“Images of an Era,” the works of Orval Hixon, esteemed Kansas photographer at the turn of the 20th century, are on display at the Bowlus Fine Arts Center’s Mary L. Martin Gallery.
“It’s just a real visual piece of eye candy to see these black and white photographs,” said Susan Raines, director of the Bowlus. “For his time, in Kansas he was one of the most well known photographers.”
During an illustrious career as a studio professional in downtown Kansas City, the still-frame photographer captured the images of many famous people.
“He knew them all,” said Leavenworth native and film critic, historian, painter and pianist John Tibbets in a 1978 American Classic Screen magazine article. “In those days, freewheeling vaudeville and legit roared through Kansas City as part of the fabulous Orpheum Circuit. The entertainers needed portraits. Their future bookings could depend on the quality and excitement in those portraits. So the stars came to Orval Hixon.”
Among the celebrities Hixon did work for were Buddy Rogers, Clifton Webb, Theda Bara, Joan Crawford and Marie Dressler. All of those photos are now on â¨display at the Bowlus.
“He had a very interesting life and was exposed to a lot of interesting people,” Raines said.
But rubbing elbows with celebrities didn’t go to Hixon’s head.
“He went from Kansas City and having a studio in the Baltimore Hotel to moving to Lawrence and having a studio in Eldridge,” Raines said.
In his later days, Hixon took photographs for various groups at Kansas University.
“He loved what he did,” Raines said. “He did a little but of everything. He probably even took a few baby pictures at some point. He kept himself grounded.”
“Images of an Era” is on display at the Bowlus through Oct. 2.
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