SUPPORT THE
WRIGHT LIBRARY
PROCEEDS FROM EVERY SALE GOES TO SUPPORT THE WRIGHT LIBRARY.
CLICK TO ORDER.
WE PROUDLY SUPPORT THE FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT FOUNDATION
WE PROUDLY SUPPORT THE FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT BUILDING CONSERVANCY
WE PROUDLY SUPPORT FALLINGWATER
AND THE WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA CONSERVANCY
MIDWAY GARDENS, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (1913 - S.180) HISTORY FLOOR PLAN PHOTOGRAPHS BY HENRY FUERMANN (1914) PHOTOGRAPH BY TAYLOR (1914) POSTCARDS (1914)
SIDE BY SIDE TABLESETTING (1914) NICHOLLS COLLECTION (1924-1926) ART GLASS TIMELINE
BACK TO MIDWAY GARDENS ADDITIONAL WRIGHT STUDIES
During the summer of 1899, Sans Souci opened as one of Chicago’s first amusement parks and covered a double city block. Its main entrance was the corner of Cottage Grove and Sixtieth, later to be the exact location of Midway Gardens. Unable to remain profitable, the property was lease by another group of investors, one of which was Edward C. Waller. Jr. Because of his father’s prior involvement with Wright (S.030, 031, 047, 065, 066, 166), he was instrumental in commissioning Wright as the architect of their new endeavor. Although Wallace was instrumental in selecting Wright, Midway Gardens was pure Wright, and pure genius. The design and the details are spectacular and ornate. Eye Candy.
Much has been published about Midway Gardens. How do you describe such a complex building in a few short paragraphs. Paul Kurty’s “Frank Lloyd Wright and Midway Gardens” 1998, is essential in understanding this elaborate work of art. 600 feet by 600 feet, Midway Gardens was an indoor and outdoor facility. It was comprised of a music pavilion and stage, arcades on either side of the terraced summer gardens, an indoor lobby, club, tavern, two belvederes, promenades, cigar concession stands, two sunken gardens and pools, dance floors, cantilevered balconies, terraces, gardens and courtyards. He used bricks and concrete blocks with designs. Wright not only designed the building but also the wall murals, concrete block designs, windows, tables, chairs, lamps, graphics and dishes. He also designed the many different sculptures and capitals. John Lloyd Wright worked in his father’s office, prepared many of the working drawings and acted as superintendent of construction. Wright worked with two sculptors, Alfonso Iannelli and Richard Bock. Ezio Orlandi was responsible for casting. A heated dispute arose between Wright and Iannelli as to who was responsible for designing the many sculptures or as they were later called “sprites”.
On June 27th, 1914, the Midway Gardens officially opened with the National Symphony Orchestra. It had two excellent years as an entertainment center providing exceptional dining, orchestramusic, opera, exotic dancers and in 1915, Anna Pavlova, thefamous Russian Dancer.
On August 14, 1914, while Wright was completing Midway Gardens, word reached him about the disaster in Wisconsin. A cook set fire to Taliesin and murdered Manah, her two children and four members of Wright’s architectural staff. Wright left for Wisconsin.
Although success at first, Midway Gardens struggled financially. After only two years, on May 31, 1916, Midway Gardens was sold to the Edelweiss Brewery, turned into a beer garden and renamed "Edelweiss Gardens." After struggling, the final blow came in 1920 when Prohibition was declared. Ownership continued to change hands and on August 31, 1921 the property was sold to owners of the E. C. Dietrich Midway Automobile Tire and Supply Company and became the "Midway Dancing Gardens". In October of 1923, the Winter Garden was revised and enlarged by removing balconies (Kruty P47, F44). The four large male and female sprites (Cube, Octagon, Triangle, Sphere) were moved out into the Summer gardens. Benny Goodman even played there in 1924. In the spring of 1929, the building was leased to its final owner, Sinclair Filling Station & Car Wash. The building was finally demolished in October of 1929. Midway Gardens was bulldozed into Lake Michigan as break wall. The building didn't go down without a fight. Two wrecking companies went out of business trying to demolish the concrete structure. The company that finally demolished Midway Gardens lost a considerable amount of money on the job.
There are many classic Wright details. The basic material are brick and patterned concrete blocks. There are cantilevered and trellised roof overhangs and cantilevered balconies, decoratively designed metal fascia cornices. Horizontal lines, columns, hidden entries, horizontal rows of leaded glass windows and rows of leaded glass doors that open outward, vases, light trees, pedestal bases and sculptures, many, many sculptures.
Text by Douglas Steiner, Copyright 2008.
Original drawing of the Midway Gardens, Copyright The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, Scottsdale, AZ. HISTORY
During the summer of 1899, Sans Souci Amusement Park opened as one of Chicago’s first amusement parks and covered a double city block. Its main entrance was the corner of Cottage Grove and Sixtieth, later to be the exact location of Midway Gardens. Photographed 1908. Postcard: Looking east from Sans Souci Park, Chicago, Ill. MIDWAY GARDENS FLOOR PLAN PHOTOGRAPHS BY HENRY FUERMANN & SONS, SEPTEMBER 1914
Midway Gardens, Chicago, Illinois, Fuermann Photographs, 1914 (1913 - S.180). Set of 23 historic photographs by Henry Fuermann & Sons, documenting Midway Gardens in September 1914. Henry Fuermann & Sons photographed many of the buildings in the Chicago area. These Midway Gardens images photographed in 1914 are an invaluable record of Wright's Masterpiece. The Images are the most complete record of Midway Gardens as Wright envisioned it.
“Midway Gardens was an indoor and outdoor facility. It was comprised of a music pavilion and stage, arcades on either side of the terraced summer gardens, an indoor lobby, club, tavern, two belvederes, promenades, cigar concession stands, twosunken gardens and pools, dance floors, cantilevered balconies, terraces, gardens and courtyards. He used bricks and concrete blocks with designs. Wright not only designed the building but also the wall murals, concrete block designs, windows, tables, chairs, lamps, graphics and dishes. He also designed the many different sculptures and capitals. John Lloyd Wright worked in his father’s office, prepared many of the working drawings and acted as superintendent of construction...” Frank Lloyd Wright and Midway Gardens. Kurty, 1998.
Set of 23 historic photographs by Henry Fuermann & Sons. Courtesy of The Art Institute of Chicago. (S#0124.84.1025 : 1-23)
1) Cottage Grove Avenue from the Northeast. Winter Garden to the left, Tavern to the right. Both towers are prominent above the Winter Garden. Patterned concrete blocks, Two Queen of the Gardens and three Sprite statues are visible. (S#0124.84.1025-1)
1A) Detail of the Winter Garden to the left. Detail of the South tower, patterned concrete blocks and two Queen of the Gardens statues. 1B) Detail of the South (left) and North Towers with cantilevered roof overhangs and cantilevered balconies and decorative metal fascia cornices. Two patterned concrete block details, one for walls and the second for balconies. 1C) Detail of three Sprite statues. The Sprite on the right is above the North Cottage Grove entrance.
2) Winter Garden and Cottage Grove Avenue viewed from the East. (S#0124.84.1025-2)
2A) Detail of the Northern end of the Winter Garden. Queen of the Gardens statue on the right, a Sprite is just to the left of the Tower.
3) Northern end of the Winter Garden. Queen of the Gardens statue on the right, a Sprite is just to the left and right of the Tower. Two different patterned concrete blocks are visible. (S#0124.84.1025-3)
3A) Detail of the Northern Tower. Three Tower patterned concrete blocks are visible, one for walls and the second for balconies.
3B) Detail of the Northern end of the Winter Garden with vertical brick columns. Queen of the Gardens on the right, a Sprite is just to the left and right of the Tower.
4) North entrance from Cottage Grove Avenue. (S#0124.84.1025-4)
4A) Detail of the Entrance includes three cantilevered and trellised roof overhangs, patterned balcony concrete blocks, decorative metal fascia cornices and two Sprites.
4B) Detail of the front doors, which open outward, leading into the Belvedere are hidden approximately twenty-five feet within the entrance. Details of patterned balcony concrete blocks and Sprites.
5) Full view of the interior of the Eastern side, viewed from the stage looking out over the Summer Garden. Winter Garden in the center is flanked on either side by the Promenades and the Belvederes on either end. (S#0124.84.1025-5)
5A) Detail of the Northeast corner of the interior, viewed from the stage looking out over the Summer Garden. The Promenade sits between the Northern Belvedere on the left and the Winter Garden on the right. Cantilevered roof overhangs and cantilevered balconies are visible on the upper levels of the Belvedere.
5B) Detail of the Symmetry of the Winter Garden. Not only are there two towers, two Queen of the Garden statues and two Sprites on this Western side, but the same exists on the Eastern side.
5C) Detail of the Southeast corner of the interior, viewed from the stage looking out over the Summer Garden. The Promenade sits between the South Belvedere on the right and the Winter Garden on the left. Cantilevered roof overhangs and cantilevered balconies are visible on the upper levels of the Belvedere.
6) The Southeast corner of the interior, viewed from the North Terrace looking out over the Summer Garden. The Winter Garden on the left, the South Belvedere is in the center, and the South Arcade is on the right. Vases, Totem poles and Light Tree are visible in the foreground. (S#0124.84.1025-6)
6A) Detail of the two forms of patterned concrete blocks face the exterior of the Winter Garden, one for walls and the second for balconies. Rows for doors open outward in the balcony. Totem poles and Light Tree are visible in the foreground. North Refreshment Stand is on the left.
6B) Detail of the South Belvedere. The Sunken Garden is just beyond the row of eight Sprites. The South Arcade is on the right. The South Refreshment Stand is visible just in front of it.
7) The Queen of the Gardens. Located on the North end of the Winter Garden, facing the Summer Garden. (S#0124.84.1025-7)
7A) Detail of the Queen of the Gardens. Patterned concrete wall blocks visible behind the sculpture.
7B) Detail of the Queen of the Gardens base. Patterned concrete wall blocks visible behind the sculpture.
8) Totem poles and Light Tree. The South Belvedere is seen in the background. (S#0124.84.1025-8) 8A) Detail of the Totem poles and Light Tree.
8B) Detail of the Totem poles and Light Tree base.
9) Looking Northeast over the Sunken Garden to the North Belvedere. Cantilevered roof overhang and small cantilevered balcony. Patterned concrete wall and balcony blocks. Decoratively designed metal fascia cornices. A row of Sprites are visible on the left. (S#0124.84.1025-9)
9A) Detail of the Southwest corner of the North Belvedere. Cantilevered roof overhang with metal fascia cornice. One of the Wright designed hanging lights is visible just to the right of the small cantilevered balcony. A row of Sprites are visible on the left. 9B) Detail of the South side of the North Belvedere. Cantilevered roof overhang with metal fascia cornice and cantilevered balcony. Patterned concrete wall and balcony blocks. A row of balcony doors open outward.
9C) Detail of the North end of the Winter Garden. Trellised roof overhang cast patterned shadows on the entry below. Patterned concrete wall and balcony blocks. A rows of entry and balcony doors open outward.
10) From the South Belvedere looking Northwest past the South Sunken Garden and Summer Garden toward the Music Pavilion. Seven of the eight Sprites are visible in the foreground. Cantilevered roof overhang with metal fascia cornice and small cantilevered balcony is on the left. (S#0124.84.1025-10) 10A) Detail of the roof overhang with metal fascia cornice. The top of the hanging lights is visible on the left. Eight Totem poles are visible in the Summer Garden. The Dressing Room is just to the left of the Music Pavilion. 10B) Detail of the eight Totem poles atop the wall of the Summer Garden. Looking past the Refreshment Stand to the Northwest corner of the Summer Garden.
10C) Detail looking toward the Northwest corner of the Summer Garden, the Dressing Room is just to the right of the Music Pavilion. North Arcade is on the right, the Architect’s Box is on the West end of the North Arcade.
11) South Sunken Garden. Seven of the eight Sprites are visible atop the West wall of the Summer Garden. (S#0124.84.1025-11) 11A) Detail of four of the eight Sprites atop the West wall of the Summer Garden. Two Queen of the Gardens sculptures are visible above the Music Pavilion. 12) Full view of the west side, looking across the Summer Garden. (S#0124.84.1025-12)
12A) Detail of the Southwest corner. The Architect’s Box on the left is on the West end of the South Arcade. A double Totem poles sits in atop a pedestal, attached to the front of the balcony. The Dressing Room is just to the left of the Music Pavilion.
12B) Detail of the Music Pavilion. Dressing Rooms are just to the left and right. 12C) Detail of the Northwest corner. The Dressing Room is just to the right of the Music Pavilion. The Architect’s Box on the right is on the West end of the North Arcade. A double Totem poles sits in atop a pedestal, attached to the front of the balcony. 13) Overall view of the North Arcade. The Architect’s Box on the left, the North Belvedere is on the right. (S#0124.84.1025-13)
13A) Detail of the west end of the North Arcade. The Architect’s Box on the left, a double Totem poles sits in atop a pedestal, attached to the front of the balcony. Eight Totem poles are visible in the Summer Garden.
13B) Detail of the East end of the North Arcade. The North Belvedere is on the right The Refreshment Stand is in the center. 13C) Detail of two Totem poles and Light Trees. Refreshment Stand is on the upper right. 14) One of eight Sprites on the wall of the North Sunken Garden looking Northeast. Has its back to the Sunken Garden. From the Summer Garden it appears to be sitting atop a pedestal. (S#0124.84.1025-14)
14A) Detail of Sprite with a solemn expression.
15) One of eight Sprites on the wall of the North Sunken Garden looking Southeast. Has its back to the Sunken Garden. From the Summer Garden it appears to be sitting atop a pedestal. (S#0124.84.1025-15) 15A) Detail of Sprite with a smiling expression. 16) Interior of the Winter Garden looking East. Two of the four Sprites; patterned ceiling; hanging light fixtures, table lamps and Light Trees; sculptured capitals; row of balcony doors that open outward; leaded glass windows and doors, are all visible. (S#0124.84.1025-16)
16A) Detail of the patterned ceiling, row of balcony doors that open outward, and leaded glass windows and doors.
16B) Detail of the Northeast corner of the Winter Garden. The male Sprite holding octogon is on the left. Just to the right are the hanging light fixtures and table lamps. The row of balcony doors open outward; leaded glass windows and doors, are all visible. 16C) Detail of the Southeast corner of the Winter Garden. The female Sprite holding a sphere is on the right. 17) Northeast corner of the Winter Garden. The male Sprite holding octogon; patterned ceiling; hanging light fixture, table lamps; sculptured capital and row of leaded glass balcony doors open outward. (S#0124.84.1025-17)
17A) Detail of the Northeast corner of the Winter Garden. Table lamps; patterned ceiling; sculptured capital and the male Sprite holding octogon are all visible.
17B) Detail of the Northeast corner of the Winter Garden. Patterned ceiling; hanging light fixture and row of leaded glass balcony doors open outward. 17C) Detail of the Wright designed table lamp. 18) Southwest corner of the Winter Garden. Male Sprite holding cubes sits atop a pedestal, attached to the front of the balcony; patterned ceiling; sculptured capital; hanging light fixture; table lamps; row of leaded glass windows; large vase and stairs that lead to lower service area. (S#0124.84.1025-18)
18A) Detail of Southwest corner of the Winter Garden. Male Sprite holding cubes sits atop a pedestal, attached to the front of the balcony; patterned ceiling; sculptured capital; hanging light fixture, and table lamps.
18B) Detail of Southwest corner of the Winter Garden. Male Sprite holding cubes sits atop a pedestal, attached to the front of the balcony; patterned ceiling; sculptured capital; hanging light fixture, and row of leaded glass windows. 18C) Detail of Southwest corner of the Winter Garden. Male Sprite sits atop a pedestal, attached to the front of the balcony; large vase and stairs that lead to lower service area. 19) Male Sprite holding octogons in the Northeast corner of the Winter Garden. (S#0124.84.1025-19)
19A) Detail of the Male Sprite holding octogons.
20) Female Sprite holding sphere in the Southeast corner of the Winter Garden. (S#0124.84.1025-20) 20A) Detail of the Female Sprite holding sphere. 21) Female Sprite holding triangle in the Northwest corner of the Winter Garden. (S#0124.84.1025-21)
21A) Detail of the Female Sprite holding triangle.
22) Wright designed Mural on the North end of the Tavern. Doors lead to Cottage Grove Avenue entrance and Northeast Belvedere. (S#0124.84.1025-22) 22A) Detail of Mural and double doors. 23) Wright designed Mural on the South end of the Tavern. Built-in cigar stand. Service door on the left leads to service entrance off of Cottage Grove Avenue. (S#0124.84.1025-23) 23A) Detail of Mural and built-in cigar stand. MIDWAY GARDENS BY J. W. TAYLOR (1914)
1) Summer Garden at night, looking Southwest toward the Stage. South Arcade is to the left. Photograph by J.W. Taylor, Chicago, 1914. This image was used in the 1915 Postcard. See side by side comparison. 2) Detail of Summer Garden at night, South Arcade in the background. Photograph by J.W. Taylor, Chicago, 1914. 3) Detail of Summer Garden at night, looking Southwest toward the Stage. Photograph by J.W. Taylor, Chicago, 1914. MIDWAY GARDEN POSTCARDS (1914)
1) Midway Gardens postcard, looking Southwest across the Summer Garden. South Arcade on the left, Music Pavilion is on the right. Published in by Curt Teich, Chicago. See side by side comparison.
2) Midway Gardens postcard, looking Northeast across the Summer Garden. The North Arcade is on the left, the North Belvedere is on the right. Published by Curt Teich, Chicago.
3) Midway Gardens postcard, Winter Garden looking North. Published by Curt Teich, Chicago. SIDE BY SIDE
Left: This was the original photograph used for the postcard to the right. Summer Garden at night, looking Southwest toward the Stage. South Arcade is to the left. Photograph by J.W. Taylor, Chicago, 1914. Right: Midway Gardens postcard, looking Southwest across the Summer Garden. South Arcade on the left, Music Pavilion is on the right. Published by Curt Teich, Chicago. MIDWAY GARDENS TABLESETTING (1914)
It is conclusive that Wright designed many of the details and furnishings for the Midway Gardens. Sculptures, vases, leaded glass windows, interior tables and chairs (two designs, M3 pl 493, 494), garden furniture (two variations, M3 pl 497, 498), linen, lighting, china and a silver vase. He also designed the monogram that appeared on many items. Like the monograph applied to items at the Imperial Hotel, the monograph appeared on many items not designed by Wright like the Beer Stein (Fig. 5) and Tea Pot (Fig 9). It is also clear that items were ordered that did not have Wright's touch. Wright designed two versions of a garden table and chairs for the exterior Summer Garden. This design was never executed. They chose a white wood set instead. A design for a beer stein (Fig. 5) was included in one of Wright's drawings, and was more of a geometric design than the one that was used and engraved with the Midway Garden Monogram. The Coffee Pot Wright designed for Midway Gardens was a variation of the design for the Imperial Hotel (Fig 7c), very geometric in shape. Wright's design was not selected. The Midway Gardens Coffee / Tea Pot was most likely ordered from a catalog and imprinted with the MG Monogram (Fig 2c).
Hence we come to this silver dish (above). First a number of questions arise. Who manufactured it and when was produced? Were there other Midway Gardens? We start with the markings on the bottom.
Top: "00274, Midway Gardens" (Fig 10c). This piece is numbered, but the Meriden Historical Society did not have a record that matched. Of interest is the minute mark between and below the "...y G..." in Midway Gardens. It is approximately 1/64" in size. It is a stamped "W" inside a "C". It resembles the original mark used by The Watrous Mfg. Co., which merged with Meriden Britannia in 1898.
Bottom: "M B C E P" (Fig 10d). Each has raised letter within a stamped box. This have been identified as Meriden Britannia Company Electro Plate. Meriden, Connecticut, was the American capital for pewter and silver manufacture in the 19th century. The Meriden Britannia Company was formed in 1852, in Meriden, Conn. They initially manufactured products using a metal alloy called Britannia, approximating the appearance of pewter. In the late 19th century, when silver began replacing pewter in American homes, they also produced silver plated products. In 1898, they were one of the major companies that formed International Silver. MB continued to use their marks into the 1930's. Some of the other companies included:
Barbour Silver Company, Hartford, Conn.
C. Rogers & Brothers, Meriden, Conn
Derby Silver Company, Derby and Meriden, Conn.
Holmes & Edwards Silver Company, Bridgeport, Conn.
Manhattan Silver Plate, Lyons, New York
Meriden Britannia Company, MeridenMiddletown Plate Company, Middletown and Meriden, Conn.
Norwich Cutlery, Norwich, Conn.
Rogers Cutlery, Hartford, Conn.
Rogers and Brothers, Waterbury, Conn.
Rogers and Hamilton, Waterbury, Conn.
Rogers, Smith & Co., Hartford, Conn.
Simpson, Hall, Miller & Company, Wallingford, Conn.
Simpson Nickel Company, Wallingford
Standard Silver Company, Ltd., Toronto, Canada
Watrous Manufacturing Company, Wallingford, Conn.
Wilcox Silver Plate, Meriden, Conn.
William Rogers Manufacturing Company, Hartford, Conn.
Each firm continued to stamp their maker's mark on designs, but marketing and production was at the same expanded facility.
Left: "Crown" with two triangles, "Wheat?", "Star" (Fig 12e). All three are stamped, and unidentified.
Right: "Shield with small Star in a Crescent" (Fig 12f). Note: Manhattan Silver Plate, one of the companies that joined MB, had a Star within a Crescent mark (TM p148). The second is a "Scale within a Shield". Examples of this can be seen on MB items as late as 1951. The third is a "Thistle within a Circle". All three are stamped.
After an exhaustive study of the markings on the bottom of the piece, the conclusion seems to be that the piece was produced after the merger in 1898, and before 1930, so it fits the time frame of Wright's MG.
Were there other Midway Gardens during that time period? There may have been one or two, but it would have had to have been a sizeable facility in order to place an order like this and customized it with your name imprinted and numbered. There were no other sizeable "Midway Gardens" during that time period.
If this was used at Wright's MG, why would this piece not have the MG monogram? It may have been the size of the piece itself and its use. 1" in height, 5.5" wide, with the smaller bowl being 3.75" wide. The MG Cup and Saucer was designed without the monogram, and was produced without it. There were a very limited number of Imperial Hotel silver coffee services that survived. Some were imprinted with the IH monogram and some without. The only place for the monogram on this piece was the inside bottom of the dish, and if it was used as a condiment, small serving bowl or candy dish, the monogram would have been covered, hence no need to stamp it in a visible area.
Of interest is the design itself. It is consistent with Wright's geometric designs for Midway Gardens. The perforated setting surrounding the edges of the "bowl" and "tray" mirrors the front of Midway Gardens (Fig 9d), the details of Wright's "Queen of the Garden" sculpture (Fig 9e) and is stereotypical of Wright's Prairie style.
Our summary is not conclusive, but we would lean toward the conclusion that this silver dish was not designed by Wright, but was used in Wright's Midway Gardens, and most likely ordered from a catalog, and ordered in a quantity that would allow Midway Gardens to imprint the bottom.
Text by Douglas M. Steiner, Copyright 2010.
1) Midway Gardens Oval Platter. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Manufactured by Bauscher, Weiden, Germany. 1914. (S#0124.78.1024) 1B) Table setting designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Includes example of plate design. Courtesy of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. 1B) Detail of the Plate and the Cup and Saucer designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Plate design included MG monogram. Cup and Saucer design lacked monogram, and was produced without it. Courtesy of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. 2) Midway Gardens Plate. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Manufactured by Bauscher, Weiden, Germany. 1914. (S#0124.69.0724) 2B) Detail of Midway Gardens Plate. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Manufactured by Bauscher, Weiden, Germany. 1914. (S#0124.69.0724) 2c 2C) Midway Gardens Monogram designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Courtesy of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. 2D) Midway Gardens Plates. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. All four are marked on the back with "New York-Chicago Bauscher Weiden (Germany) 1914". Top: Large round soup or salad 9" across. Impressed mark in oval "Bauscher Weiden", and impressed away from the other marks is "23".
Center Left: Large platter. 9 3/4" by 6". Impressed mark in oval "Bauscher Weiden", and impressed away from the other marks is "00". Center Right: Small platter. 7" by 4 1/4". Impressed mark in oval "Bauscher Weiden", and impressed away from the other marks is "00". Foreground: Small round plate 6" across. Impressed mark in oval "Bauscher Weiden", and impressed away from the other marks is "15". (The Impressed Numbers may have to do with the shapes of the pieces. Two platters are marked with "00". The small plate "15" and the large Bowl "23".) All are manufactured by Bauscher, Weiden, Germany. 1914. Photograph courtesy of private collector.3) Midway Gardens Cup and Saucer, 1914. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The Midway Gardens Cup and Saucer was designed without the monogram, and was produced without it. Note: Pattern is inversed on this Sup & Saucer. Squares are below the line, not above like on all the other patterns. This was John Lloyd Wright's Cup & Saucer. It was manufactured by Shenango China, New Castle not Bauscher, Weiden, Germany which manufactured all the other Midway Gardens ceramics. This could account for the difference. Courtesy of David Hanks, Decorative Designs, 1979, p 125. 4) Midway Gardens Ash Tray and Match Holder. Not verified as a Wright designed. Most likely the red squares and monogram adapted to ash tray. Manufactured by Bauscher, Weiden, Germany. 1914. Courtesy of The Minneapolis Institute of Arts. 5 5) Midway Gardens Beer Stein. Not verified as a Wright designed. A design for a beer stein was included in one of Wright's drawings, and was more of a geometric design than this one that was used and engraved with the Midway Garden Monogram. Glass and pewter. 7" x 4" x 5". 1914. (S#0124.83.0925 : 1-2) 5B) Detail of table setting with rendering of Wright's concept for a Midway Gardens Beer Stein (right side of table). Design was never realized. Courtesy of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. 6) Midway Gardens Soup Terrines with Midway Gardens monogram. Left: Two Pint Soup Terrine. 9 5/8" long Handle to Handle by 4 3/4" wide by 3 1/4 Tall at the center. Right: One Pint Soup Terrine. 8" long handle to handle by 4 1/4" Wide by 2 1/2" Tall at the center. When combined, the One Pint Soup Tray, Terrine and Lid is 4 1/2" Tall to the top of the lid. The owner purchased the One Pint Soup Terrine at a antique store in his neighborhood, which is no longer in business. Photograph courtesy of private collector. 6B) Midway Gardens Soup Terrine with Midway Gardens monogram. Two Pint Soup Terrine. 9 5/8" long Handle to Handle by 4 3/4" wide by 3 1/4 Tall at the center. Photograph courtesy of private collector. 6C) Midway Gardens Soup Terrine and Base with Midway Gardens monogram. One Pint Soup Terrine. 8" long handle to handle by 4 1/4" Wide by 2 1/2" Tall at the center. When combined, the One Pint Soup Tray, Terrine and Lid is 4 1/2" Tall to the top of the lid. The owner purchased the One Pint Soup Terrine at a antique store in his neighborhood, which is no longer in business. Photograph courtesy of private collector. 6D) Detail of the Midway Gardens Soup Terrine's monogram. 7) Midway Gardens Tea Pots with Midway Gardens monogram. Left: One Pint Tea Pot. 5 1/2" Tall by 7 1/2" Wide Handle to Spout. Right: Two Pint Tea Pot. 5 3/4" Tall by 8 1/2" Wide Handle to Spout. Photograph courtesy of private collector. 7B) Midway Gardens Tea Pot with Midway Gardens monogram. One Pint Tea Pot. 5 1/2" Tall by 7 1/2" Wide Handle to Spout. Photograph courtesy of private collector. 7C) Midway Gardens Tea Pot with Midway Gardens monogram. Two Pint Tea Pot. 5 3/4" Tall by 8 1/2" Wide Handle to Spout. Photograph courtesy of private collector. 8) Midway Gardens Soup Terrines (2) and Tea Pots (2) with Midway Gardens monogram. Left to Right: Two Pint Tea Pot, Two Pint Soup Terrine, One Pint Soup Terrine with Tray and Lid, One Pint Tea Pot. Photograph courtesy of private collector. 7 9) Midway Gardens Tea Pot. The Coffee Pot Wright designed for Midway Gardens was a variation of the design for the Imperial Hotel, very geometric in shape. Wright's design was not selected. This Midway Gardens Coffee / Tea Pot was most likely ordered from a catalog and imprinted with the MG Monogram. 1914.
History of this Tea Pot: My Great Aunt and Uncle lived in Joliet, and used to visit Midway Gardens back in the 1920's, they loved the restaurant and the bands that played there. They were at the restaurant on one of their visits and my Great Aunt did not feel well that evening, as she thought she might be expecting a Baby. The tea that evening was the only thing that calmed her, so she had their chauffeur purchase a tea pot full of hot water and the cup of tea for the drive home. Over the years she told our family about the unpleasant drive home from that evening, and the other exciting evenings at Midway Gardens. Courtesy of Jeanne, Happy Trails, Ruby Lane.9B) Detail of Wright's concept for a Midway Gardens Coffee Server. The designed was a variation of the design for the Imperial Hotel, very geometric in shape. Design was never realized. Courtesy of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. 7c 9C) Detail of Wright's concept for a Imperial Hotel Coffee Server. Courtesy of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. 9D) Imperial Hotel Coffee Server on display at the de Young Museum, San Francisco in 2006. On loan from a private party. Courtesy of Eric. (Treasured Hunting)
10) Midway Gardens Fruit Bowl designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. This design was never realized. In 1988, through an agreement with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, Tiffany & Company executed this design. Made of sterling silver, 14 inches wide, 5.5 inches high. $11,250. Courtesy of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and Tiffany & Company. For additional information see "Frank Lloyd Wright, Decorative Designs Collection", 1988, 1990. 10B) Table setting designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Includes example of Fruit Bowl. Courtesy of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. 10C) Table setting designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Includes example of Fruit Bowl. Wright also designed the linen table cloth and napkin. The design included the MG monogram and the "Red Squares" border. Courtesy of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. 11) The design of this piece is consistent with Wright's geometric designs for Midway Gardens. It is 1" in height, 5.5" wide, and the smaller bowl is 3.75" wide. (S#0124.11.0110) 11B) The perforated setting surrounding the edges of the "bowl" and "tray" imitates the Wright designed place setting, and mirrors the front of Midway Gardens, the details of Wright's "Queen of the Garden" sculpture and is stereotypical of Wright's Prairie style. 11C) The perforated setting surrounding the edges of the "bowl" and "tray" imitates the Wright designed Midway Gardens place setting. 9d 11D) The perforated setting surrounding the edges of the "bowl" and "tray" mirrors the front of Midway Gardens Winter Garden and is stereotypical of Wright's Prairie style. 9e 11E) The perforated setting surrounding the edges of the "bowl" and "tray" mirrors the details of Wright's "Queen of the Garden" sculpture and is stereotypical of Wright's Prairie style. 11F) This drawing of Wright's "Queen of the Garden" sculpture accentuates the similarities with the perforated setting surrounding the edges of the "bowl" and "tray". 12) This view is looking straight down at the dish. It is flipped over in the next photograph.
12B) This view is of the bottom of the dish. 10c 12C) Top: "00274. Midway Gardens." This piece is numbered, but the Meriden Historical Society did not have a record that matched. Of interest is the minute mark between and below the "...y G..." in Midway Gardens. It is approximately 1/64" in size. It is a stamped "W" inside a "C". It resembles the original mark used by The Watrous Mfg. Co., which merged with Meriden Britannia in 1898. 10d 12D) Bottom: "M B C E P" each has raised letter within a stamped box. This have been identified as Meriden Britannia Company Electro Plate. Meriden, Connecticut, was the American capital for pewter and silver manufacture in the 19th century. The Meriden Britannia Company was formed in 1852, in Meriden, Conn. They initially manufactured products using a metal alloy called Britannia, approximating the appearance of pewter. In the late 19th century, when silver began replacing pewter in American homes, they also produced silver plated products. In 1898, they were one of the major companies that formed International Silver. MB continued to use their marks into the 1930's. 10e 12E) Left: "Crown" with two triangles, "Wheat?", "Star". All three are stamped, and unidentified. 10f 12F) Right: "Shield with small Star in a Crescent". Note: Manhattan Silver Plate, one of the companies that joined MB, had a Star within a Crescent mark (TM p148). The second is a "Scale within a Shield". Examples of this can be seen on MB items as late as 1951. The third is a "Thistle within a Circle". All three are stamped. Our summary is not conclusive, but we would lean toward the conclusion that this silver bowl was not designed by Wright, but was used in Wright's Midway Gardens, and most likely ordered from a catalog, and ordered in a quantity that would allow Midway Gardens to imprint the bottom. ERIC MILTON NICHOLLS COLLECTION (1924-1926)
Kruty indicted on page 136 that “...no known photographs show the promenade’s interior and, thus, the site of either fountain, it is possible to get some idea of their forms from drawings and fragments.” This may be the only image of thefountain that exist.
“Midway Gardens was an indoor and outdoor facility. It was comprised of a music pavilion and stage, arcades on either side of the terraced summer gardens, an indoor lobby, club, tavern, two belvederes, promenades, cigar concession stands, two sunken gardens and pools, dance floors, cantilevered balconies, terraces, gardens and courtyards. He used bricks and concrete blocks with designs. Wright not only designed the building but also the wall murals, concrete block designs, windows, tables, chairs, lamps, graphics and dishes. He also designed the many different sculptures and capitals. John Lloyd Wright worked in his father’s office, prepared many of the working drawings and acted as superintendent of construction...” Kurty, 1998. Photographs courtesy of the National Library of Australia.
Set of 11 B&W Photographs. (S#0164.18.1025 : 1-11)
1) Looking North at the South Belvedere. The South Entrance has been removed. Spheres have been added to the tops of the towers.
2) Looking Northwest toward the Northeast corner of Midway Gardens. Winter Gardens is on the left, one of the towers seen above, the Cottage Grove Avenue Entrance to the right. 3) Looking Northwest toward the North Belvedere. The Tavern is in the foreground. Large sign has been added to the top of the Belvedere. 4) Queen of the Gardens Sculpture sits atop a brick column, which is situated just to the right of the Winter Gardens. To the right, a door has been added to the Service Entrance.
5) Looking Southwest to the corner of Cottage Grove Avenue and Sixtieth. The Winter Garden is on the left, North Belvedere in the center and the North Arcade on the right. Spheres have been added to the tops of the towers, as well as large signs. Large Robie House styled vase can be seen on the corner. Two also appeared on either side of the Stage. The are different then the ones that appeared in the Summer Garden.
6) North Arcade, looking West from the East end of the Arcade. Four cantilevered trellised overhangs are visible, lamps have been placed on them. Benches have replaced tables.
7) Looking Northeast from the Summer Garden, the North Arcade is on the left, the North Belvedere is to the right. This male Sprite holding octagon was originally placed in the Northeast corner of the Winter Garden. I believe this is the Northeast corner of the interior terrace wall. Like the balconies in the background and many other Sprites, this one was also painted.
8) Male Sprite holding cubes was originally placed in the Southwest corner of the Winter Garden. I believe this is the Southeast corner of the interior terrace wall. Like the balconies and many other Sprites, this one was also painted.
9) Female Sprite holding sphere was originally placed in the Southeast corner of the Winter Garden. This is the West end of the interior terrace wall. Like many other Sprites, this one was also painted.
10) Female Sprite holding triangle was originally placed in the Northwest corner of the Winter Garden. This is the West end of the interior terrace wall. Like many other Sprites, this one was also painted.
11) This may be the most important image in this set. In Kruty’s “Frank Lloyd Wright and Midway Gardens”, page 136 he states that “Although no known photographs show the promenade’s interior and, thus, the site of either fountain, it is possible to get some idea of their forms from drawings and fragments.” This may be the only image of the fountain that exists. NATIONAL LIBRARY OF AUSTRALIA
Eric Milton Nicholls collection.
Series of 11 images of architect, Frank Lloyd Wright's Midway Gardens, Chicago.
Photograph possibly taken by Walter Burley and Marion Mahony Griffin.
Photographed between 1924-1926.MIDWAY GARDENS ART GLASS WINDOW
Midway Gardens Art Glass window designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Reproductions available through Oakbrook Esser Studios. MIDWAY GARDENS TIMELINE
1913 Wright begins designing Midway Gardens June 27th, 1914 Midway Gardens officially opened September 1914 Henry Fuermann & Sons photographs Midway Gardens May 31, 1916 Midway Gardens was sold to the Edelweiss Brewery, renamed Edelweiss Gardens 1920 Prohibition was declared August 31, 1921 Sold to E. C. Dietrich Midway Automobile Tire and Supply Company and became the "Midway Dancing Gardens" October of 1923 Winter Garden was revised and enlarged by removing balconies 1924 Benny Goodman plays at Midway Gardens 1925 Gilman Lane photographs Midway Dancing Gardens Spring of 1929 Building leased to its final owner, Sinclair Filling Station & Car Wash October 1929 Demolition of Midway Gardens begins Dates from “Frank Lloyd Wright and Midway Gardens”, Kurty,1998
Additional Wright Studies SEE ADDITIONAL WRIGHT STUDIES Frank Lloyd Wright's First Published Article (1898) Photographic Chronology of Frank Lloyd Wright Portraits "Frank Lloyd Wright's Nakoma Clubhouse & Sculptures."
A comprehensive study of Frank Lloyd Wright's Nakoma Clubhouse
and the Nakoma and Nakomis Sculptures. Now Available.
Limited Edition. More information.Text copyright Douglas M. Steiner, Copyright 2001, 2025.
HOME ARTIFACTS AUDIO BOOKS PERIODICALS PHOTOS POSTCARDS POSTERS STAMPS STUDIES ASSISTING ABOUT SLIDE SHOW To donate or pass on information, comments or questions:
steinerag@msn.com
©Copyright Douglas M. Steiner, 2001, 2025
