Patent GB-644003-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to stage settings
IPC: A63J1/02
Filed: 1947-02-25
Abstract: 644,003. Theatre stages and scenery. GILBERT, E., SILLMAN, L., and BARBER, E. A. Feb. 25, 1947, No. 5432. Convention date, Feb. 21, 1939. [Class 132 (i)] A stage setting, with which change of scenery and properties may be conducted expeditiously without the necessity of dropping the curtain, comprises a plurality of assemblages each comprising at least three scene sections, it being possible for each scene-section (a) to be brought to a position where it lies in the same plane as a scene section of another assemblage with the free edges of the two scene sections contiguous and (b) to be moved angularly away from the position mentioned in (a). In Figs. 1-3, a stage setting is shown which provides for a succession of scenes each composed generally of a back wall, two side walls and a floor portion. The scene sections which are adapted to form successively the back wall and side walls of a number of scenes are arranged in two complementary assemblages of scene sections numbered 16 to 25 and 161 to 251 pivotally mounted near the centres of rotation of the rotatable platforms 12 and 13. These platforms are ring-shaped and are provided with castors whereby they ride on theatre stage 11. The platforms form part of the floor 10 of the stage setting and lie flush with the remainder of floor 10. The scene sections may consist of a suitable framework of wood, over both sides of which are secured layers of canvas upon which may be depicted any appropriate scene. The scene sections of each assemblage are each rigidly secured along one edge to a longitudinal upright support 26 and these supports are joined to each other by hinges 27, thus permitting the scene sections to be opened and closed similarly to the leaves of a book. Suitable handles 29 project from the back of the supports 26 to enable the operators to move the individual scene sections on the hinges without being seen by the audience. The scene sections are cut away in their lower portions as at 30 to form an opening in the centre of the back wall corresponding in extent to the width of the rotatable platforms 12 and 13 and of sufficient height to enable the selected properties or scene objects such as wall 35 and bench 36 on the platforms 12 and 13 to pass through. A series of closure members such as 31, 311, 32, 321, 33, 33<SP>1</SP> are mounted on the rotatable platforms, and if desired they may be pivotally mounted. Secured to the opposite faces of the adjacent scene sections are strips 34 of a suitable flexible material such as canvas to cover the open hinged joints to prevent the opening from being visible to the audience. Also secured to the opposite sides of adjacent scene sections are foldable scene elements composed of a plurality of flat members hinged together. In Fig. 1 a scene element, representing the extension of the foliage of a tree, is composed of four flat pieces hinged together along the lines 38, 39, 40 and 41 and hingedly attached to scene sections 16 and 17 along the lines 42 and 43. A scene element representing a projecting portion of a building is composed of eight flat pieces hinged together along the lines 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51 and 52 and hingedly attached to scene sections 161 and 171 along the lines 53 and 54.