The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-11-23
Theatrical Stage Machinery.

A stage proves to be very different
thing from what the popular eye, gazing
from pit or boxes, presumes it to be. A
great arch, a sloping floor, pierced here
and there with traps, cellars below, re-
giOns above, grooves at each side, in
which scenes glide forward or back, roll.
ers stretching across, on which the
" cloths behind are rolled up-such is
the popular ideal. But the stage Of one
of the grand houses offers a very diff
ferent spectacle. There is neither floor
nor ceiling proper; but above there is
number of light galleries running round
in tiers, while, instead of floor or stage,
properly so called, there is vast ex
panse of open gratings, or cage work, one
below the other, the bars of which are
therefore, is one "clear'' from top
to bottom, resembling one of those great
engine houses which have iron galleries
and flying bridges all around. A large
stage looks imposing enough from the
boxes, but few, perhaps, are aware that
below it, in a grand opera-house, there is
space of about the same height as the
stage, and above, more than twice that ex-
tent. Thus the space devoted to perform
ance is really no more than seventh or
eighth part of the regions above, below
and around it. The stage and the floors
below lin large thcater there are often
four) thus appear like a series If grid
irons, one beneath the other. This
has been found necessary arrangement,
owing to the great scenes, stretching the
whole width of the stage, that must
ascend or descend, and have a clear
passage. AS these openings may be re-
quired at any: part of the stage, the only
mode is to make the entire stage ali open
fSame,s covered with panels, which can be
drawn away. A trap can thus be
opened at any spot, as one of these panels
containing the trap and its machinery can
he inserted. Few persons are aware Of
what is the traditional and established en-
CINE Of motion in all the great theaters,
formation scene, huge iron frame, laden
with fifty or sixty figures, can be raised
aloft: The agency Of windkasses and such
mechanical powers would entail vast
expenditure Of human strength which, in
deed, il would be found impossible to con-
centrate at fixed point. The motive power
behind the scenes is wonderfully simple,
and even scientific, and has been in use
without change for more than a century
and half. It-eensists in a permanent
arrangement of great balance weights al
ways ready mounted, and with which the
object to be raised can be readily connect
ed. "A child could raise ton weight to 4
particular height if the cord passing over
pulley be balanced by another ton
weight. Roof. and basement, ,aloft and
below, are filled with enormous rollers,
each furnished with, wheels. something
like ithat Of a ships rudder:: TO
these. are attached q series Of con-
centric drums, much like the cone-slaped
wheel upon which watch-chain is
wound, ior the purpose Of allowing cords
to be wound upon them. The balance
weightsi are hung in, grooves next the
walls; while the cords attached to them
run up to. the roof, pass through pulleys,
and are then brought down to the drums,
s to Which 1sE attached some
ress, to lie eroTned by the tasQeat Of some
glorifief frame Stretching tliewholeRidth
of the stage, on which number of ladies
are bestowed, its ascent is thus contrived.
The weight of the machine and its burden
is rotgM5- found II is then attach ed.to
the cpunterpoises, the ropes in their course
being made to pass over the drums Of the
windlass. The men who lower or raise 1t
have therefore only a few pounds weight
to deal with, and hence that smooth, even
motion always to be seen in stage changes.
In fact, the counterpoises being slightly
heavier raise tire machine issifi md pave
only to be controlled or checked BY the
men at theNrum. So, too, is tire heavy
drop scene made 10 ascend or descend,
and with such smooth motion that it can
be made slow or rapid; SO figures ascend
through trap. Even the great chan
delier that lights the hallis thus balanced.
-NeO Quarterly Gazette. .a ,ErrJfh.
THE New York .lhae,srer pivpS an ac.