scenicarts

Blast from the Past

Mon, 19 Feb 2024 18:46:16 GMT

This is a subtitle for your new post

This from a past blog but still Very relevant as another restoration is taking place as you read. This serves as a little backstory history lesson for all to appreciate

Got a call from a History Detective last October. Not PBS' History Detective but a gentleman who opened with “Hi, is this Scenic Arts Studios? I am looking for Louis Galanis is he there"
When I explained that Louie had passed away a number of years but Scenic Arts Studios is still a family-owned business with his son Christos Galanis now in charge.

The excited gentleman on the other end informed me that he was working for the Foxboro Community Center and in the process of renovating the building had discovered a mural with Louis Galanis' signature on it. Did we know anything about it or could we help? He had been investigating, calling artists, scenic backdrop painters, scenic studios, when Scenic Arts Studios along with Louie's name popped up in a Google search (I mean was there life before Google?). Some at the community center were in favor of "throwing the mural out as it was badly damaged and of no value" when he took it upon himself to see what he could find.
Christos asked him to carefully turn over the backdrop and see if there was a Scenic Arts Studios stencil on the backside as this would be the definitive test as to its authenticity. Sure enough the stencil was there. Tom the detective was thrilled he had broken the case succeeding as an amateur History Detective! The backdrop or "THE MURAL" as it came to be called was painted in 1935 as verified by the date on the back.

In that time period community centers were the hub of small town social life. Talent shows, dances, weekly card games, weddings, showers, and funerals were all held here in this Foxboro farming community. Neighborhood volunteers maintained the building and keeping the woodstove going. But over the years the center had fallen on hard times and been seriously neglected. It was this dedicated group of fine folks that were determined to make her feel loved again and in the process "The Mural" was discovered in the attic.

It is called an advertising backdrop, common in the 30's and 40's. Around the edge of the center painting are listed those companies that were patrons of the community center. Very few of these slices of rural life have survived the rigors of a bygone era and hardly any have the provenance that this one has. A true gem had been uncovered.

But like a much loved and worn ladies' garment was this beyond repair and best disposed of and how did it end up in Foxboro?

Louie and the Lusitania

Mon, 13 Feb 2023 18:44:40 GMT

This is a subtitle for your new post

So how ARE they connected? Read on. Love what the people in old photos try to tell us! This was Louie Galanis in his early 20's in what looks to be his first car and transport for Scenic Arts Studios. Notice that the back of the car has a rack on it, a do it yourself alteration no doubt, to carry scenery, curtains, and backdrops. Talk about making "do"! Back in the Beginning as I mentioned in the previous blog, Louie would rent out a backdrop, go to the show that night, take down the backdrop at the end of the show and on to the next. He did what he had to in order to keep Scenic Arts alive. The look in his eye is one of pride at the sign on the back of the car, "Galanis Scenic Studios". He obviously wants you to notice it. His was prideful business ownership! What captured the attention of the car enthusiasts in the studio was "What kind of car is that?" After a lot research and much debate, this is a family business and everybody is entitled to opinions, giving them often and loudly, a self proclaimed antique car "expert" came up with what he thought was the correct answer. The car is a Trumbell Cycletire Car . What's your guess? Go ahead it's ok to have an opinion here..it's family. As you read the link did you get the connection between Louie, the car, and the Lusitania? With the untimely death of Isaac Trumbull in the sinking of the Lusitania the Cycle car was no more but lives on with the photo of Louie.

Your own Nutcracker put to our Backdrops

Thu, 08 Dec 2022 16:31:25 GMT

This is a subtitle for your new post

What could be warmer than a beautiful Victorian Interior or a sweeter than a Candyland to dance the night away in front of. Scenes for your Nutcracker enhancing your show just the way you like it. Take a peek for more Nutcracker or Winter backdrops under our Backdrops or Plays. Many ways to get there. Have fun looking

In The Beginning

Mon, 15 Aug 2022 21:38:31 GMT

This is a subtitle for your new post

Every Dream has a beginning and this is the short version of the journey of Scenic Arts Studios and how it began. Scenic Arts Studios was started by Louis and Bessie Galanis in the 1920.s..that was a long time ago and times were very different and more difficult. They were married young and moved to Dorchester MA to begin their life together. Bessie supported her budding artist husband by working in a stocking factory, sewing the seams on the back of stockings. Louis was a paint boy for Lord Family scenic painters.

It was Bessie’s income that supported them in the early years. Louis was honing the fine art of scenic painting until he decided to strike out on his own. Bessie put her sewing skills to work by sewing the muslin for backdrops and theater curtains. Louie of course did the painting. In the early days before an extensive rental inventory had been built up, Louie would wait until the end of one show, remove the theatrical backdrop and deliver it to the next rental venue in time for another opening another show. This made for long tiresome nights while Bessie tended the studio during the day.

The young growing family persevered and made a success of Scenic Arts Studios. Scenic Arts Studios is the oldest family run Theatrical Backdrop Company in the United States in fact we are the only Backdrop Company still owned and operated by the original family for 4 generations. Now that is perseverance and success!