Copyright © 2026 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett
In 1927, Thomas G. Moses hired Earl Sudderth to be his second scenic assistant on site at the Oakland Scottish Rite Theatre. Moses had already secured the services of Lenn Harris (1889-1930), the topic of my previous post. However, the size of the project necessitated a second pair of hands when Moses stepped away to complete an earlier project in Utah. Of the addition, Moses wrote, “I had to get Earl Sudderth to help Harris while I was back in Salt Lake on the 10th of November to get ready for the Dedication where I found plenty to do in order to get ready.”
Earl Sudderth was actually Robert Earl Sudderth (1891-1957). In 1927, Robert E. Sudderth was listed in the Oakland Directory as an artist at the Western Scenic Studio. He had been with the firm since 1925 and had known studio owner Larry Abrott for well over a decade. At the Oakland Scottish Rite, the installation of the scenery and stage machinery was under the personal direction of Abrott. In Oakland, Moses both worked and socialized with Abrott and Sudderth. Many of their after-work outings were recorded in his memoirs. Unlike most scenic artists at this time, Sudderth was repeatedly featured in the news. There are even photographs of his painting for Western Scenic Studios.
Robert Earl Sudderth was born on Sept. 14, 1891, in Lenoir, North Carolina. For geographical context, Lenoir is approximately 28 miles south of Boone. It is in the same area as Grandfather Mountain and Blowing Rock. Robert Earl was the eldest of six children born to Charles T. Sudderth (1864-1923) and Mary Lou Hartley (1870-1937).
When he was 10 years old, his father headed west in search of a new home. On Feb. 8, 1901, The Weekly News reported, “Mr. Charles T. Sudderth has decided to sell out and go west. He hopes to get off in March. He will go first to Stockton.” That summer, the corner stone for the new Masonic Hall was laid in Lenoir by the lodge that Charles attended – Hibriten Lodge No. 262. Two years later, the Sudderths journeyed west, settling in Everett, Washington, where they welcomed another child in 1903. The family left Lenoir just as the Cotton Mill and Caldwell County Courthouse were being completed.
Once settled on the West Coast, the Sudderths moved again. In 1907 the ventured south to California, where Maguerite was born. In San Jose, Earl became a machinist at the Victory Motor Car company, while his father continued as a carpenter. At 19 years old, Earl was now the eldest of six kids in the Sudderth home, located at 276 Clay. By 1910, Earl listed his occupation as an artist in the studio industry when the US Federal Census was taken that year. He soon became associated with the Essanay Film Company, working at their Western Studio in nearby Niles, California. [https://essanaystudios.org/about-us/employees/ ] at their Western Studio in Niles, California. Niles is now known as an historic district in Fremont. There is a remarkable book that traces the early years of Essanay in Chicago and their Western Studio. Written by David Kiehn, Broncho Billy and the Essanay Film Company was published in 2003. He included a short biographical entry for Earl Sudderth in his book:
“(Robert Earl Sudderth) 14 September 1891 Lenoir, North Carolina – 10 June 1957 Oakland, CA. A student of the artist A. D. M. Cooper, he was a scenic painter with Essanay beginning in November 1913. He went to the Liberty Film Company in September 1914 but returned to Niles by March 1915. He later worked at Lawrence Abrott’s Western Scenic Studios in Oakland.”
Keihn is the historian for Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum and has compiled a list of Essanay staff. In addition to scene painting, Earl Sudderth was also known to play small parts in the films that he worked on. He was on staff during a brief shakeup of the studio in 1914, briefly leaving that spring to work for Jess Robbins newly-formed Robbins Photo Plays Co. in Los Angeles. Sudderth left Essanay at the same time as Robbins, Larry Medieros, Al Griffin, Harris Ensign and Emory Johnson. They later returned to Essanay in the spring of 1915, only to have the Niles location closed the following year. It was at Essanay that Sudderth likely met Larry Abrott, the firm’s head carpenter. This connection may have also been through his father, who was also a carpenter in the area. Sudderth and Abrott were part of the Western Essanay staff until Feb. 16, 1916 , when the studio in Niles was shuttered.
Between 1915 and 1916 Sudderth listed his address as 276 S 19th St in San Jose. He also painted for the Liberty Film Co., a short-lived film production company launched by Mrs, E. O. Lindblom. This firm was followed by the Banner Film Company of Oakland, another Lindblom business that Sudderth worked for during this time. Lindblom was not only the president of both companies but also performed leading roles in her productions.
In 1915, Earl was still living with his family, listing 276 S 19th as his residence in the Oakland Directory. Interestingly, Sudderth’s WWI draft registration (dated June 5, 1917) card lists him as a machinist for the Bean Spray Pump Company as a machinist, noting that he was producing agricultural machinery in his request for exemption section.
At the time, he was still listed as a painter in the 1917 Oakland Directory. His draft registration described Sudderth as medium height, slender, blue eyes and brown hair.
Over the years, members of the Sudderth family bounced back and forth between Oakland and San Jose. In 1917, Sudderth and his family were living at 321 S 3rd St. By 1918 the family had moved to 220 S 9th St. where they remained until 1920. During this period, Sudderth was also listed in the 1919 Motion Pictures Studio Directory as a scenic and cartoon artist. His biographical listing noted that he had painted at a variety of film studios, including Essanay, Pathe, Liberty and Banner. The following year, the US Federal Census listed Sudderth as an artist in the general design industry.
For quite some time his father had suffered from kidney problems, forcing him to abandon carpentry and work as a salesman at a dry goods store. In 1920, Charles T. Sudderth returned to Lenoir, North Carolina, where he was later admitted to the Charlotte Sanitorium in Mecklenburg, passing away in 1923. His immediate family, however, remained in California. The year before his passing, Earl was employed as an artist, living at 250 S. 19th; only a few doors down from his previous address at 276 S 19th, c. 1915-1916. In 1923 Earl was living with his brother and mother at 641 S 3rd. In 1924, only his mother was listed in the San Jose Directory, listing her address as 445 S. 7th. In 1925, Earl was working as a scenic artist for Western Scenic Studio, a position that he would retain for the next decade.
He married the year before working with Moses at the Oakland Scottish Rite. On July 21, 1926, The San Francisco Bulletin included Sudderth in a list of couples who applied for San Francisco Marriage licenses: “Robert E. Sudderth, 34, Oakland, and Gertrude E. Sagardia, 20, Whitcomb Hotel.” Her full name was Gertrude Esadora Sagardia (1905-1986)
While working at the Oakland Scottish Rite in 1927 and 1928, Earl drove Moses to various activities and events. Early in 1928 Moses wrote: “Earl Sudderth took us out to Mills College to see an exhibit of pictures. The radicals were out in full force. There were only a dozen out of two hundred which were worth spending any time on.” On Feb 13, 1928, the San Francisco Chronicle announced, “Mills College Scene of Art Exhibition.” The article reported, “Artists with new ideas as to what makes a picture or expresses the soul of an artist as the case may be given their due share in the sixth annual Oakland Art Exposition at Mills College, which opened yesterday afternoon. About 170 paintings were on display, mostly oil paintings, and mostly the work of artists of the bay region. The jury of selection, however, rejected 50 per cent of the works offered, so the standard is high. According to Roi Partridge and Forrest Brissey, who had charge of hanging the pictures, the tendency of the exhibit is toward modernism, that is toward novelty, there being comparatively few conservative works. A radical group of paintings has been hung on the west wall of the gallery.”
That year, Sudderth was living at 439 40th St. in Oakland. After the Oakland Scottish Rite project was completed, Moses continued to associate with Sudderth. In 1929, Moses wrote, “Visited the Art Exhibit at the Bohemian Club, San Francisco, with Earl Sudderth and John McEwing. We also dined there. A wonderfully fine club!” The Bohemian Club also held an annual art exposition. Of the event, The San Francisco Examiner reported, “Modernism is conspicuous by its absence. There is not an ugly canvas on the walls, and not one that puzzles the visitor as to its meaning. All is calm, conservative and even conventional…and marvel of all marvels for an art exhibition, there is not a nude in the whole show. Everything would have passed muster ion the most prim of mid-Victorian circles. A restful exhibition” (16 Feb 1929).
In 1930 the US Federal census listed Sudderth as a theatrical artist living in Oakland with his wife at 439 40th St. He was again mentioned in Moses’ diary: “April 10th, Received our warranty deed for our Elmhurst property from Sherlock. A drive with Earl Sudderth over to Mt. Diablo, resulted in two good sketches.” Mount Diablo is part of the Diablo Range in Contra Costa County of the eastern San Francisco Bay area.
Like Moses, Sudderth was also an easel artist and a member of the Society of Western Artist’s, San Francisco, now known as the Society of West-Coast Artists . I have located only a few of Sudderth’s artworks in recent online searches. In 1931, he painted a small eastern-themed composition, now listed at 1stdibs.com. It provides some insight into his figure work.
One of his paintings from 1933, entitled “Mountain Landscape with Heavy Cloud” was sold at auction in 2010. An image of the painting is available to askart.com
Sudderth was also a Freemason, joining Park Boulevard Lodge No. 668, F. and A. M. and the Oakland Scottish Rite. His father had also been a Mason in Lenoir, North Carolina, joining in Hibriten Lodge No. 262, before moving west. In an early portrait, Charles Sudderth wears a Masonic pin.
Earl joined the Oakland Scottish Rite after he assisted in painting their scenery. On Nov. 14, 1932, the Oakland Tribune listed Sudderth as one of the Eastbay residents in the Oakland Scottish Rit’s Fall Reunion class. Newspapers announced that became a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason on Nov. 15, 1932. However, his name was again included in 1933 and 1934 announcements, each time listed as part of a candidate class slated to receive the 32nd degree. The last announcement was published in the Oakland Tribune on May 18, 1934. This was the same year that Moses passed away. Gertrude Sudderth was a member of the Eastern Star, the Women’s Athletic Club of Alameda, and the East Bay Opera League.
In 1934, Sudderth was listed as a scenic artist in the Oakland Directory, living at 662 Jean. In 1935, the Oakland Directory again listed Sudderth’s association with the Western Scenic Studio. That year, Sudderth was listed as part of the firm’s staff helping with the Santa Claus project in Oakland. On Nov. 22, 1935, The Oakland Post Enquirer reported, “On a special order from the Downtown Merchants’ association, the jolly old gentlemen set carpenters and painters to work at the Western Scenic Studio, Thirty-second and Magnolia Streets, on a project designed to make downtown Oakland a festive scene when he and his reindeer soar into town on Christmas Eve…The decorations are scheduled to be up by Nov. 28, according to Lawrence Abrott, manager of the studio. Workman helping with the Santa Claus project are Fred Schneider, Robert Sudderth, Charles Schlosser, Terry Lawlor and Morman MacLeod.” He was pictured under the caption “Right Out of a Story Book,” putting finishing touches on two gnomes in the Oakland Tribune on Nov. 25, 1935.
He was again pictured painting for the firm the next year, working on scenery for Christmas decorations again in Oakland.
Sudderth was still listed as a Western Scenic Studio employee in 1938. When he registered for the draft in 1942, Sudderth listed his home address as #2 Home Place East Oakland, California. He now listed his occupation as a self-employed scenic artist. During this time, Sudderth and his wife listed apartment management as their primary occupation in the 1940 and 1950 UD Federal Census reports. They managed the multiunit building known as “Home Place,” located at 428 E. 19th Street. Getrude also worked for the department store, I Magnin & Co.
Robert Earl Sudderth passed at the age of 65 in 1957. His obituary erroneously credited him with the design of scenery for the Oakland Scottish Rite, instead of his assisting Moses. As time passes, stories change. Sudderth was also credited with the design of scenery for the War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco, which also makes me contemplate his actual contribution. Built in 1932, the 3,146-seat venue was designed by Arthur Brown Jr. Now known as the Herbst Theatre, the two original buildings of the San Francisco War Memorial is considered the birthplace for the United Nations. The War Memorial Opera House was inaugurated with a performance of Tosca.
On June 13, 1957, the Oakland Tribune announced, “Funeral Tomorrow for Robert Earl Sudderth.” The obituary stated:
“Funeral services will be held tomorrow for Robert Earl Sudderth, 65, Bay Area artist and designer who died Monday in an Oakland hospital after a short illness.
A student of A.D.M. Cooper, noted California artist, Mr. Sudderth designed the stage drops at the Scottish Rite Temple [incorrect, assisted Thomas G. Moses] in Oakland and the War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco.
A native of California, he was an Oakland resident for 35 years. He was a member of the Society of Western Artists of San Francisco, Scottish Rite Bodies, the Park Boulevard Lodge No. 568, F and AM, and the Airplane Owners and Pilots Association.
Surviving are his wife Gertrude of 315 Park View Terrace; a brother, Carl Sudderth of Los Angeles; three sisters, Mrs. Marguerite Fletcher of San Francisco, Mrs. Caroline Cameron and Mrs. Kathleen Coen, both of Los Angeles.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. at the Great Miller Mortuary 2850 Telegraph Ave.”
Gertrude outlived her husband by almost three decades. She passed away on April 27, 1986. They are buried at Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland.
To be continued…
