Benjamin Strauss and Homer Peyton (Strauss-Peyton)

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Benjamin Strauss and Homer Peyton -Anastasia Reilly, 1925

 

Photographers Benjamin Strauss and Homer Peyton, known simply as Strauss-Peyton, worked in Kansas City, Missouri, between 1908 and 1927, is one of the oldest photography studios in the USA. Seen as a considerable force in the growing world of celebrity photography, their clientele included such notable names as Harry S. Truman, Anna Pavlova, Douglas MacArthur, Franklin D Roosevelt, Enrico Caruso, Fred Astaire, the Marx Brothers, Mary Pickford, Al Jolson, Bette Davis, Douglas Fairbanks, Charlie Chaplin and Kansas City’s own Jean Harlow.

Trained in portraiture by his brother, Benjamin Strauss moved from St. Louis to Kansas City in 1900 and opened Strauss Studio with the motion picture pioneer and photographer, George Curtiss.

Strauss Peyton took advantage of Kansas City’s theatrical life with the multitude of visiting artists, performers and dignitaries from the three different theatrical circuits which provided plenty of photographic subjects.This led to the opening of a third studio location for Strauss Peyton in the lobby of the Muehlebach Hotel.
Strauss Peyton likewise became sought after for portraits of local Kansas City children, brides, families, businessmen and politicians, often having their portraits published in the society pages of the Independent Magazine and the Kansas City star. They even personally would make the gossip column occasionally. One such published report of Mr. Peyton dancing after dinner at the Plantation Grill with actress Fritzi Scheff, commented: « Someone, a spectator, remarked that Mr. Peyton was Kansas City’s official entertainer of celebrities. ».
By the mid-20’s, the partnership was crumbling.  Homer Peyton had taken over the running of the New York location in 1926 and preferred to focus on celebrities while Ben wanted to maintain a strong presence in Kansas City.  According to a Cleveland newspaper article: « The lure of New York struck the boys and they moved into the finest studio in Manhattan.  Business was sensational, until one day the partners argued and Ben walked out.  He was tired out. »  Strauss sold the studio to the DeCloud Family in 1926 and moved to Cleveland where he opened Ben Strauss Studio.  Peyton kept the New York studio operating until the stock market crash in 1929.  He closed the studio and moved across the country to Seattle where he opened a studio in the Olympic Hotel, which is now the Fairmont Olympic Hotel in downtown Seattle.

 

 

Benjamin Strauss and Homer Peyton -The Barr Twins,1920

 

Benjamin Strauss and Homer Peyton -Molly Dodd, c. 1914

Benjamin Strauss and Homer Peyton -Suzanne Caubet for Broadway’s The Squall, 1926-1927

Benjamin Strauss and Homer Peyton -Anastasia Reilly, 1925

Benjamin Strauss and Homer Peyton ,Zulieka Anastasia Reilly 1920

Benjamin Strauss and Homer Peyton ,Mildred Davis , 1925

 

Benjamin Strauss and Homer Peyton- Amelita Galli-Curci, soprano, 1931

Benjamin Strauss and Homer Peyton – Hilda Ferguson, 1919

Benjamin Strauss and Homer Peyton ,Pola Negri .1920

Benjamin Strauss and Homer Peyton -Dolores del Rio, c. 1920

Benjamin Strauss and Homer Peyton -Louise Brooks, 1915

Benjamin Strauss and Homer Peyton- Bette Davis , 1920s

Benjamin Strauss and Homer Peyton ,Evelyn Nesbit, 1920

Benjamin Strauss and Homer Peyton , Shirley Booth, 1927

Benjamin Strauss and Homer Peyton -Mistinguette avec boucles d’oreilles et collier, 1930

Benjamin Strauss and Homer Peyton -Luise Squire .1926

Benjamin Strauss and Homer Peyton -Myrtle Pierce .1926

Benjamin Strauss and Homer Peyton -Marion Chambers .1925

Benjamin Strauss and Homer Peyton -Belle Baker, 1915

Benjamin Strauss and Homer Peyton -Ruth St. Denis , 1916

Benjamin Strauss and Homer Peyton -Ruth St Denis , 1916

Benjamin Strauss and Homer Peyton -Ruth St. Denis , 1916

Benjamin Strauss and Homer Peyton – Ruth St Denis, 1918

Benjamin Strauss and Homer Peyton – Barbara La Marr, 1920

Benjamin Strauss and Homer Peyton -Marguerite de la Motte from Shadowland, june 1922

Benjamin Strauss and Homer Peyton -Anna-Pavlova 1912

Benjamin Strauss and Homer Peyton -Anna Pavlova, c. 1913

Benjamin Strauss and Homer Peyton -Anna Pavlova, c. 1913

Benjamin Strauss and Homer Peyton -Grace la rue ,1920

Benjamin Strauss and Homer Peyton – Jane Connelly, 1915

Benjamin Strauss and Homer Peyton – Audrey Allen, 1915

Benjamin Strauss and Homer Peyton -Gertrude Lawrence in Theatre, August 1927

Benjamin Strauss and Homer Peyton – Sonia Ledinova, 1922

Benjamin Strauss and Homer Peyton -Beatrice Burk, 1918

Benjamin Strauss and Homer Peyton -Anna-Pavlova 1912Benjamin Strauss and Homer Peyton -Shannon Day , 1922

Benjamin Strauss and Homer Peyton -Nan Halperin 1927

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