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Austin Scottish Rite

Austin Scottish Rite

Architects: Hubbell & Greene (1914 remodeling)

First Opened: 2nd April 1914 (109 years ago)

Former Names: Turner Hall

Website: www.scottishritetheater.org Open website in new window

Telephone: (512) 472-5436 Call (512) 472-5436

Address: 207 West 18th Street, Austin, TX 78701 Show address in Google Maps (new window)


The Scottish Rite Theater is the oldest theatre in Austin, originally erected in 1871 as a German opera house. The theatre is notable for being home to a large number of 100+ year-old painted backdrops by Sosman & Landis, and a fully operable 19th century “Brown’s Special Counterweighted” flying system.

Detailed Information

For the initial forty years of its life the Austin Scottish Rite Theater was a German opera house, having been constructed by German immigrants who wanted to create a public meeting and social gathering place much like they would have found in their homeland. It was known as Turner Hall during this time.

The building in the 1920s
The building in the 1920s

In 1912 a number of Shriners formed an organization called the Ben Hur Temple Holding Association, created for the purpose of buying the building. Capital stock amounting to $15,000 was issued and the Association purchased the building, and from April 1912 onwards it was to be known as the Shriner’s Temple or the Ben Hur Temple. When not in use by the Shriners or Scottish Rite Masons, the building was to be rented to the general public for social events, shows, and exhibitions.

In February 1914 the capital stock of the corporation was increased from $15,000 to $40,020, and the name was changed to the Scottish Rite Holding Association. Thus the Scottish Rite Bodies held ownership of the building and Ben Hur Temple became the tenant.

Once capital became available for improvements in May 1914, Herbert Miller Greene, member of the Dallas Scottish Rite and a partner at Hubbell & Greene Architects of Dallas, prepared expansion and remodeling plans. Major changes were made to the stage and auditorium, most noticeably the removal of the auditorium side galleries and balcony to allow for the creation of a much larger balcony. At the time, degrees of the Scottish Rite were generally presented as one-act plays – stage presentations – designed to afford insight into, and stimulate intellectual debate on, the degree’s subject. It was quite usual for Scottish Rite Lodges to have fully-equipped stages for the often elaborate stage presentations, and Greene’s plans included upgrades to facilitate the most elaborate of productions.

Backdrop by Sosman & Landis
Backdrop by Sosman & Landis

M.C. Lilley & Co of Columbus, OH, were contracted to provide around $12,000 of theatrical resources for the Masons’ new theatre, and they subcontracted the supply of painted backdrops, props, and stage machinery to Sosman & Landis, a Chicago-based scenic art company. Sosman & Landis specialized in backdrops for Masonic theatre in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. Their works went into Scottish Rite theatres in cities such as Santa Fe, Guthrie, Pasadena, and Dallas. Some of the backdrops destined for Austin were created in the 1880s having been previously used at the Indian Territory Temple in Guthrie, OK.

The theatre’s wooden grid was strengthened and a fly floor installed 12ft above the stage floor on Stage Right. The existing three levels of backstage catwalks were repaired for safety and improved access. The “Thunder Chute”, or “Thunder Run”, was also installed: “constructed of heavy wooden planks, the tilted chute was loaded with bowling balls – some say cannon balls – so as to roll slowly along the length of the building simulating rolling thunder, even hoof-beats”.

The auditorium’s ceiling was painted to resemble the night sky, with recessed lights faithfully reproducing star constellations. The Sun and Moon also featured, with the Moon said to be “adjustable”, although more details on what that means have not been found.

Closeup of the “Brown’s Special Counterweighted” flying system
Closeup of the “Brown’s Special Counterweighted” flying system

The “Brown’s Special Counterweighted” system installed at the Austin Scottish Rite Theater is a cabled-guided counterweight flying system featuring wooden arbors (cradles) on four-inch spacings, operated from below on the stage floor or from the fly floor. The system has no rope locks because loads were precisely balanced and did not change, and there was enough inefficiency in the mechanics of the system that friction prevented the balanced linesets from moving of their own accord. The “Brown” moniker has been generally attributed to M.C. Lilley’s salesman of the time, Bestor G. Brown, however following investigations by Dr. Wendy Waszut-Barrett Link opens in new window, it seems credit is probably due instead to the subcontracted Sosman & Landis master stage carpenter who oversaw all of S&L’s Masonic installations, who happened to also have a last name of “Brown”.

The Austin Scottish Rite ended-up purchasing 64 backdrops from M.C. Lilley & Co. Thomas G. Moses, a prolific scenic artist of the time and president of Sosman & Landis, supervised the entire installation.

In early 1915 a $2,500 2-manual 20-rank Möller pipe organ was installed. It was removed many years later and research has been unable to trace any further details of it.

It was noted that the Spring 1916 reunion marked the most effective use of scenery and lights in the degree work of the Austin Scottish Rite Bodies. Approximately $15,000 had been invested for “some ninety drops”, “some 1,000 lamps...of four different colors, with a large switchboard and dimmers”, accessories, and wardrobes.

Auditorium in 2018
Auditorium in 2018

Until the 21st century the theatre rarely hosted public performances, however the Masons treasured the building and its heritage and, to this day, remain watchful tenants of the building.

In 2004 the Masons created a non-profit theatre organization, dedicated to building community through the arts. The organization provides quality shows for all ages with enriching programming for children.

For almost 150 years, innumerable artists and events of all kinds have graced the Scottish Rite Theater’s stage, from the operas and circus trapeze acts that wowed crowds during the 19th Century to the live world music and multimedia children’s programming that delight the citizens of Austin today.

As of June 2018 the theatre still houses an original prompter station and its Thunder Run, although both are rarely used.

The theatre’s main floor and balcony accommodate approximately 300 in a seated theatre configuration.

Listed/Landmark Building Status

How do I visit the Austin Scottish Rite?

As of mid-2018 the Scottish Rite Theater does not offer regularly-scheduled tours, however they welcome visitors to come and view the historic theatre and century-old painted backdrops by making arrangements by email with rental@scottishritetheater.org Link opens in new window.

You can also check out the events running at the Scottish Rite Theater on the their website Link opens in new window which includes a calendar of events and online booking.

Further Reading

Online

Technical Information

Flying System
System Type
“Brown’s Special Counterweighted” system featuring wooden arbors on 3"-4" centers
Linesets
Approximately 90
Stage Dimensions
Stage Depth
45ft
Stage Width
55ft
Historic Photos & Documents
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Photos of the Austin Scottish Rite

Jump to Photo Section:

  1. Auditorium
  2. Public Areas
  3. Stage
  4. Exterior
Auditorium

The compact auditorium caters to an audience of 300 in a theatre seating configuration, across main floor and balcony. The main floor can be cleared if needed.

The auditorium ceiling is adorned with accurate star constellations, in addition to featuring the Sun and Moon.

Public Areas

There are several sumptuous lounges adjoining the theatre.

Stage

The stage features a wire-guide wooden arbor flying system which was installed by the Masons in 1914. Linesets are spaced at four inches with capacity for approximately 90 linesets. The Stage also houses a Thunder Run (not pictured).

Exterior

The building was originally built by German immigrants as an opera house in 1871. Scottish Rite Masons took over the building in 1914.



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