Maud, Beulah, Otis & Edward

These horns are dedicated to all husbands who acknowledge and support their wives’ ingenuity.

As far as we can tell, Otis Skinner and Edward Jay hadn’t met each other before their wives started separate ventures that eventually merged to become the Plays & Players Theater on Delancey Street in Philly.  

Otis’s wife Maud Durbin Skinner was the first President of The Plays and Players organization, a social club formed in 1911 focused on developing new theater experiences.  They had a small theater at 53 South 18th Street that could seat 100 people.  F. H. Shelton (more about him later) was a member of the organization, as were many other prominent members of Philly society.

Edward’s wife Beulah Jay founded the Metropolitan Dramatic School on South 15th Street in Philadelphia, also in 1911.  The school grew quickly and by 1912 Beulah decided it was time to build a new facility.  She and Edward purchased 3 parcels of land on Delancey Street and with their friend (you guessed it – F. H. Shelton), built the Little Theatre of Philadelphia, which opened in March of 1913.  

The Plays and Players organization, which had rented the Little Theatre of Philadelphia for some of its productions while Beulah still owned it, purchased the theater from one of its members (F. H. Shelton of course) in 1922, and still owns the building.

Siren #165: Maud (photos 2-3) This particular antique/vintage car horn is approximately 9” tall with a 6.25”” bell.

Siren #166: Beluah (photos 2, 4): This particular antique/vintage car horn is approximately 7.5” tall with a 6”” bell.

Siren #167: Otis (photos 1, 5). This antique/vintage car horn is approximately 9”tall with a 6” bell.

Siren #168: Edward (photos 1, 6-7). This antique/vintage car horn is approximately 9” tall with a 6.25” bell.  

These types of horns used to have a reed and rubber ball attached to them. Edward is paired with a reclaimed floor joist base from Plays & Players Theater on Delancey St. in Philadelphia, PA. The wood is from a renovation of the theater that was done in the early 90’s. The joist was removed in order to make room for the trap door on the stage.  This wood has lots of character with all its original nail holes, cracks and knots. The base is finished with Betty’s Board Butter (beeswax & mineral oil). You may want to re-oil the base occasionally.