freakintiquenguys@gmail.com, Author at Driving for Deco

Detail of “Fall” – Wheeler Williams 1934 (Photos by the author.}

We found Wheeler Williams! That probably means nothing to you. And it meant nothing to us at the time as well. But let us go back into our past for the full story.

The setting: spring, 2018, Kintnersville, PA: true to our mission of driving-for-deco, we headed out to Antique Haven. This is one of our go-to moderate sized stores. And rarely do we leave empty handed.

On this day, we saw a nice Art Deco half round side table. And displayed on top was a very interesting, very large (40 1/2in high), very heavy, and equally Art Deco statue. It didn’t take much discussion before both were in the car heading off to a new home.

The three faces of “Fall” (Photo by the author.)

Detail of the cast base. {Photo by the author.}

We try to research things we purchase as a way of increasing our knowledge and, when possible, to share that knowledge. Unfortunately, we could not find anything on either.

Martell Gallery – Three Seasons (Photo from Instagram)

Last autumn, Anthony was excited to see a series of these statues in the background of an ad for a high-end store in Florida. Unfortunately, there was no other information on them in the ad or on the dealer’s website

Wheeler Williams (Photo from americanart.si.edu}

Flash forward to 2024 and on a whim, I decided to try a reverse image search on the statue. Ta-da! We purchased a composite stone statue called “Fall” designed by Wheeler Williams and manufactured circa 1934.

The Four Season’s (Photo from artnet.com)

In 1932, Williams designed the series of the “Four Season”; cast in bronze. Later production copies, such as ours, were cast in metal, marble, cast stone or plaster.

Wheeler Williams was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1897. He studied sculpture at the Art Institute of Chicago. Transferring to Yale University, he took top honors graduating magna cum laude in 1922 with a Master of Architecture degree. That same year, Williams won dual honors: a medal for architecture from the American Institute of Architects, and for a sculpture (in collaboration with John Albert Wilson) from the Prix de Rome.

Talented in both disciplines, he opted to concentrate on sculpture over architecture. He spent the next 8 years at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, France, mentored by Jules Coutan.

In 1927, Wheeler Williams was invited to participate in the Pioneer Woman statue competition. He failed to win. However, you can see an enlarged, cast version of his entry in front of the Liberty Kansas Public Library. You an easily see the form’s similarity to the Four Seasons.

Muse of Missouri Fountain postcard (Photo from eBay.com)

Wanting to expand his exposure to the world, he opened a studio in New York in 1928, traveling between Paris and the U.S. Eventually taking up permanent residence in the U.S.A., he continued to sculpt both in New York and a copious amount in California.

Pediment of the Environmental Agency,1935, Washington D.C. (Photo from Wikipedia)

Williams flourished during the 1930s. Proficient in carved allegorical reliefs you can still see an example at the Interstate Commerce Building, Washington, D.C. He also produced work for the WPA (Federal Works Agency). Two of his works are viewable in the post offices on Canal Street, New York, and in Bay Shore, Long Island. He is also known for his life-like portrait busts.

For a list of some of his other public works, click here.

1936 Speed: Post office in Bay Shore, New York (Photo from US National Archives and Records Administration)

In 1937, Williams was a recipient of a Gould Medal at the Paris Exposition.

1939 Black Panther (Photo from pafaarchives.org)

Panthers flank the entrance to The Society of the Four Arts (Photo from palmbeach.floridaweekly}

He exhibited regularly at the National Academy beginning in 1938 and winning in 1940 the Ellin Speyer Memorial Prize for his Black Panthers. He served as president of the National Sculpture Society and helped to found and serve as president of the American Artist Professional League.

Prolific, he worked steadily through the 1940s and 1950s.

As a patriot, he served active duty in both world wars. However, there was a darker side to him. This fanatical patriotism manifested as a supporter of the House Un-American Activities Committee. His involvement was looking for “red” communists in the arts. He also participated as a trial juror on the Alger Hiss treason case.

Wheeler Williams Douglas Orr Taft Memorial

1959 Robert A. Taft Memorial and Carillon Douglas W. Orr with Wheeler Williams (Photo from aoc.gov}

Many of Williams’ commissions during this period reflect as conservative viewpoint. An example of this is his work on the Robert A. Taft Memorial in Washington, D.C. The imposing tower is a work by Douglas W. Orr and the 10 foot bronze statue is by Williams.

After a long and undisclosed illness, Wheeler Williams died at the age of 74 on August 12, 1972 in Madison, Connecticut.

Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, Memphis, Tennessee (Photo by Thomas R Machnitzki)

In 1961, the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art in Memphis, Tennessee purchased a trio of the seasons consisting of “Spring, Summer, Fall”. Fabricated in Carrara marble, they were prominently displayed to the left of the entrance. However, on October 28, 2023, two of the statues, “Spring” and “Summer”, were badly damaged by in a hit-and-run when a van struck them.

Ironic that the only one not to fall, is, well, “Fall”.

Post accident (Photo from artnews.com Courtesy the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art)

The museum is working with experts to assess the extent of the damage and whether they can be repaired. As of the publishing of this article, only Fall is currently on display.

Thanks for coming along on our journey to finding Wheeler Williams.

Chris & Anthony (The Freakin’ ‘Tiquen Guys)

The Little Theatre at 240 East Avenue, Rochester, NY.

The Little Theatre 240 East Avenue, Rochester, NY. Photo by the authors.

September 29th was Silent Movie Day and to honor it the Little Theatre in Rochester, New York screened G. W. Pabst’s 1929 film Pandora’s Box. Starring silent film icon Louise Brooks the film played in historic theatre 1 which will be celebrating its 95th anniversary on October 17th. I haven’t been to Little Theatre 1 since before the pandemic and its 2020 Art Deco renovation. So this was the perfect excuse for me to go see the theatre and a great film as well.

The front of the Little Theatre on East Avenue.

The Little Theatre’s East Avenue facade. Photo by the authors.

The Little Theatre Movement

In the 1920s as the American film industry, through large studios like Paramount and First National, began an almost monopolistic control on making and exhibiting motion pictures a new type of theatre emerged. The Little Theatre movement, created by the Motion Picture Theatre Guild, was a direct response to mainstream cinema. These theatres would program European imports and more experimental domestic films and cater to the intellectuals. By the end of the decade Little Theatres were opening in most major American cities with Rochester, New York’s opening in the autumn of 1929.

The Little Theatre on East Avenue in Rochester, NY, 1929.

The Little Theatre shortly before opening in October, 1929. Photo from beroachitecture.com

The Little Theatre, Rochester, New York

Rochester’s Little Theatre was typical of the size of other “Little Theatres”, having seating of less than 500, unlike the several thousand seating capacity of mainstream picture palaces. Another feature of these theatres was to offer patrons free coffee and cigarettes and lounges to intellectually discuss films. Edgar Phillips and Frederick Pike designed the Little in the new modern style just becoming popular in the United States. The East Avenue facade is of polished, black terracotta tiles. Breaking up the dark facade are cast, aluminum inserts.

Cast aluminum decorations over a doorway in the front of the Little Theatre.

One of the cast aluminum decorations on the Little’s facade. Photo by the author.

And includes a frieze of stylized flora over the second story windows. Thanks to the Art Deco facade the theatre has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

A section of the second story stylized frieze.

A section of the stylized frieze over the second floor windows. Photo by the authors.

Premiere engagement newspaper ad for the Little Theatre, October, 1929.

Advertisement of the Little’s premiere week. Image from Democrat & Chronicle, October 20, 1929.

The Little’s original mission was to be a venue for the fast dying art of the silent film. Nicknamed the “House of Silent Shadows” the opening program included the Italy / French co-production of Cyrano de Bergerac (Dir. Augusto Genina, 1923). The lavish, stencil color production was accompanied by a three-man orchestra playing from upper left balcony.

Frame capture from the DVD of the 1923 film Cyrano de Bergerac.

Frame from Cyrano de Bergerac (Augusto Genina, 1923). Frame capture from the Image DVD.

With the onset of the Great Depression not long after the Little Theatre’s opening, concessions to its mission were necessary, and sound equipment installed. With the conversion to sound, a marquee was added to the exterior in 1931.

The Little Theatre showing the 1931 marquee addition.

The 1931 marquee during the run of Rome Express in 1932. Image from cinematreasures.org.

The next change to the theatre’s exterior came right after the end of the Second World War, when a new “zigzag” vertical sign replaced the original one.

The East Avenue facade of the Little Theatre with the 1946 vertical sign.

The Little Facade showing the 1940s vertical sign. Photo by the authors.

The Little’s interior has seen more changes through the years than the outside. Originally the seat configuration features two sections with a center aisle down the middle. Cylindrical wall sconces lined the auditorium walls. The downstairs lounge while comfortable was not especially moderne in style.

Photos showing the original interior of the Little Theatre.

Photos of the Little’s original interior design as featured in the 20th anniversary booklet from 1949. Photos from cinematreasures.org.

Ownership of The Little changed through the years, at one time becoming part of Jo-Mor Theatre chain. In the 1980s coming under new management headed by William Coppard and John and Pam Blanpied, the Little’s original mission as an art house was restored.

The auditorium’s interior had undergone alterations by the 1980s as well. Seating now was in three sections a large center section and two smaller sections along the walls. Gone were the original seats and wall sconces. This would change with a 2019-2020 renovation / restoration. While not an authentic restoration bringing the theatre back to its 1929 appearance, it is a thoughtful renovation, that captures the spirit of the 1920s Little.

Little Theatre entrance. Photo by the authors.

Lobby

Reproduction of 1920s / 1930s milk glass shades in the entrance lobby. Photo by the authors.

1920s inspired mirror and poster case. Photo by the authors.

Art Deco inspired ceiling lights on the ceiling of the inner lobby. Photo by the authors.

Renovated inner lobby. Photo by the authors.

Inner lobby corner and stairs down to the lounge.

Inner lobby corner and stairs to the downstairs lounge and restrooms. Photo by the authors.

Downstairs Lounge

Stairs leading (with original 1929 railings) to the downstairs lounge. Photo by the authors.

Downstairs lounge with Streamline Moderne inspired furniture and a reproduction Art Deco ceiling light and wall sconces. Photo by the authors.

Detail of the reproduction ceiling in the downstairs lounge. Photo by the authors.

Auditorium

Side wall of the auditorium with new wall sconces reminiscent of the original 1929 lighting. Photo by the authors.

Detail of auditorium wall sconce. Photo by the authors.

The new seats with Art Deco inspired upholstery, mimic the shape of the original 1929 seats. Photo by the authors.

Looking toward the screen in the renovated auditorium. Photo by the authors.

So if you happen to be in Rochester and want to see a movie check out what’s playing at the Little. And maybe there will be a screening of a classic film in Little 1, if so, don’t miss it.