What makes Grosh special? We believe our unique history plays a part.

In 1932, Robert Louis Grosh founded R.L. Grosh and Sons Scenic Studios in Hollywood California.

Years before, Robert Grosh had an interest in the Theater and began his career cleaning paint brushes and buckets for Armbruster Studios in Columbus Ohio.  Beginning in his teens, he learned the trade, became a painter, and advanced to journeyman scenic artist.

( Photo Right:  Robert Grosh, his partner, Ralph Blow and the “Rag Man” outside Grosh Studios)

In 1926, he was recruited by Charles Thompson to work for the Los Angeles Scenic Studio as Head Scenic Artist.  After five years he set out to start his own studio and set up shop at 4114 W. Sunset Blvd in Hollywood.

Grosh Backdrops and Draperies still operates in this same building where Grosh started his business and after 80 years we have quite a legacy!

(Photo below:  Actress, Mary Pickford, taken February 9, 1920)

This year we will be celebrating with you by periodically sharing some of our history and highlights. From the silent film era through today, we have some great stories and will be posting them throughout our anniversary year.  We hope you enjoy them and join us in declaring “Happy Anniversary”!

Dion started painting for Grosh Backdrops and Drapery, under Superior Backings in 1995…  

Dion sighs, “I feel really fortunate to have been able to hone my skills and learn on the job here, because I started young.”

What is your first thought when tasked with the job of creating a painted landscape? From where do you draw inspiration – from a combination of images and memories or is the image usually provided for you?

   Sometimes a reference is provided or other times I will do some research to find a reference first… maybe a collage of photos… – For “Flower Garden” (S3079), I looked at different images of gardens and pieced them together.

How do you go about transferring your drawing or idea to a 22’H x50’W backdrop?  How do you frame or crop the landscape so that it appears to continue on into the distance?

   I start with a simple sketch, done in Photoshop and once approved, I grid the sketch by a 1” scale in ratio to the size of the blank canvas.  Then I simply transfer the image square by square.  The same classical techniques (known as “pictorial art”) that were used during the Renaissance, we still use here.

   To create a sense of distance, always, atmospheric perspective is applied – darker, bolder colors in the foreground, and lighter, fainter colors in the background to create a sense of depth.

   The sketch is the preliminary step and the finished canvas should really be an improvement from the original drawing, and this happens because we are given a lot of artistic leeway in order to bring the painting to fruition. 

Do you decide on color once the image is drawn, or do you already envision the colors you will use, when first drafting the landscape.

   Creating a landscape is all about the nuances – in this case, it was all about the flowers.  So adding the color is usually the last step and the most fun of the whole process.  The reference may dictate what colors are used as well.

How do you create a sense of daytime or evening?

   Landscapes are usually best represented during bright daylight. Basically, I start with a blue sky and white clouds… simple.  To add a sense of doom, I add a little grey.  Usually orange or violet represents sunset or sunrise, but like I said, it’s all about the flowers, for a garden landscape.  We want those flowers to pop, irrelevant to the time of day.

How does it feel to create a scene that transports the onlooker into a specific setting? Is there something magical about this creation process?

   Creating a large scale scene is pretty labor intensive, but after practicing for so long producing so many drops under short deadlines, you learn how to complete a drop pretty quickly and effectively, by applying the same techniques over and over again.

   Yes, I am pretty exhausted at the end of it all, but there is a very satisfying feeling knowing that I created something that was just what the client envisioned; a functional piece of art.

“It was a lot of fun teaming up with Tamlyn Wright and Gloria Lamb on this project!  In the end this display was the standout of the bunch,” says Peter Lime, Scenic Assistant at Grosh.

Our Customs department has been kept busy busy busy, collaborating with Accurate Staging to kick out  a series of backdrops for performing artists Megadeth, Slipknot, Coheed and Cambria, (just to name a few…) and Slayer, all touring this year.

In rentals, we have also been busy shipping backdrops to dance studios across the states. Many of our clients close their studios for the summer, consummating in a dance recital in June to showcase the talents of their students.  This month, Elizabeth Parsons School of Dance celebrated her 30th Anniversary using our Happy Anniversary drop (ES7453) as the opening number.

Be sure to also catch a glimpse of some of Grosh drapery in upcoming episodes of Bravo’s Top Chef and HBO’s Boardwalk Empire. Most people work hard for the weekend, we work hard for the shows.

This year, the event was fashioned in Parisian style with a Moulin Rouge red-carpeted theme. Kimberly DuBois, of G-Force Productions, produced a venue rich with red and black velvet and oozing with entertainment and style…”The walls, draped in colorful floor-to-ceiling scenes from Montmartre with the Eiffel Tower in the distance, surrounded a truly beautiful collection of dinner tables draped in either red velvet, textured red metallic or red taffeta with black beading table coverings. The centerpieces, surrounded in red roses, were either a beautiful lamp with a red shade, a black feathered palm tree or a daring can-can leg covered in black fishnet stockings. Black-cushioned Chivari chairs draped in black beaded chiffon with ruffled skirts completed the setting.”  – Donna Bunch, People Watch   

For this event, Kimberly utilized our cardinal red crushed velvet draperies with complimentary black and bright red velour drapery legs.

To learn more about this event and the A-list group of celebrities who attended and contributed, please view this video:

Site: When you are trying to create a theme, focus on one main visual piece and then choose inexpensive pieces to compliment it.  A backdrop on a main wall is the way to go.  Think center pieces.  What is the first thing people will see? What will they see no matter where they are in the room? Never cut corners on lighting.  Lighting can make or break your theme.  Don’t forget to involve your guests. Asking them to wear themed attire is a way to get your theme across throughout the room without any cost to you.

Taste:  We all know the importance of a good caterer, yet if you need to cut costs look for food and drink sponsors that match your theme. Ask local restaurants and food vendors. Are their gourmet food trucks in your area? Contact them!! They might be willing to show up at your event without a charge to you. If your guests will be required to purchase their own food, make sure you communicate that in advance. Nothing is more frustrating for a guest to find out at the event what is provided and what requires additional funds.

Smell: A little aromatherapy can go along way and I do mean LITTLE. Overbearing smells can turn your guests off. Stick to you theme and pick candles, incents, or burners that work with it. Lemongrass is great for spring and summer. Vanilla, Lavender, Mint and Rosemary are good basic scents.  Stick to natural scents and avoid man-made perfumes and fragrances.  NOTE: Sometimes your food is all the fragrance you need. A good BBQ smell sets the tone for a party. Don’t overuse scented candles or set them by food.  Maybe all you need is a good candle in the entryway and bathrooms.

Touch: There are a couple of ways to think about touch. Touch can be something interactive like a game or an art installation. I was at a party recently where guests were looking into 3-D viewers to see themed photos for the event. It was a big hit! The artist that created this art installation shared his work for exposure so costs were very low for such a huge success.  Contact art non-profits or local businesses that hold art workshops to find artists in your area. Touch can also be a feeling of hospitality. I can’t stress this enough…if you are not skilled in the art of hosting, hire one. A good host should greet people by name, make them feel welcome, introduce them to others and read body language signs to know when it is best to mingle your guests with others in the room.

Hear:  Never book a space without experiencing the acoustics of the room.  Use music to support your theme. Work with what you have. Is internet available? Can you rent a sound system? Perhaps streaming music using a service like Pandora is the way to go. Note: Pandora is free with commercials but they do offer a paid service without commercials.

By Stephanie Michele from SocialBling

2.    What is your timeline?  You should reserve your rental backdrop in advance to prevent any last minute out of stock issues especially during holiday season with Nutcracker themes. You can pick-up your order if you are near one of warehouses or Grosh will ship using Fedex. Clients who prefer to use their shipping accounts with UPS, DHL, etc are welcome to do so. By picking up locally, you can also rent pipe and base. Pipe and base can’t be shipped due to length of pipes. This is why Grosh created and offers the Backdrop LIFT. (click through for more information)For  out of state customers, always allow a week for shipping to avoid rush shipping charges. For custom orders allow 3 week unless stated otherwise by Grosh Custom.

Providence College, St. Dominic's Weekend Gala

3.    Is this a one- time event? If you know you are going to anniversary a certain event or production, it might be worthwhile to consider custom ordering. Your Grosh sales representative can help you determine the most cost effective plan for you. Consider purchasing a generic backdrop that can be customized with the use of lighting, gobos, and other projections. Consider also if you want to purchase a more generic drop that the end user could “customize” with the use of lighting, gobos or other projection. By customizing the drop in this way, you’re not limiting the use for one event but you’re maximizing the ability for this backdrop to be seen in different ways.

4.    Are you working with a common theme?  Grosh has over  5,000 backdrops representing over 75 themes to choice from that include popular plays, musicals, scenic nature themes, geographic locations, landmarks, etc, etc. If your theme is common, chances are extremely high there are many backdrops to choice from in the rental inventory. If you are looking for something that is unique to your event or production, custom is the way to go.

5.    Do you have a proper place to store your custom backdrop?  It is recommended that backdrop be stored in a cool and dry place with no sun exposure. Roll the backdrop similar to how you roll up a sleeping bag to store the backdrop using minimal space.

Social Media Backdrop at BizBash

6.    Do your production and decoration requirements need to promote a one- of-kind appeal? Grosh’s Custom department is made up of some really talented artists who are creating all kinds of art pieces and custom backdrops. Share your vision; you will probably be surprised at how reasonable the cost is to produce it. Grosh Custom has created inside murals, buildings mural, designed custom speaker covers and artwork on plexi-glass.

7.    Do you need to incorporate specific logos?  Logos are easy to produce on a custom backdrop and are a great way to please a corporate client.

8.    Are you trying to recreate an actual photo or landmark? If so, this is the kind of project Grosh Custom loves.  Share your photos and visions for a custom quote.  Keep in mind, maybe it is not necessary to have a full size custom backdrop made. Rent your large backdrop to save money and have Grosh Custom reproduce a smaller version to be used to compliment the rental one. You could have a smaller backdrop made for an entryway of an event or photo opt area.

The same process that is used to create a backdrop for the stage can be used to create permanent and semi-permanent wall murals and art installations. Canvas can be stretched on frames to create depth on a wall. Murals can be applied directly to a wall like wallpaper. Large format artwork can be painted directly onto materials such as wood, plexiglass and transparent fabrics.

If you are an event venue in a competitive marketplace, consider having some art and wall options on hand for perspective clients who are looking to rent your space. This might be the competitive edge you need to overcome your competition. Also, consider keeping equipment on hand that decreases the amount of supplies and time your client will need to transform your rental space. Having a Backdrop LIFT on site will give your clients the ability to transform any wall and/or create a room divider in less than 15 minutes with a backdrop or drape.  The Backdrop LIFT only requires two sets of hands for setup with no heavy lifting, which also means there is nothing heavy to be moved across your floor that could potential damage your surfaces. To learn more about how you can purchase a Backdrop LIFT, click here.

By Stephanie Michele from SocialBling

Here is something to consider, start with the largest space in the room and work backwards to the smallest area. If there is one large wall to work with, consider setting the mood with a backdrop and some lighting.

Are you wondering how you will hang a backdrop on the wall? In the past, this was something to worry about but those days are over. Grosh has created a revolutionary way to hang a backdrop. Using the Backdrop LIFT, you can set up a backdrop in less than 15 minutes with two people! There are no heavy pieces and no additional equipment is required.

Take a look at this video for more information.

Are you staring at a blank wall? Do you see the endless possibilities now? For inspiration, take a look at rental backdrops in Grosh’s inventory here.

Also, don’t forget about Grosh’s custom department for endless possibilities and beyond!!

Often, our clients will ask, “Well, how do I hang a painted Growing Christmas Tree on stage, for my performance?”  The Growing Christmas Tree does hang by a shining star at the very top point of the backdrop. This is at 22 ft high and the backdrop itself weighs about 25 lbs.  When you receive the backdrop, it will come folded and a piece of plywood will already be affixed to the back of the gold star with a metal ring attached to that for hanging. Expect to also receive a separate shipment of piping to help you fully support the tree.  You will need a cable or another apparatus to hang the Growing Christmas Tree, just as you would need rigging to hang any of our other backdrops.

Keep the backdrop folded in the same accordion style as when you received it. Then, as you are raising your rigging to the appropriate height, you should see your beautiful tree growing before your eyes!

The Growing Christmas Tree comes with detailed instructions and a copy of the setup photos you see to the right, but if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to one our consultants!

Happy Holidays!

Amanda: We support a variety of causes to assist individuals and survivors afflicted with various challenges in their health. It’s important for our company and our staff to contribute to causes that are meaningful to us personally and to our customers. There are times when we will match a percentage of the amount raised from our clients or we will in most cases do an additional donation later in the year.  

 Why these causes?

Amanda: This initially started with Grosh and my family personally donating to the National Stroke Association   after loosing my mother to a stroke in 2006 at the age of 58. Once we did this we thought that the following year, we should do something that can get our customers involved with other charities meaningful to them. We had started getting feedback and selected Stroke Awareness, Breast Cancer, Red Cross and St. Jude to name a few. Each year we will be selecting different charities by getting feedback from our customers and staff and continue to support those survivors and those who’ve had to survive without their loved ones.

Amanda Uhlein and Mother

Tell us more about the Grosh name and history in the business. How important is it to you to carry on traditions started by your family?

Amanda: The company was started by my Great Grandfather, Robert L. Grosh in 1932 after moving from Ohio to California in the late 20’s. He set up a studio in the heart of Hollywood, where we still do our business today. Robert and his 4 sons (Robert, Bill, Jack and Don) were all talented tradesmen in painting, metalworking, rigging etc.  Jack Grosh (my grandfather) worked with the business during the development of what we now know as the “entertainment” industry. R.L. Grosh and Son’s, as it was known, had a hand in most of the major production companies film, television and theatrical endeavors which lead to business relationships with 20^th Century Fox,  Warner Brothers, Universal and Disney. In fact, many of the original dark rides at Disney Land and work at Epcot Center was handled by Grosh.  Jack Grosh’s son-in-law, Robert Lindoerfer (my father) took over the business in the late eighties and the company went through a whole new evolution; renting backdrops and drapery. We now have the largest rental inventory in the country and are looking for many new opportunities to come.

I think traditions are an important part of recognizing where our history and this company started from. It’s equally important to me though to realize that all businesses and people evolve over time and to change with those times. I think Grosh Backdrops and Drapery has found a good balance with the past and present as we stand now and hope to continue a healthy balance in the years to come.

In terms of philanthropic involvement, what other activities in the industry are you excited about?

Amanda: We’ve thought a lot about other ways we can get our customers more involved  by supporting the industries they’re in. Our goal is that in our 80^th year we will be introducing some new programs to help students, schools, business owners and clients in general with ways to make their events easier and more impactful.

 How can people get involved with the charitable efforts Grosh supports?

Amanda: We welcome charity requests for consideration from all our customers. Normally we start researching these in the spring for our “Grosh Gives Back” campaign between May and June of each year.