Edward G. Kuster

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Edward G. Kuster
Born	Edward Gerhard Kuster (1878-08-15)August 15, 1878 Terre Haute, Indiana, US
Died	September 1961(1961-09-00) (aged 83) Lugano, Switzerland
Occupation(s)	Attorney, theatrical producer
Spouses	Una Lindsay Call ​ ​ (m. 1903; div. 1913)​ Edith June Emmons ​ ​ (m. 1913; div. 1920)​ Ruth E. McDowell ​ ​ (m. 1920; div. 1928)​ Gabrielle Young-Hunter ​ ​ (m. 1928)​
Children	3

Edward Gerhard Kuster (August 15, 1878 – September 1961) was a musician and attorney from Los Angeles for twenty-one years before coming to Carmel-by-the-Sea, California in 1921. He became involved in theater and establish his own theatre and school. He built the Theatre of the Golden Bough in 1924, and a second theater, the Golden Bough Playhouse in 1952. Kuster directed 85 plays and acted in more than 50 roles in the 35 years he lived in Carmel.

Edward G. Kuster was born on August 15, 1878, in Terre Haute, Indiana. He was the son of Charles Edward Kuster (1842-1915), a Los Angeles physician, and Emma Eshman. Kuster came to Los Angeles, California in July 1886, as a student in public schools for three years. He went to Germany with his parents, where he attended the Hoehere Burger school in Berlin until 1892. He returned to Los Angeles and finished high school in 1896. He went to the University of Southern California (USC) and graduated in 1900 with a degree of Bachelor of Laws.^[1]

Kuster married Una Lindsay Call on May 31, 1902, in San Andreas, California by P H. Kean.^[2] In the fall of 1905, Una met Robinson Jeffers, when they both attended classes at USC. Una earned her Bachelor of Arts in 1908 and her Master's in philosophy in 1910. Jeffers was in medical school. Jeffers and Una Kuster became romantically involved. Kuster discovered their affair in 1910. By 1912 the affair became a public scandal, reaching the front page of the Los Angeles Times. Una spent some time in Europe to quiet things down. Una and Jeffers lived together by Lake Washington, near Seattle until Una's divorced in 1913. Jeffers studied forestry in Seattle. They were married in 1913, and moved to La Jolla, California, and then to Carmel, California^[3][4]

Kuster married Edith June Emmons on August 1, 1913, in Bakersfield, California. They lived in San Gabriel, California in 1913.^[1] They separated in 1918, and were divorced on March 30, 1920, in San Diego, California.^[5]

Kuster passed the California Bar Examination on March 13, 1902, and then entered the law office of Graves, O'Helveny & Shankland and worked there until 1903. He became the chief clerk for attorney H. W. O'Melveny until 1906. He practiced law for himself in Los Angeles specializing in railroad rate cases, e.g. the Switching Case that was heard before the Interstate Commerce Commission in 1908.^[1]

Kuster joined Joseph P. Loeb in the practice of law, and in 1908, they, along with brother Leon Loeb, formed the law firm of Kuster, Loeb & Loeb. In May 1911, Edward Kuster left the law office.^[6]

In 1921, Kuster composed and orchestrated the music for the Irish play, The Countess Cathleen, with Herbert Heron as the director, at the Forest Theater.^[7]

After the success of the play, the board of the Forest Theater Society elected him president of the board. In July 1922, he was asked to direct the play Caesar and Cleopatra. His wife Ruth played Cleopatra. The stage had a large sphinx designed by artist Jo Mora.^[8][9]

Kuster had Gottfried build the Carmel Weavers Studio for his wife Ruth in September 1922 (now Cottage of Sweets). The studio was in front of the theatre. It housed Ruth and two fellow local weavers. They made and sold woven scarves, hats, handbags, blankets, and other clothing articles.^[10][11]

During Great Depression in the United States Kuster had to lease the Theatre of the Golden Bough on Ocean Avenue to a movie theater chain for a period of five years. Kuster stipulated that the name "Golden Bough" could not be used for a movie house so it was renamed the Carmel Theatre.^[12][13]

Kuster, who had previously bought out the Carmel Arts and Crafts Theatre, moved his film operation to this facility on Monte Verde Street, renamed it the Filmarte Group and it became the first "art house" between Los Angeles and San Francisco.^[14]

In 1937, he directed two seasons for the Fresno Players where his English translation of the Austrian three-act comedy play By Candlelight by Siegfried Geyer [de] and Karl Farkas, was first presented in October 1937 as the opening bill of the Golden Bough Theater Guild's fall and winter season at its playhouse on Sutter Street, San Francisco. He and his wife, Gabriell Kuster, were in the cast.^[15]

On May 16, 1949, Kuster decided to revive his 1935 production of the play By Candlelight. It got rave reviews from critics. However, on May 21, 1949, this second "Golden Bough" also burned to the ground. Once again, arson was suspected.^[16] The By Candlelight continued at the Sunset School Auditorium from May 23 to May 30.^[17]

Kuster considered rebuilding two theatres, the playhouse at the Monte Verde location, and a movie theatre at the site of the original Golden Bough on Ocean Avenue. Ultimately, he built a two-theater facility on the destroyed Monte Verde site. For the third time, the Golden Bough was built, this time as a corporation. The main auditorium, called the Golden Bough, faced Monte Verde Street. With 330 seats and a stage. A 150-seat theater in the round, called the Circle Theatre, faced Casanova Street. The new Golden Bough opened its doors on October 2, 1952, with a Monterey Symphony Orchestra concert.^[12]

Kuster reminisced in a talk given at the Carmel Women's Club on May 31, 1960. It was his last public appearance before departing on a trip to Europe with His wife, Gabrielle Kuster. He died, at age 83, in the 2nd week of September 1961 in Lugano, Ticino, Switzerland, when traveling in Europe he took ill. He was buried in Lugano. His wife Gabriel, returned to Carmel Valley, California. She died in August 1978.^[18]

• List of Historic Homes in Carmel Point

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