The Twin City Scenic collection

Summary Information

Title: The Twin City Scenic collection
Dates: 1895-1979
Creator: The Twin City Scenic Studio
Extent: 33 boxes
Location: Mezzanine, High Bay
Language: English
Collection Number: PA 43
Abstract:

Collection contains almost 2,000 sketches, model pieces, photographs and renderings of backdrops pertaining to scenic design and painting.

Repository: University of Minnesota Libraries. Performing Arts Archives, Manuscripts Division

Access and Use

Acquisition Information:

Donated by W.R. Brown, past president of the Twin City Scenic Studio, in 1984.

Access Restrictions:

The collection is open and available for use.

Copyright:

Contact the archivist regarding the copyright to these materials.

Alternate Format:

Alternate Form AvailableThe following is a link to an online database containing digitized versions of the renderings in this collection: http://digital.lib.umn.edu/scenery/

Preferred Citation:

The Twin City Scenic collection (PA 43), Performing Arts Archives, University of Minnesota Libraries, Minneapolis.

Biographical Information

Three employees of the Bijou Opera House in Minneapolis founded the Twin City Scenic Studio in 1895. The Studio created elaborate scene sets for theatre productions all across the United States. The peak production of the studio was from its inception until the mid 1920s. After the stock market crash of 1929 and the introduction of "talkies" the studio began to shift its focus from primarily designing and painting scenery for theatre to developing drapery and display work for non-theatre organizations, such as department stores and auditoriums. The studio closed in 1980 after a fire destroyed its building.

Collection Scope and Content Note

The collection contains almost 2,000 items produced by the Twin City Scenic Studio. Items include scenic drops, picture screens, studio photographs of renderings, sample interiors and model pieces.

Related Material

See also the publication The Twin City Scenic collection : popular entertainment, 1895-1929 : [exhibition], April 5-June 14, 1987, University Art Museum, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. c.1987.

An unpublished finding aid with detailed contents is available in the Manuscripts Division.

Subject Terms

Index Terms

• This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the University of Minnesota Libraries. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.
• Twin City Scenic (Studio)
• Scene painting -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis
• Theater -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis
• Theater -- Minnesota -- Saint Paul