Sometimes historic preservation runs through the Chelan Valley in theatrical ways. In November 2021 Larry Hibbard and Mary Murphy, owners of the 110-year-old Ruby Theatre, reached out to Dr. Wendy Waszut-Barrett concerning the Ruby’s old, dilapidated theatre curtains. Wendy is an international expert in painted theatre scenery restoration and replication at Historic Stage Services in Minnesota. They were particularly interested in Wendy’s interest and availability to replicate the Ruby’s main drape, complete with hand-painted borders.[i] As luck would have it, their interests coincided with Okanogan’s historic Hub Theater gaining national attention when the owners of their 115-year-old building discovered two 60-foot long murals hidden behind plaster during renovations.[ii]
In 2022 Wendy traveled to north central Washington to meet with both theatre owners and upon returning to Minnesota contracted with Liba Fabrics in New York City to create the new draperies for the Ruby, funded in part with a grant from the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation. [iii] In 2023 Historic Stage Services shipped the new plain curtains, valance and side curtains to the Ruby Theatre where they were installed for permanent display.
In April 2024 Wendy traveled from her studio in Minnesota to the Ruby Theatre to paint the draperies. Prior to her departure she replicated the original stencils on the curtains and made several samples to examine on site. Local volunteers, including Patrece Canoy-Barrett and Luke Roehl, assisted Wendy with painting and hanging the curtains. Wendy observed that the gold paint in the stencils “reflects light beautifully, especially in low-light conditions.”[iv]
Wendy Waszut-Barrett stenciling the curtains. Courtesy: Larry Hibbard.
A Second Act
During the 1920s it was common for theatre curtains to feature hand-painted advertisements. Advertising curtains were a way for local businesses to promote their products and services to theatre patrons. Advertising curtains served a dual purpose: they were both functional and a source of revenue for the theatres.[v]
In 1919 Henrietta “Babe” Kelsey Hendershott’s father, R. L. Kelsey, took over managing the theatre and later took ownership. The Kelsey family lived in a two room “apartment” behind the screen for several years. [vi]
During the frigid depths of the Great Depression, the Chelan Mirror reported on New Year’s Eve, 1931, that Joe Carpenter, a Wenatchee commercial sign painter, was painting a new advertising curtain for the Ruby Theatre. [vii] The center picture shows the high bluffs above Moore’s point, with surrounding advertisements. Babe Hendershott helped Joe Carpenter paint the screen and sold ads on the curtain to local businesses.
Rock of Broken Mountian.
Joe Carpenter sign painting, possibly Earthquake Point of Ribbon Cliff. Courtesy: Lake Chelan Historical Society.
Chelan Mirror article on painting the new advertising curtain by Joe Carpenter, December 31st, 1931. Courtesy: Lake Chelan Historical Society.
As older theatres modernized, the need for advertising curtains diminished and in 1976 Babe Hendershott donated the advertising curtain to the museum for preservation and display.[viii] During the curtain restoration in April 2024 volunteers moved the advertising curtain from the museum to the Ruby Theatre to temporarily display the advertising curtain in its glory.
Moving the advertising curtain from the Museum to the Ruby Theatre for display, April 2024. Courtesy: Dr. Wendy Waszut-Barrett.
On April 25th, 2024, Wendy presented the newly restored curtains, complete with the hanging advertising curtain. She provided historical context and background with illuminating details on curtain restoration, the dry pigment painting process, and her passion to preserve and celebrate the theatrical heritage, extant scenery conservation, and training artists in distemper painting techniques for the stage.
The advertising curtain painted by Joe Carpenter hanging at the Ruby Theatre, April 2024. Courtesy: Larry Hibbard.
Curtains Take a Curtain Call
The Ruby Theatre now celebrates the new stenciled curtains and the repainted proscenium arch. As to the advertising curtain painted by Joe Carpenter, the museum and Ruby Theatre are exploring options to hang the curtain at the Ruby Theatre once again.
Next time while enjoying a movie at the Ruby take a moment to appreciate the new hand-painted stenciled curtains and newly painted proscenium arch. And of course, drop by the museum to see the advertising curtain on display. Be sure to read the curtain ads and, as always, shop locally.
A promising encore performance is ahead.
[i] Wendy Waszut-Barrett. May 6, 2024. “Travels of a Scenic Artist and Scholar: Ruby Theatre. Chelan, Washington, April 22-29, 2024”, https://drypigment.net/2024/05/06/travels-of-a-scenic-artist-and-scholar-ruby-theatre-chelan-washington-april-22-29-2024/, accessed August 3, 2024.
[ii] Sara Smart. January 27, 2022. “A couple renovating a 115-year-old building discovered two 60-foot-long hidden murals. CNN, https://www.cnn.com/style/article/couple-discover-murals-during-renovation-trnd/index.html, accessed August 3, 2024.
[iii] Grant funding provided by Washington Trust for Historic Preservation. The project was supported in part by a grant from the National Park Service, Department of the Interior.
[iv] Wendy Waszut-Barrett. 2024. Ibid.
[v] Wendy Waszut-Barrett. 2024. Ibid.
[vi] Jon Nuxoll. April 8, 1992. “Life upon the (Ruby Theater) stage”, Chelan Mirror.
[vii] Dennis King. March 16, 2024. “Up the Columbia with a Camera – Wenatchee Drug Company – Joe Carpenter painted signs on rocks possibly Earthquake Point of Ribbon Cliff”, https://www.facebook.com/groups/997976200763883/?multi_permalinks=1528366801058151&hoisted_section_header_type=recently_seen, accessed August 3, 2024.
[viii] According to Larry Hibbard, the advertising curtain was removed from the theatre before 1947 and most likely replaced in the late 1930s with another advertising curtain.
Reflections on the Mountain, people and places of the Pacific Northwest 