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Tales from a Scenic Artist and Scholar. Part 577 – Resources Pertaining to the M. Armbruster & Sons Studio

Part 577: Resources Pertaining to the M. Armbruster & Sons Studio

The Armbruster Scenic Studio Collection at Ohio State University

The Ohio State University is a great place to start when looking for information pertaining to the Armbruster studio and family. In July 1965, Allan S. Jackson studied and photographed a number of extant drops by the Armbruster Studio. His findings were published in “The Ohio State University Theatre Collection Bulletin” (Vol. 12, July 1965). Five years later, a doctoral dissertation was written about the history of the Armbruster Studio. Here is a little information about what is available to artists and historians when examining the scenery work of M. Armbruster & Sons.

There are two primary sources that provide quite a bit of information about the Armbruster family and studio. One is a lovely paper about Mathias Armbruster written by Leeann Faust and the other is a doctoral dissertation by Robert Suddards Joyce “The History of the Armbruster Studio” (Ohio State University, 1970). I have had a copy of Studdard’s dissertation for years, unfortunately it is more of a descriptive work on extant scenery that an insight into the working of the studio and familial dynamics. Here is the link to a digital copy of Joyce’s dissertation: https://etd.ohiolink.edu/!etd.send_file?accession=osu1486655760439351&disposition=inline

I was thrilled to finally find a digital copy available online. Unfortunately, the scanned images are very poor. I have yet to locate any recent publications about the collection, the historic scenery or the Armbruster Scenic Studio Collection.

The Armbruster Scenic Studio collection at Ohio State University consists of scenic design materials relating to Mathias Armbruster and his studio in Columbus, Ohio. It is at the Jermone Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Institute. It is part of the Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections. This collection includes set designs, paint stencils, minstrel shows, ad photographs of stage performances, as well as, inspirational source material clippings from illustrated journals, financial information, and other miscellaneous materials relating to the studio. The records, both in English and German. Some of the contents include designs for White Minstrels, Coburn’s Minstrels, Al G. Field Minstrels, Thurston the Magician, Masonic temples, Romeo and Juliet, King John, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, the Merchant of Venice and many other unidentified productions. This collection is a treasure trove, especially when looking for primary resources referenced by the studio artists for backdrop compositions.

Subject folders include clippings from magazines, journals, and photographs that depict exotic locales, woods and trees, gardens, courtyards, mountains, caverns, landscapes, waterways, shores, ships, trains, military and battle scenes, winter scenes, churches, monasteries and altars, angels and cherubs, female nudes, public structures, furniture and moldings, ornamental designs and patterns, residential interiors and exteriors, Medieval and Renaissance, historical antiquities, contemporary and historical portraits, and mythology and statuary. This is one scenery collections that really should be online and available in a scenery collection database.

During my search this past week, I also stumbled upon a wonderful video about the Armbruster Studio created by PBS. Here is the link to the short PBS video about the Armbruster collection: https://www.pbs.org/video/broad-and-high-mathias-armbruster-armbruster-scenic-studio-collection/

Finally, there are some wonderful images of designs by M. Armbruster & Sons Studio available online at Ohio Memory (http://www.ohiomemory.org/cdm/search/searchterm/armbruster/field/all/mode/all/conn/and). It is such a fantastic resource that goes far beyond theatre history. Ohio Memory’s mission is to help communities share, discover and connect to Ohio’s rich past through dynamic online resources. In terms of theatre history, there are some scans of M. Armbruster & Sons Studio scene designs. This may be cone of my favorite sites to explore.

Design by M. Armbruster & Sons Studio available online at Ohio Memory

Stage setting by M. Armbruster & Sons Studio available online at Ohio Memory

Ohio Memory was established in 2000; a collaborative statewide digital library program of the Ohio History Connection and the State Library of Ohio containing over 700,000 digital images. The images are from a variety of primary source image types that include photographs, maps, drawings, paintings, manuscripts, letters, diaries and journals, archaeological, natural history and historical objects, newspapers, books and e-publications, videos and more. On this free website, you can explore digital content from over 360 cultural heritage institutions representing all 88 of Ohio’s counties!

To be continued…

Tales from a Scenic Artist and Scholar. Part 576 – C. B. Harmount’s production of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” with scenery by M. Armbruster & Sons Studio, 1915

Part 576: C. B. Harmount’s production of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” with scenery by M. Armbruster & Sons Studio, 1915

Theatre collections are an extremely valuable resource, not only to theatre historians and practitioners, but also to the general public. Whether designs or backdrops, many holdings were associated with public entertainment and popular culture; much is now lost. Today’s installment continues with examining the scenery created by M. Armbruster & Sons scenic studio of Columbus, Ohio. This scenic studio created thousands of settings for touring shows, many painted with aniline dyes. Scenery for one of the touring productions with scenery produced by Armbruster Studio was for C. B. Harmount’s “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” Here are a few:

Backdrop for C. B. Harmount’s production of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” Harmount Collection, The Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Institute, The Ohio State University.

Twelve extant drops from the Harmount Company’s touring show are now part of the Harmount Collection at the Jermone Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Institute. It is part of the Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections.

This Harmount collection compliments the Armbruster Scenic Studio Collection, also part of the Jermone Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Institute. Very little is available online, however, but there is an extremely detailed description of the collection’s contents; each folder is described in detail. Little is available as high-resolution scans. Fortunately, some images from the Harmount and Armbruster collections have been posted to other websites, such as “Uncle Tom’s Cabin & American Culture” (http://utc.iath.virginia.edu/sitemap.html). I stumbled upon this particular site while researching M. Armbruster & Sons Studio. The Harmount collection even included a letter to C. B. Harmount from Emil Armbruster. This site was created by Stephen Railton, and somewhat associated with University of Virginia.

“Uncle Tom’s Cabin & American Culture” site included a page that was labeled “Scenic Drops.” The page included photographs of twelve drops produced by M. Armbruster & Sons for C. B. Harmount’s touring production of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” The date of creation was likely 1915. The post credits the twelve drops as belonging to Ohio State University. There is nothing quite like getting into a collection through the back door.

There were also some images posted of correspondence describing the sale of the Armbruster scenery for “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” One letter described the technical specifications of the show and scenic inventory. It was sent ahead to theatre managers in the towns that C. B. Harmount wanted to play. A letter dated May 3, 1915 notes, “I am carrying a company of 25 people, band and orchestra, colored quartette and drum corps, 22 special drops put up by the Armbruster Co. of Columbus, O., electrical snow and ice scenes, which not other Tom Show carries and which is a very essential feature to the correct production, also beautiful electrical transformation of allegorical scene, big street parade, and the finest pack of dogs with any UNCLE TOM’S CABIN SHOW – my cast is all select.”

Another 1915 letter from Emil Armbruster to C. B. Marmount discusses creating a second scenic outfit for another Uncle Tom’s Cabin production. The price of the first collection was included with the information in the letter; fourteen drops priced at $33.33 per drop. This amount was a “special price” due to the large order of fourteen drops, even though certain scenes were more expensive to produce at the time, ranging from $40 to $50 (July 1, 1915).

The “Uncle Tom’s Cabin & American Culture” website notes that the Armbruster scenic drops “provide a good sense of the look of a touring ‘Tom Show,’ especially the kind of effect aspired to at the conclusion, in what most companies referred to as ‘The Grand Allegorical Transformation Scene,’ during which Tom dies on stage and theater-goers are transported into the realm of the blessed, perhaps with the help of Eva dressed as an angel and suspended on wires from the flies.”

To be continued…

Tales from a Scenic Artist and Scholar. Part 575 – M. Armbruster & Sons Scenic Studio

Part 575: M. Armbruster & Sons Scenic Studio

The 1901-1902 Columbus Directory lists that M. Armbruster & Sons studio was located at 247-253 South Front Street. Matthias, Otto H., Albert E. and Emil G. were all listed as part of the firm in the city directory. Interestingly, Otto H. was working in New York for Moses & Hamilton during this same time. The home address for each of the men was noted as 247 S. Front Street.

The main studio building included offices and a property storage room. Wooden sheds provided extensions that provided additional storage for larger scenic pieces. By 1904, a journalist for the “Columbus Sunday Dispatch” described the interior layout of Armbruster’s studio. The first floor housed the carpenter’s shop, sewing room and storage areas. There was also a paper maché workroom on this level. It was in this room that a variety of set pieces were manufactured, including mantels, statuary, ornaments, and stage food for dining scenes.

Lower level of Armbruster studio (section of the carpenter shop). Armbruster Scenic Studio Collection, The Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Institute, The Ohio State University.

The second floor of the building afforded the best light for the paint shop. This area was 64 feet long, 62 feet wide, and 58 feet high. The Sunday Dispatch article described, “The canvas is stretched on frames, the largest of which there are two in number, extends almost the entire length of the floor as to permit of their being lowered, to accommodate the artist… A feature of the movable frames is that they are sort of set out from the wall, a sufficient distance to permit working behind. This is necessary in painting stained glass windows, where colors must not be seen until thrown through the canvas form lights behind.” The article continued, “In the center of the room are two large stationary frames, close together, between which is a platform which may be elevated or lowered as desired.” Each large movable paint frame was approximately 40 feet by 50 feet. The standard paint frame used by Armbruster artists was only 30 feet by 50 feet. The gridiron in the studio accommodated two standard frames lashed together, allowing the final size to measured 60 feet in length.

Image of Armbruster paint frame and hand cut stencils. Armbruster Scenic Studio Collection, The Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Institute, The Ohio State University.

The painting process for the studio was also described in detail, “The palette, for use in mixing the paints, is a table about ten feet long that can be pushed wherever needed. It has a separate compartment for brushes and for a number of pails of paint…The colors are taken from the cans and mixed on the flat surface of the palette or table.”

To be continued…

Tales from a Scenic Artist and Scholar. Part 574 – Mathias Armbruster of M. Armbruster & Sons Studio in Columbus, Ohio

Part 574: Mathias Armbruster of M. Armbruster & Sons Studio in Columbus, Ohio

Yesterday’s post concerned the suicide of a close friend to Thomas G. Moses– Otto Armbruster. Otto was the son of a well-known scenic artist and founder of Armbruster Scenic Studio of Columbus, Ohio – Mathias Armbruster.

Mathias Armbruster was born on February 24, 1839, in Ebingen, Württenberg, Germany. His early artistic studies focused on portraiture as he trained in Stuttgart and Paris. Armbruster also lived and worked briefly in Stockholm and London. At the age of twenty, he traveled to the United States of America and settled in Cincinnati, Ohio. His early years in Cincinnati included working as an art-glass painter and scenic artist.

When the Civil War broke our, Armbruster enlisted in the 28th Ohio Volunteer Infantry for three years, participating in the battles of Bull Run and Antietam as a first lieutenant. While stationed in West Virginia, he continued sketching, completing several sketches of soldiers on duty and military camps. One of his oil paintings depicting the battle of Antietam is part of the Ohioans in the Civil War display at the Ohio Historical Society. In his final year with the infantry, he functioned as a recruiting officer for the army in Columbus, Ohio. While stationed in Columbus, he met and fell in love with another German immigrant, Katherine Wahlenmaier. Katherine, her mother and sister arrived to the United States in 1848.

The couple was married by Rev. F. Lehman in Columbus, but initially made their home in Cincinnati. They had seven children: Otto H (b. 1865), Albert E. (b. 1867), Emil “Amiel” Gustav (b. 1869), Rose O. (1871), Flora (b. 1876), and Pauline (b. 1878).

The Armbruster Family, with Mathias seated on right. This image was posted by Leanne Faust, an Armbruster descendent.

Once living in Columbus, Mathias founded Armbruster Scenic Studio in 1875. His first studio was a large brick building, located where a barn once stood behind the family house. From 1875-1888, much of his studio work included creating stock scenery for opera houses and specialty scenery for lesser-known traveling groups. Some of the firm’s larger projects during this time were Lewis Morrison’s “Faust,” and the mammoth minstrel shows for Al G. Field.

In 1889, Mathias purchased a twenty-nine acre parcel of land at the far north end of Columbus. Naming his home Walhalla, the wooded ravine reminded him of Germany. He also purchased the Clinton Methodist Church Chapel that had been built in 1838 and was once a stop on the Underground Railroad. Armbruster converted the Clinton Chapel, into his private residence. In a lovely paper about Mathias Armbruster written by his descendent Leann Faust, she comments that the final decade of Mathias’ life was spent working in his garden. Emil’s little daughter Alice was often by his side. Faust wrote, “She fondly remembered the peppermints that he carried in his pocket to share with her. He was proud of his hollyhocks and rose-of-sharon. He enjoyed reading and spoke four languages. He loved music and played six instruments. He was a member of the Masonic and Elks Lodges.” M. Armbruster & Sons provided scenery for the Masonic Temple in Columbus, Ohio.

Drop curtain design by M. Armbruster & Sons Studio. This image is part of the online collection of the Ohio Memory Project. Here is the link: http://www.ohiomemory.org/cdm/search/searchterm/Ohio%20State%20University%20Theatre%20Research%20Institute/field/contri/mode/all/conn/and/page/1

As with most scenic studios, the founder was a scenic artist who completed the majority of painting in the early years with an assistant. Soon, Mathias’ sons joined him in the studio as each came of age; Albert started cleaning brushes at the age of ten years old. The three sons who followed their father into the scenic art trade included Albert, Emil and Otto. Each started in the studio cleaning brushes, gradually becoming a scenic artist in their own right. Albert was known for his exteriors, landscapes, and drapery work for front curtains, while Emil specialized in interiors. Otto left the family business at the age of twenty to strike out on his own in New York. He was well respected by Moses, who hired him in 1900; that meant he was likely both talented and fast. Otto established himself at the Broadway theatre and worked on a variety of projects, such as those for Moses & Hamilton during the first decade of the twentieth century. Armbruster and Ed Loitz were working under the direction of Al Roberts at the 125th Street Theatre when employed by Moses & Hamilton.

From 1890 to 1905, the Armbruster studio in Columbus began to attract a series of well-known clients, including Alexander Salvini, Sarah Bernhardt, Helena Modjeska, Charles Hanford, R. B. Mantell, R. D. Maclean, and James O’Neil. They began to create an increasingly amount of classical interiors for a Shakespearean Repertoire. After 1905, business shifted to primarily producing scenery for vaudeville and traveling minstrel shows.

Sadly, within twelve years, four of the three scenic artists in the Armbruster family would pass away. Otto committed suicide in 1908. That same year, Mathias would sell 25 acres of his 29-acre parcel to a real estate developer. I have to wonder if this sale signaled the financial struggles that the family was encountering, a contributing factor cited for the cause of Otto’s suicide in 1908. This was also the beginning of a transitional time as Mathias began planning for his retirement. He was 69 years old and the firm’s only professionally trained painter and draftsman, having attended art schools in Europe. Although his sons apprenticed to him, they received no formal artistic instruction beyond that of their father. Although the studio would continue to do well, the absence of Mathias was notable in the overall aesthetic.

Mathias would retire finally from the firm only two years later in 1910. This would leave Emil and Albert in charge of M. Armbruster & Sons Studio. Emil passed away only six years after that in 1916, leaving Albert in charge of the firm. The founder’s death in 1920, left only Albert left. Albert would remain actively engaged in the studio until his retirement in 1958. During this period the studio transitioned to become a primarily a scenic supply house. This was not unusual for the time. Studio activities during the final decades of the company were dominated by the rental of stock equipment and scenery to amateur producers; the industry was shifting once again and the Armbruster Studio was adapting to each trend.

By 1917, M. Armbruster & Sons Studio was renting scenery to high schools, such as the one in Mt. Sterling High School for their production of “The Importance of Being Earnest.” Advertisement for the production noting scenery rental from M. Armbruster & Sons from “Mt. Sterling Advocate,” 14 April 1917

Albert would live another seven years, passing away in 1965 at the age of 98 years old. Forty-five years after his father passed away from cancer on November 27, 1920. One of Mathias Armbruster’s final comments on his deathbed was. “This is a beautiful world but there is still much to be done by man.”

In her family paper, Leanne Faust described her grandfather Mathias: “He was short in stature but was always a stylish dresser, usually wearing a hat. He had deep blue eyes, brown hair and wore a mustache and beard all of his adult life. In later years he was delighted when youngsters called him Santa Claus. He had a warm, winning personality and adored children.”

To be continued…

Tales from a Scenic Artist and Scholar. Part 573 – Otto Armbruster, 1908

Part 573: Otto Armbruster, 1908

In 1908, Thomas G. Moses wrote, “August 16^th, heard of Otto Armbruster’s death by suicide. It was an awful shock as we were such close friends. The German way of getting out of trouble, but he had no trouble, plenty of money and a good business. No one seems to know just what the cause of the rash act was.” Newspapers suggested various causes for Armbruster’s suicide, including a lack of studio work and the intense summer heat.

Armbruster was a colleague and friend of Moses during his time in New York when he worked for Moses & Hamilton. During the spring of 1900, Thomas G. Moses and William F. Hamilton opened the scenic studio of Moses & Hamilton at Proctor’s 125^th Street Theater. That year, Moses’ wrote, “Otto Armbruster was with us and he was a very valuable man. He and [Ed] Loitz worked at 125^th Street most of the time.”

Otto Herman Armbruster came from a well-known scene painting family in Columbus, Ohio, a son born to Mathias Armbruster (1839-1920), the founder of Armbruster Scenic Studios (est. 1875).

The Armbruster family with Otto pictured in the back row, standing next to his mother.

Detail of Otto Armbruster from family picture.

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on August 28, 1865. He was trained as a scenic artist under the tutelage of his father, Mathias. Unlike his other brothers, Otto moved away from the family business at the age of twenty to strike off on his own as a freelance scenic artist in New York. He was soon associated with the Broadway Theatre and also became an illustrator for decorator magazines. Like Moses, Otto was also a member of the Salmagundi Club in New York, and joined the Kit-Kat Club.

The “Cincinnati Enquirer” reported on Armbruster’s suicide and suggested that lack of work was the cause (16 Aug. 1908, page 1). In a special dispatch to the Enquirer in Columbus, Ohio, on August 15, the article reported on the suicide of “a former resident of Columbus, and one of the best-known scenic artists in the country.” The article continued that one of Armbruster’s brothers received a letter from him a month ago, in which he complained of lack of work.”

The “New York Times,” provided a little more detail about the suicide and suggesteed another cause – “ARTIST A HEAT SUICIDE. Driven Insane by High Temperature, Otto H. Armbruster Shoots Himself.” The article noted, “Mamaronek, N. Y., Aug. 15 – Driven insane by the intense heat, Otto H. Armbruster, a New York scenic artist, committed suicide at his home in Mamaroneck early this morning by sending a bullet into his right temple. He was taken to the New Rochelle Hospital, where he died while the doctors were probing for the bullet. Mr. Armbruster, who was 43 years old, came home yesterday and told his wife he could not endure the intense heat. He had been working hard in New York on some scenery, and was greatly fatigued. This morning, Mrs. Armbruster left her husband in the bedroom while she went downstairs to have breakfast prepared. She had been on the lower floor only a few minutes when she heard the report of a revolver, and on going to her husband’s room found him of the bed with a bullet hole in his temple. Mr. Armbruster came from Columbus, Ohio. He had lived in Mamaroneck about eight months. Mrs. Armbruster told Coronoer Wiesendanger that last summer her husband’s mind was affected by the heat” (16 Aug. 1908, page 1).

Starting tomorrow, I will examine one of the major competitors to Sosman & Landis – Armbruster Studios of Columbus, Ohio.

Letterhead for M. Armbruster & Sons Studio, 1915.

To be continued…