Moses, Thomas G[ibbs] (1856–1934), designer. Possibly the most prolific and important of midwestern scenic artists in the late 19th and early 20th century, he was born in Liverpool, England, on the ship of his father, an American sea captain. In his teens he moved to Chicago and began painting scenery at McVicker's Theatre while enrolled at the Chicago Art Institute for further training. In 1880 Moses joined the newly formed Sosman and Landis Scene Painting Studio, which eventually became the Midwest's leading set builders, becoming president in 1915. He designed scenery for hundreds of productions, not only in Chicago but for Helena Modjeska in California and occasional New York productions as well. His forte was said to be “freely rendered rugged landscapes and woodland scenes.” Unfortunately, the autobiography on which he was known to have worked for many years, Sixty Years Back of the Curtain Line, has yet to be published.

The Oxford Companion to American Theatre. Copyright © 2004 by Oxford University Press, Inc. All rights reserved.