Sosman & Landis: Shaping the Landscape of American Theatre. Employee No. 39 – Frank W. Thompson

Copyright © 2021 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett

Frank Wright Thompson and his father, Thomas Edward “Ed” Thompson, were scenic artists at the Sosman and Landis Scene Painting Studio in the early twentieth century.  

Fred Thompson was mentioned by Randy Givercer Frank in her B.A. Thesis, “The Sosman & Landis Studio: A Study in Scene Painting in Chicago, 1900-1925” (University of Texas, Austin, 1979, page 91). She wrote, “Frank, born in 1880, did a little bit of everything, usually painting those things that other artists didn’t want to paint. After Sosman & Landis closed, he became a salesman for Oklahoma Scenic in Oklahoma City.” First of all, Frank was born in 1879, not 1880, and never worked for the Oklahoma Scenic Co. However, there was a Frank D. Thompson (1910-1980) who worked as a salesman for the Oklahoma Scenic Co. in 1937. Frank D. Thompson was the son of Frank A. and Marie J. Thompson, married to Elva Thompson and living at lived at 1300 Nebraska av.; completely different Frank Thompson.

In a 1976 interview conducted by Dr. John Rothgeb with John Hanny, a former Sosman & Landis scenic artist. Hanny remembered that the Ed and Frank Thompson specialized in Masonic scenery at Sosman & Landis. Thompson’s work on Masonic scenes is verified in a studio photograph, c. 1910. The image depicts two men industriously painting on palatial interior backdrop. Hanny indicated that Frank Thompson was  the one standing up and working on the drop. The backdrop has an identifiable composition, designed for an Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry degree production. It depicts King Solomon’s Apartments for the sixth and ninth degrees. This was a standard stock scene for Masonic theatre, and extant examples of the same design still exist at the Tucson Scottish Rite in Wichita, Kansas (1908), St. Paul, Minnesota (1910), Tucson, Arizona (1914) and Grand Forks, North Dakota (1915). Below is a similar drop still used at the Scottish Rite Theatre in Tucson.

Frank W. Thompson was the eldest of three sons born to Thomas E. Thompson and Rhonda Wright. His brothers were Fred (b. 1882) and Hiram (b. 1885). Frank was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on December 1, 1879. As a young boy, the family moved from Indianapolis, Indiana, to Cincinnati, Ohio, where his father worked as a scenic artist. In Cincinnati the elder Thompson studied with master scenic artist DeWitt C. Waugh at the Grand Opera House. Frank was five years old when his father started his two-year assistantship with Waugh. Ed Thompson was painting at a variety of theaters in Indianapolis, Cincinnati and St. Louis as Frank grew up.

The Thompson family moved to St, Louis, Missouri, in the early 1890s. This is where Frank came of age and trained as a scenic artist. It is very likely that Frank learned the scenic art trade from his father, and first began painting at Hagan’s Opera House when he was a teenager. In St. Louis, the Ed Thompson began working at Hagan’s in 1891; this was when Frank was eleven years old. From 1893 to 1897, the “St. Louis City Directory” listed “Edward Thompson” as stage manager for the Hagan Opera House. This would have been the time when Frank began focusing on the scenic art trade. By 1900, Frank was living on his own and working as a scenic artist in St. Louis. He married Emma J. Dietche in 1900 and moved in with his wife’s family, his mother-in-law’s home (Lena Dietche), that same year.

The 1900 Census lists newlyweds Emma J. Dietche Thompson (also Dietsche) and Frank Thompson living at 4337 Juniata Street in St. Louis, Missouri. This was the same address listed for Emma’s mother. Mrs. Dietche was 42 years. old at the time and recently widowed, losing her husband Charles Dietche (b. 1848) the year before to phthisis pulmonalis (intrathoracic tuberculosis). Carl Dietche’s occupation was listed as “drummer” when he passed. As a musician in St. Louis, he was part of the theatre scene, likely why Frank and Emma met. Emma J. Dietche was born in Missouri in 1880. She had an older brother named Adolphus Dietche, born the year before her.

Tragedy struck the Thompson family in 1904 when Frank’s younger brother drowned on August 12. At the time, he was attending law school in Indianapolis, Indiana. On August 15, 1904, the “Indianapolis News” reported, “Frederick Thompson, 21, 113 Hancock ave., accidental drowning” (page 8).

By 1910, the extended Thompson Family had relocated to Chicago, with Frank, Emma and their young son Robert living in York Township. York was due west of Chicago, approximately Eleven miles farther than Oak Park Thomas G. Moses and many scenic artists lived. The census that year listed Frank as a scenic artist, living on Stewart Ave.  Emma’s mother was still living with them.

Franks’ WWI Draft Registration listed “scenic artist” and “self” as employer; this meant that he was not a full-time employee at any one studio. This does not mean that he wasn’t working at Sosman & Landis, just not a full-time staff member. At the time, his address was 2414 Ems St. Chicago, Illinois. His “place of employment or business” was listed as 19 W 20^th St. Chicago. This address was a scenic studio operated by former Sosman & Landis president, Thomas G. Moses when he temporarily left the company that year. On Nov. 28, 1918, the “Chicago Tribune” posted the following want ad: “BOYS- WHO DESIRE TO LEARN SCENERY painting; good opportunity for advancement. Apply after 9 a.m. Friday. MR. MOSES, 19 W 20^th St. 2d floor” (page 26). Frank’s physical description on his WWI Draft registration card was noted as medium height, medium build, brown hair and brown eyes.

The 1920 Census still listed “F W Thompson” as a s scenic artist in the theatre industry. The Thompsons were living at 2414 Colvin St., still in Chicago. At this time, Emma was listed as an office worker for a nearby dry goods store.

By 1930, the Thompsons returned to the western suburbs of Chicago. The 1930 census listed Frank, Emma, Robert and Lena living at 190 Crescent Ave. in York, Illinois. Frank was still listed as a scenic artist in the theatre industry.  Robert’s occupation was listed, “will work with his father;” he was 22 years old. I have uncovered very little information about the Thompson family during the depression, yet he continued to work as an artist.

Frank W. Thompson passed away on May 18, 1940 in Elmhurst, Illinois. Elmhurst was a short distance north from his former home of York. At the time of death, he was listed as a mural artist. He is buried in Norwood (Cook County) Illinois

Frank’s son, Robert Frank Thompson, did not enter the theatre profession or work as an artist after his father passed away. His WWII draft registration card listed his employer as the Illinois State Prison in Joliet, Illinois. At  the time Robert was still living in Elmhurst at 190 E. Crescent Ave. Robert was described as 5’-11 ½”, 135 lbs. with brown hair, brown eyes and a dark brown complexion.

To be continued….