Category: Pandemic Activities

Copyright © 2020 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett

Theaters closed across the country as the Spanish Flu raged through communities in 1918. Some theatre managers used the shut down as an opportunity for various renovation projects.

On October 21, 1918, the “South Bend Tribune” reported, “Many theater managers throughout the country are taking advantage of the closed period to renovate their houses. It is not necessary to do this at the La Salle for the house was just recently gone over with fresh coats of paint and with the painted cement floors, leather seats and exhaust fan ventilation it is inviting and sanitary” (page 7).

Moses’ records note a shift in the theater industry, an increased demand for fabric draperies in lieu of painted curtains.

Regardless of those who used the shut down as an opportunity for building and stage improvements, the industry was hit hard. The stream of orders for painted scenery slowed to a trickle in many shops. In October, Thomas G. Moses wrote, “We did some work for a Mr. Lynch at Greely, Colorado, a pair of sateen curtains.” Moses was referring to Greeley’s Sterling Theater. This was an extremely small order but was better than nothing. No longer at Sosman & Landis, Moses’ work for New York Studios was dwindling. Moses was currently painting at the  20^th Street Studio, a month-to month rental He recorded, “It is pretty cold there but we can manage to keep going.”

The “Des Moines Tribune” reported, “Theaters Hardest Hit By Quarantine” (October 10, 1918, page 1). The article continued, “Aside from those who actually have the Spanish influenza, theatrical folks are hardest hit by this epidemic.

“Ordering all theaters closed means that practically all managers and employees are left without employment and without wages. Several members of the Princess players will go to their homes for two weeks’ vacation. A few of them will remain in Des Moines without salaries indefinitely.

“Orpheum circuit players will remain in the city for the rest of the week and then go on their regular tour. If they are billed for a city which is under quarantine, they will rest during the engagement.

“Most of the Orpheum actors have private arrangements for their expense money to go on automatically. Salaries in local theaters stop when the theaters close.

“Harold Cavanaugh, manager of the Berchel, said he had cancelled all engagements for the next two weeks and tentatively cancelled several beyond that time.

“The cast of ‘Miss Springtime,’ which played here Wednesday night and was scheduled for Thursday, leaves this afternoon for northern Iowa cities. The company will continue the tour.

“The Behman burlesque show, which was at the Berchel earlier in the week, left today for Omaha. That city is now under quarantine, but the quarantine is expected to be lifted early next week.

“Moving picture houses have necessarily cancelled all picture contracts.

“Building rent because the theaters are closed by government order will possibly not have to be paid. A decision upon this point will be arrived at today.” It was this last sentence that really caught my attention.

The shutdown of theaters varied from region to region, but in Phoenix, Arizona, it was nine weeks. On Dec. 6, the “Arizona Republic” announced that Phoenix theaters were again opening after being “dark” for 9 weeks (6 Dec. 1918, page 10). The article reported, “The theater managers yesterday all expressed themselves as positive that from the opening of the theaters Sunday for weeks to come they will do unusual large business. In other cities where the theaters were closed on account of Spanish influenza the theaters when they re-opened did such a business that every seat was filled at every performance for weeks, according to advices from theatrical managers in these cities.”

We can only hope.

To be continued…

Copyright © 2020 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett

In the life and times of Thomas G. Moses, it’s September of 1918. Moses is now working for New York Studios, having resigned as president of Sosman & Landis on September 1, 1918. On October 10, he will be injured when a boy riding a bicycle accidentally knocks him down in the street. Of this incident, he wrote, “October 10^th, I was knocked down by a boy on a bicycle in Oak Park.  It was dark and I did not see the wheel.  It was thought by the doctor that I had fractured my skull.  It was a couple of months before I recovered.  Only a few days after this I was forced to go to Cleveland to look after a big Masonic order and I hope we will be able to get the contract.”

Keep in mind that this is all in the midst of 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic. The first wave of the Spanish Flu hit that spring and the second wave was already in play fall. The second wave would become recognized as the one with the worst death toll. By the end of December 1918, there was the reopening of schools, theaters, churches and business, believing that the worst behind them. A third wave hit during the spring of 1919, a full year after the first wave.

Early in October, the “Chicago Tribune” published illustrations on how to make a “germ screen,” a mask (6 Oct. 1918, page 17). Next to the instructions was another article entitled, “Influenza Cases Here Estimated 40,000 to 60,000. Majority Declared Light Attacks; No Cause for Alarm” (page 17). The article continued, “Anxious to avoid unduly alarming the public, the officials hesitate to make the big figures known generally, but they did so in order to impress upon every individual the necessity of his protecting himself against infection. As a whole the public is said to have headed the warnings issued, but thousands of Chicagoans, it was said, are still exposing themselves carelessly.” Six days later, the “Rock Island Argus” announced “Begin Manufacture of Face Masks for Rock Islanders to Wear as Preventative Measure” (12 Oct. 1918 page 12).

By Dec. 1, 1918, the “Decatur Daily Review” reported, “Flu Death Toll in Illinois 22,566.” The article continued, “Springfield, Ill., Nov. 20 – Spanish influenza during the recent episode took a death toll of 22,566 in Illinois, according to figures announced today by Dr. C. St. Clair Drake, director of the state department of health. The disease is still prevalent in southern Illinois, and Dr. Drake estimates that the number of fatalities due to it will reach 25,000 by January 1. A total of 350,000 cases of the disease have been reported to the health department. This is only about one-fourth of the number believed to have existed in the state. The death rate was given by Dr. Drake as about 2 per cent of the cases.”

Moses does not make any mention of the Spanish Flu at all. In perspective, he only mentions WWI starting and ending, so his diary entries are not really a barometer to indicate historical significance of worldwide events. Overall, Moses’ memoirs don’t really highlight, or describe in detail, many things beyond theatrical projects and personalities. After all, his memoirs were to be published as “Sixty Years Behind the Curtain Line.”

We here about the constant comparison between the Spanish flu and COVID-19.  For many, this is such a distant event that one might as well compare it to the Black Death.  For my family it is a little more relevant. My grandmother was 25 years old when she survived the Spanish Flu; it was the year before she married my grandfather. This may have been why I was raised in a household where you stayed home when you were sick, taking caution to not infect others. I grew up making sure that I would not spread germs, especially around young kids and the elderly, almost to an extreme. It made sense to me even as a young kid; sometimes you alter your activities for the betterment of others – no big deal. It makes me think of those who now explain that they don’t wear a mask for themselves, but for others. In my opinion individual rites does not mean that you get to endanger others.

There are a lot of similarities between how people acted then and now, those who care and those who justify their actions of non-compliance.  Masks were recommended and public activities restricted. Certain people rebelled, citing individual liberties and freedoms. I often think that these are not people who have lost loved ones or friends to the virus – yet.

And as far as masks go, there are two kinds: those that protect you from your environment and those that protect the environment from you.  I was astounded one year when I returned to my alma mater and found surgical masks in the place of particle masks.  It was the first time I had to explain that surgical masks do not protect the wearer; they protect the environment from the wearer.  We wanted masks that protected the worker from their environment. Again, I thought that this was common knowledge, but I was wrong. When considering the big picture about the mask debate now, the general public may not understand how masks work; after all, some theatre professionals didn’t.

To be continued…