Strauss Peyton Photography

History of the Strauss Peyton Photographic Studio, 1900-1950

By Jackson County Historical Society

A History of Strauss Peyton Photography

Benjamin R. Strauss (1923-05-01/1923-05-01) by Strauss Peyton PhotographyJackson County Historical Society

Benjamin Strauss founded Struass Studio in Kansas City October 1st, 1900. He built clientele through connections at his Jewish synagogue.

Homer K. Peyton (1919-12-17/1919-12-17) by Strauss Peyton PhotographyJackson County Historical Society

Due to the popularity of Strauss Studio, Homer Peyton was hired as an artistic collaborator. By 1909, Peyton was an equal partner. Struass-Peyton Studios was located at 3109 Troost Ave.

Sally Rand (1926-06-08) by Strauss Peyton PhotographyJackson County Historical Society

Strauss excelled at the setting of poses. Peyton was the artist, who performed pictorialist manipulations of the negative to form aesthetic backgrounds, sculpt shadows, and supply tonal drama.

Anna Pavlova (1922-01-09/1922-01-09) by Strauss Peyton PhotographyJackson County Historical Society

Russia's Anna Pavlova, the most famous ballerina of her generation, was photographed by Strauss-Peyton in 1916, six years after her American debut in New York.

Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle (1919-02-02) by Strauss Peyton PhotographyJackson County Historical Society

Because of Kansas City's importance as a transportation hub, it was the juncture of three different theatrical circuits. Strauss-Peyton secured a national reputation as celebrity portraitists.

Douglas MacArthur (1930-11-07) by Strauss Peyton PhotographyJackson County Historical Society

Douglas MacArthur is pictured in a 1930 photo before he became the famous American general who liberated the Philippines and accepted the Japanese surrender at the end of WWII.

Charlie Chaplin (1921-09-01) by Strauss Peyton PhotographyJackson County Historical Society

Hollywood's Golden Set worked in Kansas City in early days: Fred Astaire, the Marx brothers, Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin, and Kansas City's own Jean Harlow are just a few notable subjects.

Jean Harlow (1930-11-21/1930-11-21) by Strauss Peyton PhotographyJackson County Historical Society

Miss Dazie (1914-02-02/1914-02-02) by Strauss Peyton PhotographyJackson County Historical Society

In 1915, Strauss-Peyton opened a third parlor at the prestigious Muehlebach Hotel at 103 West 12th Street in downtown Kansas City and capitalized on the number of stage performers staying there.

KC Suburbs (1877/1877) by R.M. PerkinsJackson County Historical Society

Peyton's ambition as an artist grew too great to be content with Kansas City, and he went to New York in 1926 to oversee the branch office there. Strauss-Peyton maintained the partnership until 1929 when the stock market crashed.

Plaza (1960/1965) by UnknownJackson County Historical Society

Strauss kept the name of the partnership and was operating in Kansas City's elite Country Club Plaza by 1929, and became a fixture there for more than 50 years.

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