Mathias Armbruster was born on April 24, 1839 in Ebingen, Germany. In Germany, he was trained in the arts and at the age of 20 he moved to the United States. In Cincinnati, Ohio, Mathias initially worked as an art glass and portrait painter, but he ultimately moved on to designing and painting theatrical scenery. At the onset of the Civil War, Mathias decided to join the Ohio Volunteer Infantry and his design work was put on hold. Eventually in 1875, Mathias opened the first scenic design company in the United States, The Armbruster and Sons Scenic Studios. The studio was located at 249 S. Front Street in Columbus, Ohio and operated with the help of his sons, Albert, Emil, and Otto. During its most successful times, in the early 1900s, the studio was advertised as the second largest provider of stage scenery in the country. The studio provided designs for minstrel shows, theatre, and other stage performances across the country, particularly in the midwest. Mathias Armbruster ran the company until his death in 1916, at which point his son, Albert, took control over of the studio. The studio continued producing designs until 1958 when Albert Armbruster retired and the Armbruster Scenic Studios was closed.
From the guide to the Armbruster Scenic Studio Collection, 1863-1973, (Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Institute)
