tracking down any information pertaining to Toner has been quite a challenge, despite mt break. The problem is that there are too many John Toner’s who worked as painters, whether they were in the housing or automotive industries. There are just too many likely candidates for me to narrow my focus down to one individual. If I am ever able to refine my search, I will update this post.
It’s good to be back.
