Copyright © 2022 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett
Fred R. Megan (1873-1946) was associated with the Sosman & Landis Co. from approximately 1924 until 1930. He was involved with the second iteration of the company, after the original firm, Sosman & Landis Scene Painting Co., was liquidated. In 1923, Megan and Thomas G. Moses (1856-1934) negotiated the purchase of the firm’s name. By 1924, Moses was listed as president of Sosman & Landis, with Megan listed as the secretary and treasurer. From a practical standpoint, Moses handled production, while Megan handled marketing and sales.
In 1926, Thomas G. Moses and Fred R. Megan, representing Sosman & Landis, were recognized for their contribution to the new Varsity Theatre in Evanston, Illinois (Wilmette). Of Moses and Megan, the “Wilmette Life” reported, “Noted Scenic Artist Create Variety Setting.
In keeping with the character of the work demanded by the builders of the Varsity Theatre, much stress was laid upon proper stage settings and scenic work. With this in mind, contract for the work was awarded to the Sosman & Landis Co. This company has been doing business since 1878 and many of its artists and mechanics have practically spent their lives in developing their art. Among the notables connected with this organization are Thomas G. Moses, president, and Fred R. Megan, secretary and treasurer” (Dec., 24, 1926, page 33).
The dilapidated interior of the Varsity Theatre was described on Dec. 24, 2015, at afterthefinalcurtain.net. Here is the link: https://afterthefinalcurtain.net/2015/12/24/varsity-theatre-evanston-il/
Additional information about Megan was included at the end of the article: “Fred R. Megan, secretary and treasurer of the Sosman & Landis Co., spent 30 years as director of art with the Kansas City Scenic Co. He severed this connection at the outbreak of the war and had charge of the building and equipment of the Liberty theaters in all cantonments, in this country.”
Moses and Megan first met during the 1890s, although the exact date and place remain a mystery. Their first meeting possibly occurred when Megan was touring with Barret & Barrett in 1897. By 1900, Megan was working for the Kansas City Scenic Co., a western affiliate of the Chicago-based Sosman & Landis. Since the 1880s, Sosman & Landis had operated several regional offices, as well as maintaining close ties with other strategically-located studios across the country. Affiliate studios subcontracted portions of larger projects to one another, or occasionally entire projects, during especially busy period in the year. For example, in 1902 the Kansas City Scenic Co. subcontracted a portion of a scenery collection destined for Colorado. This was a contract secured by Megan with the Elks Opera House in Leadville Colorado. Keep in mind that the founder of Kansas City Scenic was a former Sosman & Landis employee.
Megan’s early life and career have been incredibly difficult to track down. Much has to do with the separation of Megan’s parents, second marriages, and name changes.
Overall, Megan represents the many men who left midwestern farming communities and a tough living situation to make a name for themselves in the theatre industry. It has been fascinating to follow his journey from Knox County, Illinois, to Kansas City, Chicago and even Washington, D C.
Frederick “Fred” Rishell Megan was born on May 5, 1873 in Galesburg, Knox County, Illinois. For geographical context, Galesburg is about 190 miles southwest of Chicago and 50 miles due south of Moline, Illinois. Fred was the child of Rev. Dr. John W. Megan and Cornelia Wookey. Dr. Wookey was an Irish immigrant who settled in Knox County and married the daughter of a local farmer. It would be Cornelia’s mother and step-father who would raise Fred Megan on the farm in Truro Township. Truro is due east of Galesburg, also in Knox County, Illinois.
As an 8-yrs.-old, Cornelia Wookey emigrated from England and moved to Illinois, growing up in Truro Township. She married John Megan on June 18, 1871, in Knox County, but their marriage did not last long, and soon their son was left at his maternal grandmother’s farm. Both John and Cornelia moved away (in separate directions) and remarried, starting new lives elsewhere. The 1880 US Federal Census listed Fred Megan as the grandson of Hannah (Wookey) Reed and Andrew Reed (Hannah’s second husband). Hannah’s first husband, Stephen Wookey, passed away in 1860. Hannah and Stephen Wookey had celebrated the birth of six children. Although she would have another six children with Reed, all would die in infancy. So by the time Fred was living with his grandparents, Hanna and Rev. Andrew J. Reed, the couple was well-passed child-bearing age.
By 1880 Fred’s father relocated east and remarried. His second wife was Susan Parnally. The two were married in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Sept. 1, 1879. At the time, Megan was listed as living in Fennville, Michigan, and Susan in Kalamazoo, Michigan. After the two married, they settled in Clyde, Michigan, and celebrated the birth of a daughter, Anna M. Megan, in 1883.
Fred’s mother also remarried by 1881. Just prior to her second marriage, she was going by her maiden name, Cornelia Wookey, and working as a school teacher in North Henderson, Mercer County, Illinois. North Henderson was approximately 20 miles northeast of Truro Township.
On June 1, 1881, Cornelia Wookey married Everett Eugene Markley in West Jersey Township, Stark County, Illinois. The couple would never celebrate the birth of their own biological children, but adopted a son almost two decades after they were wed. The 1910 US Federal Census listed Cornelia and Everett Markley raising their 2-yrs.-old adopted son, David E. Markley, in St. Louis, Missouri. Cornelia spent the remainder of her life in St. Louis, passing away in 1914. Everett Markley remarried and moved and west to Chickasaw, Oklahoma.
Fred’s biological father also moved west, eventually settling in Kansas where he continued to work as a physician. Interestingly, he also spread the gospel, later becoming the Rev. Dr. J. W. Megan. The travels of Dr. Megan, are quite easy to follow over the years. It does not appear that Fred reunited with his father out west until he was an adult.
Like many nineteenth-century physicians, Dr. Megan traveled for work, going from one town to the next, eventually On Feb. 28, 1889, the “Barton County Democrat” of Great Bend, Kansas, reported, “Dr. Megan of Lawton, Michigan, is in town and thinks of locating here” (page 4). Dr. Megan did relocate and was appointed a county physician. On April 18, 1889, the “Barton County Democrat” reported, that Dr J. W. Megan was appointed the physician for the 3rd district at $76” (page 4). He did not last there long. On Sept. 5, 1889, the “Barton County Democrat” reported, “Dr. Megan moved to Little River, Kansas, this week, where he expects to follow his profession” (page 1). By October, 1889, Dr. Megan had left Great Bend. Over the next few years, Megan moved from one town to the next, living in Little River, Pawnee and Olsburg.
1894 became a turning point for Dr. Megan when he moved from Olsburg to Leonardville, Kansas. On October 18, 1894, the “Olsburg News-Letter” reported, “Dr. J. W. Megan expects to move to Leonardville after election and will practice medicine there as well as look after editorial duties of the Monitor.” By 1894, Dr. Megan and his son Frederick were living in Leonardville and running the newly established newspaper. In March 1894, Preston S. Loofbourrow moved his newspaper, “The Monitor” from Clay Center to Leonardville; he had started “The Monitor” in Clay Center Kansas. In March 1884 he shipped all of the newspaper equipment to Leonardville, 15 miles east. Here is a link to Loofbourrow: https://sites.google.com/site/leonardville66449/Home/leonardville—-yesterday/4-newspaper
Loofbourrow published the first edition of the “Leonardville Monitor” on April 3, 1884. I am including an excerpt from an article written by Loofbourrow on Aug. 28, 1884, as gives a glimpse into the Megan’s life in Leonardville:
“Leonardville is situated on the Kansas Central railroad, a little north and west of the center of Riley County. It is nineteen miles east of Clay Center and one hundred and twenty-eight miles west from Leavenworth. There is no town of importance nearer than Clay Center on the west, and Garrison on the east is not likely to interfere in the least with the future growth and development of Leonardville. South, there are no trade centers nearer than Junction City and Manhattan, and north none nearer than Waterville and Blue Rapids. Hence it will be seen that there is a large scope of Country tributary to Leonardville, in which no rival town can successfully compete. The town is beautifully located on the high-rolling prairie, which recedes in graceful undulations as far as the eye can reach in all directions. This grand stretch of magnificent prairie is dotted here and there with artificial groves, with now and then a small stream of water meandering through a belt of timber, giving variety to the landscape as well as furnishing water and shelter for the LARGE HERDS OF STOCK that graze on the prairies, and also furnishing timber in limited quantities for fuel and the various purposes for which timber is indispensable.
“This whole region is under an advanced state of cultivation, and thickly dotted with well improved and highly productive farms that are from year to year yielding abundant crops of rye, wheat, oats and corn, under the tillage of the hardy, energetic farmers who came here twelve or fifteen years ago empty handed, and took possession of the wild domain, and with untiring energy and persistent toil subdued the soil, built up beautiful homes, and surrounded themselves with an abundance of the comforts and luxuries of life. All over these prairies, speckled in all directions, thousands of cattle feed, and thousands of hogs consume thousands upon thousands of bushels of the almost FABULOUS CORN CROP produced from year to year. Large herds of sheep also graze in various localities, and horses of the finest stock in the world, among them several imported stallions, are owned by the enterprising farmers of the surrounding country. The farmers who have subdued this fine region of country and brought it under such a high state of cultivation came here from all parts of the Union, and a large proportion from the other side of the Atlantic – Sweden, Germany, Great Britain, Wales and Ireland. They are all men of grit and courage or they never would have braved the dangers, privations and toil of pioneer life, nor could they ever have gained so signal a victory over the wild waste they have transformed into such a paradise of beauty, grandeur and plenty.
“This being the character of the men who have FOUGHT THEIR WAY UP, from nothing to opulence and plenty, what may we not expect from them in the future? May we not safely assume that the pluck, energy and tact that have brought about such grand results in so short a time from the wild prairies of the frontier, will in the future, from the fertile farms of northern Riley, with railroad facilities and home markets bring about a state of prosperity almost beyond the power of the mind at the present time to grasp. We feel assured that there is scarcely a limit to the possibilities of the future development and prosperity of this fertile and productive region, whose fame has hitherto been permitted to remain unheralded and unknown. Immense crops of rye, wheat, oats and corn will be produced from year to year, thousands and thousands of hogs and cattle will be raised, fatted and sold, and Leonardville will be the COMMERCIAL CENTER where all these vast products will be put upon the market. These products will increase from year to year as the country continues to improve, and the facilities for handling and storing them much increase in a like ratio. Not only will the products of the country increase, but as the facilities for handling them are increased and improved, the radius of tributary territory will be extended, so that in a few years, if the business men of the town are WIDE AWAKE and provide facilities adequate to conveniently receive, store and handle the products of the country, which will without doubt be the case, this live town will have grown to a busy, booming metropolis, with mills, elevators, ware-houses, manufactories, and all the various routine of trades and industries that go into the make-up of a live, progressive western city. This, to some, may seem an overdrawn picture; but it is not. It is all practical, possible and probably; in fact, with ordinary sagacity and business tact in the management of the business interests of the town, it is inevitable.
“LEONARDVILLE TOWNSITE was surveyed and platted in September, 1881. The site comprising a portion of the farms of Lucien Kilbourne, John Ford and Erpelding Bros. Erpelding Bros. and Mr. Kilbourne, donated the right of way through their farms, and each alternate lot; and Mr. Ford gave each alternate lot, to the Railroad company as a consideration for locating the town and surveying and platting the same, and recording the town plat, which they did in September, 1881, as above.”
The Leonardville Monitor was continuously published from April 1884 until March 1953, when it combined with the “Riley Regent” to become the “Monitor-Regent.” The “Monitor-Regent” later merged with “The Blue Valley News” (formerly the “Randolph Enterprise”), becoming “The Riley Countian,” and is still publishing under that name.
By the fall of 1894, the “Leonardville Monitor” had a new editing team – Dr. Megan and his son Fred R. Megan. On October 18, 1894, “The Leonardville Monitor” reported,
“Greeting.’
We appear for the first time upon the pages of the MONITOR, having taken charge of the paper Oct. 1st. We come among you as strangers, but the warm reception in which we have been received by the good people of this city and country assures us that your hearts are with us, and we will try to make the MONITOR a power for good to the city and surrounding country, Having been in different parts of the state we have seen no place which present so many first class businessmen as Leonardville. And as to the farms and farmers in this part of Piley Co. they have no piers. The MONITOR will always be with you in everything that is to the building up of home industry and enterprise. Our motto is ‘To Honor God, Protect home and defend our country.’ F. R. Megan, Editor.”
On October 25, 1894, the “Clay County Star” reported, “’The Leonardville Monitor’ has changed hands, assuming editorial charge, F. R. Megan, and Dr. Megan & Son appear as publisher. From appearances they start in with an excellent patronage and will no doubt keep the paper up to its former high local standing.” By November 8, 1894, their newspaper was advertised as “a spicy 5-column quarto, neatly printed and is Republican in politics.” Father and son did not run the paper together for long. On Feb 28, 1895, “The Leonardville Monitor” reported, “Dissolution of Partnership. Notice is hereby given that the firm of Megan & Son has, by mutual consent, dissolved partnership. All accounts due the MONITOR, to receive proper credit, must be paid to Dr. J. W. Megan” (page 8).
Fred left Leonardville and settled in Peoria, Illinois. The 1895 Peoria Directory listed Frederick R. Megan as an editor, living at McClure av. nr Knoxville rd.”
Back in Leonardville, by the Spring of 1895, Dr. J. W. Megan was listed as the sole Editor and Publisher of “The Monitor” in Leonardville (25 April 1895, page 4). He only lasted another six months though, and on October 3, 1895, “The Leonardville Monitor” reported, “Dr. Megan’s Lease of the Monitor having expired, he retires from the management with best wishes of the proprietors. The Doctor expects to remain in Leonardville in the practice of his profession” (page 8). Dr. Megan turned his sights on preaching. On Nov. 28, 1895, “The Leonardville Monitor” reported, “Dr. Megan preached a very interesting sermon, last Saturday evening, at the Swedish Baptist church” (page 4). His religious interests repeatedly made the local news.
On Feb. 5, 1896, “The Leonardville Monitor” reported, “Dr. Henry Morton moved his household goods to Leonardville Monday, having purchased the practice and good will of Dr. Megan, whom we under-stand has accepted the pastorate of a Baptist church, he being a preacher as well as a doctor. – Correspondent from Green in Clay Center Dispatch. It is true, Dr. H. B. Morton has located and moved his family to our city, but he did not purchase the practice of Dr. Megan, neither had Dr. Megan accepted the pastorate of the Baptist Church” (page 4). On Jan 9, 1896, “The Leonardville Monitor” reported, “Dr. Megan has been chosen as examiner for the K. L. S. to be instituted here soon” (page 6). He also began dabbling in the marketing industry for medicinal products and it is hard not to think of the proverbial “snake oil salesman.”
Dr. J. W. Megan was repeatedly quoted from 1895 -1909 for promoting the Pyramid Drug Co. of Albion, Michigan. On Aug. 22, 1895, (and July 25, 1895) his testimonial was published in “The Leonardville Monitor” – “If you are suffering with the Piles and want a sure relief, send to the Pyramid Drug Co., Albion, Michigan, for a box of Pyramid Pile curs, price 50 cents and $1 a box. I have used a box and can truly say that I have received more benefit than all the medicine I ever used in the past 23 years. Dr. Megan, Editor of the Monitor” (page 1). “Dr. J. W. Megan, Leonardville, KS, I have used a box of Pyramid Pile Curs and received more benefit and relief that from any remedy I have used in the past twenty-two years.(article entitled the Surgeon’s Knife. Once believed to be the only cure for Piles and Rectal Diseases. Fort Wayne Sentinel 11 Jan 1896 p 2). This was also published in 1895 (in Fort Wayne, IN, and Xenia Daily Gazette, of Xenia, Ohio). In 1899 it was still published (Indianapolis Sun 18 Nov 1899). Ads all over the country, Iowa, Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Penn., Wisconsin, Mass., Minn, California, Washington, D. C. It looks like he became a Rev. Dr. J. W. Megan, as he was still promoting this remedy in 1908 (Word and Way, Kansas City, MO, 4 Nov 1909, page 11). He was noted as “Now Pastor Baptiste Church, Neodesha, KS” and that spring of 1909 “Pastor Baptist Church, Unionville, MO.”
By 1896, Fred Megan set out on his own and relocated to Kansas City (“The Topeka Daily Capital,” 9 April 1896, page 8). It is unclear what prompted the move and resulted in his career in theatre. The 1896 Kansas City Directory listed “Frederick R. Megan trav rms 1021 McGee”
The 1896 Kansas City Directory listed Megan as a traveling salesman, rooming at 1021 McGee. He was mentioned in local newspapers the following year, and associated with the opera house. On March 10, 1897, “The Kansas City Journal” reported “A Theatre Usher in Trouble. F. R. Megan, an usher at the Ninth Street opera house, was arraigned before Justice Walls yesterday, charged with obtaining money under false pretenses. He was at one time collector for the Travelers’ Accident and Sick Benefit Society, but was discharged. The company charges him with collecting weekly dues from persons who are insured with it and representing himself to be still in the employ of the company. He was arrested Monday night at the theater” (page 6). On March 12, 1897, “The Kansas City Times” reported, “Fred R. Megan Not Guilty. Justice Walls yesterday released Fred R. Megan, charged with fraudulently collecting money due an insurance company. The cashier of the company testified that Megan was authorized to make collections, though it was on complaint of the company’s superintendent that he had been arrested. Megan states he will bring suit for malicious prosecution. Megan is not, as was reported at the time of his arrest, ticket taker at the Ninth Street theater” (page 3).
Megan continued to be associated with the theater. On December 2, 1897, the “Leonardville Monitor” reported, “F. R. Megan who is well known here dropped in on the evening train on Thanksgiving. He is now traveling for the Barrett & Barrett Co., with headquarters in Kansas City. He informs us he will make this territory every sixty days” (page 8).
The 1898 Kansas City Directory listed “Frederick R. Megan trav b 1101 Wyandotte.” His permanent address was listed as Kansas City, but he continued to journey from one town to the next. On Feb 12, 1898, “The St. Joseph Herald” of St. Joseph, MO, reported, “Mrs. E. E. Markley of Peoria, Illinois writes to Mayor Vories for information regarding he son, Fred R. Megan, to whom she claims to have sent $5 by telegraph to St. Joseph, at his request. Megan is not known here” (page 5). This was Cornelia Jones Wookey Markley, Fred’s mom. To date, this is the only connection between Megan and his mother after he entered adulthood.
Megan married Thenia F. Jones (1874-1967), in Jackson, Missouri, on April 14, 1898, likely while Megan was touring. Their marriage license listed that they were united in wedlock by Pastor John W. Hancher at the Grand Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church in Kansas City, Missouri. Their marriage license was announced on April 15, 1898, in “The Kansas City Star” with their ages listed as 24 and 23 (page 8). Here is a little information about Megan’s wife and family.
Thenia was born on April 16, 1874 in Carrollton, Carroll County, Arkansas. She was the daughter of Milford H. Jones (b. 1839-1913) and Sarah H. Britton (b. 1844-1917); Thenia’s parents were married on Sept. 18, 1959 in Sparta, Monroe, WI. On July 3, 1913, the “Kansas City Star” reported, “Mayflower Descendent Dies Here. Milford Henry Jones, 74 years old, died at 6:10 o’clock last night at his home, 1514 Anderson Ave. He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Sarah Jones, and these daughters”: Mrs. Frederick Megan and Mrs. Alice Johnson, both of this city; Mrs. Jefferson Collins of Independence and Mrs. H. R. Stannard and Mrs. William Raymond, both of Springfield, Mo…Mr. Jones was born in Stockton, Chautauqua County, NY. He was a representative of old colonial families, being related to the Ames, Mallorys, Paynes and Putnams, and is a descendant of Thomas Rogers, who came over in the Mayflower.” Thenia Jones Megan is listed in the North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000, Daughters of the American Revolution. Lineage Book of the Charter Members of the DAR Vol 068 (#67204). She is listed as a descendant of Gideon Richmond, Stephen Scovel and Ebenezer Britton.
The couple remained in Kansas City. The 1899 Kansas City Directory listed “Frederick R. Megan sales r 807 Main.” In 1900, the Megans celebrated the birth of their only daughter, Anabel Thenia Megan. She was born on July 19, 1900, in Kansas City. The census that year, listed the small family of three renting a house on Cypress, with Fred continuing to travel the region as a salesman.
By 1901, Megan became actively associated with the Kansas City Scenic Co., and was listed in a series of articles about the firm. By now, he was listed in the Kansas City Directory as “Fred R Megan trav r 728 Cypress.
On Jun 13, 1901, the “Atchison Daily Globe” reported “Fred R. Megan [sic.] of the Kansas City Scenic company, was in town yesterday, with a view of getting the job of retouching the old scenery for the Atchison theatre.” On June 27, 1901, the “Downs Times” reported, “F. R. Megan, representing the Kansas City Scenic Co., was in town Monday and Mr. John Wolfert contracted with him for a complete scenic outfit for the opera house. The room will be refitted and put in fine condition, the whole, costing in the neighborhood of $500.”
On June 27, 1901, the “Rooks County Journal” of Stockton, Kansas, reported, “F. R. Megan, of Kansas City, spent Saturday in the city soliciting advertising to place on the new drop curtain which he will place in the opera house. We were told he sold Mr. Bigge about $300 worth of theatre supplies of various kinds.”
By August of that year, Megan supervised the scenic installation at the new opera house in Waxahachie, Texas. On August 24, 1901, the Waxahachie Daily Light reported, “Putting up the Scenery. The new opera house will be equipped with the most elegant line of stage scenery to be seen in this part of the state. The scenery was painted by the Kansas City Scenic Company, and every piece shows the artistic touch of a master’s brush. This part of the stage equipment will include nearly every set of scenery used in the production of any attraction coming to this section. There are twelve sets, including parlor, prison, kitchen, forest and palace scenes. Mr. F. R. Megan, representing the Kansas City Scenic Company, is here this week putting the scenery together and setting it up.”
Still representing the Kansas City Scenic Co. in 1902, Megan sold scenery to theaters in Fort Scott, Everest, and Columbus, Kansas. On March 13, 1902, the “Everest Enterprise” reported, “Fred R. Megan, representing the Kansas City Scenic Co., was in the city the first of the week and perfected arrangements for the placing of the scenery in the new opera house.” Megan was also in charge of the scenery installation at the Davidson Theatre in Fort Scott, Kansas. On October 2, 1902, the “Fort Scott Weekly Tribune” reported, “F. R. Megan, representing the Kansas City Scenic Co., was here and superintended the putting in of the scenery last night. His company installed the new equipment. There are fifteen different settings, eight interior and seven exterior settings…Of the different settings the Gothic interior and the exterior rocky pass and the woods and garden are considered the prettiest and present the most perfect effect. The trees stand out well and there is much about the scenery that is to be admired.”
He travelled across the country with an electrified model theatre. He brought the studio display room to potential clients; clients who were unable to make the journey to a large metropolitan studio. For those who could afford the journey, studios offered display rooms with miniature theaters and cabinets filled with scenic designs.
On June 4, 1902, Megan transported his miniature stage to clients in Fort Scott, Kansas. The Fort Daily Tribune reported, “Mr. Megan, representing the Kansas City Scenic Co., was in the city last week displaying his samples of scenery to Harry C. Ernich of the Davidson, with a view of getting the contract to refit the theatre. He carried a nice line in miniature form and from it he built a small stage, showing the comparative size of the various settings.”
On June 5, 1902, “The Fort Scott Republican” described the model in detail in an article entitled “New Scenery for the Davidson:”
“F. R. Megan, representing the Kansas City Scenic Co, was in the city on Tuesday evening and was in consultation with Manager Harry C. Enrich of the Davidson theater, Mr. Megan had with him and for the benefit of Mr. Enrich, exhibited a miniature theater brilliantly lighted with electric lights, furnished by wires in the opera house. The little theater represented an entire opera house, including stage, wings and a full set of scenery and the balcony, the dress circle and gallery. It was one of the neatest models of a big thing ever exhibited in Fort Scott, and was highly appreciated by Mr. Enrich. Mr. Enrich will go to Kansas City next week for the purpose of
engaging a full set of scenery for the Davidson, and the samples which he saw the other evening give him a full idea of just what he wants.”
A few days after exhibiting his miniature stage in Fort Scott, Megan journeyed to Columbus, Kansas. In Columbus, he again set up the electrified model for opera house representatives. In regard to his visit, the Columbus Courier reported, “Fred R. Megan, representing the Kansas City Scenic Co., is in the city today with a full line of sample scenery. He sold a good-sized order to the LaRue Investment Co., for the opera house.”
On July 18, 1902, “The Herald Democrat” of Leadville, Colorado, announced “Contracts for Theatre. Elks Opera House to be rebuilt and refurnished at Once.” The article reported, “The first sixty feet extending from the front towards the rear will be rearranged for store rooms on the first floor and an elegant new plate glass front will be put on. Over this, the second floor will be the new club rooms to be occupied by the Elks and which are to be finished and improved in the very latest style and thoroughly modern. On the next floor, third, will be an immense lodge room which will be built expressly for lodge purposes and consequently will be right up to date, introducing many innovations which will be the most acceptable to lodge members. The furnishings of both the lodge and club rooms will be taken up at a later date and will mean an additional expense to that already named and the board announces that they will be fixed in a style that will credit not only to the Elks but to the city of Leadville. But it is the theatre part of the building where interest will center among the general public and here the plans show an improvement that seems like jumping from the dark into fairyland. A spacious theatre with stage large enough to hold the most massive scenery carried by any of the traveling companies. Starting from the wall crossing the center at sixty feet the theatre will be extended back to the alley a further distance of thirty-two feet, giving the theatre a depth of all told about 100 feet with a width of sixty feet. The stage will be built entirely new and will be thirty-four feet deep, sixty feet wide and fifty feet high. The curtain opening will be thirty-two feet wide and twenty-four feet high. The present height of the old stage is only twenty-four feet all told. The parquet and dress circle will be on the ground floor and above will be the balcony which will be divided so that the rear portion will be used as the gallery portion. The theatre will comfortably seat a thousand people. It will be entirely refurnished throughout. Just as great care has been exercised by the directors in securing the new scenery and new curtain for the theatre. Mr. F. R. Megan of the Kansas City Scenic company, spent the past two days in showing the board the newest effects in scenery and last evening he was given an order for $2,000 worth of new scenery including a very handsome drop curtain, an India scene that is most charming to the eye. The new drop scenes include a parlor, horizon, woods, garden, rocky pass, street, bed chamber, kitchen and prison scenes. The floor to be used for the stage will be one that can be used for dancing purposes and when the stage is cleared it will be large enough to hold hundreds of dancers. The news that the Elks are going ahead with their opera house goes to show that their faith in the stability of Leadville has never wavered and is certainly a most creditable stroke of enterprise by this well known organization” (page 8).
His visit to Colorado that year was fortuitous, as the studio completed multiple contracts in the western region over the next decade, including West’s Theatre in Trinidad, Colorado. Megan’s association with the Kansas City Scenic Co. was listed in the “Kansas City Directory” in 1903, two full years after he became associated with the firm. Other contracts secured by Megan for the Kansas City Scenic Co., included the Walters Hall in Robinson, Kansas; the Opera House in Perry, Iowa; and the Baker Grand in Natchez, Mississippi.
On August 26, 1903, the “Perry Daily Chief” of Perry, Iowa, reported, “Opera House will have fine drop curtain. Mr. F. R. Megan, of Kansas City was in Perry this week representing the Kansas City Scenic Co., which concern will paint the scenery for the new opera house. The directors selected the richest design of drop curtain that he had to offer, and it is indeed a beauty. They also selected about eleven hundred dollars’ worth of scenery all told, including interiors, wood, garden, landscape, street scenes, etc. When the choice of the scenery was made it was found that there was a deficit of four hundred dollars in the appropriation that had been set apart for the item of scenery and in order to procure the full amount that had been chosen, it was decided to put on an ad curtain and sell a limited number of ads. The main house curtain will be raised when the orchestra begins its overture and display this curtain in seven hours time $375 worth of space on the ad curtain was sold by Monday. $25 worth have been sold since and there are yet three spaces which can be taken by any parties who have not been sold to. It is probable that there will be no spaces for sale in a day or two. There are eighteen men at work now on the building and the work is progressing rapidly. The front rooms on the main floor are plastered and the plasters are now at work in the front rooms upstairs. It looks now as though the building will be complete even before the contract time, Oct. 15th” (page 3).
Megan continued to travel with his model, and successfully land scenery contracts. On April 1, 1904, “Greensburg Daily News” of Greensburg, Indiana, reported, “First Exhibition of Grover Theatre. A Miniature Theatre with drop curtains, scenery and all stage paraphernalia, was on exhibition in Grover & Bonner’s store today. It showed in inches what a theatre should show in feet, but in every respect was perfect. The display was in charge of F. R. Megan, agent for the Kansas City Scenic Company and had all stage setting, drop curtains and plans of working as in a real theatre. It was a unique and splendid way of showing their wares. This same company has made a map of the U.S. for exhibition at St. Louis fair, that is forty by sixty feet in size” (page 2).
1906 projects attributed to Megan and the Kansas City Scenic Co., included opera houses in Mankato, Kansas and Lead, South Dakota. On October 8, 1906, the “Lead Daily Call” reported “Fred R. Megan, who has the work of painting the scenery and the decorations was an arrival on the Burlington last evening. He comes from Kansas City, and is an artist in his line, one of the best in the country. He will begin just so soon as the carpenters give him room, which will be in a day or so, to erect his staging and make other preparations for doing the work of adornment.”
On June 20, 1907, “The Weekly Herald” of Amarillo, Texas, mentioned Megan in an article entitled, “New Opera House Scenery.” The article continued, “Deal Completed for Stage Equipment and Curtain. Through the representative, F. R. Megan, Manager Henry Elliott, of the Amarillo Opera House company yesterday completed a contract with the Kansas City Scenic company for the curtains and stage equipment for Amarillo’s new opera house. According to Mr. Megan, the equipment ordered for the new opera house will be better than that of many houses in larger cities of the Southwest and will compare favorably with the equipment in any theater in the state. A big asbestos safety curtain will be swung on automatic rollers so as to completely cover the stage opening. This curtain will be arranged to be dropped in an instant at any time so as to effectually stop the progress of fire from either side. The asbestos curtain will. Be finished in high class scenic work and will be free from advertising of any kind. The drop curtain for use during the performance will be immediately behind the asbestos curtain. Of the scenery there are a number of complete sets all arranged to be operated from the fly loft above the stage. Settings and properties accompanying the scenes will be operated from the wings. The contract for the company calls for fall delivery and the equipment will be ready for installation as soon as the builders leave the stage part of the building” (page 7).
In 1908, Megan represented the Kansas City Scenic Company in Gasden, Alabama. He secured the scenery contract for the Hayden-Pake Theatre. On March 31, 1908, “The Gasden Times” reported, “W. H. Megan, representing the Kansas City Scenic Co, will arrive in Gasden tomorrow at noon and tomorrow night at the library auditorium he will place on exhibit models of scenery for the opera house. Mr. Megan comes here at the instance of the Hayden-Park Theatre company, who are building the new opera house. They desire that he public have some say in the matter of selecting the scenery to be used in Gasden and will appreciate any suggestions made. A miniature stage with drawings and models will be on display and all the people of Gasden are invited” (page 1). On April 2, 1908, “The Gasden Times” reported, “Exquisite scenery for Opera House. A small but thoroughly representative number of men and women gathered at the library auditorium last night and selected the principal scenery to be used n the new opera house. E. R. Meegan, representing the Kansas City Scenic Co., conducted an exhibit of scenes by using a miniature theater which was completely equipped with stage appliances. Numerous models and designs were shown, and selection was made by an expression of approval from the majority. There was never a wide difference of opinion and as a result the new theatre will have some of the most exquisite scenery to be found in any playhouse in the south. The drop, the advertising and the asbestos curtains were shown. Street scenes, gardens, parlors and woodlands were selected from a large number of models shown and it was really a treat to see the beautiful specimens of scenic art which Mr. Meegan had on exhibition. One thing certain, the patrons of Gasden’s opera house will not have to look at any hideous or inappropriate scenery. Indeed, every bit of the interior will be restful and pleasing to the eye. The color scheme is red, but there are harmonious decorations which make the whole an exquisite bit of art.”
Although the articles mentioned W. H. Megan and E. R. Meegan, it was really F. R. Megan whom they were referring to at the time. On Sept. 26, 1908, the “Gasden Times” reported, “F. R. Megan, representing the Kansas City Scenic Co., arrived this morning to hang scenery at the Hayden Park theatre. Mr. Megan thinks he will complete the work by midnights tonight.”
Megan was also responsible for scenery delivered to the Busby Theatre in McAlester, Oklahoma, during the first part of 1908. On Feb. 10, 1908, the “McAlester Daily News” reported, “Putting in Theatre Scenery. F. R. Megan of the Kansas City Scenic company arrived Sunday and has a force of eight men at work putting in the scenery at the Busby theatre. The scenery is rich and high class in every respect and the interior of the theatre will be a thing of beauty.” On Feb. 12, 1908, the “McAlester Daily News” reported, “The theater has the very finest and most complete set of scenery made by the Kansas City Scenic Co. The large asbestos curtain, which runs in steel frames, contains as a center piece a beautiful farm scene. This curtain, with counterweights, weighs 1,600 pounds. The drop curtain is a very fine piece of work, Roy Busby, seated upon Colonel William Busby’s thoroughbred Kentucky saddle horse, both natural as life, are shown in the center of the curtain. Among the drop curtains are street scene, olio, full palace setting, wood scene, garden, horizon, parlor setting, fancy interior, plain chamber, kitchen, prison and numerous set pieces, such as trees, balustrades, mantels, houses, rocks and borders. All of the pieces are quickly and easily moved by accurately balanced counterweights.” (page 1).
Megan continued to represent the Kansas City Scenic Co., with his name popping up in newspapers across the country. On July 6, 1909, the “Washington Citizen” of Washington, Missouri, reported, “Fred Megan of Kansas City was in Washington and secured he contract to paint the scenery on the Calving Theatre curtain for $250.” On Nov. 16, 1911, the “Hutchinson News” of Hutchinson, Kansas, reported, “May Buy Stage Fittings. Representative Conferring with Purchasing Committee. F. R. Megan, representing the Kansas City Scenic furnishings company, is at the high school this afternoon with the purchasing committee of the board of education and it is more than likely some action will be taken by the committee in regard to buying stage fittings for the high school auditorium stage before the afternoon is over. The committee was given power to act at the last meeting of the board.”
In 1915, Megan was still listed in the “Kansas City Directory” as a salesman at the “K C Scenic Co,” living at 306 Gladstone Blvd. On July 15, 1915, the “Kansas City Times” reported, “Mrs. Frederick Megan and daughter, Miss Anabel Megan, 306 Gladstone Boulevard, are in St. Louis, guests of Mrs. James Francis Murphy, 5339 Maple Ave. Mr. and Mrs. Murphy were formerly of Kansas City” (page 18). This was one year after Megan’s mother passed away in that same city.
Interestingly, the 1916 Kansas City Directory listed “Frederick R. Megan (Interstate Chemical Co) 2709 E 15th r 4136 Warwick boul.” Megan was branching out and dabbling in other industry products. However, he was still working with the Kansas City Scenic Co.
On May 23, 1916, the “Galveston Daily News” reported, “Scenery for Auditorium will soon be installed. F. R. Megan low bidder, is here to close contract. Will include interior and exterior, woods and castle scene and an asbestos curtain. F. R. Megan of the Kansas City Scenic Company, Kansas City, the successful bidder for the scenery for Galveston’s new city auditorium arrived yesterday and is at the Galvez. Mr. Megan’s firm was the low bidder for the work, submitting an estimate of approximately $4,000. The bids are in the hands of the committee for tabulation and report, and city commissioner H. O. Sappington said the contract with Mr. Megan’s firm probably will be signed within a day or so. ‘Our bid is for a full set of modern scenery,’ said Mr. Megan last night. ‘It will include an interior and exterior, a wood scene and a palace, both fully fitted. The asbestos curtain we propose to place measures 39×55 feet, covering the entire width of the 36×52 stage. It is the third largest curtain in the United States, the largest being the Hippodrome, New York. The curtain is the one that has been approved by the national boards of underwriters and is composed of 98 per cent pure asbestos. It will be hung on a ball-bearing shaft, known as the Sheaves patent, a ball-bearing cable track that will allow the lowering of the curtain with the slightest pressure. It can be handled easily with a thumb and finger. According to the present plans, the curtain will form the background for the picture that will be very characteristic of Galveston, a picture of the pirate, LaFetie, with one of the prizes that be brought to Treasure Island in the early days. Mr. Megan said that the scenery would just about fill a good-sized freight car, and that he hopes to get started on the installation within a short time. ‘The scenery should be installed by July 3,’ said City Commissioner Sappington last night, ‘and I am much in favor of holding some kind of formal opening during the Cotton Carnival and Exposition to show the people of the state what we have here in the way of a municipal building.’ Mr. Megan said he is much impressed with the new city auditorium. ‘I have inspected municipal buildings in all parts of the country,’ he said last night, ‘and I would not know where to turn to find a finer building than the Galveston Auditorium” (page 10).
The 1917 Kansas City Directory again listed Frederick R. Megan as “salesman K C Scenic Co r 4136 Warwick boul.” That same year, the Kansas City Scenic Co. offices moved from Grand Avenue to Harrison Avenue in Kansas City. On April 19, 1917, the Olathe Mirror reported, “Ben Dunn of Kansas City was here Thursday visiting old timers. Ben is not so old himself but was born and raised in this county and knows all the old timers. He and John Bronaugh, formerly of the county are the proprietors of the Kansas City Scenic Company. They recently sold their 76 feet at Twenty-fourth and Grand for $76,000 – $1,000 per foot. The property cost them $5,000 several years ago. They have moved their plant to Twenty-fourth and Harrison. Other Johnson County people employed with them are Geo. Bronaugh and Fred Hunt – both are in the cabinet department. Until Fred’s eyesight failed, he was one of their best painters. Leo Miloan studied with them but is now working elsewhere. It is said he has great talent.”
Megan continued to work for the Kansas City Scenic Co. in the capacity of scenic artist, installation supervisor and salesman, representing the Kansas City Scenic Co. until 1918. That year, the Kansas City Directory listed “Fredk R. Megan” as sales for K C Scenic Co., living at 4136 Warwick Blvd. The last record of his involvement with the firm is listed in his WWI draft registration card. The card still listed Megan’s occupation as a traveling salesman for the Kansas City Scenic Co., located at 24th and Harrison Streets in Kansas City, Missouri. His physical appearance was listed as tall with medium build, blue eyes and grey hair; he was 45 yrs. old.
By the end of 1918, Megan began working for the United States Government in their Liberty Theater Division. He was appointed to the Liberty Theatre office in Washington as Supervisor of Maintenance and Construction. On Dec. 22, 1918, the “Oakland Tribune” reported, “Mr. Allen Minnix, who has been in charge of the construction and maintenance work of the Liberty Theater Division has resigned, effective December 1. Minnix is a construction engineer and is building large numbers of residences and apartment properties in Washington. F. R. Megan takes over Mr. Minnix’ work in the Liberty Theater Division” (page 43). Keep in mind that many scenic artists began working for the government on painting projects during WWI, especially at Liberty Theaters and in the newly established camouflage trade. Many theatre technicians, artists and salesmen continued their government service in the post-war years, finding greater job security that in the private sector. The 1920 US Federal Census listed Megan as Government Supervisor in Washington D. C. Megan, his wife, and daughter were living at 3321 16th street in Washington, D.C. This was their second residence, as they still kept a second home in Kansas City, Missouri.
Between 1921 and 1922, Megan relocated to Baltimore Maryland. In 1922, Megan was listed in the Baltimore, MD, City Directory as the president of the Liberty Amusement Co, residing at 1800 N. Charles in Baltimore, MD. With his wife, Thenia F. Megan. It was at this time that Megan and Thomas G. Moses began negotiating the purchase of the Sosman & Landis name. Megan moved to Chicago. By the end of 1923, Moses wrote: “On December 26th, Megan and I met Sosman and Landis Company at Richard’s office and paid our first installment for the name and good will of Sosman and Landis Company, which we now own and will operate, but for a while we will have to use our names of Moses and Megan, until the old company can liquidate. We will then get a new charter.”
Megan drummed up business in 1923 while he and Moses waited to officially claim the name of Sosman & Landis. Although Moses made a name for himself over the decades, his designs and painting were integrally linked to the Sosman & Landis brand. It is not surprising that Moses believed that he needed the Sosman & Landis name to continue.
While Megan was on the road, Moses made models for new projects and painted scenery. This is how Sosman & Landis started and had successfully operated from 1877 until Landis’ passing in 1905; Landis was on the road and Sosman in the studio. This is also how Kansas City Scenic Co. functioned, with J. V. Bronaugh on the road and B. F. Dunn painting scenery.
Moses & Megan initially leased the old Fabric Studio in Chicago then moved their offices to 6715 Sheridan Road. By 1924, Megan continued work as a traveling salesman, representing Sosman & Landis, while being listed as vice-president and treasurer for the company. Moses and Megan continued to work together on projects for the next few years, including the Scottish Rite Temple theatre in Oakland, California. As project loads increased for each studio, additional staff members were added, with more salesmen on the road and more scenic artists painting projects. Moses and Megan continued working together throughout the 1920s. However, the large staff of artists associated with the earlier iteration of Sosman & Moses never returned. Moses and a few assistants completed contracts secured by Megan. In a pinch, Megan would don his overalls and pick up a brush to complete the project. By 1924, Moses wrote, “Megan on the road most of the time makes the studio work so much harder for me, especially when I want to paint more.”
When Megan relocated to Chicago in 1923, his daughter stayed behind in Baltimore for a year. The 1923 Baltimore Directory only listed Anabel Megan. At the time, she was a student, living in the Walbert apartments. On August 19, 1923, “The Kansas Star” reported, “Mr. and Mrs. Frederic Rishell Megan announce the marriage of their daughter, Anabel, to Mr. Edmund Rivers Harris, jr., Saturday, August 4, at Christ Episcopal church in Baltimore. Mr. and Mrs. Harris will be at home after September 15 at 716 East North Avenue, Baltimore. The wedding never took place. On October 1, 1925, “The Kansas City Times” announced, Miss Anabel Megan, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Megan of Chicago, formerly of Kansas City, is visiting her aunt, Mrs. Alice M. Johnson” (page 3). Anabel later married John F. Randolph, a gasoline station owner in Chicago, Illinois. On Feb. 25, 1926, the “”Chicago Tribune” included a picture of Anabel with the caption “Mrs. John Francis Randolph, noting “Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Rischell Megan, formerly Kansas City, Mo., and Washington, D. C., announce the marriage of their daughter Anabel Thenia, to John Francis Randolph, of Chicago. Mr. and Mrs. Randolph are at home at 7301 Sheridan Rd.” This was the same year that Moses and Megan delivered scenery to the Varsity Theatre.
Megan continued to work for Sosman & Landis. However, his name appeared less frequently in headlines. On Feb 22, 1928, the “Brownsville Herald” of Brownsville, Texas, reported, “To Get Scenery. HARLINGEN. Feb. 22. – Installation of theatrical scenery in the high school auditorium here is to begin within the near future, according to F. R. Megan, representative of the Sosman & Landis Scenic company of Chicago, who has been awarded the contract for the work” (page 16). On March 5, 1928, “The Brownsville Herald” reported, “Mysterious Shooting. EDINBURG, March 5.- Police here Monday continued an investigation begun Sunday night into reports of a mysterious shot fired near the junior college auditorium Sunday night. Robert McBridge and F. R. Megan, workmen, narrowly escaped being hit by the hail of shot.”
Even after Moses sold his shares of Sosman & Landis, effectively ending his relationship with the firm, Megan plugged continued as a salesman and artist. However, he also became associated with other firm’s too. On September 25, 1930, the “Altoona Mirror” described the interesting features of Jaffa temple’s beautiful new mosque for the Shriners in Altoona. It was a 1500-seat hall. The article reported, “The Gable Company supplied the equipment for the big stage of the auditorium, and it was installed under the direction of the firm’s special artist, Frederick Meagan [sic.]. One of the features of the equipment is the big asbestos drop curtain, weighing 900 pounds. It bears a painting that is in keeping with the organization and entitled “The City of Jaffa” and is very artistically done. It and the other furnishings were supplied through the Sosman & Landis company of Chicago and include stage sets, drops, lights and everything necessary to the modern stage. Mr. Meagan [sic.] directed the furnishing of the stages in the Shriner’s mosques in Cleveland, Chicago and other cities” (page 348).
In 1933, Megan was still listed as the Sosman & Landis branch manager (in Chicago), residing at 819 Dobson in the Evanston, Illinois, Directory. Moses passed away the following year at the age of seventy-eight years old. At the time Megan was only sixty-one years old. This did not stop Megan, but his projects continued to dwindle in the 1930s.
Megan eventually relocated to Altoona, Pennsylvania, where he continued to secure a variety of painting projects. Megan was still associated with the last iteration of Sosman & Landis in 1943. On May 6, 1943, the “Connellsville Daily Courier” reported the winning bid for maintenance work on the school buildings during the summer (page 3). The article reported, “Bids were received for maintenance work, including roof repair, caulking on windows, plastering and painting. The contract for all went to the Sosman & Landis Company, F. R. Megan owner, Johnstown.” On June 16, 1943, the “Connellsville Daily Courier” of Connellsville, Pennsylvania, reported, “A contract for painting the fire escape of Second Ward School was awarded to F. R. Megan” (page 3). The last mention that I have located about Megan was his presence at the Bellwood Lion’s Club in Altoona on Feb. 22, 1945 (Altoona Mirror, 24 Feb 1945, p 10).
Megan passed away only three years later, on April 16, 1946. At the time, his occupation was listed as that of “paint contractor.” The immediate cause of death was listed as coronary artery heart due to disease.
To be continued…
