The E. M. Viquesney "Spirit of the American Doughboy" Database
SPENCER, INDIANA, PAGE 2
The Tivoli Theatre and Viquesney Building
E.M. Viquesney
1876 - 1946
1876 - 1946
While Viquesney lived in Spencer most of his life, he created the Doughboy in Americus, Georgia. But it was in the years after he returned home from Americus permanently in 1922 that he became prolific in his sculptural output and business ventures. He opened a studio in Spencer in 1920, apparently planning ahead for his eventual relocation from Americus, and in 1928 he opened a landmark movie house, the Tivoli Theatre. The name supposedly derived from the phrase "This Is Viquesney's Own Little Idea". The Tivoli opened on New Year's Eve, 1928, and was a rousing success, but in later years it fell into disrepair and was closed in 1999. It was bought by new owners in 2006, with hopes of restoration. Below are photos of the newly-opened Tivoli in 1929, and Viquesney's nearby office/apartment complex, 1925.
 The Tivoli Theatre in 1929. It was taken over by Claude Flater in 1938, later damaged by fire, and closed in 1999.
|  The Viquesney Building in Downtown Spencer, 1925. It consisted of business offices on the ground level, apartments above.
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Click on the images above to enlarge. Photos supplied by Stanley Griffith, Bloomington, Indiana.
The "Imp-O-Luck"
The ''Imp-O-Luck'', 1923.
It was also during this period that Viquesney became quite successful with a novelty item he called the "Imp-O-Luck", which outsold everything else he created, even his famous "Spirit of the American Doughboy". It came in a boggling array of forms, from the wildly successful good-luck medallion (left), to tie pins, statuettes, necklaces, ashtrays, incense burners, and an "expandable ring".
The "Imp-O-Luck" was manufactured in the Viquesney Building above.
The "Imp-O-Luck" was manufactured in the Viquesney Building above.
The Beaver Club
Photo: Owen Leader.
Viquesney was active in Spencer's social activities. Above is a photo of the "fraternal organization" that he created as a sort of send-up to the Elks and Moose Lodges. He called it the Beaver Club; the photo was taken at its 1931 Christmas party. Viquesney is shown in the center of the third row, and his first wife, Cora, is second from the right in the second row. Howard Briceland, who presented Spencer's Doughboy at its dedication in 1927, is seated at the front right. The club was formed by Viquesney in 1925. It was designated Beaver Dam No. 1 of the National Beaver Club of the United States. Its stated purpose was "to bring to smaller towns an opportunity of belonging….and to disperse the clouds and lighten the gloom until the sun of prosperity and happiness again shines on the busy efforts of every Beaver." It isn’t known if any other clubs were formed. The club’s humorous titles for officers included Scratcher (Secretary), Keeper of Sticks (Treasurer), Scrapper (Sgt. At Arms), Gray Beards (Directors), Whiner (Song Leader), and Hammerer (Piano Player).
Riverside Cemetery Pavilion, Spencer, Indiana
An old postcard view shows Viquesney's pavilion in its better days.
Below: Views of the pavilion Viquesney designed for Spencer’s Riverside Cemetery. It is now the site of special observances, such as Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day. It houses a copy of the artist's "Spirit of America", a.k.a. "The American's Creed" plaque (Smithsonian Art Inventory Control Number IN001019) The artillery piece is a Union Civil War cannon. At lower right is Viquesney's headstone.
  |   Views of the pavilion (photos :Earl Goldsmith, The Woodlands, Texas, and Viquesney's headstone (photo: Al Wolf, Veedersburg, Indiana).
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The large panel at the rear of the platform (top right) has an engraving that reads:
DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF THOSE
WHO SERVED THEIR COUNTRY
DURING WARS OF THE UNITED STATES
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ERECTED THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF
THE WOMEN’S RELIEF CORPS
OF SPENCER, INDIANA
1939
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PANEL AND DESIGN OF PAVILION FURNISHED BY
E. M. VIQUESNEY, SCULPTOR
WHO SERVED THEIR COUNTRY
DURING WARS OF THE UNITED STATES
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ERECTED THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF
THE WOMEN’S RELIEF CORPS
OF SPENCER, INDIANA
1939
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PANEL AND DESIGN OF PAVILION FURNISHED BY
E. M. VIQUESNEY, SCULPTOR
The engraving on the front of the podium recognizes the local American Legion and VFW posts.
Viquesney’s gravestone in Spencer’s Riverside Cemetery reads:
ERNEST (DICK) VIQUESNEY
SCULPTOR OF TWO WORLD WARS
1876 1946
"AND SO THE SCENE CLOSES"
ERNEST (DICK) VIQUESNEY
SCULPTOR OF TWO WORLD WARS
1876 1946
"AND SO THE SCENE CLOSES"
"The Unveiling"
Photo: Harlan Ogle,
Monticello, Kentucky.
Monticello, Kentucky.
Left: Viquesney’s beautiful statue, "The Unveiling", overlooks the family markers in Riverside Cemetery, Spencer, Indiana.
More information on the statue can be found on "The Unveiling" page.
Because Spencer, Indiana figured so prominently in Viquesney's life, three pages have been devoted to it. Click here to go on to page 3.
More information on the statue can be found on "The Unveiling" page.
Because Spencer, Indiana figured so prominently in Viquesney's life, three pages have been devoted to it. Click here to go on to page 3.
