In the spring of 1916 the American heiress Aline Barnsdall (1882–1946; fig. 1) left Chicago for California in search of a theater where her newly formed company could begin preparations for the coming season’s dramatic productions. With a characteristic flurry of activity, she crisscrossed the country, making hasty arrangements to secure the services of the actors, directors, and designers she intended to hire for her new venture. Her list included not only many of the recognized talents of the …