Music for Photoplays – Drypigment.net

In 1915, Thomas G. Moses wrote, “We received the Strand of Indianapolis at $2,700.00, and we got a very good set, fine for lighting.” Earlier that year, Moses had worked at the Strand Theatre in Pasadena, writing, “June 1st, Mama and I started for our first California trip that had no business attached to it, but I found a little when I reached Pasadena, a little misfit at Root’s Strand Theatre. Fixed it up and settled in full.”

There were many Strand Theaters in 1916, all across the country: Appleton, Wisconsin; Altoona, New Castle and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Pasadena, San Diego, Long Beach, and Stockton, California; Seattle, Washington; Portland, Oregon; Sioux City, South Dakota; Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport and Iowa City, Iowa; Chicago, Dixon, Decatur, De Kalb and Rock Island, Illinois; Arkansas City and Salina Kansas; Laredo, Texas; Tampa and Miami, Florida; Montgomery and Dothan, Alabama; Durham, North Carolina; Orangeburg, South Carolina; New York City, and many, many more.

Of the Indianapolis Strand, Sosman & Moses placed an opening night advertisement on Jan. 15, 1916, in the “Indianapolis Star.” Their advertisement announced, “Sosman & Landis designed, built and painted the elaborate picture setting for the new STRAND THEATRE” (Indianapolis Star, Jan 15, 1916, page 9).

An advertisement published along with the Indianapolis Strand Theatre opening announcement, from the “Indianapolis Star,” Jan 15, 1916, page 9.

From the “Indianapolis Star”, Jan 15, 1916, page 9.

On December 9, 1915, the “Indianapolis Star” listed the company under its “Incorporations” section – Strand Theater Company, Indianapolis. Capital, $25,000. To conduct theaters and motion picture shows. Directors, R. D. McCord, G. G. Russell, E.E. Brinkmeyer” (page 16). By Jan. 17, 1916, the “Indianapolis Star” listed the theater again in the “Articles of Incorporation” section – “The Strand Theatre Company, Indianapolis, has increased its capital stock by an issue of $50,000 preferred stock and an increase of $125,000 common stock, making the total capital $300,000.

Strand Theatre Co. advertisements promised the following:

“Endorsed by Discriminating Audiences. The theater is judged by the CLASS of patrons it ATTRACTS and HOLDS. Drop in at the Strand ANY time. Note the KIND of people who attend. Intelligent men of affairs – refined, appreciative women. Their verdict COUNTS. They know that the Strand way means high-grade, exclusive photo-plays- artistic presentation – unvarying delightful programs, including stellar vocal and instrumental artists and the Strands famous 20-Orchestra-20. Continued Success of Advance Exclusive Presentation in Indianapolis.”

In January 1916, Moses wrote, “On the 8^th, went to Indianapolis to light the Strand picture set.” That was a week before opening. When the theatre opened on January 15 at 8:15 PM, and “Indianapolis Star” announcement promised:

“The most luxurious, the most beautiful and the most comfortable theater of all. These are roomy seats for 1,800 people – all with unobstructed view of the stage. The same high-class films – the same big musical program – the same all-star vocal soloists – the same beautiful surroundings, stage setting and lighting effects – the same twenty-piece Symphony Orchestra that draws immense crowds to the New York and Chicago Strand Theaters – are offered to Indianapolis playgoers and music lovers” (Indianapolis Star, Jan. 15, 1916, page 9).

The opening night program included: Overture by The Strand Symphony Orchestra of twenty pieces; Travelogue – “Seeing Panama;” Solo by the Golden Voiced Soprano Viva Ethelia;

Strand Topics of the Day – World-Wide Events; Instrumental Solo by Albert E. Short; and a “Paramount” Feature Photoplay starring Marguerite Clark in “Mice and Men.” The feature was five reels in length.

Interestingly, there was more than one Strand Theatre in Indianapolis during 1916. The one that Sosman & Landis delivered a picture setting to was located at Washington Street and Capitol Avenue. This was the new Strand Theatre Co. Early in 1916 Strand Theatre Co. ads note, “We are not interested or connected with any other Strand Theatre in Indianapolis” (Indianapolis Star, 21 Feb 1916, page 10).

Note the section that states they are not connected to other Strand Theaters in Indianapolis. From the “Indianapolis Star,” 5 Feb 1916, page 16.

From the “Indianapolis Star,” 5 March 1916, page 6.

From the “Indianapolis Star,” 10 Feb 1916, page 6.

From the “Indianapolis Star,” 21 Feb 1916, page 10.

Previously known as the Park Theatre, the Strand Theatre Company took over ownership of the venue in 1915, contracting with Sosman & Landis to deliver their picture setting for films. The Park Theatre was previously known for vaudeville shows and included a dime museum. Under the supervision of the E. C. Deveine, the theatre was remodeled and the stage outfitted with new equipment, reopening as the Strand Theatre Company. The Strand Theatre advertised continuous shows daily, with matinee prices costing ten, fifteen and twenty-five cents. Evening shows were ten, fifteen, twenty-five and thirty-five cents (Indianapolis Star, 6 Feb 1916, page 13). Unfortunately the Strand Theatre Co. name change only lasted ten months, when it was reverted again to the Park Theatre. Two theaters with the same name must have been a mess. Think of someone saying, “We’ll meet you after dinner at the Strand Theatre!” and showing up at the wrong one. The Park Theatre name was again changed to the Capitol Theatre in 1923. The Capitol theatre only lasted a little over a decade and closed in 1935.

The Park Theatre building in Indianapolis, pictured in 1902. In 1916, it opened as the Strand Theatre Co.

The Capitol Theatre building was previously known as the Park Strand Theatre and the Strand Theatre Co.

To be continued…

The first Stanley Theatre in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

In 1914, Thomas G. Moses wrote, “Did a spectacle set for the Stanley, Philadelphia. I went with it, and spent a whole week with it. Got some good lighting effects. Kleigel [sic.] came on from New York to do it.” Although the venue is primarily remembered as a movie house, the first Stanley Theatre in Philadelphia was a combination house. Largely devoted to short-reel pictures, ornate wings and a painted picture sheet created the surround for any projection. There were other lines to accommodate touring acts and spectacles, such as the one mentioned by Moses.

Picture sheet design by the Great Western Stage Equipment Company of Kansas City, Missouri.

Picture sheet design by the Twin City Scenic Co.

Partial picture sheet design by the Twin City Scenic Co.

Twin City Scenic Co. picture sheet design model by Prof. Emeritus C. Lance Brockman.

The Stanley Theatre opened on 19 April 1914. The venue was named after Stanley Mastbaum, a remarkable man in his own right who was directly responsible for the evolution of films in Philadelphia (“Philadelphia Inquirer,” page 35). The story of Stanley V. Mastbaum and his Philadelphia theaters is quite fascinating. The Stanley Theater in Philadelphia was the flagship of Stanley’s theatre chain and managed the venue. Stanley co-founded the Stanley Company with his brother Jules Mastbaum. Stanley Mastbaum also managed the Stanley Booking Corporation, a company that supplied pictures to several hundred theatres across the country. The Mastbaum brothers controlled several of the Philadelphia’s movie houses, later expanding to become one of the largest motion picture chains in the country in a relatively short period of time.

Stanley V. Mastbaum, from the “Philadelphia Inquirer,” 24 Jun 1918, page 7.

Their reign in the film industry was short-lived, however, as Stanley Mastbaum passed away in 1918 at the age of 37 yrs. old. The cause of his death was listed as blood poisoning, developing from a sever case of tonsillitis. At the time of his passing, his obituary reported, “After seven years’ effort in the motion picture business, Mr. Mastbaum was part owner of seven big ‘movie’ houses in Philadelphia, and a score or more in other cities. His interests were in every branch of the industry from production of movies to the placing of finishing touches on the screen” (The Morning Post, 7 March 1918, page 1). The article continued to state that the Philadelphia theaters run by Stanley Mastbaum included, the Stanley (Sixteenth and Market streets), the Palace (1214 Market street), the Globe (Juniper and Market streets), the Arcade (Chestnut street, below Sixteenth), the Alhambra (Twelfth and Morris), the Rialto (Germantown avenue and Tulpehocken street), and the Broadway (Broad street and Snyder avenue). The Paramount acquiring his company by 1919, and the firm was later acquired by Warner Bros. in 1928.

The first Stanley Theatre of Philadelphia was located at 1616-20 Market Street, east of Seventeenth Street. When the venue opened, the “Philadelphia Inquirer” announced, “The Stanley contains every modern device in perfect theatre construction, and many innovations exclusive in this temple of Thespia. The house will comfortably seat 1700 persons and the decorations are of a quietly attractive quality.” The house count was actually a little lower than that.

The policy of the Stanley was the presentation of the “highest grade photo plays.” Photoplays and comic films constituted the program at the Stanley Theatre with live musical accompaniment. Designed by W. H. Hoffman, the venue was later renamed the Stanton Theatre and later the Milgram by 1968. The building was demolished in 1968. Also, the first Stanley Theatre is not to be confused with the second Stanley Theatre that opened on the southwest corner of 19^th and Market Street in 1921; it was a much larger theater.

From the “Philadelphia Inquirer,” 23 April. 1914, page 16.

From the “Evening Public Ledger,” 14 Dec. 1914, page 9.

Of the programming, the “Philadelphia Inquirer” reported, “The subjects were well chosen and of varied character, so that the serious blended excellently with the lighter vein of motion picture. The list included The Dishonored Model, Martha’s Rebellion, A Soul Astray and Our Mutual Girl. One of the pleasing features was the rendition of selections by the orchestra during the exploiting of films and during intermissions” (12 May 1914, page 7). In June, the “Philadelphia Inquirer” noted, “As a forerunner to a series of feature photo-dramas which will be shown during the remainder of the week, two interesting picture entertained audiences at the Stanley Theatre yesterday. ‘Good for Nothing’ was the title of the headliner, followed by ‘The Gem.” Both subjects were well acted by capable companies. The special attraction for the week is a five-part dramatization of “Home Sweet Home,” to be shown today and tomorrow. Selections on a new organ add to the entertainment” (16 June 1914, page 7).

Musical selections that accompanied the photo plays ranged from a full orchestra to the Doria Opera Trio of the Metropolitan Opera Company. Of the trio, they toured with photodrama productions, performing opera and other vocal selections each day and evening to accompany select films (The Philadelphia Inquirer, 10 July 1914, page 4). The Philadelphia Orchestra also furnished the incidental music for the Stanley, with the “Philadelphia Inquirer” commenting that summer: “The Spitfire,” a nautical comedy drama, was the chief attraction among the Stanley Theatre’s films yesterday. Written by Edward Peple, acted by Daniel Frohman’s Company and starred by Carlyle Blackwell, the intricate plat included a gem robbery, several fights, false correspondence, two rescues, one at sea and the other in the Arabian desert, with a charming love story woven through the whole. The latest and finest developments of moving picture art were exhibited in this an other films, all as remarkable for the clearness of their definition as for the quality of the stories, fantastic and humorous, they presented. “The One Best Bet,” a comic story of the racetrack, and “Tragic Trinkets,” a murder mystery film, in which an alchemist figured, presented scenic features of an unusual character. Members of the Philadelphia Orchestra furnished the incidental music” (7 July 1914, page 6).

To be continued…

Category: Music for Photoplays

Tales from a Scenic Artist and Scholar. Part 908 – The Strand Theatre of Indianapolis, 1915

Tales from a Scenic Artist and Scholar. Part 885 – The Stanley Theatre, Philadelphia, 1914