Copyright © 2021 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett
Charlie Minor (1870-1944) was the youngest of three brothers who worked as scenic artists for Sosman & Landis in the late-nineteenth century. I explored the lives and careers of his two older brothers the last two days. Here are the links for William M. Minor (https://drypigment.net2021/11/04/sosman-landis-shaping-the-landscape-of-american-theatre-employee-no-50-william-m-minor/ and G. E. Minor (https://drypigment.net2021/11/05/sosman-landis-shaping-the-landscape-of-american-theatre-employee-no-51-g-e-minor/).
Here is brief recap of the Minor family to give a little context for Charlie:
John and Mary Minor celebrated the birth six children: Nora (1862), William M. Minor (1864), George Edward Minor (1866), John Harry Minor (1868), Charles P. Minor (1870), and Bert Minor (1880). After Mary passed away in 1880, John remarried and fathered two more children: Dollie (1887) and Jas. (1888). With the exception of his eldest daughter, the Minor children all grew to adulthood in Seneca, Kansas. William was the first to enter the painting profession, trained by a local sign painter in Seneca. He was soon followed by George and then Charles, and they all began working together as the Minor Bros. Early projects were primarily signage for local business, but soon they expanded their services to include theatre scenery. From 1885 until 1898, the Minor Bros. painted scenery throughout the Midwest.
In 1890, William and Charles Minor began working for Sosman & Landis. That year, the two were part of the crew painting scenery for the Broadway Theatre in Denver, Colorado. Three years later, Charlie was still working for the firm in 1893; he seems to have lasted the longest at the studio. On February 10, 1893, “The Representative” in Fox Lake, Wisconsin, reported, “Chas. Minor, representing the Sosman & Landis scene painting form of Chicago, was in town last week trying to arrange with Odd Fellows to put a new curtain in the hall. It is an advertising curtain, but whether he will make it a go or not remains to be seen” (page 4).
On May 3, 1895, “The Courier-Tribune” of Seneca, Kansas, reported, “Charles, W. M. and G. E. Minor, of Chicago, are in this city visiting their many old friend and acquaintances. They are the sons of Jno. O. Minor and formerly lived in Seneca, but the parents of the boys, Mr. and Mrs. J. O. Minor, now live in Baileyville. The three young men above mentioned are now with the Chicago Scenic Co., and are doing a nice business. They are working on the Crawford circuit and doing jobs at St. Joseph, Atchison and Topeka. Will painted the first drop curtain for the Grand Opera House. He picked up his trade while living here, and now all three are recognized as experts in this line. Will also painted the drop curtain for Sabetha and Hiawatha G. A. R. Halls. They are a nice lot of boys who have come right to the front” (page 3).
The Minor Bros. visits and projects continued to make Kansas newspapers throughout the 1890s. On May 9, 1895, the “Junction City Tribune” reported, “Will, Charlie and G. E. Minor of Chicago are visiting friends and will renew the old and paint some new scenery for the opera house while here” (page 5). By 1896, the brothers were associated with another studio, the Chicago Scenic Co. On May 4, 1896, the “Stevens Point Daily Journal” in Wisconsin, reported, “Minor Bros. of the Chicago Scenic Co. have finished painting a handsome advertising drop curtain for the Opera House. The curtain will be used between acts. The gentlemen are also painting curtains in Waupaca and Grand Rapids” (page 4).
They continued to remain part of the western theater scene too, painting scenery for opera houses in Colorado and Utah. On August 19, 1897, the “Avalanche-Echo” of Glenwood Springs, Colorado, (Vol X Number 33, page 4) announced the arrival of William and Charles Minor at the Kudrick hotel. On Feb 24, 1899, “The Courier-Tribune” of Seneca, Kansas, reported, “The Minor Bros. have taken the contract to paint the stage scenery for the Catholic school hall. They are at work on it now and doing a fine job. The Minor boys have the reputation of being as fine scenic painters as there are in the country and have done work in all the large cities from Chicago to the Pacific coast. They started to paint in Seneca years ago under the tutelage of J. Y. Benfer.”
By 1906 Charles relocated to Salt Lake City, Utah, In 1906, Chas. P. Minor was listed as an artist in the Salt Lake City Directory, living at 632 S Main. That year a want ad for his older brother William was placed in the “Salt Lake City Tribune” want ad on Dec. 24, 1906 (page 9): “WANTED – INFORMATION OF THE present residence of William Minor, a scenic artist. Address X 49. Tribune” (page 8). He disappears from print for a while and it is not until 1910 that he is included in the “Salt Lake City Directory.”
He was initially associated with Empire Theatre, the first movie theatre in town. Established by Harry S. Rand , it opened in 1908 and was located at 156 S State. In 1908 the “Salt Lake City Directory,” listed Charles E. Minor as manager of the venue, living at 9 Hooper & Eldredge Blk. At this same time, William M. Minor was listed as the treasurer for the Empire Theatre, residing at 76 E. 5th South. Interesting, a “May Minor” also worked as a cashier at the Empire Theatre, rooming at 49 S Main.
Charlie was still connected with the Empire Theatre in 1909, now listed as scenic artist for the venue and living at 76 E. 5th South. By now, his brother William was listed as the manager of the Empire Theatre, residing at 235 E. 4th South. William continued to live on 4th street, but became associated with the Salt Lake Theatre, painting their new drop curtain in 1910. On 4th St., William lived with his wife Minnie and lodger F. V. Ogle, a dressmaker.
Charlie soon moved west and by 1916, was listed as a scenic artist in the “Los Angeles City Directory,” living at 1249 S. Grand Avenue with his wife Mary . Charlie was registered as a Democrat. His stint in California did not last long, and by 1917 he and Mary were living in Lawrence, Kansas, with Charlie listed as a “traveling agent,” boarding at 804 Louisiana.
In 1918, both Charlie and William Minor moved from Salt Lake City to Kansas City, changing his profession entirely and becoming brokers. He continued to work with stocks and bonds in Kansas City throughout the 1920s. In 1929, Thomas G. Moses met up with Charlie and his brother, George “Ed” Edward Minor , in Kansas City. Of the reunion Moses wrote, “I called on the Lilley Company – (regalia company). Met Mr. Butcher, the assistant manager. He called up my friends the Minors – Ed and Charlie, and they came down to see me. Had a very pleasant visit then I took in a picture show.” Almost four decades had passed since Moses had met and hired Charlie for the Broadway Theatre project in Denver.
By 1930, Charlie Minor was living with his second wife Belle Bennett Swan in Topeka, Kansas. He initially started out as a boarder in Swan’s home, one of three lodgers at 914 King Street. The other two lodgers were school teachers (Helen A. Hudson and Ruby E. Taylor). The 1930 US Federal Census listed Charlie’s occupation a “broker” in the “stocks and bonds” industry. By 1931, the couple married, yet remained living at Swan’s home for the next decade. However, by 1933, Charlie became a salesman of life insurance and bonds, a profession that he would continue until his passing in 1944.
Charles Minor died on Dec. 19, 1944, passing away at the Major Clinic in Kansas City, Missouri. He had been admitted four days prior to his passing. Interestingly, his death certificate listed his birthplace as Bedford, Iowa. This surprised me, as all other records had indicated that he was born in Illinois.
On Dec. 20, 1944, the “Kansas City Times” published a brief obituary for Charles P. Minor, announcing,
“Funeral services for Charles P. Minor, 74, Topeka, who died yesterday at the Major clinic, will be held at 3:30 o’clock this Wednesday at the Newcomer chapel” (page 6). Charlie was buried at Forest Hill Cemetery.
To be continued…
